Gerald D'Cunha

  “You never know where a blessing can come from.” Teena Marie   T his morning, I met a young lady (let me call her Vishakha), after a very long time… She was on way to her office. During the brief course of our discussion, I learnt, that she was presently working for a reputed CA firm after completing her CA exam some years ago. She seemed very happy about the progress she had made. “Thank you Sir, for the help you had offered when I needed it the most,” the girl said. “I can’t help enough Nilesh Sir, too,” she added, “It was because of his financial help, that I could venture into doing Chartered Accountancy.” Years ago, when she was doing her B.Com, Vishakha had come to see me, along with her mother. I learnt, that the mother was raising Vishakha all alone as her husband had deserted them. They lived in a small, rented house and faced a lot of financial problems. But, Vishakha was not only a bright student, she was, also, a confident and articulate girl. I had immed...

Pic.: Chetna Shetty W hat is endearing to see, here in Mumbai, is the amazing fact that Ganesh idol is kept and worshiped by almost every kind of person – regardless of religion, class or creed. Mighty rich and the downright poor, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, yes almost all rejoicing in the Ganeshotsav … And, the Visarjan. .. Little ponds and lakes, vast rivers and seas… Lord Ganesh is sent off in any of them… But, it was not so, where I grew up – Mangalore. Only the members of  GSB (Goud Saraswat Brahmins) – the Konkani community – would keep Ganesh idol at their places… and, on the final day, immersed the Lord’s idol at the wells in their compound. It was a quiet, dignified affair… Mostly a private one. What I remember the most about it is, that, our next-door land-lady had a GSB tenant. Now, the land-lady was a Christian and had her rigid mindset. She would never allow her tenant to immerse the idol in the well in their compound. So, they approached my mom,. S...

Pic.: Aparna Khanolkar Sheth I have never asked God to give me a long life. But, I have, always, asked Him, and still ask, to give me the ability to live it passionately... with all the ups and downs, highs and lows... with the eyes and heart of a little child – always filled with wonder and awe, always feeling small before His incredible vastness... remaining strikingly aware of my limitations as well as of the power hidden in my soul... Fifty six years! It is not a short life-span. It is big, it is long. And, yes, I haven’t abused it, haven’t taken it for granted... And, for this, I do feel happy and proud of my own self. So, today, if I have to go on my knees and thank God for fifty-six reasons, what they would be? My heart pours out... 1. For giving me those simple, yet amazing, parents. 2. For giving me my four wonderful – yet strikingly different – brothers. 3. For the opportunity to be born in a Christian family... For giving me ...

Los ing faith in the goodness of Life… comes easily to us. When the chips are up – when weather is fair – yes, it is easy to believe, that Life is good… God is kind… People are trustworthy. But, when the chips are down – when weather is stormy, uncertain – no, sir… Life doesn’t seem all that good… God doesn’t seem all that merciful… and, people don’t seem trustworthy… Well, this is how the seesaw called ‘Living’ has been, and will be… always. Hope holds… Imagine Life without Hope! For some days now, I have been telling myself this: “Good deeds are good seeds!” The Law of Karma … “In Life, you reap what you sow!” Yes, for many days now, my eyes are able to see the harvest of the seeds I had sown years and years ago… My mind is able to see the connection… My heart is able to rejoice… And, when this is going on inside me, I find myself crying with all my conviction: “Hark, Life is good… God is kind… and people are...

 An hour ago, I was talking to a lady. It was afternoon time, so I asked, “Ma’am, lunch over?”.  “No lunch for me today; Friday is my fasting day,” she told me. “Every Friday?” I expressed my surprise. “Yes, every Wednesday And every Sunday, too,” she replied. “My, God! What for you fast so much?”  I enquired. “Wednesday for my husband, Friday for my daughter And Sunday for myself and a few dear ones,” This lady told me. “Please add me on your Sunday list, ma’am,” I said jokingly. “You are there in it, already!” I was told. “So kind of you, ma’am… So sweet!” I exclaimed. Was she serious? She must be. So many times I tell this to so many people, “I will pray for you.” But then, do I? And, so many times I tell it to some people, “Please pray for me,” and I am told, “Certainly, I will.” But then, do they? All this happens so mechanically… a...

Sr. Dorothy is a live wire. You rarely escape from her without being 'charged'. I bumped into her, last evening, on her way to one of her regular house visits. "Hello Sister," I greeted. "A very happy new year to you." Sister stretched her hand forward to charge me. "To you, too." "Give me your blessings," I folded my hands. "My sister tells me, we should take blessing, give blessing ... and, above all, we should 'be the blessing'," Sister brought my hands down. "Wow," I exclaimed, "What a thought: 'Be the Blessing'!" Sister went on to share with me her interpretation of this phrase. On my way home, I reflected on it. I remembered two similar statements I had heard or read before. The first one. It was some years ago, when Fr. Rupak had dropped in while one of our Workshops was in progress. At the end, I had requested Father to share with the youngsters some of his insights. He drew on the boa...