“IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO BE BUSY; SO ARE THE ANTS. THE QUESTION IS: WHAT ARE WE BUSY ABOUT?”
—Henry David Thoreau
Dearly beloved Parishioners,
After the good monsoon showers which have had a cooling impact on the whole atmosphere around us, we see small rivulets appearing to dance through twigs, thorns and bushes, gushing through rocks and hills, humming through huge mountains and valleys, forming and transforming into milky waterfalls, adorning and beautifying nature as like a new bride.
If we observe Nature carefully, we find that Nature, on its own, adapts to change by holistically undergoing changes in every season. For this, it follows a pattern of self-discipline and manages time appropriately. Though Nature is constantly at work unceasingly, it ‘Never ever complains about its ‘BUSYNESS’. It teaches us the way of Time management – of prioritizing time in one’s own life.
Once a Management Professor wanting to teach his students an important lesson on time management brought to the class a big wide-mouthed jar and some items in a bag. First, he put into the jar about a dozen big rocks which filled up the jar. He asked the students, “Is there more space?” Unanimously the students replied “No”. From the bag, he took some loose gravel and put it into the jar. It filled up the space in between the rocks. He then shook the jar and as the gravel settled to the bottom, he kept filling more. Then he again asked the students, “Is there room for more?” They replied in many voices, “May be. it’s possible”. The Professor then poured into the jar some fine sand and shaking the jar, kept adding more. After this, he poured into the jar some water.
He then asked the students, “What do you think was the purpose of this illustration?” To which one of the students quickly replied, “No matter how busy your schedule is, if you try hard, you can always fit in more.” The Professor shook his head, “The real purpose of this illustration is to understand that if you don’t put the big rocks in first then you can never get them in at all” What do the rocks signify? They signify, time for prayer and communion with God, time spent with the family, with the children, time spent for a worthy cause and for helping others whose needs are greater than ours. The Professor concluded, “Find time for the things that give purpose to life, the rest is pebbles and sand.”
The above anecdote opens our minds to a new dynamic of life. We can learn a lot from our day-to-day experiences about Nature and the environment that we live in. It teaches us that “IT’S ONLY IN GIVING, THAT WE RECEIVE”. Nature never gets tired of giving. Its resources may get depleted but not its spirit.
Our Parish, as well as our Small Christian Communities, can be compared to a big jar. There are a few parishioners who are actively involved in our Parish and in our communities, trying their utmost best to fill the jar with their innate talents, active participation, perseverance and total dedication. A question raised is “IS THERE STILL ROOM FOR MORE?” Each of you who shares in the Body and Blood of Christ needs to take some time out of your busy schedule and answer the above question. I would say “YES”, there is ENOUGH OF SPACE FOR YOU in our Church and Communities to make a huge difference by being an active participator, sharing your little talents, time and thoughts for the upliftment, of your Small Christian Community and the Parish at large. The Church needs you and so does your Zonal Community.
I appeal to each of you, “Let’s Come Together,” to rebuild our Church and Communities, into Communities of Faith, being a Communion of fellowship and thus becoming a more effective, participative and witnessing Synodal Church.
In conclusion, I quote our Holy Father, Pope Francis, “Rivers do not drink their own water, the trees do not eat their own fruits, the sun does not shine for itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living and serving others is the Rule of Nature. We are all born to help and uplift each other, no matter how busy we are and how difficult it is. Life is good when you are happy but much better when others are happy because of you”.
Along with my Clergy team, I wish each of you and your precious families a blessed Feast Day of the Nativity of our dear Heavenly Mother.
Fr. John Mascarenhas, SVD
Parish Priest