The Challenge to be Human (2)

                    The 21^st century can be rightly called a technocratic era. The uncried theme for this century is – Machines replacing men. 

Look at it from any angle; Work – efficiently done by machines, replacing manual labour; Communication – automated! Even love and friendship are brought under its mantle.

Two lovers (of post-romantic stage) or say friends, even when close to each other would prefer to log onto whatsapp and chat than to hold hands and talk. We all have time to glance over a text sent but no time to look into the eyes of a person crying for your presence. We all have time to read someone’s status but no heart to really ask and be with the person in reality.

See who have become our friends! People wearing masks??? Maybe, because we have more time for gadgets than for real people. Communication makes life easy, right? That’s correct! But what is the use communication without the meeting (atleast the intention of meeting) of two hearts?

Think about it!!!

Do something special today – Smile, shake hands, pat your friend's back and give a tight hug with a genuine and a sincere heart. This assurance will surely uplift that person with the hope that YES! No matter what you are there for him/her.

The Challenge to be Human (1)

In this fast paced world, people tend to be busy all their lives. Love and concern for others find place only in blogs and  books. Profit for oneself has become the guiding principle for all our dealings.

A flower that gives fragrance would lose heart if it gives its fragrance with the sole expectation of having a person enjoying it. In the same way, a person would plunge into depression, when he find no one by his/her side when s/he feels low. EXPECTATIONS – the precursor of the ‘DEATH’ of HAPPINESS.

            What do we do? A flower has no option but to give out its fragrance. But we, fellow Human Beings have a choice. We can make ourselves ‘Human’ to the full sense of the term, and open our heart for people to reside. Give a listening ear (not advice) which is very difficult, since it is non-profit oriented. Give our time to the people who need it. And thus we shall make this planet a better place to live in.

            Let us do something special today – Just let a person know that you are there for that person, right now and in the ages to come.

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.

Relationships