GARDENER ROY

 

GARDENER ROY

 

When we were inviting friends and relatives to our grandson Elvin's baptism on 12thOctober2024, I phoned up the gardener of our church, Roy. As it had been a long time since I conversed with him over phone, I introduced myself - something I religiously do whenever I ring up someone - and enquired whether he remembered me.

 The reply was quite surprising. He said how he could ever forget me.

He continued, "It was the day of Koshy Achen's funeral. After it was over you took me in your car and drove me home. When you found out the sad plight of my dwelling you reported what you observed to the church committee where you were the Treasurer. The church committee took the observations seriously and had built a house for me where I reside now".

"We as a family will  forever be grateful to you."

I had forwarded this to the Church Warden at that time. 

Here is the  message I received from the Church Warden of that period after going through GARDENER ROY

  "I can never forget your description in our Church Committee regarding our Roy's plight and how he lived in that dwelling place

That only made us to immediately act and give him what was  due to him

Good deeds are never forgotten"

Suddenly it dawned on me.

When Koshy Achen's funeral was over we were about to leave. Then I saw Roy sitting on the sidewall that separated the tombs and the parking ground. I called out to him to enquire how he was doing. Lila knew he couldn't walk much as he had fallen off the roof of the family vault in the compound.  He had climbed on to the roof to clear the accumulated dry leaves there. It was a fall from ten feet. His legs were swollen.He couldnot walk. 

We went up to him.

We offered to drop him off at his residence. He was adamant he would return himself. We forced him into our Car. He couldn't sit properly. As we neared his residence he didn't want us to see his dwelling place. We persisted. We stepped into his house. 

We were struck aghast. It was a single room shack. There was no kitchen. There was no bathroom. There was an apology of a toilet adjacent.They drew water from a well. He had with him his mother, wife and daughter. We asked him how the women bathed. He pointed at the well. He said they took their bath in the open at the well when it was pitch dark.

We just couldn't stomach it all.

We left after handing over to him the money we had with us.

Later I had reported what we had seen to the Church committee.

SENTIENT

 Sentient comes from the Latin sentient-, "feeling," and it describes things that are alive, able to feel and perceive, and show awareness or responsiveness. Having senses makes something sentient, or able to smell, communicate, touch, see, or hear.

Able to perceive or feel things 

He had been instructed from birth in the equality of all sentient life forms"

Pronounced  sen-shent

PASSION

 Passion exists inside you. It does not exist in  the  job. You create your ideal job by igniting the passion within you.

Pusillanimous

 adjective: pusillanimous

showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.

Similar:

cowardly

timorous

timid

When I brought up the word at home the response was classical. 

They said such words are for Mr.Sashi Tharoor.

Please confine to words like 'TIMID'

TO THE BRANCH MANAGER

 Very sorry to disturb you with the mundane.

Someone from your branch calls me. Tells me there is not enough fund in my SBac to debit locker rent. I had seen 4502 there in the morning. 

I am busy elsewhere.

Still I checked the ac.

The balance in the morning is still there. 

I rang back.

She wants to know my name. Obvious. Gave it. She disconnected.

Left a lousy disgusting feeling. 

Courtesy blissfully withers.

Parking and Christ Church The Great Rope Trick To Drive Off The Faithful

 Parking and Christ Church

The Great Rope Trick To Drive Off The Faithful

This is a matter that should never come to you.

On a Sunday English Worship, Rev Viswasraj was leading the Worship. For him what could be done in one minute always takes three minutes. Rev Kuruvilla Chandy was the speaker. Though the Church gives 20 mins for the message he took more than 35mins.

English Worship that begins at 7.15 am has to be completed by 9am. Then only the participants would vacate the premises and parking ground so that people who come to attend Malayalam Worship at 9.45am could park their vehicles. 

On that Sunday when the two respected Pastors conspired to extend the worship there was a parking mayhem. It invited the intervention of the Police as the roads were clogged.

The Church has found a solution. Parking in the ground adjacent to the Centenary Hall is prohibited or prevented with ropes and three or four security personnel until the parking place adjacent to the entrance of the stadium is filled.

Here is the hitch.

 Most of the people who drive to the church are not professional drivers. They are aged. Many of them are women.The behaviour of the security personnel is unpleasant. They explain they are helpless as they are following  the  orders of the committee which is sacrosanct. 

Last Sunday I met a lady who I presume had been an additional secretary. She was lamenting the ropes led her up where she did not have the expertise to park. Finally she had to take the vehicle out of the compound and park on the road even as there was sufficient space within the compound that had been cordoned off.

The questions are, why should the congregation be punished for the inefficiency of the Church to complete the worship in time.

Why is it that the Church is alienating the people who take great pains to attend the worship. 

At this rate when people are cordoned off for no fault of theirs, the question again arises.

Are we in a totalitarian regime?

Many I understand have objected to the present arrangement but to no avail.

It happened to me too once. As I was directed up there was a little space to squeeze my vehicle in. I managed it with the guidance of three people. It was fortunate they were there. Deeply assailed by the travail both of us made a decision to return without attending the Church if we had to go through such an experience again. This is not blasphemy. This is not faithlessness. 

However we are helpless.

WORSHIP IN ENGLISH ON GOOD FRIDAY

It was Sunday. 23March2025. The Pastor at Christ Church made a suggestion that the Church may do away with the Worship in English on the ensuing Good Friday. He encouraged the congregation to air their opinion.

I responded. It's here.

"Your exhortation to speak out on Sunday 23March2025

Let sleeping dogs lie.

It's an old adage.

Christ Church has a tradition. Why do you wish to demolish it?

I can write about myself and may be my family.

The Good Friday worship had three streams so far. English, Malayalam, Tamil. It worked well.

Those who wanted a short form attended the English Worship. Those who were willing to sit through the Malayalam went for that. The Tamils went for Tamil. Three worships meant three offertories. Revenue.Cut down to two. Loss of Revenue. 

There was an Pastor here long while back. He told us proudly he had extended the Good Friday worship till 2.30 pm or 3pm. We were fortunately not here that time. Probably at Thalavady with Papa.

Well it is not the time that you sit through the worship that determines your faith. 

To me the Church is distancing itself from the worshipping community.

Birthday Wedding Anniversary lists that used to be read out are discontinued. Other MKD Churches - CSI Madhya Kerala Churches - do that. Hearing that people from Thalavady greet us.

The presiding Pastor used to ring up and wish members on the two occasions. It no longer occur. Once the No.2 rang up. He said he had been assigned the duty by the Achen. 

He no longer bothers now.

The Church is interested in the collections. The organisations are interested in tours that is part subsidised by church.

The CC TV functions off and on with reluctance.

A former  Secretary of the  Womens Fellowship  had a torrid time. The male chauvinists in the Church Committe won't provide them any financial assistance. They were blandly told to fend for themselves.

They forgot 50% of the revenue was the  contribution of the neglected women.

Finally please don't do away with the English worship on Good Friday for God's sake."

The good Pastor replied highlighting his constraints. 

I clarified my view. 

It,s here.

"Very happy you spoke out.

I wrote because you invited the views of the congregation. 

It was long. But it came from the heart. 

Right after the English worship we went to Ashwin's shop. It was at least two months since we had been there. 

We were overwhelmed by his struggle. He usually opens at 9am and closes at 10pm. There is no respite. Once we spend some time there we can understand what he goes through. He doesn't make much profit either as it is a retail margin free business. 

For our elder son Anoop the day begins at 8am and he is on at 10pm as well. There is no respite for him.

The homemaker at home gets no pay. She works the whole day. But she unselfishly toils.

Life is struggles all over. It's how we tackle it that matters.

Now, I'd invite you to listen to Rev Mothy Varkey  speak at CSI East Kerala convention. It could be Rev.PCSaji  either.

The speaker speaks on an Upadeshi - Church Worker - who was willingly giving away everything he had.. His sole refrain was Daivam nadathum.- God will take care.

Now, your son walked off from a ghastly accident unharmed. Why? How? 

Because you followed Jesus.

Follow Jesus. You'll never be in want."