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We were attending the Malayalam worship at C S I Christ Church, Palayam, Trivandrum Kerala, India on 5th January 2020.
We could witness blind, strong, ardent and extra ordinary faith in action as the worship progressed.
Three of our friends inspired us.
One. Thampy.
We saw him alighting from the car to take a seat in the porch at the Church. It took him a lengthy excruciating five minutes to reach a chair though he was assisted by his companion to cover a stride of five seconds for him when he was fit. What happened to him, we had no idea. We suspected a stroke. Somebody was holding him and helping him move. He had a walking stick. It was of no help. He found it extremely difficult to navigate the short hop. Excruciating for him. Excruciating for the people who knew him. He had been jovial. He had been agile. It was obvious he was in pain.
.
Two. Mrs. C T John. She had treaded the path slowly leaning on her walking stick. We wondered how she had climbed the steps. But she did it with a smile. Afterwards we saw C T John bringing a foot rest from the car and placing it under her feet where she sat. We saw her lifting her feet and placing them on the foot rest. The simple act displayed the love and affection C T John had for his wife. The chemistry was wonderful and beyond known parallels.
Three. We saw C D Kurien sitting there with a walker in front. We felt sad at the frailty of the human being. We had admired C D Kurien when he drove an imported sedan while he was younger and cars were a rarity at the Church. Obviously he was more than well off. And he was generous to causes advocated or promoted by the Church. He still is.
Later we saw the priests, C Y Thomas Achen and Reji Achen coming down to the porch to assist eight celebrants partake in the Holy Communion as they couldn't move up to the altar. It pained us.
And among those who had moved up there were many fighting a limp.
Well, age is catching up with an aging congregation.
The Vicar had mentioned during the worship that the Church had to seriously think of Palliative Care. He had also reminded that we never employ our talents like our brethren in sister Churches.
It is painful the number of disabled in the Church in diverse phases are steadily mounting. The bell rings or tolls for everyone. The timing is uncertain and unpredictable. The maker decides.
What the impaired looks to is not alms or sympathy. It is fellowship and companionship they strive for. They look for a nod, a smile, a Hi or a listener.
The gesture by the priests to come down to them to share Holy Communion tells them the Church would never forsake them or discard them.
It makes their life. It makes their life meaningful. It makes them active.
The Church then fulfils its vision and its mission.
We could witness blind, strong, ardent and extra ordinary faith in action as the worship progressed.
Three of our friends inspired us.
One. Thampy.
We saw him alighting from the car to take a seat in the porch at the Church. It took him a lengthy excruciating five minutes to reach a chair though he was assisted by his companion to cover a stride of five seconds for him when he was fit. What happened to him, we had no idea. We suspected a stroke. Somebody was holding him and helping him move. He had a walking stick. It was of no help. He found it extremely difficult to navigate the short hop. Excruciating for him. Excruciating for the people who knew him. He had been jovial. He had been agile. It was obvious he was in pain.
.
Two. Mrs. C T John. She had treaded the path slowly leaning on her walking stick. We wondered how she had climbed the steps. But she did it with a smile. Afterwards we saw C T John bringing a foot rest from the car and placing it under her feet where she sat. We saw her lifting her feet and placing them on the foot rest. The simple act displayed the love and affection C T John had for his wife. The chemistry was wonderful and beyond known parallels.
Three. We saw C D Kurien sitting there with a walker in front. We felt sad at the frailty of the human being. We had admired C D Kurien when he drove an imported sedan while he was younger and cars were a rarity at the Church. Obviously he was more than well off. And he was generous to causes advocated or promoted by the Church. He still is.
Later we saw the priests, C Y Thomas Achen and Reji Achen coming down to the porch to assist eight celebrants partake in the Holy Communion as they couldn't move up to the altar. It pained us.
And among those who had moved up there were many fighting a limp.
Well, age is catching up with an aging congregation.
The Vicar had mentioned during the worship that the Church had to seriously think of Palliative Care. He had also reminded that we never employ our talents like our brethren in sister Churches.
It is painful the number of disabled in the Church in diverse phases are steadily mounting. The bell rings or tolls for everyone. The timing is uncertain and unpredictable. The maker decides.
What the impaired looks to is not alms or sympathy. It is fellowship and companionship they strive for. They look for a nod, a smile, a Hi or a listener.
The gesture by the priests to come down to them to share Holy Communion tells them the Church would never forsake them or discard them.
It makes their life. It makes their life meaningful. It makes them active.
The Church then fulfils its vision and its mission.
