Dream on …

Just the other day I caught myself thinking of a grandiose future – mountains to conquer, rivers to cross and basically, being successful. Of course, all of them seemed virtually impossible to even comprehend at this time. I was about to tell myself “What ever are you doing, thinking like this?” when another thought popped in. That little thought said, “Well, it’s just a dream. And anyway if we did not have a dream to dream, a hope to look forward to, we would just remain where we are.” That’s when I began to rewind my memory files and go through the lives of some wonderful people I had read about or knew. All of them dreamed dreams bigger than their circumstances, all of them held on to hope when their horizon seemed bleak. Then I could not help the smile that broke out on my face. Yes, that’s what life is all about! Celebrating the good and the positive. It is that which gives us the strength to live, and live very well, a life that can sometimes be dark, unfair and incomprehensible.

So, my dear friend, dream on … And I pray that you will find hope, love and above all the strength to take life head on.

Picture credit: http://edcommunity.apple.com/

Everyday is special!

Last night we had rain after several days of sweltering heat. In the magic of the moment when I stood on my balcony to wonder at this out-of-season rain and enjoy the refreshing breeze, I was hit by a sudden thought. I realized that somewhere down the line my life had ceased to be ordinary. It had become increasingly peppered with too many happy coincidences, pleasant surprises and exhilarating moments. They all just happened. And I thought I was living an ordinary life. A spotted dove on my windowsill, the morning mist, a radiant sunset, a moonbeam on my bed, a warm hug, a loving phone call, a surprise gift, a sunny smile, a compliment, a rich red rose – I can go on and on about a zillion things, small and big, that made everyday special.

So I had to come to the conclusion that I live an extraordinary life! And of course, there’s a HUGE smile on my face. You would have one too, if everyday were special or you made it so.

Picture credit: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/

And then He arose from the dead!

Matthew 28:7 (NIV)
Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Mark 16:6 (NIV)
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Mark 16:14 (NIV)
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

Happy Easter!

Picture credit: www.realmagazine.com

The essence of the Holy Week

Isaiah 53: 3 – 5

King James Version

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

New International Version

He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

The Message

He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried--
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him--our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.

Amplified Bible

He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

God bless!

Picture credit: www.gospeltoall.com

The twists and turns of life

“Sometimes, taking the path that twists and turns yields the best result.”

I’ve lately been picking up quotes. However, I found the quote above as an interesting introduction to an article on painting Easter eggs! If you’re wondering what the connection is – it talks about marbleized eggs. The kind where streaks of colors whirl and twirl to create unique patterns.

Well, that’s what they were talking about but what intrigued me was the nugget of wisdom hidden in that innocuous statement. Isn’t that what happens to most of us? With each storm, each moment of pain, every instance of despair, we just become more like who we’re supposed to be. Of course, it’s hard to understand while we’re walking through fire, but when we look back we see, oh so clearly - the road that twists and turns is often followed by a strength that’s rare and a character that’s beautiful within and without.

Picture credit: www.albertsart.com

Eagles again!

I chanced upon this devotional reading for today by Anabel Gillham and here’s what she shared about eagles:

“Did you know that eagles can fly 6000' above the earth's surface and stay there for some time? The eagle that soars in the upper air does not need to worry about how to cross rivers or climb mountains! Isn't that beautiful? No bird is so solitary as the eagle. Eagles never fly in flocks, as geese do, one or at most two ever being seen at once. And here's another amazing fact: The eagle will sit on a crag and watch the sky as it fills with blackness, and the forked lightnings are playing up and down, and he sits perfectly still, turning one eye and then the other toward the storm. But he never moves until he feels the burst of the wind and knows the storm has struck him, then with a scream, he swings his breast into the tempest, and uses the storm to go up into the sky – borne on the torrential winds."

Read the rest of it here.

There sure is a lot to learn about eagles. And, my day is made!:-)

Dogs vs ducks

Since the beginning of time, a war for control of the planet Earth has been fought by two worthy adversaries. It is a war so secret that it could be happening in your very own living room!

So goes the introduction to a fantastic movie on the longest war in the history of this planet. When I first heard this little speech on the movie trailer for Cats and Dogs, I just laughed to myself. Surely, it can’t be that bad! But I was soon proved wrong. There is an inter species war out there that’s very much alive and happening right under our noses.

How was I enlightened? Thanks, to the dog versus duck battle happening at home.

Combatant 1: Nancy, a Labrador mix, 3 months old, happy, bubbling with energy. She loves shoes, my dad’s trousers and toppling my mom over.

Combatant 2: Donnie, an ornamental duck, recently lost her mate. Has a severe identity crisis – thinks she’s a dog. Prefers eating from her rival’s bowl. Loves to be cuddled. Must bathe when her rival’s being bathed.

But they’ve made a world of difference in my parents’ lives. They’ve made my parents laugh, run after them and discover that dogs and ducks are an unmatched combination.

The silent parallel

I’ve always been fascinated by nature. I’m awed by the diverse, complex and yet, efficient machinery that chugs along silently (except for the birds singing and some frogs showing off) while all of humankind bustles around in search of a better tomorrow. And unlike our fast-paced lives, there’s no noise, no smoke, no pollution. Nature lives on too while what we know as civilization moves on although with a lot of conflict. I wonder if we will be able to live in harmony with nature. Or has it become too late?

Thank God, for those moments of quiet and peace that are still available for those who seek.

When a clock makes me smile

I’ve been an owl for most part of my life. No, I’ve not sprung feathers or learnt to hoot (not yet!) but I love staying up late at night.

It began when I woke up to my innate love for reading. Sleep was inconsequential and finishing a book was all that mattered. Then I entered college. The sheer amount of assignments, class tests, surprise tests and not to forget, the competition, launched me formally into the Senior Owls Club.

And now, of course, being in love hardly helps. When there’s so much to talk and so little time, you have to resort to phone calls that last into the night. So, I find myself unable to go to bed before I say hello to the next day in the wee hours. Naturally, waking up is a struggle.

That’s why this little find put a smile on my face. It’s a clock that does not allow you to silence it. I don’t quite know if I’m up to playing hide ‘n seek with a furry clock first thing in the morning but I think it might help me appreciate more of the morning!

Thanks Gauri! Great idea!