Welcome to Planet’ R’

Planet ‘R’ – What a lovely place to stay and fulfil all of life’s dreams! This Planet ‘R’ that is appreciated is not somewhere distant from us but is present here and now. This planet that I refer to is our present situation in which we live… a Planet of Relationships.

                One may just look around and see the growth of the virtual world teeming with youngsters. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Hi5, whatsapp, hike are all household names now. With the invasion of the virtual world, advanced the new phenomenon of virtual relationships. Anyone can be your friend without even having an eye to eye contact, or let me put it as physical contact. The aspect of touch which is ignored and the various emotions and positive relationships blooming forth from them is lost to the youth of today. The youth get more interested in the gadgets that enable them to connect with their friends than to their friends themselves. The old adage - Things are to be used and People are to be loved, may be reversed in the face of the this new virtual planet ‘R’ as - Things are to be loved and People are to be used.

                In the progression of this new virtual Planet ‘R’, I wondered as to what would Don Bosco do. I guess Don Bosco would have a facebook profile and may even be on whatsapp. But herein lies the difference, he will not only be ‘online’ but also ‘onlive’. Connecting with people is an intrinsic aspect of the apostolate. His idea of Presence will not allow one just to be on the virtual playground where the courts are bustling with youngsters…doing something, moving around, exploring without having a clear idea of their destination. Thanks to the influence of the media, one’s own sense of right and wrong, the ability to gauge between what is important and what is not, what is to be upheld as a value, all of them are left on unstable grounds.

                His sons, Salesians have a great responsibility, which is gladly accepted - to be present to the youth, with the youth and for the youth. To be present, no doubt, in this Virtual Planet ‘R’ but also to reach out and go beyond to touch people’s lives as a person and not as a profile. Much is gained in telling a person ‘I Love you’,
than to click a like on someone’s status or a pic. A lot is expressed when you really cry in front of a person than to send a crying emoticon. We need to get back to build real good relationships if we intend to live in this planet ‘R’ and not be gulped down by the mammoth virtual world. Let us be persons and not just a display picture.