Holding on to Thee...

Life is a wonderful gift of God to all of us. In fact, we all share life as a common gift of God to each one of us. As we grow in the course of life, many of us think how well we can live in the future; and so we begin to think, plan and work to live a good life. No doubt this is a common phenomenon that all of face in life. One day i met a youngster who was 25 years young, a software engineer who came to visit Shillong from South India. While sharing a cup of tea at top of the Don Bosco Museum in Shillong, he told me that ‘he lost 8 lakhs business in his early days and then he was in depression for a long time.’ By God’s grace, hard work and commitment he was out of that night mare and then settled well in life with a job that fetched him a handsome salary. He was happy with good salary, lifestyle and had everything that he wanted and wished. At this time he felt discomfort and unhappy...

He realized that his job could make his soul happy, neither the family nor the friends. There was a strong a feeling of some kind of discomfort in him which he found difficult to figure it out. And so began to tour over the world, America, Australia and North East India. He told me that even in abroad the situation is the same that his Soul was never at peace. He found no joy, no meaning and no purpose of life in money, friends and fun. There was a space that he found needs to be filled with God and prayer. Since then, he began to admire the beauty of creation and the goodness of the simple people. It was surprising to listen to him because at one point of time he said that how nice if he were to be a religious person to enjoy and feel the presence of God in life. Yes, it was an inspiring moment for me to realize that I am extremely fortunate to be a religious enjoying the bounty and goodness of God beyond measure.

He began to make a point to think in life on a positive note. It is a new phase in life to view everything from a new perspective not losing the focus that we are united in and with God. This is exactly what Abraham Lincoln said that ‘God is always with but the question is whether we are with God or not is the point of concern.’ It is therefore, awareness that sets us to be with God mentally and physically. Awareness is a mental notion that ancient religions, Hinduism and Buddhism were concerned about...self-awareness is the goal of these religions. But here we are not concerned about self awareness rather something more profound and something more beautiful like that kite in the hands of it’s owner being united with the Father our creator enjoying the sky, breeze and creativity of the trinity.

To put everything in brief life is good and so let us not lose the purpose of life in this world of rat race where money, name and fame that make young people go crazy and drowsy and end up miserably in life losing everything in life. Instead, we gain the joy and the beauty of life when we are aware of the presence of God in our life because it is God’s grace that helps us to sail the sea of life and reach the destination of meaning, purpose and fulfillment. Thus we all hold on to him like Abraham Lincoln who was ever aware of God, St Mother Teresa who ever thirst for Christ and St John Paul II who ever witnessed to the Love of Jesus.   

Let us hold on to God...