ONE YEAR NEARER TO GOD




“Grace is the free, undeserved goodness
and favour of God to mankind.”

Matthew Henry

A dear friend of mine, who never forgets to wish me on my birthday, sounded a bit anxious, this morning (23rd July). “Was your b’day yesterday, or is it tomorrow?” she messaged me to check, “Hope, I haven’t missed it.”

“Don’t worry, you haven’t missed it,” I calmed my friend down, “It’s tomorrow.”

“Thank God,” my friend said with a sigh of relief, “I will call you tomorrow.”






“Live as if there is no tomorrow.” Often, this line is used in a negative sense… If one lives carelessly, this line suits him. In Goa, such a casual and laid-back attitude to life is called ‘Susegad’… ‘Khao, piyo, maja karo’! But, what about Pumbaa and Timon’s African philosophy - ‘Hakuna Matata’, in the movie ‘The Lion King’? Is it an attitude of being ‘careless’ or ‘carefree’? Have I been, predominantly, ‘careless’ in my life, or ‘carefree’?

I really do not know…

But, one thing I know: though I haven’t seen tomorrow’s Sun, I have believed in one… There ‘is’ a tomorrow’s Sun… He ‘will’ appear tomorrow!

Therefore, the question is not about the Sun; the question is about me… Will I be there to see the tomorrow’s Sun?

A year is a long time! It’s, also, a large sum of bonus!


When I completed 60, two years ago, I had no hint about the health crisis that awaited me, just a couple of months away… I survived the Cancer, one kidney lesser though!

‘Thank God’, really felt very, very meaningful!

Then, when I completed 61, last July, I – together with the whole world – had not even the faintest hint about the health crisis that awaited, just a couple of months away, for the entire mankind!

Yes. I have survived so far – along with many more – even though ‘living’ meant a confinement within the four walls…

‘Thank God’ feels very, very, very meaningful, Sir!


“Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee… Have you heard of this hymn?” I asked my friend, this morning. She hadn’t. So, I sent to her this video:






One year nearer to God! I don’t think, that’s a defeatist attitude to live by. I think, the awareness of Life’s shortness and value is what spirituality is all about. If God gives another year to me – shall I say ‘another breath’ – it will be such an amazing grace. I, also, sent to my friend this video:





“I am going down on my knees, my friend,” I concluded.



GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic's.: pixabay

Videos: 1. Andre Rieu 2. catesscottish

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUTHU KODI KAWARI HADA

Image
Pic.; Ashwin Mohta M y Hindi was always bad. It still is. One reason for this was, that they introduced Hindi for us only in 6 th standard. Or, was it in 8 th ? I don’t remember… I only remember struggling to write and read… leave alone speak! But, I loved Hindi movies, and, strangely, I could understand the dialogues and the lyrics of the songs… I used to sing those songs (of course when no one was around me!) as if I was the lyricist… One of the songs was a very funny one. ‘Muthu Kodi Kawari Hada’. It was from Mehmood’s super-hit comedy – ‘Do Phool’. I was a 15-year-old high-school boy when I had heard that song (not watched the movie). I could grasp the meaning of two words – ‘Muthu Kodi’… which meant ‘Give kiss’… But, what ‘Kawari Hada’ meant, I have no clue till date! It was just like ‘Why this kolaveri di’... Yes, why ask? Simply enjoy the beats… And, the beats are great… The rest... Who cares? Really! So, whatever bit of Hi
Read more

"HAPPILY EVER AFTER IS NOT A FAIRY-TALE... IT IS A CHOICE"

Image
“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone… It has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” – Ursula K. Le Guin,  The Lathe of Heaven T welve years ago, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married, the world began to hail the couple as ‘Brangelina’. It became a fashion for couples around us to call themselves so… Norbert and Teresa renamed them as ‘Noresa’…  Amol and Vishaka baptized their relationship as ‘Amoshka’… and, Salman and Nargis became ‘Salgis’! I and my wife, too, got tempted to re-christian our matrimonial relationship as ‘Germa’... That is, Gerald and Anima, to be precise! B efore I proceed any further, let me make it very clear, here… that, I have no business to judge on the break-up of Brad Pitt and Angelina’ Jolie’s marriage. I have no inclination to go into why, how, what when etc behind it… The couple ‘chose’ to split. And, it’s their choice… Only they know how good or bad… how joyful or painful that
Read more

SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND

Image
“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty. I laugh when I hear that people go on pilgrimage to find God.” - Kabir T here is a universal human weakness – and it dates back to the days of fallen civilizations – and it is: to place people on pedestal and trying to be smothered by them, feel loved and protected in their company… worship them as mentors, heroes,  gurus, Mahagurus and Satgurus… Make these mortals larger-than-life cut-outs, worship them as flawless, pure and give one’s all… And, then, ‘take’ everything from them blindly as divine… Give everything to them blindly… Eventually, what happens is:  one more dangerous bondage… What was supposed to free you now becomes a new prison… It’s sad to see this happen! T his room, where I am writing this Post, has no image of any deity. I have no image of any Guru or Master around me… My question is: “Am I not able to feel close to Almighty God?  How does it matter
Read more
THE WILD, WAYSIDE FLOWERS
There is, always, something extra-ordinary in the wild, wayside flowers...