So what I say , should be for the good of listeners.
Do I speak to build up or destroy ?
Can I be an instrument to build unity ? Which is better? To spew venom or speak words of wisdom .
How will I be aware of my words? A good way will be to reflect either at the end of the first half of day or at the day’s end.
Surely I will know I have spoken well, and can note that as the highlight of the day.
Recalling poor words , will help me to avoid that in the future .
How do I speak with wisdom .
Listening will help a lot. One gets a good understanding of the context of things said or unsaid. An analysis of the conversation in progress , helps to give a good response .
Spending time in quiet meditation and prayer goes a long way. Wisdom comes from above. It’s a gift of God .
Am I boring? Do I talk too much ? I think many including me will not realise this .
A better way is to take interest in others ; in their successes , struggles , worries and their joys too. Giving the other person a chance to speak helps to generate a good exchange of speaking and listening .
When I write , Is it the same ? Here lies the difference. Unless I get feedback on what I write , there will be no exchange of thoughts from my dear reader .
The beauty of writing , though , is that it’s an invitation to come on to my plain of thought.
It takes a lot of patience and minute perception to see and then take it forward .
I was not too interested in details : It’s only when doing sugar craft flowers that this aspect became important .
Each flower has so much to see and carve. Just imagine how God has created so much beauty and variety . Just visit the hills in summer and see the wild flowers . I won’t even know the various names , to the extent of the range of diversity .
Artists are good at perception . They look at details around them in nature and human beings too . They can bring out the character of a person so well . Every detail of expression of the face is brought out in the drawing or painting .
Authors do this in words which give a picture in the mind of the reader, when more details are described.
The more gifted the author , the more is the ability to capture a person’s characteristics in words . The reader can visualise and imagine the person being described. This can even permeate into the dialogue and various ways of the person’s speech.
Finally a word of how the eyes and face reveal a lot in real life … what is innermost in a person . The good within exudes a beauty of the individual which one sees . The opposite too happens when a person carries hatred and revenge.
‘ More than all else, keep watch over your heart, since here are the wellsprings of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
At first I saw only Mr Robin . He was quick as if on a mission . He proudly displayed his red chest. With short flights he flew first to the fence ; looked around and then descended onto the lawn .
“ Wait a while my dear , I will get a few leaves for our nest. “
“Yes ” replied Mrs Robin “ Yes indeed , with the winter gone , we need to hurry. “As she sat on the opposite fence below a bush all puffed up . They were soon to start their little family .
That’s the time a shot rang out . Mr Robin disappeared to safety .
There was silence for sometime. Mrs Robin seemed unconcerned on her perch amidst the bush over the fence .
Again Mr Robin flew down into the grass caught a another leaf in its beak , just in time as the second shot sounded .
This time his partner too flew off and he followed .
What were these shots …. would anyone try shooting robins ?
…….after all even the click of a camera will be loud enough for robins to fly away . Do you think they will return tomorrow ?
The care has been excellent. I’m in line for the CAR-T Cell Therapy at Glasgow. In view of this latest treatment for cancer, hygiene is given utmost importance. My room is self contained with the bath attached.
This morning I arose a little late as I was in pain .
As a result, my morning routine changed . I had breakfast and then proceeded for a shower. I was surprised when the nurse called out a little later,
“Turn off the shower.”
“I’m ok “ I replied , thinking that she came to help me .
Again she called out with urgency.
So I hurriedly wrapped the towel around me with some soap still on myself.
As I opened the bathroom door I saw a pool of water in the room. Water had also flowed out into the corridor .
Most embarrassing: three nurses were helping to swab the floor.
I asked them apologetically , “ How do I continue to shower?”
“ Turn the shower towards the wall.” was the response . ( apparently this had happened before)
So the next time I will have to go into the wall !….I chuckled to myself.
Solution : a mason or plumber required to channel the flow of water into the drain .
Some think , the nurses may have to wait for a good length of time before that happens.
In the mean time here’s advice to all including me “turn off the shower’ and save water !”
I’ve always been an avid tennis lover – Playing the game and following it too.
We have seen some great tennis players over the years. Among them I had favorites like
Roger Federer, Rod Laver , Boris Becker , Bjorn Borg , Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi
The intensity of Rafael Nadal surprised me as I thought he would fade away as a result of the way he played. Kudos for his disciplined approach to fitness which stood him well.
The biggest draw at the peak of his career was John McEnroe. The red band and the fiery temper had been a unique pattern of tennis on court .
This caricature by Ian my son in law, surprised me as it linked the famous McEnroe to me . My tennis cannot be compared to him though at some time in my younger days I could compete for being very short tempered .
Those days we played with normal racket heads whereas times have changed . Today the large head is an advantage not to forget a head that is tough and talented .
So cheers to Ian for helping me reminisce the past, when great tennis rivalries continued over the years.
I eagerly wait to get back on court and enjoy a good game.
You may have heard that cancer is curable. But you need to know that inspite of good medical research and care, the cancer can return. My type of cancer was considered the milder one. In 2019 I went through 6 sessions of Chemotherapy, from January to April. There was a gap of 3 weeks between each session. There were some bad side effects and that is the time I found solace in prayer and importantly others praying for me. God gave me courage and grace to endure and by June 2019 I was cancer free.
This led me to think that I now needed to lead a full life and make the most of the extended time given to me by the Lord. My children arranged for us to be with them from August until November, partly in Dubai and the remainder in UK. Anjean and I were overwhelmed with joy to be with them. I did a lot of travel, and met so many of our friends, community members and family. I even got an opportunity to play tennis, which I had not done in the past 25 years.
However on my return to India, in December I was diagnosed with a mild relapse of cancer. So after a round of investigations I was given 6 sessions of radiation . The subsequent report was good,
Then in April suddenly I saw some nodules on my right arm and shoulder. My doctor sent me for a petscan and it showed that the cancer had spread to 4 different areas. I was shocked. Over and above the shock, I was given to understand that Non Hodgekins Lymphoma is generally curable; but if it returns , then I fall in the category of 40% where it will not be cured. So this left me quite stunned.
Then began the chemotherapy at end of April, which was given in two parts ….a full day session and a half day session to complete one cycle. I was scheduled to take 6 complete cycles. Again I saw the provision of God in my finances through family, friends and medical insurance. By June 2020, I was again given a scan which showed an all clear report. My doctor though recommended that I complete the 6 cycles so that the treatment dealt with the cancer thoroughly. This last part has been very painful and I have had bad side effects. Constant Diarhoea and inability to retain a normal meal. Anjean has been rock solid with me at this time to standby me, praying and looking after all my needs…truly an angel to me as her full name is really ‘ Maria dos Anjos’.
I am grateful to my children, who have been doing their best , even though so far. They give us the feeling as if they are with us, with their numerous phone calls and even zoom meetings to pray together.
I specially acknowledge a good neighbour Hansel Baptista. He has gone out of his way to help to take us to and fro to the Hospital for these sessions. Hansel has become like a family member to us, in the absence of our children. Likewise Ben and Sandra, have always been ever ready to help us at any time ( we specially appreciate the times of intercession) . Aroon and Elaine from our Community and neighbours Avina and Carmen have made special efforts to reach out in significant ways . The call to pray from current community leader Eugene Peres, via telephone network of members, before every chemotherapy session has been a blessing.
Yes , prayers from my own Community of Jesus and Communities in India and all over the world, specially London, Glasgow and Dublin and Manila, and the Brothers from the Servants of the Word, have sustained me with courage and grace, to live a life fully. The Lord’s presence is sufficient indeed. Romeo Fernando and his team of intercessors from the Community of the Good Shepherd have been consistently praying for me.
Finally I acknowledge Fr Nigel Barett our Parish Priest from Our Lady of the Rosary, who made a special effort to bring me Holy Communion on a few occasions when I needed the Lord so much.
This has set me thinking about a lot of things.
Did I seriously think that after the first round of treatment and being cleared of traces of cancer that I will not get it again.?
Did I ever realize that many caṇcer patients suffer much more than me.
Am I aware that I have courage and a positive approach , only because this comes from the grace of
God and that many people known to me and even not known are praying for me?
What am I going to do in the months ahead? How will I respond to a God who loves me so much?
Finally , should I not accept that the final call can come any time irrespective of all the medical treatment I receive ?
So this second round of cancer relapse has helped me to realize and relook at life.
Importantly it is a reminder to me that my life on earth is limited. It has given me the assurance that whatever happens, as long as I live now…………
‘If we live we live to the Lord ; and If we die, we die to the Lord , whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.’ ( Romans 8:14)
viewvin 