When snow no longer, was just an idea..

"Middle age is age without levity, and age without decay" - Daniel Defoe 

From the backwaters of tropical Kerala, snowy mountains have always been an idea, having seen them only on books and Bollywood flicks ! In April of 2017 , my childhood friend Rahul and I decided once and for all to catch a glimpse of the mighty Himalayas as close as we could. The plan was to go up to Yumthang valley All 11,693 feet above sea level; the highest I have ever been in my 34 years ! 

#Himalayas #Yumthang

the paradox of money...

"My favorite things in life don't cost any money." - Steve Jobs

Many a time in life, one goes through patches when we nod in agreement to Steve.  It is not that money is not important; but that it hollows out the virtues that makes us human. (or as I like to call it 'creatures is God's image')

It takes away peace, lacked or loaded one always ends up paying undue attention to the instrument. Men have waged wars over it, and spent entire lives contemplating on how to make the next dime, only to wither out like the grass on the field.

It takes courage to say from the bottom of ones heart :

"the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)

Rain

The all drenching monsoon rain is a refreshing spectacle, especially for those who spend their day talking numbers within the high walls of the concrete jungle. The unexpectedness of the first rains brings out the joyfulness of nature, enriching all that lives with the drizzle, however mighty or not so. Yesterday’s incessant rain in the evening (in Trivandrum), brought out the tangential realities of life.

The farmer who considers the rain his lifeline, the slum dweller who views rain with a tint of doubt, as to the comfort of his shanty home, the school boy who wants to wet his shoes and splash the puddle, the corporate executive who looks at the beauty of the rain from his high rise office suite, the homeless man on the street who searches for a cosy shelter, the traffic police man who dusts his old Police issue raincoat, the auto rickshaw driver who cautiously threads to city roads and the weather man who predicts with uncertain certainty the extend of the rain.

One common fact, very different realities, but life goes on..

Glutton ? Me .. ?

A month ago, I set out on the GM diet journey, a road less travelled by the likes of me, who love a full three or maybe four meals a day. At the back of my mind I always knew I was eating more than what I needed to sustain my earthly body, but I did not expect this much.
The revelation was too much that, I was forced to think how much of the food I take is just quench my taste buds !
Among the hundreds of thousands who live without one full meal a day in my own country and millions of others around the globe, I though I should be ashamed to gorge on food like a pig !
Well... here is a reckoner to me and to all like me...
"Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony" - Proverbs 23:2
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Picture Copyright http://www.daviddeen.com/ - Thank you, David.

Mr. Fix it

Lately, I've been watching too much TV, and Agent Seely and Dr Brennen from the Sitcom Bones have proved interesting to me!

Last night, Agent Seely made an observation "It's me who fix things ; it makes me feel one with the universe."

It made me think loud; and yes even I feel its my prerogative to fix things being the man of the house; Where were wired this way by the maker,with an obsession to fix things; and a bloated, pride filled head once we fix things ?

I've owned a small tool kit from as long as I can remember; and honestly, among my friends I was the most mechanically/technically impaired when it came to fixing things? Even so, I did a lot of 'fixing' around the house, for my mom, for my sister, but I don't remember ever being asked by my Dad to 'fix'. Well, maybe, he did not need my help. Well, in any case, I've been taught a lot of 'fixing' by him, like how to change a broken roof tile, or remove a broken nail and hammer in a new one, de-husk a coconut,or do small repairs on the cycle or bike.

And ironically enough we bought a new kitchen rack at home yesterday; I fitted the whole thing and the "satisfaction" I got out of it made me think, maybe we men were wired by our Maker to work/mend/repair or fix.

Agent Seely, maybe you are right? It does make us feel fulfilling a purpose!

Time is ticking away

'Time and tide waits for no man..' so the adage goes. Every second passes by never to come back to us again. Time does not look back, it always looks to the future. Time travel and fixing the past are stuff of legend...but reality looks at us starkly with sarcasm in it's eyes; telling us wryly every second you let go is a lost resource.

I've been living the lazy life of a typical bachelor for a few weeks now, keeping me on he couch in front of the TV the long hours after work. It was during one of the really lazy hours that I chanced upon the Autobiography of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The man who brought the nation we all know as the defender of Justice to look into her own hypocrytic double standards. He achieved so much in so less time. It was God's way of telling me, fatigue can tire my weak body not my soul, and I should do much more than what I'm doing now.

I'm reminded of this verse as if its adressed to me :
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:" - Proverbs 6:6

Happiness

I met these kids in Hyd during a traffic Jam and I couldnt help myself but smile, when I saw the happiness on their faces..... for a moment I thought;What does these Children have to be happy ???? good food ? rich parents ? good toys to play with ? good cosy homes ? hot dinners ?

I leave you all to ponder with one little thought..

God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. - C S Lewis

Who am I ??

Well.... the other day I was standing in Queue at my office canteen, and I saw this boy serving tea. He was about my age, my height.. a lil more fairer thn me, and spoke my mother tounge , and so he was from my state.

And it made me think... what did I do more to get this white collared job and what did he not do, not to get it, absolutly NOTHING....... 

Is it my merit that I was born into an educated family? Is it my merit that my parents had enough money to pay for my college? Is it my merit that the job market was good when I passed out and I got a job ? Is it my merit that my state had good educational institutions?

The answer is always NO

"I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly." Psalm 22:10

That was my cry when I got out of my canteen !!

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

Casting Crowns

Grandma's note....

This is what my grandma wrote to me for my 23rd bday; I just want to post this again ! 

----
My dear Renji mon,
Wish you a very very happy and blessed birthday.May our Lord shower all His abundant blessings upon you,throughout this year and the years to come.Keep your eyes on the Lord. He never takes His eyes off you.When we keep our eyes on Christ, obstacles become opportunities.To know ,to love and to live for God is the desire of a renewed sanctified soul.Pray well. He stands best who kneels most.Prayer is a child's helpless cry to the father's attentive ear. All who are born of God should develop a likeness to their father. Live like a flower by spreading fragrance.
May our loving and living Lord bless you physically & spiritually. Praying for you fervently.
Yours affectionately,
Amma

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she is in ICU now and going thru a difficult time.. do remember her in prayers.

--- Update

She just passed away .....

#****#

എന്‍റെ ആദ്യത്തെ മലയാളം പോസ്റ്റ്.
സഹോദരി സഹോദരന്മാരെ, നിങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് നമസ്കാരം. മലയാള സാഹിത്യ സംസ്കരിക ലോകത്തെ ഞാന്‍ ഞെട്ടിക്കാന്‍ പോകുന്നു.
നന്ദി !