Wondering about wandering !

I think I'm kind of lost for a long time now.

I listen to things that I already know. I watch TV. I don't watch Hollywood movies any more. Hollywood television series stay away from my interest. I don't write. I don't read. I'm kind of lost touch with many of my friends.

There are so many things that I'm supposed to have been doing. But I don't. I'm sitting. I'm relaxed. I'm not creating a plan.

Living life as it comes is one way to proceed. It is a comfortable take in one aspect. On a completely different aspect, the comfort becomes uncomfortable. The excuses or complaints I give are lame. That's a good sign.

When there is so much to do, the only way to move forward is to do them.

Paul.

Spiritual Thoughts on a Religious Book

Today I happened to come across the book "Jesus on Every Page: 10 simple ways to Seek and Find Christ in the Old Testament".

I was browsing through Amazon books catalog to buy some books because this time being festival season that normally assures some good discounts. I have been keeping my eyes on a book for several months now, "The God Delusion". Though I was longing to read that book, the price of the book kind of kept me waiting for the moment for the book being available with some good discounts. The story about The God Delusion is for another page, but it was the one that lead me to the landing of the above mentioned book.

I went through the preview of first few pages of the book Jesus on Every Page... . The book talks about how most of the people, including priests giving less importance to the Old Testament, primarily -- from what I gathered from reading few lines in the book -- because they couldn't come up with convincing answers to relate it to the New Testament, in other words where the primary focus is on Jesus. Probably the book is aimed at Protestants -- again this is something I gathered from few lines and titles -- seeing the words pastors, which isn't the term Roman Catholics use. But nevertheless that was just a quick pick up based on few lines I read in the preview and may not necessarily hold good.

My friend wanted me to buy him this book, because he felt that it could give some insights connecting the Old with New Testaments that he might have overlooked so far. When I tried ordering I noticed the price being so high. I normally believe that the price of a book is fair if it is priced in a ratio of 1 rupee (or less) for each page. The book is almost thrice my fair price point, that is after the discount they have offered.

Given the fact that the book is priced too high, I dropped the idea of ordering. So did my friend. But he really wanted to read the book but, as I felt, the book was priced too high to buy. Out of curiosity, I started reading the reviews of the book. Of all, one review with the following snippet got my attention that made me to wonder something else -- the reason for this article.

Favorite Quote: There were many, but this one caught my attention: "He created sheep so He could teach sinners about how He is the Good Shepherd. He created birds to help His redeemed people live less anxious lives. He created camels to teach how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter heaven. He created lilies and roses so He could compare Himself with them. He created water to explain how He refreshes and revives the thirsty" (47).

From the above snippet, I understand that the lines mentioned by the reviewer were from the book and must be from Page 47. Whether or not the lines are from the author are of trivial importance to the following.

Now the point I was trying to say is that the book being a religious one to help understand the Old Testament better in connecting with Jesus, I felt that the purpose of the book must have been to reach out to as many people as possible to help find what they are supposed to in every page of the Holy Bible -- if that is what the intention of the author. But in contrary, the book is priced so high targeting the riches, in other words people who have the luxury not to care much about the money and more importantly have the money.

The book seems to be saying "He created camels to teach how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter heaven.". Well, clearly the author doesn't seem to bother much about him entering the heaven or he must have thought that the book isn't needed for the poor. Either way, it is irony how often people talk about the religion, it's humbleness and serving aspects in high priced books.

May the God touches the eyes of those persons who eye on/for the riches in the name of religion.

--
Paul Arockiam

This day of my life !!

It all happened so quick in the blink of an eye. If someone had used the phrase "blink of an eye" probably I would have laughed. But looking back now, it does seem to have happened really that fast. But, I never thought that our mind is capable of capturing every details of such fast moving moments.

Not long long ago or so long ago as they say in fairy tales, but just a year and half ago two strangers happened to notice each other while they were sitting hundreds of miles apart and had a feeling that they had a connection. They decided to give it a try. They didn't know that it was going to happen, but somehow felt that it was coming. They chatted. Talked. Laughed. When they wake up every day morning, they would tune in and was able to find the same frequency. What felt surprising initially started to feel good and eventually turned into something more promising. They took the courage to take it to the elders. They felt the motivation to fight the odds that were against them. They managed to make it happen because everyone else eventually decided to be on their side, giving them the support they needed.

It was a year back, this day it happened. A love life was lighted, blessed and handed over to us. Hundreds gathered to greet us with their blessings. Few even crossed over seas to share the happiness of the moment when we both got united into one. We couldn't be more happier.

The reality is that we, like every other couple, have our differences. It is surprising to see how our love for each other overpowers everything else. We fight for our differences. We kick each other for fun. We stand for each other. We enjoy talking and sharing what we have in common. We delight in love and we know that each moment is worth to be together irrespective anything else that may stand in our way.

My friend once told me, "Marriage isn't about two persons. It's about two families.". Back then, I wasn't that matured. Neither do I claim to be that much now. But I have found couple of cents to enrich myself along the way. A year ago, it was this day I not only got a love life but also another family. Few more people who love me as much as my own, whom I could love and care for, who stand beside me.

Sometimes people tell me that they don't get everything they need in their life. I simply ask them to open their eyes because I believe (and have experienced) that one's blessings aren't lying somewhere far away but right around them.

--

Paul.

It doesn't hurt !

Life is short and unpredictable. It doesn't hurt to be nice to those around us, to have humanity, compassion, empathy and love.

What we thought would have been long and lasting had either ran fast or not lasted longer. We have shown love, spit hatred, experienced friendship and hurt by betrayals. We have been at both ends of the relationships. We have seen both sides of the coin. We have lived through the different weathers of the day. While some have lost, we haven't. We are still here. Alive and ticking.

When we look back, we could realize that life would have been better if we had spread more love, maintained more peace and been more nicer to each other.

We know we could be better. We know we could show more kindness. We know we could love a bit more. We know our words and deeds could be bit more nicer. Our wounds have injected fear in us. We are no longer the one we once were used to be.

However, when thinking life is short and unpredictable, I do feel that it wouldn't hurt to be nice to those around us and to have humanity, compassion, empathy, love.

--

Paul Arockiam.

ஏன் இப்படி இருக்கிறேன் ?

நான் ஏன் இப்படி இருக்கிறேன் என்பதான நிறைய கேள்விகளை எனக்கு நானே கேட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன். பிறகு இப்படி இருப்பதன் பால் நிறைவு அடையும் வரை எனக்கு நானே நிறைய சமாதானங்கள் சொல்லிக் கொள்கிறேன்.


--
பால் ஆரோக்கியம் | Paul Arockiam 

கனவுகளும் நானும்

என் கனவுகளை நான் மொத்தமாக பற்றிக் கொண்டு மேலெழ முயல்கிறேன். கனம் தாங்காமல் சோர்ந்து போய் விடுகிறேன். பிறகு என் சக்திகளை ஒன்று திரட்டி மீண்டும் எழுகிறேன். சிறிதொரு அங்குலம் மேலே நகர்கிறேன். சோர்வதும் எழுவதுமான சுழற்சிக்கிடையில் என் இலக்கை தேடி இடையறாது தேடிக் கொண்டே இருக்கிறேன்.

"ஏன் இத்தனை சிரமம்..? ஒவ்வொன்றாக எடுத்து செல்லலாமே", என்பவர்களுக்கு நான் புன்னகையை தவிர வேறு எதையும் பதிலாக அளிப்பதில்லை. புன்னகையைத் தவிர வேறு எதையும் அவர்கள் புரிந்து கொள்வார்களா என்பதில் எனக்கு எப்போதும் ஒரு சந்தேகமே.

--
பால் ஆரோக்கியம் | Paul Arockiam 

தனிமையுடனான உரையாடல்..

ஒரு தனிமையுடனான உரையாடல் அவ்வளவு சுவாரசியமாக இருப்பது இல்லை.

நான் பலவிதமான தனிமைகளை சந்தித்து இருக்கிறேன். தனிமையின் இருண்ட பள்ளத்தாக்கில் நான் பயணிக்க நேரும் ஒவ்வொரு முறையும், முந்தைய பயணங்களின் ஏதோவொரு அனுபவம் இப்பயணத்தை எளிதாக மாற்றாதா என்னும் பெரும் ஏக்கம் கொள்வதுண்டு. பிறகு ஏக்கத்தினால் பயனேதும் இல்லை என்பதை உணர்ந்து எப்போதும் போலவே அப்புதிய தனிமையின் நியதிகளை புரிந்து கொள்வதிலும், அதற்கு ஏற்ப என் காய்களை நகர்த்தி அதை கடந்து போவதிலும் எனக்கு அளிக்கப்பட்ட நேரம் ஆவியாகி கரைந்து போய்விடும்.

தனிமையில் ஆழ்ந்திருக்கும்  மனிதர்கள் எப்போதுமே என் கவனத்தை பெற்று விடுகின்றனர். என்னையும் அறியாமல் அவர்களது தனிமையை எப்படியாயிலும் கலைக்கும் முனைப்பு எனக்கு ஏற்பட்டு விடுகிறது. தனிமை என்பது வலிகள் தாங்கியதாக மட்டுமே இருக்க முடியாது என்பதை அறிந்ததில் இருந்து நான் அவர்களிடம் இருந்து விலகி நடக்க கற்றுக் கொண்டேன்.

தனிமையை தனக்கு அளிக்கப்பட விதியாக அல்லாமல் அதை தன் விருப்பத் தேர்வுகளில் ஒன்றாக கொண்டிருப்பவர்கள், என் சுவாரசியத்தின் ரகசிய காட்சிப் பொருளாகி விடுகின்றனர். நான் அவர்களிடம் மெல்ல உரையாட முயல்கிறேன். அவர்களின் தேர்வு கலைந்து விடாதபடி என் வார்த்தைகளை நான் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கிறேன். மிகவும் கவனமாக அவர்களுக்கு நான் ஒரு சுவாரசியமாக மாற முயல்கிறேன். அவர்களின் தேர்வை மறுபரிசீலனை செய்ய மெதுவாக அவர்களை தூண்டுகிறேன். அவர்களின் கவனம் சிதறும் போது என் வார்த்தைகளை நான் மேலும் மிருதுவாக்குகிறேன். எந்த காலத்திலும் அவை அவர்களின் தேர்வுக்கு ஒவ்வாத ஒன்றாக இருக்க போவதில்லை என்னும் உறுதிமொழிகளை மறைமுகமாக வழங்குகிறேன். பிறகு அவர்களது மறுபரிசீலனை முடிவுக்கு வருவதற்கு சற்று முன் அல்லது முடிவுக்கு வந்த அடுத்த கணம், புன்னகையுடன் விடை பெறுகிறேன்.

அவர்களிடம் நான் சொல்வதேயில்லை, அவர்கள் மீதான எனது சுவாரசியம் ஒத்த மனம் கொண்ட சக மனிதன் மீதான எனது கவர்ச்சி என்பதையோ அல்லது எனது விடைபெறல் என் தேர்வினது மறுபரிசீலனையின் முடிவு என்பதையோ.

--

பால் ஆரோக்கியம் | Paul Arockiam