THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
“Where
the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
into the
dreary desert sand of dead habit.”
From Tagore’s
poem ‘Where the Mind is Without Fear’
My previous
Blog was about gossip!
“Sir, you should blog on this
topic. It’s not gossip, but awareness,” Brinal messaged me, last night, along
with a moving video on Fr. Stan Swami’s life, work and last days, which lead to
his death…
I replied, “Brinal, we all are
deeply moved and anguished by this. Hundreds of people, with clean conscience,
are speaking up. You and I, Christians, should quietly pray… for better sense
to prevail and for Fr. Stan’s soul to rest in peace. Honestly, I am too
disturbed to write on him, now… Just praying.”
“But, Sir, the pen is mightier
than sword. You have the gift of writing… A way to reach out to many without
saying a word. Of course, at this stage, we can only pray. But, you can do both
– write and pray. Please write, Sir,” Brinal insisted.
“Of course, I will, dear. I
have watched every well-meant video and read every well-meant article on this
sad episode. Heart wants to say something… But, let it come when it has to. If
you have watched the funeral service of Fr. Stan, today, it clearly shows what ‘Imitation
of Christ’ means… Fr. Stan has just infused strength in all of us.”
Brinal ended the late-night
chat with a little symbol – folded hands!
The night has just passed by;
but, the mind is still in turmoil… Feeling helpless, hopeless and fearful… Yes,
just the way Jesus’ Apostles were feeling, following His sad end…
But, was it sad? Was it an 'end'?
Did the helplessness, hopelessness
and fear go in vain?
And, this: Did prayer help?
The only thing my fearful
heart is able to say, now, is what Master Himself said in His loneliest moment:
“Father forgive them. For, they
know not what they are doing.”
Fr. Stan was a crusader for a
noble cause – the voice of the voiceless – just as his Master had been… His
life was a true ‘Imitation of Christ’!
And, Father, forgive us!
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic.: Unknown source
Videoes: RedFrost Motivation
Comments