When the wall itself eats the crops

The latest in the series of corruption allegations in India. It just shows the level of degradation of our society. We have stooped to a state where no one is immune to the temptation of corruption. Vigilance and anti-corruption ombudsman can only stand and watch as the highest officials in the state partake in the loot, and often, as in this case lead the daylight burglary. 

We know that most nurses from Kerala come from poor socioeconomic strata. The emigration to Middle East is one way they can feed their families and maybe even build a shelter for them. Each paisa they have given as bribe to these inhumane individuals is an abomination to our collective conscience. Our heads must hang in shame. When can we finally  say that it is not our politicians who are at the root of all evils, instead it is you and I who does all kinds of corrupt acts in our day to day life. 

Residency tales

Six years ago, I came to this esteemed institution as a novice physician. I felt so incompetent to do anything. My team room had several phones, but I almost always used to come out of the room to this isolated phone to make consult calls so that no one else overhears what I say or how I say it. I was shy, scared and stupid. 

Over these past six years, so many things changed in my life. The hospital progressed too - now we have robots carrying food trays, linen and medicines around the floors. 

I started getting used to a new way of life - computers and electronic medical records. As much as it has revolutionized medical care, I don't think it has changed me much. I still remain a believer in clinical medicine and still firmly believe notes wouldn't cure patients. Or in other words, "notitis don't kill patients". 

Huge buildings, cleaner surroundings and a systematic meticulous style of work enthralled me and left me wondering why we cannot do things at least half as good as this. 

Empty beds amused me, coming from a background of seeing sick people lying on the floor of our teaching hospital. 

I added three more things to my armamentarium - phone, keyboard and mouse. In addition to my stethoscope and pen of course. 

Strict time limits on work hours became the norm and no-more a luxury. 

Six years down the lane, I am more mature and aware of my limitations than ever before. But this experience has given me the confidence that I am as good as anyone anywhere in the world. I know what my strengths are, I know what I lack. That's just what a good training experience should deliver. 

Life savers

Although we dread the sound of these copters, for it brings another sick patient from the Outside Hospital, the value of the ambulance on wings is priceless. Countless lives have been saved, hearts mended, families preserved. 

Is there a way we can introduce such an ambulance service in Kerala or India for the extremely sick patient with the goal of achieving an organ preserving action by decreasing the 'door-to-balloon' time? 

Fly

Have you ever wished you could fly around like a bird? I have!

No barriers, no borders, no weather issues. Great views, free travel, and the ultimate freedom. It's time to sleep. Let me dream on. Until next blog, sweet dreams to you too. 

God's double agent - book review

China is today's "riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma". More so, Chinese churches. Bob Fu's autobiography aptly titled 'God's double agent' takes the reader through a roller-coaster ride through the enigmatic Chinese churches - both the state-sponsored and the underground house churches. Not just that, it offers an intimate glimpse into a man's faith life in the most adverse circumstances.

Let me take you through his story briefly, and then give you a few snippets and wisdom which I found in this book.

Bob Fu was born as Xiqiu (meaning 'Hopeful Autumn') in the Shandong province in 1968. Born into a poor family, his entire childhood is a story of struggle and poverty. His parents, as per Chinese tradition, gave him a nickname - Pianyi, which when translated means 'cheap'. Apparently, Chinese parents give their children nick names based on what they hope their child would not grow upto. They also believe that naming a child 'ugly' would mean the evil spirits would not harm him. His mother was kicked out of her house by her first husband, as a consequence of the cultural revolution and was forced to beg door-to-door for her daily subsistence. She was accepted as a wife by a poor accountant with scoliosis, who later became Xiqiu's father. 

Out of his will power to 'be someone', Xiqiu studied hard and entered university in a neighboring town. While there, his strong sense of idealism pushed him to fight for teacher's rights at the Tiananmen square in 1989. He barely missed the actual massacre that happened under the watch of global media. His would-be wife, Heidi, became ill and he had to take her to the hospital when the Chinese army brutally attacked peaceful protesters. After this event, he was hounded by the Chinese propaganda agents and was forced to sit through several hours of grinding questioning and punishment. He was considered a pariah by his friends and teachers. 

In college, he had an American teacher who had been very friendly to his students. In fact, Xiqiu got his English name, Bob, through this particular teacher. They were picking random chits to identify name. He got the name Joseph, which he did not like, and exchanged it with his friend who did not like the sound of Bob. During his time of isolation, the American teacher handed him a Chinese autobiography to read, and he was struck by how much that book mirrored his own existence. Here was the story of a man who was pushed to the verge of depression who suddenly had a transformation and experienced immense peace and joy. The difference was that the author had become a member of the Jesus religion. He noted down certain phrases from that book that gave him peace as he read it.

Soon enough Bob connected with the Christians on campus. He tried the official Chinese church for a few months only to realize that it is strictly controlled by the government. It was used as a propaganda tool and the pastors were under strict instructions from the communist party. There was strict limits on the number of bibles that can be printed, the portions within the bible that can be included in sermons and other such draconian anti-Christian laws. Bob soon found the underground house church. The rest of the book describes the church activities and methods in vivid detail. After his marriage with Heidi, he takes up a job as a teacher in a Chinese Communist party school in Beijing where he continues his activities. Bob is soon discovered as the leader of the movement and was arrested by the government for his role in printing illegal bibles. He and his wife Heidi suffered incredible torture, which is described in such detail that I sometimes felt I was in the prison with him.

Several months later, they are both released under house arrest. Their first act of rebellion or civil disobedience was to return to home and make love without using a condom. Such is the level of control that the Chinese government has on a person's individual liberties. The first act of civil disobedience was quite fruitful and Heidi was soon pregnant. The only way they can keep the child was if they escaped from the house arrest and somehow deliver the baby in an underground facility. They make a brave attempt to escape the house arrest, on an individual basis, and successfully managed to cross the country to Thailand and from there to the US over a span of several months.

Since coming to the US, Bob has been extremely influential in portraying the struggles of Chinese religious freedom. He has contributed immensely to saving several persecuted christian leaders on death row, and non-christian human rights leaders as well. In this effort, he is ably assisted by the highest powers of the US government - Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and their secretaries, and numerous churches and individuals in the US. The book catalogs the efforts of all these parties in much detail and allows us to understand how each and every single small act of kindness fills the space in the big picture of God's plans for a nation.

Bob's autobiography is a fascinating account of a man's journey from a nondescript village in rural China to becoming a policy maker in the International level. The conclusion of his story is the incredible ways and means God will lift a man if he is faithful and available to Him. Bob was faithful in his zeal as a missionary, and an available body for God to work through.

His story does not end with the usual all-is-well-now conclusion. Instead, he takes this opportunity to further highlight the ongoing struggles of Chinese Christian church (underground) and also offers few instructions on what we can do to help them. I thought one particular point was very relevant for the Indian church too. Let me quote from his book.

"Let's resist the urge to promote a certain brand of theology. I once met with a famous American evangelist in a five-star hotel in Beijing. "How many Chinese Christians," he asked, "have the spiritual gifts of speaking in other tongues?" While I am not personally against that doctrine and practice )and have even had this experience), I could tell that this secondary issue was his main concern. A few years later this minister wrote a book about how to speak in tongues that was distributed by the tens of thousands through underground Chinese printing networks. Now this issue has become one of the most divisive issues in Chinese churches."

I think this is an issue that we too face in our ministry. I have noted that numerous Christians focus on the peripheral doctrinal differences rather than the message of Christ's love. We end up showing such disunity and disharmony to the outside world and end up being counterproductive evangelists in today's world.

Bob Fu's book taught me that the basic message of Christs's love is able and enough to transform a man to becoming an effective witness. I wish you and I had at least one-tenth of Bob's zeal for God's word and His love for others. There are even more interesting snippets in this book, which I will leave for your personal reading. I hope I have wet your thirst to know more about the Chinese Church. You can read more about Bob Fu via the links below:

Wiki page
Washington Post article
You can buy the book here or rent it from a local library.

Touch

Being an oncologist is a special and unique God given opportunity. Of all the types of specialties that I have seen up close, an oncologist has the most special bond with a patient. One that can only happen in the face of the absolute adversity in (to) life - death. Often I am left with no answers to the numerous questions about the disease and the future. Any 'guess'timates are guesses anyway. And, I don't have a crystal ball too. In times like this, an oncologist has to use his best tool out of the whole armamentarium of medicine - the Touch.

A touch between two individuals from two different places, situations and life's circumstances, a touch between someone who has a whole life ahead and another who has the uncertainties that the last breath brings forth. As Dr. Sikov mentioned recently, to some exaggeration, in no field can one touch another person and get away with it, but as a doctor. I don't need to ask, be embarrassed or apologize for the touch. In fact, I usually step it up a notch further - I hug.

In that hug, I experience the joy of knowing another person in a most intimate way, by being his sounding board, a comforter, guide and friend. But, in equal measure, that hug adds value to my life just as it brings value to his dying. 

Lost

Down the trail
Calm and tranquil
Strangers rushing past
Chatter of the forest
I still cannot find
What I lost sometime ago

The mountaintop
Snow capped, green valleys
Ocean waves crushing rocks
Or the serene beach
Nothing replaces
What I lost sometime ago

Door to door I ask
To those who love and serve
At the altar
Where all find peace
I seek, I yearn for
What I lost sometime ago

Not too long ago
It brought me relief
In times of sorrow
Moments of unbridled joy
I have lost what I hold dear
My tears, come back to me.


 

Vaccine for cancer - is it real?

 

Is there a vaccine for breast cancer and uterine cancer? The short answer is NO.

 

The vaccine-preventable cancers are cervical cancer (due to HPV vaccination), hepatocellular carcinoma aka liver cancer (due to vaccine against Hepatitis B).

 

No other cancer can be prevented or cured by a vaccine. Some others have asked me previously if there is a vaccine against prostate cancer? There is a prostate cancer therapy for patients who have stage IV or metastatic disease that uses the principles of vaccine development. We harvest a patient's own cells and grows it in the lab against immune cells and create immunity that will fight the cancer. We then re-infuse his cells back to him. The outcome: a person who got this novel therapy will live 4 more months on average. Click here to read the study.

 

Coming back to my pet topic - don't get fooled by the internet-based memes. Use common sense. If you lack it, use Dr. Google.

 

Read this blog post to understand more about this issue:

http://walkwme365.blogspot.com/2015/02/social-media-exposes-our-gullibility.html

Universities and academic freedom

One reason universities worldwide are improving in cutting edge science and medicine, while we in India lag behind is because of governmental interference. The recent fiasco involving Amartya Sen and Nalanda University is a case in point. Less government in academics mean less nepotism, more meritocracy, more intellectual freedom - all of which result in creating an atmosphere for discovery and scientific progress.

A government which genuinely cares about education will resolve to leave it to the experts and not to their own idiosyncrasies.

Update: The same day Times Higher Education came up with their annual rank list. I was also one of the invited raters for this year's edition. No institution from India in the top 500. No surprises. 

An apology to Shawn

I recently read an "apology to the Marthoma church" written by Shawn Varghese. From what I can understand, Shawn is writing the blog based on his experiences growing up in a North American Marthoma church. He writes about how he grew up in the church and was able to dis-proportionally "give something to the church" as opposed to "receiving something in return". In high school, he visited the famed Times Square Church and was enthralled by the experience. He didn't do what most of us would have done - change church. He persisted with his church and tried his best to influence the church service as a choir and youth leader.

Eventually, he goes to Dallas for theological training. During this time, he experienced several non-evangelical church and soon grew disillusioned with these churches - with the lack of a 'complete message' of creation, fall, redemption, restoration that a liturgical church often provides during a complete worship session. He describes a usual Sunday worship in detail and points to its shallowness. He returns to a church following the liturgical worship experience. He takes special care in stressing the point that liturgy does not save anyone, only Jesus does. He wishes that more churches provide the 'complete message' on a weekly basis. And, having an ordained liturgy, the Marthoma church does that every week.

As a result of these experiences, his apology to Marthoma church takes form and shape:
- he is sorry that he once thought liturgy was not good for the individual and the church
- he is sorry that he misunderstood the 'reverence' in Marthoma church to a lack of enthusiasm
- he is sorry for misunderstanding that the Marthoma church does not believe in the priesthood of the believer

I agree with all that Shawn has beautifully written, which I have just summarized above. Now for my story, and the reason for this blog post.

Like Shawn, I grew up in the Marthoma church too. Unlike Shawn, my experience of the church is from its roots in Kerala. Like Shawn, I have traveled far and wide (more than a handful of countries) and have visited or been a regular member of several churches - ranging from Anglican to African to Baptist to Lutheran to Methodist to Pentecostal and finally, the new offshoots fancifully called Mega churches. But, I remain a Marthomite, by denominational belief.

Out of such varied church experience, if there is one thing I have understood, it is that no church is perfect. Denominational and doctrinal differences exist to cater to each person's soul, to edify the person. One person's expression of worship may not be the same as the other person's. Therefore, I would like to think that God allowed the denominations that we see today.

Shawn realized the shallowness of non-denominational churches and got a better appreciation for the power of a liturgical worship service. As a person who literally grew up in the Marthoma church, I think a similar case of shallowness exists for the average Marthoma churchgoer as well. Shawn, through his apology, hits each of those areas that I think are the reason why people leave the church, or remain in the church at the expense of being stunted in spiritual growth.

Therefore, my apology to Shawn, or people like him, would read very similar to his statements -
-I apologize for thinking that the liturgy is the be-all and end-all of worship
-I apologize for lacking in enthusiasm
-I apologize for not realizing that I too was a royal priest anointed by God

I hope to describe each of these apologies in detail, so you can get a better appreciation of where I erred. As a result, I hope you will appreciate that church is not the issue, rather it is people like you and I who inadvertently serve as a deterrent for a true worshiper.

Liturgy is the be-all and end-all of worship

How many times have you heard or said the following comments?

"Achen's tune was great/bad"

"I saw Qurbana"

"I just came for the Qurbana"

"Today's worship was too long"

"I participated in the Qurbana"

One of the potential follies of a liturgical worship is the feeling that the liturgy or the 'sacredness' of the worship is enough to sustain a believer. We go to church, and return home, often not being able to worship the saviour in truth and spirit. Although, as I wrote earlier, a liturgy can be complete and beautiful in itself, it does not permit spontaneous expressions of worship. The worshiper is sometimes restricted in his ability to express his thoughts and emotions. In a non-denominational or a non-liturgical format, there is plenty of scope for freedom of worship. The liturgy often becomes so engrained in the believers mind that the worship becomes all too mechanical.

An average churchgoer may not even  participate in the worship by saying the parts which the people are free to speak. He ends up listening to others worshiping his creator. I still remember, as a child, a large part of me was stuck in a cricket stadium or even in school with friends while the achen sings Evengelion.

But at the same time, such a liturgical experience may end up satisfying a person's inner thirst for doing the 'right thing' and he may feel he has paid his weekly dues for God. He lives through his entire life without ever expressing his agony, his burdens, his fears, or his highest praises. The fact that the liturgy has heavy use of 'alien' language does not help too. I often wonder if we do a poll of Marthomites on the meaning of the phrase "barequmar sthoumankalos", how many would be able to answer correctly? While we are an ancient church with history dating back to St. Thomas, it maybe time to adapt and make modifications in the liturgy that accounts for the changing society.

I understand that the church never intends to use the liturgy as a be-all and end-all. But the believer may be trapped in a vicious cycle of routine sunday attendances at the expense of not having a true relationship with their creator.

Lacking in enthusiasm

As a Marthomite who has worshiped at several other denominations, I can easily say that our worship services appear monotonous, and the affect of the average churchgoer during the service displays a lack of zeal. But I am not writing about the actual service. It is what happens afterwards or even before, or sometimes during the service that will showcase the lack of enthusiasm. While a vibrant congregation would stay after the church to meet, greet, encourage fellow believers, our average churchgoer would disappear as soon as the doxology is sung. There are exceptions and I maybe generalizing this a bit too much. But those who have had friends who have changed church would probably agree with me if I say that one of the major reasons people switch church is the lack of genuine fellowship. 

A lack of enthusiasm is also displayed in the low attendance of our conventions, edavaka mission meetings, youth league etc. Most Marthomites have to supplement their 'study of the word of God' by going to other fellowships or meetings? Why does this happen? A person dear to me once went to two consecutive youth league meetings where instead of the word of God, there was a debate about "Why US is a world police" and "Some-random-news-topic". She, a 12th standard student at that time, fortunately had the wisdom to tell her dad that she needed another place to grow and thereafter matured under the wings of the Evangelical Union (EU). Why should our youngsters go elsewhere? Are we lacking in serious study of the word of God? I'm sure several of us would agree with me if I write that the general churchgoer lacks a thirst to study the bible. There's more to this issue. Maybe you can chip in with thoughts?

A genuine worshiper may be discouraged to see such a lack of enthusiasm for the study of Word of God or for prayer or for fellowship. No wonder then, he changes church. 

Is my behavior appropriate for a royal priest?

We read in 1 Peter 2:9 that all believers belong to a royal priesthood - which means we who claim to be a believer should act like a priest. What is expected of a priest? Should he be sinless, or blameless? No! There is no one who has lived or will live in the face of the earth who is blameless - except Jesus, son of man and son of God.

A priest should be able to witness his savior in his life. He should aim to be kind, compassionate, sincere, honest, full of integrity and genuinely loving. He should be impartial and should be able to guide or uplift another fellow believer in his times of crisis.

Has my behavior been appropriate for a royal priest? Have I been kind, compassionate or sincere when I was part of the general body meeting? Is my motive plain and simple for everyone to see and has it been based on Christ's love? Have I imported politics into church and made church a commodity? Have I displayed my love for the church more than my love for Christ? Have I shown impartiality in my behavior? Have I uplifted or guided someone else who was going through a period of turmoil? Have I gossiped or said bad comments about the achen in my family home, and then acted 'holy' in front of him? If I have erred in any of the above, have I sought forgiveness from Christ or shown remorse?

Have my mistakes led to someone else feeling that the church is not what it says it is? Then, it's time for me to change. If luckily, the genuine worshiper ended up in a bible-believing church where he matures, well and good. You and I have at least not sent someone downhill. But, if someone decides to altogether stop seeking the Lord, then we may need some course correction.

I hope you have appreciated that church is often not the issue, rather it is people like you and I who inadvertently serve as a deterrent for a true worshiper. In that case, you and I owe an apology to people like Shawn. This is mine. What's yours like? 

Tweeting twaroor

I just finished the legendary book "To kill a mocking bird." It's No 1 on several people's list. Wanted to pick Dr. Tharoor to see his No 1 and this is what I get. I have to admit - he's as funny as he is erudite. Let's see if he answers my follow-up question. Stay tuned for updates. 

The update: If marooned in a desert, he would like to read the Mahabarata. No surprise on that - since his best fiction was based on that (Great Indian novel). 

My Brother's Keeper

The story of creation and the fall is followed immediately by an incident involving two brothers. Cain and Abel. Both offer sacrifices to God - Abel's was favored over Cain's offering. It's unclear why God favored one over the other, but from circumstantial evidence, it appears that Abel offered his best, whereas Cain's was probably a random selection. Cain was angry at this response from God and went on to commit the first crime in the face of the Earth, if you consider Adam and Eve's disobedience as the seminal event of the fall. Abel was fatally attacked. Subsequently, God asks Cain where his brother was, to which he said, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Ever since I have realized the tremendous grace of salvation I have been bestowed with, if there is one thing I aim in life, it is to please God. I even joke with my wife about securing points in heaven. In good humor, I do a lot of things in my life with an eye on those points. For company, I have a biblical hero - Apostle Paul, who makes it very clear that his life's worth was in pleasing God.

I have always wondered what pleases God the most. Obviously, the straight and simple answer would be "love him wholeheartedly." But in a practical way, one way you and I can be in his good books is by becoming baby sitter's, or in other words, a brother's keeper. What does this entail?

Becoming a baby sitter means you have to know where the baby is, all the time. You have to respond to the baby's needs. You have to do the menial job of cleaning behind of somebody else's baby. You have to feed, support and comfort the infant. Being a baby sitter is a grueling task, emotionally and physically exhausting, after which you are a spent force.

Being a baby sitter is satisfying. It may bring forth unexpected rewards - the joy of seeing a first two-legged walk, hearing the first words of a human being. It may give a fresh new life's perspective to the baby sitter. And above all, doing a good job at it - it pleases the baby's parents. It makes them proud, happy, and may open up their wallets to give you blessings in abundance. Being a good baby sitter may lead to favors.

Do you desire to be your brother's keeper? If so, read the above two paragraphs again. The initial one will show you what it means to be one. The latter one speaks of its rewards.

In my brief but successful (at least, I would like to think so) life as a baby sitter (my brother's keeper), I have had to keep a close track of my brother (not a biological one), speak in a language that I do not feel comfortable, respond to his needs - emotionally, spiritually, physically and monetarily, clean up his mess, feed, support and comfort him, and open myself up to vulnerability. At the end of each of those experiences, I have come out tired, fatigued, often wondering how much of a fool I am to have tried to be a brother's keeper.

But, equally if not even more, it has left me immensely satisfied. It has brought forth the rewards of helping another person take the first steps of recovery, making my life more meaningful. Above all, the joy of walking in God's will. Of making your creator pleased in you, and receiving blessings in abundant measure. It has opened my eyes to a fresh new perspective on life. And, I sure must have scored a lot of points.

I have a lot more roads to travel on this journey. Sometimes with deflated tires, on snowy slippery roads. But still, the experience of being, or at least, trying to be a brother's keeper has been more fruitful for my own life than for my brother. Would you like to be a brother's keeper? Ask God to show you brother(s) who needs a baby sitter. Challenge yourself to experiencing the emotional roller-coaster. Score points in heaven above. 

Here's a song for you - A brother's keeper.

The church and the young: is it time for reconciliation?

Reconcile (definition): Restore friendly relations 

If we consider the membership of an average marthoma congregation to be numbering around 200-300 families, at least 50 families will have 1-2 teenagers and/or young adults, that too on a conservative count. Based on the demographic profile of the church, at least 25% of the adults are younger than the age of 40 years. Taking all of this into consideration, one can easily estimate at least 100 young adults in each moderate to large congregation. But only a small proportion of the youngsters gather regularly for yuvajanasakhyam, and considerably fewer attendees in a worship service can be pooled under the “young” category.

It seems like there is a ‘barrier’ – between the church and the young members. It could be disputed that the above estimates are not valid for the church as a whole, but the lack of actual statistics should not deter us from discussing such anecdotal experiences. How can we bring the people in our midst that is far away from Christ back to the shadows of his cross (Ephesians 2:13)? How can we reconcile or restore the relations between the church and the young? For that, first let us understand reconciliation in light of the gospel.

What should be reconciled? The relationship that God desires – absolute love (Luke 10:27)!

What is the message of reconciliation? I am a sinner and I deserve death and eternal damnation in hell. Sin separates me from God, my creator (Romans 6:23). In order to give me life, God sent his son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for my sins through which, he has destroyed the barrier between God and myself (Ephesians 2:14-17). I am now reconciled to God (Romans 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

Where does the church come in this picture? The church is the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Only a community that loves its weakest link can successfully serve in the ministry of reconciliation and effectively deliver the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

How can we witness the message of reconciliation to our young people? Let me share a few practical thoughts for your reflection:
1. Love wholeheartedly –
When a new person comes to church, make him feel at home, introduce him with love and sincerity, show him you care, talk to him and know him like you would if he was a future Paul or Peter.
2. Serve passionately –
If this new visitor needs a ride to church, provide it. If he needs a home cooked meal, serve him one.
3. Actively witness Christ’s humility –
Would you consider giving up your seat for him? Would you mind getting him a cup of coffee?
4. Be non-judgmental –
Don’t assume things about him based on his dress or appearance.
5. Allow God’s spirit to move –
Pray for him, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom to understand his needs and spiritual maturity.
6. Innovate –
If there are more such people in the church, find what you can do to make them feel at home, so that they can worship the Lord and enjoy a relationship with Christ.
7. Equip mentors and encourage mentoring –
Connect them to mentors who try to live a Christian life, organize small groups in a non-threatening manner to allow space for mentoring, conduct seminars that can equip mentors.
8. Walk the talk –
As a church, walk the message of reconciliation. Be a community that forgives and bears each other’s burden.

When the church focuses on the weak, the lost and the poor, when it cares for those who are sidelined and standing in the fringes of the community, when it actively seeks out the non-regulars, it will be called the repairers of the breach (Isaiah 58:12). The reconciliation of the creation to God will be its overarching goal. It will be the living testimony of God’s grace in this fallen world.

Let’s reclaim our church for our young people. 

When will India's daughter walk with her head held high?

There's a battle in the airwaves whether the BBC documentary, India's daughter, should be screened or not. I personally think it's a well made one, with grim but true facts and striking visuals. And, it presents the theme using just words that you and I would hear often. How many times have you heard it being said, "girls are not equal to boys", "girls are like flower who should not be hurt by thorns, afterall, only the flower gets damaged in the process", "girls should do housechores, boys should study", "girls should not go out to the streets on their own".

Violence is in every society and nation. But the strength of a nation is seen in how it responds to the crisis. By that measure, we have just defined ourselves as a reactionary, morally challenged, unjust, spiritually lost country. The worst can be summed up in one statement that her tormenter says - "she deserved it".

What I would like to see coming out from this debate is captured in the following screenshots from the exceptionally made documentary, by a brave British jouralist. Sometimes, it requires an outside voice to shake us to the grim reality of the horrors of an average Indian women's life.

I hope when the voice subsides, we can all agree in the following:

- a girl can do anything



- she has big dreams



- and, she can achieve it



After we agree on these core tenets of women's rights, let's start by teaching our children these values. That's the only way our society can transform to one where even the women can walk with her 'head held high'. As Tagore sings in the oft quoted poem below:

"Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

 

Pride

I had two interesting encounters this morning. First was with a gentleman who served in the peacekeeping mission in Rwanda. He described the horrifying scenes of war and genocide in gory details. He talked about how it left a scar in his soul forever. The images of war left such a deep hurt in his mind that he still cannot live his life to the fullest.

Since Rwanda, he has served in Iraq and has flown several helicopter missions, often getting shot at close quarters. Fortunately, he suffered no injuries and was left to ponder about an offer to work for an American security firm for $180,000 per year, 2 generous vacations and tax-free salary included. It was too good to be neglected and he decided to pursue it. Until his mother stepped in. Upon hearing his plans to go back to a volatile place and serve in securing an oil field, she started sobbing inconsolably. "Why do you have to stretch your luck? Could you please stay out of harms way for once?". He obeyed. And, stayed back.

The second person was an elderly gentleman who is serving on his church committee. He keeps himself active in that role. He had some interesting perspectives. "The church membership is dwindling. Every year we lose 20 members from our pledges, dying. We can't figure out how to make up for this loss. I go to the tie and suit formal services. But, nowadays there is a new kind of service in the church during after-hours. It is quite well attended. Mostly young folks with little children. They don't have a dress code. They wear whatever to church. They don't have a choir. Clap their hands and sing songs. And, they have short service. It looks like their numbers are growing."

I asked him, "do you agree or disagree with church having such a contemporary service?".

"Of course, I agree. That's the way to go."

Yes, I agree. When churches world wide are losing membership from the traditional services, the church should be open to more contemporary worship style, while maintaining the traditional way for those who cherish it. But there should not be any resistance to different forms of worship. My 85 year old patient said it right. "I worship in a suit. My son wears shorts. Let it be."


When will the traditional churches in Kerala see the light? Will the resistance from elderly dissipate? Will the youngsters ever learn to respect the different, archaic style of liturgy? After all, it comes down to one issue - lack of mutual respect and spiritual-pride.

If I can take you back to Rwanda, what happened during the genocide? An unnatural tribe-pride in one's tribe and ethnicity, resulting in gruesome genocide of his neighbours. One way or the other - pride hurts everyone.


 

Peace in pieces

My best friend recently said something that lingered in my mind for a long time. By the way, the best friend also happens to be the wife. "Peace in pieces", she said. As I think about what this phrase means for me, a biblical passage that comes to my mind is the one from Jeremiah 18. Paraphrased, it reads like this - "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, my son."

A potter has to break the clay into pieces several times before a beautiful pot is created. And, that pot will be useful only if it passes through this experience. Similarly, in my life and yours, God makes pieces out of you to create a better you. The big question is the following: Do you have peace in those pieces?

As I try to find an answer to this question in my life, I am reminded of the footprints story. 

We walk through phases in our life when we are lost in the toils and turmoils of everyday living. In those situations, our peace comes from knowing that God is holding us tight in his hands. The hands that created this universe. Do I have peace in the pieces of my broken life? 

Yes, I do. Do you?

If not, join with me in this prayer:

Father God, thank you for breaking me into pieces. Thank you for creating me into a useful vessel. Thank you Jesus for holding me tight in your hands. Give me the peace that comes from knowing you, a kind of peace that passes all understanding. I want to experience peace in my life, the one that the world cannot give, but that you give in abundant measure. Amen.

രോഗം രഹസ്യമാക്കുന്നതിന്റെ കാരണം എന്ത്?

ഇത്രയും നാളത്തെ എന്റെ അമേരിക്കൻ മെഡിക്കൽ ജീവിതത്തിൽ നിന്ന് എനിക്ക് ഒട്ടനവധി കാര്യങ്ങൾ പഠിക്കുവാൻ സാധിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഇവിടെയുള്ള രോഗികളുടെ attitude എന്നെ വളരെയതികം അത്ബുതപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. ഇവിടെ ആളുകള് രോഗം വന്നാൽ എത്രയും വേഗം ജോലിയിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങും. സാമ്പത്തികം മാത്രമല്ല കാരണം. ജോലി അവര്ക്കൊരു distraction ആകുന്നു. അത് ആളുകളുമായി interact ചെയ്യുവാനും, ജീവിക്കുവാനും അവര്ക്ക് പ്രചോദനം നല്കുന്നു. രോഗം മറ്റുള്ളവരിൽ  നിന്നും അവർ മറച്ചു വക്കുകയുമില്ല. നാട്ടിലോ, നാം ഇതിനു നേര് വിപരീതം കാണുന്നു. രോഗം പരമ രഹസ്യം. രോഗിക്ക് full ടൈം rest. ഇതെല്ലാം രോഗ സൌഖ്യത്തിനു ഗുണകരമായ കാര്യമല്ല. ഇത് എന്ത് കൊണ്ട് ഇങ്ങനെയാകുന്നു എന്നത് എനിക്ക് ഇത് വരെ മനസിലാകുന്നില്ല. എന്തു കൊണ്ട് നാം രോഗം അതീവ രഹസ്യമായി സൂക്ഷിക്കുന്നു?

എനിക്ക് ഒരു രോഗം വന്നാൽ ഞാൻ എങ്ങനെ അതിനെ അപ്പ്രോച് ചെയ്യും? അമേരിക്കൻ or ഇന്ത്യൻ style?