Standing still is difficult. It does not come naturally to any one of us. Like a child who has just learned to walk; our hearts and hands constantly try to grab things fast.
With mobiles in our hands that can compute real fast if some page takes more than a few seconds to load we become impatient.
In the midst of such daily experiences, God commands us to stand still. But those who have tried to do so know that it is more than difficult. We would like to engineer our ideas and try to help God somehow.
Yes, standing still goes against our wisdom. We are used to connect with people, use money power, or influence to get things done. Waiting for God to act is not in our scheme of things.
But God waits. He waits to allow us to come to the end of our strivings. He waits till our strength and resources and wisdom are all exhausted. He waits until we are truly helpless.
Unable to fight one more round when we lie down in the dust; God steps in. He acts decisively.
So today make a deliberate attempt to calm your hearts and minds before God.
He is on his throne and in absolute control of all that is happening in your life. He is concerned for you. Negative circumstances and giant opposition is no match for his wisdom and power.
The only thing he is asking of you and me is to put our confidence and trust in him. Standing still is an outward sign of our faith in God. In such moments our focus is on God himself, how big he is, how great he is, how wise he is, and how great power and resources he commands.
So my dear friend, tell God that you have come to the end of all your ideas. Ask him to step in and tell him you feel helpless. Remember that the battle is God’s. You role is to stand still and watch what God is going to do for you.
When you stand still without running here and there in desperation, there will come people asking you, “On what are you basing this confidence of yours?” Do not let their doubts or their ridicule shake your faith. Stand still. Stand firm and see the deliverance God will bring in your life.
“Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity<” so said John Flavel . Sometimes God acts only when there seems to be no hope to go forward and no possibility of going back. It is then that you have to stand still and not give in to panic.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
It’s never too late to start. You should turn your back to the past and walk forward in hope. If it is strength for the journey you are worried about; it is God himself who will be your strength.
It’s never too late to start. None of us are assured of tomorrow. So do not be anxious about what might happen. That is none of your business. But think about how you can make the present opportunity better.
It’s never too late to start. You might have debated long in your mind how to say that you are sorry for the wrong words you used or the mistakes you made. Most of us have passed through it. But if you are genuinely sorry, say it now. It will start to heal a lot of wounds.
It’s never too late to start. So many good things you planned to do, die before they are even born; isn’t it? A perfect start is often a myth; but a small beginning has in it potential to grow and multiply. What matters is not the feebleness of the attempt but that you get things start moving.
It’s never too late to start. Most of us neglect our loved ones at home in the pursuit of our career, hobbies, or even earning more likes and views in social media. But isn’t that sad? Remember what the great cricketer and missionary C. T. Studd said, “The light that shines farthest shines brightest nearest home.” So start to spend more time with your loved ones and make a deliberate effort to show them your love today.
It’s never too late to start. Say No. Most of your troubles can be due to your attempt to please people. Starting today, say no when you are in doubt, when you clearly know that something is wrong, and when you understand that others are trying to manipulate you.
It’s never too late to start to seek God. Just take a moment to say, “I love you, O God.” “Have mercy on me, O God.” “Help me, O my God.” “Guide me, O Lord.” “Give me wisdom to take the right decision.” Or, “Thank you Lord.” In these short and simple prayers, your life can open up to possibilities of God stepping into your life. Seek God today; look into his glorious face, and see the compassion for you in his eyes.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For it puts on exhibit a man crucified in weakness–scorned, mocked, rejected and despised by men.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. Yet this public display of the one who was wounded and bleeding for the sins of all mankind is the good news and means of salvation to all.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. It is foolishness because human wisdom does not account success or achievement in the manner in which Jesus felt forsaken by God on the cross.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For there is no sign or demonstration of the miraculous as the Saviour of the world lay dying.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. But Jesus on the cross then had and still has a magnetic attractive power that is incomparable to anything else in this world.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For it demands that man accept that in his pride and academic brilliance he cannot find God; that he cannot earn his own salvation; but that he come to God in humble child-like faith.
The message of the cross of Jesus is the foolishness of God. For there on the cross the judgement of God on man’s sin and rebellion fell on his innocent Son Jesus that we may receive forgiveness and pardon and freedom from the guilt, shame, and power of sin.
Yes, the preaching of the cross and its message is foolishness to many who reject it; but it is the power of God to those who believe and accept its life-changing message.
—
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. . . . For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
Get up!
Life is more about second chances than you can dream of. Champions and winners script success stories by rising up from the ashes of defeat. They are heartbroken when they see someone else lift the trophy for which they fought with sportsman spirit till the last moment. But that does not prevent them from pursuing their goal to win. You too should be like that. Don’t stay in your bed of despair. This is the time to get up!
Get up!
It might have been years that you stayed in this defeated mode. That doesn’t matter. God is not only the God of your past but of your present and your future as well. He is not limited by all that went wrong in your life. He is not limited by the victim stories you have told yourself and others countless number of times. He is not limited by all your negative circumstances, all those people who tell you that you can’t succeed, or any other force that is bulldozing you at this time. He wants to act decisively in your life. Therefore, get up!
Get up!
This one single act can change the way you think, act, and move forward. It is by taking this first step that you will realize all that the locusts have eaten away in your life. It is this one act of getting up that can change your destiny. Do not wait. Now is the time. This moment is your opportunity. Get up!
“Why are you downcast,
O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God”
It is an Organization’s unique approach to work that helps shape its culture. Building a world class culture in an Organization is like growing a tree. It will take time to send its roots deep. But once it takes hold it is firm.
Here are the seven must-haves that builds a great culture in any Organization:
Discipline
A positive and vibrant culture happens only with discipline. This discipline is not imposed by rules and regulations, do’s and don’ts. This discipline is self-imposed and not enforced by force and supervision. Instead it is delivered by people who have a passion about their work and a commitment to see their work contribute to the greatness of the brand for which they work for.
Leadership
Culture does not work upwards from the rank and file of an Organization. Instead it is largely determined by the leadership. It begins with a leader’s vision and values. It gathers momentum by the enthusiasm shown by the leader in creating an ambience within the Organization that is in tune with his stated purpose of the Organization’s long-term goals, strategies, career paths for employees and of course people policies. When members of the team align themselves to this; there is rapid growth and progress.
Pride and Meaning
To have a great culture, people in an Organization need to feel meaning in their work. Most of them do not care about the big picture. But they do need to be assured that their role and the work they do makes a significant contribution to the Organization. Only then will they have pride in the Organization they work for. The bottom line is that motivation to embrace culture does not depend entirely on the money one earns; but it depends more on knowing that one’s work is valued.
Freedom, Autonomy, and Responsibility
We all love freedom. And what most people hate is working for bosses who are generally not positively spoken of. An Organization which can give freedom to its employees to work can create a culture which is totally different from an Organization which functions under autocratic hierarchical structures.
Freedom does not mean that employees work randomly and totally at their will and pleasure even if it is work from home. No.
There are expected deliverables against deadlines even when work is done as self-managed teams. Leadership roles change within teams as and when required. The sense of ownership and the way members of team take up responsibility is immense when working like this.
Communication
How do you feel when the Organization keeps you knowledgeable about its progress? How do you feel when they call you for an All-Hands meet and share with you the joy of having accomplished one of your big goals? How do you feel when they inform you truthfully about reversals of fortunes and honestly tell you about some cost-cutting measures that has to be taken? The impact of communication which is clear, direct and purposeful is enormous as far as culture is concerned.
Ideas that boost brand image has to be repeatedly communicated to all within the Organization in creative ways. It will infuse members of the team with confidence and pride.
The “We” feel
Celebrations and coming together are not a waste of money. Instead it creates culture. It creates an immense and invaluable memory bank of good times together. What bonds families is the time they spent together. In the same way, Organizations which create avenues for meaningful get-together is building a rock-solid foundation for retaining their best work force in the best of good will and loyalty.
Purpose
If you want me to single out one word or concept which contributes to great culture, I can answer in one word. That is purpose. It is an understanding of purpose that gives an Organization the reason for its existence. It is an earnest belief in purpose that helps an Organization endure difficult times and come through crises stronger and vibrant than ever before.
It is purpose that determines what business to do and what not to pursue. It is purpose that enables employees to avoid distractions and focus on what is meaningful and absolutely essential. In fact, Organizations thrive when purpose permeates their thinking, attitudes, communication, habits and action.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
Featured image: Bejoy Peter, Performance Coach, seen in the backdrop of purpose statement of Mettle Networks, Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram, May 2018.
Some work to make a living. Others work because they are passionate. The first kind of people do things well. The second kind of people pursue excellence at the workplace!
It does not take long for anyone to find out that those who pursue excellence are few. Why is this so? What makes them a rare breed? Let’s find out:
Enjoyment
Those who pursue excellence always enjoy their work. No one has to coax them to go to work. They are eager and enthusiastic about what they do. They do not allow routines to dull their senses to the excitement of a new day and opportunities it presents.
Pride
Those who pursue excellence take pride in their work. They always keep the big picture in mind. This helps them to maintain perspective even when going ahead is not smooth. The knowledge that what they do is significant to the success of the Organization gives them immense drive.
Learning
Those who pursue excellence are constant learners. They do not wait for people to teach them. If they realize that there is a gap in their knowledge level which prevents them doing their best in performing their task, they make it a priority to learn and update themselves. They do not make a distinction about who they are learning from.
Initiative
Those who pursue excellence are ready to take initiative to solve problems If they sense that the team requires their additional help somewhere they volunteer to help. This not only solves the problem but also pumps adrenaline into the rest of the team.
Work Hard
Those who pursue excellence work hard. They are committed to their goals. They are always willing to go the extra mile multiple times. Spending longer hours at work is not at all considered a burden. They do not wait for someone to egg them on. Without fanfare they surpass and do more than what is expected of them.
Credit
Those who pursue excellence do not bother who gets the credit. They are balanced persons knowing their own strengths and not longing for emotional pats on their back. Their focus is always on getting the job done as perfectly as possible and never on how many medals they’ve showcased for themselves in the process. In one word, these people are not at all insecure at the workplace.
Change
Those who pursue excellence constantly assess what kind of changes they need to make to keep themselves sharp and polished. Sometimes, some projects do not take off as expected and some are shelved. Sometimes the market changes so fast that one has to quickly package products and services differently. This calls for courage to change and these people embrace change.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
Featured image: “No one flies low at Mettle,” was the concluding line of my introductory speech (11th January 2017) at Mettle Networks as Performance Coach. This was adopted as the Company’s Welcome Display at their Technopark Office, Thiruvananthapuram.
One of the questions commonly asked in my training sessions is this: “What will others think about me?” Whether it be professionals or students they share this same concern.
Often I’ve seen many talented speakers in my training sessions make wrong judgements of their own speech. They sport a sad face after they speak. If asked why they look so defeated, the reply usually is, “I did not do well.”
This reaction is usually triggered by a few inattentive participants in the group. The speaker therefore concludes that his or her speech was not worth listening to. The truth is that you cannot judge the quality of your speech by audience reaction alone.
Look at these three incidents and come to your own conclusion regarding, “What will others think about me?”
The first one happened at a recording in All India Radio, Thiruvananthapuram studio. I had sent one of my students to do the recording of a story for Yuvavani a youth programme. She was reading her script in the recording room. From there she could see the computer room through a glass partition.
A few people who were involved in the recording process were talking with each other and laughing in that room. Their jovial chatter posed no threat to my student who was reading her script well because it was a sound-proof room. Yet at one point in time the graph on the computer screen stopped showing the voice-recording. My student had stopped reading!
Surprised by this (because my student was reading well), one of the programme executives came over to her side from the other room. She was asked why she had stopped reading. The reply took the programme executive by surprise.
My student told the programme executive that she had suddenly panicked thinking that all of the programme executives were laughing and joking at her poor reading. How far from the truth it was! The programme executives were sharing some funny stories. It had nothing to do with my student reading her script (this was her first recording experience too).
The second incident happened many years ago at the College Annual Day. It was March 17, 1995. I had the privilege of doing the Reply to the Toast Speech. It was a speech that I had dreamed of doing the last year of my college and I had prepared well to the best of my ability.
After having studied in Mar Ivanios College, University of Kerala, for seven years, I knew a large majority of students seated in the auditorium personally. Yet a couple of minutes after I started to speak there were howls and boos from the jam-packed audience. It took me by surprise because I was delivering a very carefully prepared speech.
I was shaken a little bit because that was the first time I faced such a reaction from the crowd in the college auditorium. That being my last speech (a swan song, so to say) at the auditorium as a student of the college, I felt sad too. But somehow I kept my composure and finished the speech.
After the programme was over, my teachers congratulated me for the wonderful speech I had delivered. Now it really baffled me why then had the crowd created trouble for me while I spoke?
As I thought on this contradiction, the truth dawned on me. There were several speeches that had preceded my speech. The student community were gathered together that day not to listen to speeches but to listen to the songs and enjoy the dance programmes that would follow in the variety entertainment segment.
The students had howled to send across the message that they wanted the cultural programmes to begin quickly. Their howls had nothing to do with the quality of my speech.
So let me come back to that original question, “What will others think about me?” The truth is that they might not be thinking anything negative about you at all. Their reactions might have to do with something else. While you speak, do not try too much to read negative meanings into reactions in the audience.
Let me now move on to the third incident. At National Institute of Personnel Management (Trivandrum Chapter), I asked all my students to read aloud what I had written on the board. After all the twenty-three students had read those lines, I asked one student to stand up and read those lines again. Her reaction took me by surprise.
Almost in tears, she asked me, “Why Sir, why do you want me to read again?” She thought that I had found fault with her reading. The truth was, her reading was so excellent that I wanted the other students to listen to her once again! How wrong an interpretation and negative colouring she had given to the request!
Isn’t it true that we often jump into wrong conclusions from how others react? Therefore, kindly stop thinking too much about what others think about you.
Yeshua Messiah2
Jesus Christ3
Son of God 4
Son of Man 5
Lamb of God 6
Lion of the Tribe of Judah 7
King of Kings and Lord of Lords 8
Immanuel 9
Word of God 10
Redeemer 11
Word Made Flesh 12
Suffering Servant 13
Good Shepherd 14
Bright Morning Star 15
Prophet and Priest 16
Lily of the Valley 17
Rose of Sharon 18
Light of the World 19
Bread of Life 20
The Way, the Truth and the Life 21
The True Vine 22
The Resurrection and the Life 23
I Am 24
Altogether Lovely 25
Indescribable Gift 26
Saviour of the World 27
Firstborn from the Dead 28
Branch of the LORD 29
Wonderful Counsellor30
Mighty God30
Everlasting Father30
Prince of Peace30
Ancient of Days 31
The Holy One of Israel32
A Man of Sorrows33
The Hope of Glory 34
The Sun of Righteousness 35
Son of Abraham 36
Son of David 37
Friend of Sinners 38
Beloved 39
The Carpenter 40
Angel of His Presence 41
Horn of Salvation 42
Our Brother 43
Mediator of a Better Covenant 44
Christ the Lord 45
The Salvation of God 46
The Lord of the Sabbath 47
My Lord and my God 48
The Firstborn from the Dead 49
Wisdom of God 50
Power of God 50
Lord of Glory 51
Our Passover 52
Spiritual Rock 53
The Last Adam 54
Creator 55
Alpha and Omega 56
One Mediator between God and Men 57
Judge of the Living and the Dead 58
King of Righteousness 59
Author and Finisher of Our Faith 60
A Lamb Without Blemish or Spot 61
Living Stone 62
The Daystar 63
Word of Life 64
The Faithful Witness 65
Root of David 66
I Am . . . the Almighty 67
Lord God Omnipotent 68
The Amen 69
Jesus 70
The name of Jesus is the sure hope of salvation to all who believe in him. Jesus—the name that is above every name.
The Bible declares, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name, under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 71
Again, the Bible says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” 72.
Jesus also linked his name to answers to prayer. He said, “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” 73
Finally, the Bible declares: because Jesus humbled himself, and became obedient to death—even death on a cross—God exalted him to the highest place, gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.74
One of the things that people easily forget is the fact that the name Jesus reminds us that we all need a Saviour. For this was the message that the angel gave to Joseph at the time of the birth of Jesus: “You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Yes, the coming of Jesus to this world was as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus, the name that has the authority to forgive the sins of men and women. In his name repentance for the forgiveness of sins is preached to all the nations and to the ends of the world, today. Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
In his name you will find pardon and forgiveness and reconciliation with God and acceptance wtih God and a home in heaven for ever and ever.
Jesus—his name is the sweetest name which you can utter on earth or in heaven time without end. Jesus, the name which rings with authority and power. There is no other name like the name of Jesus.
Therefore, to the question, “What is in a name?” the answer is, everything.
Perhaps a rose, like Shakespeare said, might still smell as sweet by another name; but life and love and peace and joy and forgiveness and healing and compassion radiates with brilliant light in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ who bled and died on the cross for you!
Let me conclude saying there is no other name like his matchless name!
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
— John 1:29 Bible
— 1“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.” — William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
How can you tackle self-doubt? Let us look at seven steps to do so:
Look at the worst that can happen. You might fail. So what? At least your fear of failure will be removed; isn’t it?
Look at your best performance in the past. If you could do it then, you can certainly repeat that again; can’t you?
Look at all those who are eagerly waiting for you to do your part. Maybe it is your speech, your song, or your batting. Whatever it be they are all looking forward to your success. Isn’t that encouraging?
Look at those closest to you: Your parents, brothers and sisters, teachers, friends, Coach etc. They are people who believe the best about you. They know you can.
Look at the opposition. If they are strong it should bring out the fighting spirit in you. Therefore do not yield to a spirit of despair. You can conquer your doubts and win.
Look to yourself. You are unique; isn’t it? Doubts are not a sign of lack of talent but it is usually nervousness playing its trick before a critical performance. So learn to master it. Self-doubt comes to those who are genuinely talented.
Finally look to God. He is a great encourager. He says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. I know you by name. You are mine. I have given you both skill and wisdom to perform the tasks I have called you to do. And I will never leave you nor forsake you. Therefore, be strong and courageous!”
“Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
God-given dreams take you through opposition, hatred, and standstills. Circumstances will seem to kill your dreams. But God-given dreams cannot die.
God-given dreams will often bring unlikely people acting a part in its fulfillment. They might act against you, might forget you, might say false stories about you, and even try to shut you in somewhere. But in all these events, God who put the dream in your heart is watching over you.
God-given dreams have an appointed time when all that you thought were lost hopes will suddenly come to life, gather momentum, and roll forward at dizzying speeds. Then all watching will know it is the hand of God that has done it and he has acted on your behalf.
God-given dreams bring great power and authority over people and situations. If you remain humble and do not forget the hardships God took you through to make you reach there, and if you have a forgiving spirit towards those who tried to do you harm; then God will prosper you and make all that you put your hands to, to succeed.
God-given dreams need wisdom from God to act with foresight in trying situations. Such dreams demand that you guard your character and keep it without spot. When all these combine with care and compassion for people, royal doors will open for you.
Finally, God-given dreams are given to those who are tested and tried in the furnace of afflictions that their hearts might be prepared to handle fame, fortune, authority, and power that will be given them. In their hands God-given dreams will find its intended fulfillment and success!
Let us begin the discussion of the science, maths, vocabulary, and art of love in marriage from departures. The tug at the heart at parting when your beloved boards the plane or when the train starts to move is love.
The moment he or she is out of sight and you get back to routines is love becoming realistic.
Till the next coming you keep in touch via phone or mail or chat is love kept aflame.
In between, petty quarrels and bouts of silence is the absence of love.
When needs demand cashing in on reserves and ornaments are pledged for loans it is the in-debt-ed-ness of love.
Comparing your husband’s money power to another or comparing your wife’s looks or beauty to another is the disaster of love.
Remembering birthdays and anniversaries and giving gifts like cards, chocolates, roses, diamond or gold or pearl ornaments etc., is the spice of love.
Praying for one’s beloved wife or husband and being thankful for the gift of your wife or husband is the deposit and investment of love.
Being faithful to one’s husband or wife and staying true to him or her all your life is the honouring of the pledge of love.
Conversing on good old times of meeting together and recalling shared memories is the nostalgia of love.
Having a day out together and an eating out undisturbed by the chores at home is the great escape of and adjustment in love.
When wife and husband is confined to work from home and children are on classes online; everybody is together all the time is the boxing ? match of love.
Making one’s loved one cry through harsh words or thoughtless acts is the blunder of love.
Quoting old forgotten episodes of mistakes and failures and promises not kept and finding fault with in-laws is the bug and virus and faulty DNA of love.
In distress, in sickness, in misunderstanding, in times of lack of affection and care, when you hold on and hope for God’s mercy to strengthen; it is the endurance of love.
Love is not automatic, it is honest hard work, day in and day out. Never take your husband or wife for granted; for when you feel that final absence it is too late to love.
This, in a nutshell, is the the science, maths, vocabulary, and art of love in marriage.
“Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure”
Some of you will be called to lead by choice or chance. It is a privilege but a great responsibility too. Let us look at some key thoughts regarding leadership.
Know where you are going. You should have a clear idea about where you are leading your followers to. You can call this a leader’s vision.
Tell your followers how you are planning to move forward. Without this vital information how will people put their trust in you and follow you? This is what you call leadership communication.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t have good looks. In a world which focuses on external appearances, what really matters in leadership is your character. That is what is on the inside of you. That is what makes people trust you and be loyal to you.
Now think about names of leaders you can recall quickly. You will see that these people are remembered because of the way they served in their domains of service—be it political leadership, corporate leadership, leadership in sports or in Charitable Organisations. But note that their influence has been felt around the globe. Therefore, remember leadership is how much influence and impact you make on others. It cannot be fully measured.
Again, a quality you need as leader is courage. Especially this is important when it comes to facing a crisis. If you can face it with calmness, that itself will make your followers place their confidence in you.
Another area on leadership you should be good at is decisiveness in decision-making. A leader is looked upon to make decisions—be it in your school classroom, in the family, in your Resident’s Association, or in whatever place you are called to lead. Know that a right decision which is delayed can do harm, can be ineffective, or can make people doubt your competence.
Finally, a good leader is focused on developing leadership in his or her followers. See, good leadership doesn’t happen by chance. You should consciously make plans to see that you identitify potential candidates, make them part of your team, encourage them, give them opportunities to act independently in situations demanding leadership, and paint before their mind’s eye a time when they will lead. In doing so, you multiply your effectiveness and ensure that the good work you’ve begun will continue.
But leadership models we often see are quite the opposite. We find leaders busy trying to secure their position by putting down any potential candidate showing promise of future leadership. In this context, listen to the words of Jesus who said:
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”1
To conclude, let me tell you that you might not learn everything about leadership in one shot. But know that it is worth studying about. For there is great need today for good leadership in all walks of life.
If you can become a leader who can lead with humility, exercise power vested in you with care and compassion, and are willing to stand by the side of those you lead in their hour of need; you will leave a legacy that will shine out far and wide even beyond your tenure of leadership!
Great achievements follow when your pursuits are fuelled by the I Can belief and attitude. When this combines with enthusiasm and perseverance you become unstoppable.
Don’t Give Up
Life often brings unexpected difficulties. Some of them may cause you to feel like a failure. But you should fight back from defeats. Don’t quit when one more attempt might possibly change your fortunes.
Now Is Your Opportunity
You might love to run away from an opportunity because you are not well prepared. It doesn’t matter if you fail; go grab the opportunity and perform now. Waiting for a perfect moment, which never comes, is a deception.
Don’t Fear
There are moments fear grips each one of us. It is easy to yield to it. One way to get out of it is to encourage yourself with the reality of God’s presence with you. There is no greater antidote to fear than that.
You Are Valued
Are you someone who is constantly being compared with your brother or sister or friend or neighbour or colleague? It is a sad situation when you are unable to feel your worth. But remember you are unique. God created no one else on earth like you. He values you and rewards you not by comparing yourself with anyone else but by asking, “Did you faithfully use the talent or potential I gifted you with?”
Science has gone to extraordinary lengths to come up with interesting explanations like Big Bang about origins.
The Bible says all beginnings originated with God. Time, Space, Eternity; all begin and end with God.
In the beginning. God created.
He called to existence things that can be seen from what is not visible. But he made man from the dust of the earth. There was his personal touch and breath of life in man. Man was made in God’s likeness and image with freedom of choice. Therefore man has the capacity to rebel against God.
It is this rebellion in the heart of man that makes him come up with fanciful theories all dated billions of years away and without any cause or beginning. All that is an attempt to dethrone God and substitute him with anything else if God can be kept away. God enthroned in heaven laughs at these attempts.
In the beginning. God created. The heavens and the earth.
Singularity and black holes have brought to light that laws of science that we know here do not hold together there. But are black holes created when stars die? The Bible declares that God created the stars; he calls them each by name and because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Perhaps we are trying to work backwards to understand what is too complex and mysterious instead of simply looking to God and worshipping him with adoration and praise for his infinite wisdom and incomparable power.
In the beginning. God created man, male and female. Yes, God created man a little lower than angels. And crowned him with glory and honour.
If, as Charles Darwin proposed, man evolved and made that final leap from monkeys what is the logic in man wearing dress to cover his shame? No other animal species has this habit; do they? The Bible says man’s sense of shame began when he sinned against God and hid from him when he realised that he was naked.
Then again the evidence of the microscopic as well as the telescopic world proclaim the wisdom of our Creator. Yet we deliberately choose to ignore God.
Still again, why are there so many languages in the world? Research has pointed towards families of languages with common origins. The Bible however points to a historic moment at a place called Babel where man tried to defy God and rebel against his authority by building a tower that reaches up to the heavens. And God confused the languages at that place. Interesting; isn’t it?
The proud will never find God because his head is full with his own ideas and in his heart there is no room for God. But God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
My friends, God is not against science. Not at all. Mankind has benefited greatly from technology; but is reaping the misuse of science in the hands of those who put profit over people and those who use unethical methods for selfish ends.
Let me end by saying that each discovery that man makes is a proclamation of how small he really is and how ignorant he is of the laws of God that govern the Universe.
The truth will set you free if you stop looking at your past and lost opportunities to the new thing that God is willing to do in your life.
The truth will set you free if you stop thinking that you are good enough and instead come to God realising that like everyone else you too are a sinner in need of God’s mercy.
The truth will set you free if you are ready to give up the spirit of despair you entertain in your mind and exchange it for a clothing of praise and joy that God wants to gift you with.
The truth will set you free if you are willing to believe that God invests in people who count themselves failures and will build a future for you even when others have rejected you.
The truth will set you free if you can remember that at no point in life are you outside God’s love, outside God’s reach, and outside God’s care and compassion and mighty power to help.
The truth will set you free if the only thing you have to offer God is a broken heart; the only prayer you can bring him is “Have mercy on me,” and the only promise you can make is “I love you, O God.”
The truth will set you free if you can look at the cross and see the forgiving love of God and trust that he hung there bleeding in your place and there is nothing that will separate you from his love; ever!
My best friend and I were standing outside our church premises talking. This was early 1990’s.
Sunday morning it was. Time around 11:30am. From the footpath where we stood, suddenly we saw a man walking barefoot on the tarred road.
He was lean and thin. His eyes looked fierce and piercing. He had a slight beard, face weather-beaten, and hair raven-black. He was wearing a white shirt and dhoti.
He looked like a fiery prophet of old leaping straight out of the pages of the Bible to life.
He was looking at no one and speaking to no one; but simply walking ahead on the royal highway of the Trivandrum city just in front of Museum gate near LMS Compound.
Hanging from his neck were two cardboard placards on the front and back, one in English, the other in Malayalam.
It was written in bold black thick letters:
Prepare
to meet
your God
–Amos 4:12.
It was a silent fearless proclamation of a great truth. That man is destined to die once, and after that face judgement.1
Neither the intense heat of the day nor the traffic distracted the stranger. He kept walking on and on.
Pandemic Covid-19 the likes of which the world has never seen before triggered in my mind the memory of that lone stranger walking.
I wonder how long it will be before his message becomes real; frighteningly real?
1Hebrews 9:27
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of hosts– Malachi 4:1
Isn’t it amazing that only men and women gather together to talk? And perhaps listen. Other creatures of instinct lack this ability. But how productive are our meetings? Whether it is informal or formal, personal or official? It is good to reflect on this.
First of all, consider others’ time:
Time rolls on. It does not stop for anyone. If you are wise you will use time wisely. Idling away time in gossip and slander is foolish and harmful. As Eleanor Roosevelt observed, “Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.”
So, if you value your time and others’ time, stop spending your time on discussing other people and events. Spend much time discussing ideas. And while you do so do not spend time with those who see only the clouds. But spend some time with those who see the silver lining. And can share your enthusiasm and encourage you on to achieve the ideas you’re working on.
Secondly, consider the value of bouncing ideas:
Ideas are never born mature. It takes time as well as fertilizing to make it grow and take shape. Ideas, like a tennis ball, need to be bounced on solid surfaces. That is why we take our doubts to our
teachers, parents or other seniors who have the maturity to see the value of the ideas we have. And this too happens in a meeting.
When ideas are bounced it helps bring clarity to your mind. The one listening to you can point out to you some important points that might have escaped your attention. He or she also will have the advantage of seeing the bigger picture while you might be struggling with a smaller aspect of the problem. So invite healthy criticism of your ideas. It will help clarify your thoughts.
Finally, tune in to feedback:
Most meetings lose value because many talk but do not listen to what others have to say. They just proclaim and pass on. This creates resentment in the long run. Whether you are the boss or a parent or a husband or a friend; if you fail to tune in to feedback you can lose the warmth of your relationship.
When you listen to feedback, it gives you valuable clues to as to what the other person or party thinks on the issue under discussion. Feedback can be positive. It can at times fail to be enthusiastic. Then you have to seek the cause. It might take some asking but if your relationship is good with the person concerned, he or she will tell you what is hurting them and why. Then you can make adjustments to
your original proposal so as to accommodate their views and ideas and your relationship will be strengthened. And meetings be made more productive.
Tailpiece:
Of course, if the meeting is official the value of having a clear agenda, an efficient moderator or chairman to run the meeting and the ability of the group to stick to the purpose of the meeting; will make a huge difference in its outcome.
It is with great happiness that I stand here to welcome all of you.
As the Chairman of this Film festival I can say that it was a great run-up to this exciting moment.
I know that you are looking ahead with eager faces to see the movie scheduled as the curtain raiser to the current edition of this International Film Festival.
This time for a change we have kept the name of the movie a surprise.
You might wonder why it is so. It is because the movie itself explores the element of curiosity and how it shapes human expectations, handles disappointments and finds success in the pursuit of discovery.
Without keeping you all waiting much more, I welcome the guests of honour, dignitaries, delegates and the media to this function.
We have eminent Directors, reputed and legendary names in the world of Cinema whose very lives revolve around the silver screen here with us tonight. There presence here with us in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of God’s own country, Kerala, is in itself a grand showcase of the way this International Film Festival has grown and made a mark in the festive maps of the celluloid world. I welcome you with great pleasure to this inaugural function.
We are greatly honoured to have with us the doyen of Indian cinema, Mr. Amitabh Bachan, the the Big B of Bollywood as our celebrity guest this evening. He, once was the angry young man of Indian cinema. But today he is an iconic figure having inspired millions of viewers with the legacy of larger than life characters he has left behind. His signature voice is recognized everywhere. With loving hearts we welcome you to this film festival.
A special word of welcome to all our friends and passionate movie lovers who have come from different parts of the globe. It has made this gathering here this evening a mix of cultures, perspectives, and blend of voices from the Indian sub-continent, South-east Asia, the Middle East, South America, Africa and Europe.
Yes friends, movies make us reflect and think and ponder. It makes us face questions of ultimate importance in life. The lens through which the story is told is not just about dialogues but about search for truth and meaning; it is not just about songs but soul-stirring music and the power of stillness; it is not just about dashed hopes and cruel injustice but also about stirrings of hope and fight back and survival in the midst of despair.
As we unite together to watch and view and air our own opinions; make judgements and become part of the story-telling traditions passed down to us through generations now enhanced and embellished with the aid of ever-captivating and improving technology; I wish all of you a wonderful fortnight of great cinema viewing on the larger than life screens.
Once again, I welcome all of you to this grand celebration of world-class films that will keep you yearning for more. Thank you.
If you are broken in heart because of your sin, your mistakes, your failure or any other reason you can think of, come to God who will show you mercy.
If it is sin, there is a fountain of cleansing opened for you.
If it is mistakes you have made, there is with God the possibility of making good to come out of them.
It it is failure of some kind, and you are thoroughly defeated, still God will give you hope and strength to rise up.
All this because you cannot exhaust his mercy.
“O God, help me” is a prayer to which he responds with full attention.
“O God, remember me” is a cry he hears even when death is creeping in through the doors.
When you feel forsaken, rejected, alone, and having no strength to take even one more step; then cry out to God. You will find mercy.
Oh, the riches of God’s mercy! It is undeserved kindness towards us. He remembers that we are but dust and has great compassion on us.
The hands that stretched wide on the cross and bled is the surest sign of God’s great mercy to you that is wider than you can think or imagine. So come and find mercy.
Do not delay to come to God. The Bible says soon someday this world will see the wrath of God against sin and evil; and the judgement of God. Then the door of mercy will be no longer open. 1Psalm 51:1 Bible
A sunset is a beautiful moment. Watching it from the beach is lovelier still.
A sunset paints the sky a glorious canvas of blazing colours. If it isn’t God, who else can paint like this each day? I don’t know one.
A sunset can bring sadness. For it means saying goodbye, looking back at opportunities missed, and regretting words and actions that could have been avoided.
A sunset is a mystery: We standing at the edge of a ball hurtling through space at immense speed watching a ball of fire seemingly go to sleep far far away. Isn’t man truly small in this big, vast, immeasurable universe?
Finally, a sunset can remind you of dreams and visions. Centuries ago, one unforgettable dream came to a man called Jacob who rested his head on a stone pillow. He saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder resting on earth and its top reaching heaven. Above it stood the LORD.
Jesus, when he came centuries later, identified himself as that ladder Jacob saw bridging heaven and earth, God and mankind.
Next time, you watch a sunset, think of the promise that God made to Jacob that night: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go1.” What better promise to have than God watching over you and being with you.
1Genesis 28:15 Bible
Blessed sunset and the hope it brings to our lives.
My Professor once asked this question in class:
“Whose face do you look for first when you get see the group photo of your class in the College Magazine?”
Each one of us knew the answer as the capital letter I. And now selfies have arrived to make it bold and underlined.
First of all, the popularity of selfies is a reflection of this anxiety in human nature to see oneself in a better light.
Secondly, selfies make people focus on themselves. The amount of time spent by people obsessed with selfies is enormous. It is easy to forget others and their needs in the pursuit of taking selfies.
Thirdly, selfies are a proclamation of our own importance; whether good or bad being a matter of difficult judgement.
Finally, selfies have become, fun, popular and fashionable. It has made photography have different dimension. It will stay.
But my simple question is, “Can there be a selfless selfie?”
Most jobs require good communication skills. If you would like to succeed in your career, it is important you develop good communication skills. Here are some tips to do so.
#1. You need to have a great desire to communicate.
That means you have a desire to share with others the knowledge you have gained. It also means that you greatly wish others to benefit from your skills. When you have such a desire, it becomes easy to speak well.
#2. Have something to say.
It means that you should have a thorough knowledge of your subject. To gain such knowledge you should listen to good speakers, read books, newspapers and good magazines. As you grow up, you will be able to talk about your life experiences as well.
#3. Organize your material.
Several speakers confuse their audience because they have not arranged their material well. But good speakers take time and effort to arrange the content of their speech into main points and sub points. This makes it not only easy for the speaker to communicate but for the audience to understand it as well.
#4. The opening should be interesting.
Whether it is a story, a quotation or question that is used to open your speech, it should be interesting to the audience. Only if they get interested in your speech at the beginning will they listen to your speech fully. Think about good novels or stories you have read. They all had good openings which got you interested; didn’t they?
#5. You should also end well.
Many speakers do not plan for a good ending. Therefore they say something like, “That’s all.” That is a very poor ending. A pilot is concerned about landing his plane safely. Likewise a speaker should plan for a good conclusion. It can be a summary of points already covered. It can be a very short story or quotation that will highlight the main thought of your speech. Or it can be an appeal to act on something you said. Some speakers make people think much when they end with a question.
#6. Use homely examples.
Look at Jesus. He told stories or parables about things which people found all around them. He spoke of the birds of the air, the lilies of the fields, shepherd and sheep, fishing, yeast and dough, treasure hidden in a field and so on. These made his speeches memorable and we think on them with delight even today. So make your speeches interesting with lively examples.
#7. Turn to the Bible often.
It is a treasure house of communication. First of all it is God’s communication to man. Secondly, if you follow an English Bible it will give you an excellent command over English. Along with it, you will learn several speaking styles like the style of Moses, the prophets, Jesus, Paul etc. This will help you speak to large audiences well.
To conclude, developing good communication skills is a must in the modern world if you would like to excel in your career. Communication skills will help you gain recognition and promotion in whatever field you are. Remember that good public speaking helps you make a giant leap to leadership. Therefore spend time and effort to develop this important skill.
God’s love is for the whole world. It includes you, as well as me. Therefore, you can be assured you are loved.
God’s love is sacrificial. God gave his Son Jesus to shed his blood and die on the cross because of his love for you.
God’s love is a gift. The best way to respond to it is to say “thank you Lord” and accept it.
Do not tell God you are not good enough; for he knows all about you and still loves you.
God’s love brings joy and peace to your life–peace because God forgives your sins, and joy because he accepts you as his child even when you are far from perfect.
Therefore tasting God’s love should make us grow more in humility even as his love drives out fear from our hearts.
God’s love is not just about emotions. He loves you so much that he disciplines you to make you better. He doesn’t leave you to be comfortable with your sins. His love shines a penetrating light in your darkness so that you see who you really are and what God wants you to be.
Finally, there is no place on earth where you are outside the love of God. His love is long, wide, and deep, it is higher than you can reach.
Today, you can open up your heart to God’s love for he has said, “I have loved you with an everlasting love!”
A tree has always been a symbol of life. It has become more so after Jesus died on a wooden cross.
Peter, the foremost disciple of Jesus, comments: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.”
The precious blood that flowed from his body brings forgiveness of sins, peace with God, and unending life to those who believe in him. The wounds of his body bring us healing.
On the cross he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. He became a curse for us to save us from all evil. For it was God’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer that we might have life, and have it to the full.
His light guided people to a change of heart and inspired them to move away from sinful living. He came to set people free from what held them in slavery and bondage.
His light made people aware of who God really is like. Not as One against them but as their Father in heaven who desired to forgive them and rebuild their lives!
In spite of shining God’s love in the lives of people, he was despised, hated and rejected. And while he who created light lay bleeding on the cross the sun stopped shining and darkness came over the whole land.2
But then his light burst forth with great joy when he rose up again alive from the dead. And he lives forever. And he upholds you each day in prayer before God and his throne of grace.
“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap about like calves released from the stall (Malachi 4:2 Bible NIV 1984).”
Once there was a young boy who walked along with his mother one evening. He skipped around excited and talked about what he saw all around. Soon it was dark. They came back home and sat down on the lawn. As the boy was tired he laid his head on his mother’s lap and looked up at the clear night sky. The twinkling stars were shining like diamonds in black velvet.
He soon stopped talking and became totally silent. His mother sensed something was troubling him and asked, “Son, what are you thinking about?” He replied, “Nothing Mummy.” But she asked once again. “Tell me what is it?” Then the boy said, “Mummy, if the underside of heaven is so beautiful I wonder what the real side would be!”
Yes, there was a time when young children used to look up at the night sky and wonder. But today they grow up with heads bowed down and glued to artificially lit screens of gadgets. The world view of today’s youth is more and more limited to a virtual world dominated by social media like Whatsapp and Facebook. It is very difficult for those addicted to it to live without connecting to these pages every day.
What is the impact of this? Let us look at relationships, education and spirituality.
As far as relationships are concerned, there was a time when members of the family would sit and dine together and communicate openly with each other. Today, because of busy schedules and wrong priorities people do not find time for those within the family. And the saddest moment comes when youngsters find themselves strangers in their own home.
As we look at education, we find that it often fails to equip youngsters to face real life issues. It often fails to teach youngsters the most important lesson of saying NO to compromising situations in life.
In the religious sphere leaders are becoming more earthly minded than heavenly minded. Therefore youngsters are in a real dilemma when they seek out role models to follow.
Where does all these lead to? Youngsters sooner or later become like a boat cut off from its moorings and drifting on the waters without a sense of direction, without an aim or specific goal in life. Of course, they learn their lessons, get good marks, enter into cut throat competition, earn enviable salaries and move ahead in life. But the question is what happens when they lose their jobs suddenly? Or what happens when someone who seemed to show special interest and liking cuts off that relationship without warning and prefer to be with someone else?
It is during such times one’s character and mettle is tested.
It is during such times when youngsters start wondering about the meaning and purpose of life.
It is during such times that youngsters often give up and count themselves failures.
So many choose the wrong roads cutting themselves off from family and friends and waste their precious lives in addictions. Soon they lose their sense of worth and start thinking that nobody cares anymore. When such a negative and demonic thought finds breeding ground in one’s mind a youngster loses all sense of reality and goes on to a downward spiral that often has tragic consequences.
But then is it true that no one cares? Often life can bring situations which make us think it is hopeless to hang in there and live to see another day. Dear friends, when you think that you wasted your life and there is no hope of a positive change do not act hastily. Just hold on and tell yourself that this night will pass and the day will break with new hope and a better tomorrow.
It is this message of hope that is the highlight of the story Jesus told about the prodigal son. Instead of the traditional concept of God standing as a tough school master ready with a cane to punish every single offence, through this story Jesus showed us the Father-heart of God filled with compassion and care for his erring children. The story tells us in compelling terms that God is ready to run to us with the offer of forgiveness and acceptance and friendship if we truly say “Yes, I want to come back to you.”
In today’s world many youngsters need just this assurance of being loved and accepted. Often we demand that they become perfect and righteous before we start loving them. But God is different. He accepts people just the way they are. He specializes in broken lives and works to restore joy and peace in such lives.
So there is hope for tomorrow even if things have gone wrong in your life so far. God can still paint a beautiful picture around that ugly stain that mars your life. Your past mistakes will not prevent you from achieving greatness in life. God can turn even your worst failures into masterpieces of dazzling beauty and craftsmanship.
Beyond all this there is the hope of a greater tomorrow. For God is not just interested in the present. He is thinking of an eternal home where we shall live with him for time without end. He is always thinking about wiping away all the tears from your eyes.
It was to convey to us this hope of a better tomorrow that Jesus declared: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” He said he came to this world to seek and save what was lost. He came to redeem and give his life to save people from their lost condition. He came to give them hope for tomorrow and even beyond.
The famous novella A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens captures the spirit of Christmas in a memorable way. The story presents Christmas in a past-present-future timeline.
At the beginning of the story set in 18th Century London we are told of the certainty of the death of Jacob Marley the business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge. Marley was dead as a door nail. And the story begins exactly 7 years after his death on Christmas Eve.
Charles Dickens takes us to Scrooge’s dark, chilly office on this cold evening. It is getting late. Scrooge, a miser, warns his clerk Bob Cratchit not to put more coal on the fire or keep looking at the clock. At this moment Scrooge’s nephew Fred comes in and greets him saying, A Merry Christmas Uncle. Scrooge in response says Christmas is humbug. Fred replies that that Christmas is the time of the year when people truly open their hearts to each other with kindness and love. Fred leaves after inviting Scrooge to join their family for Dinner on Christmas Day.
Scrooge is then visited by two gentlemen collecting money for the poor. They are sent away without being given anything. He tells them to send the poor to the prisons. Scrooge tells his clerk Bob Cratchit that saying Christmas comes only once in a year to have a day off is “a poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December.” He is warned to come early the day after Christmas.
Scrooge then leaves for home. From here the real drama starts. Scrooge is first of all visited by Marley’s ghost which came after all the bells in the house rang loudly for a minute or so at night. This ghost had a chain around him which was full of cash boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses wrought in steel. The ghost said that this was a chain he made for himself in life because he looked after business well instead of the true of business of looking after people with love and mercy. The ghost warned Scrooge that his chain was much heavier by now. He further told Scrooge that he still had a chance to escape a tragic end and have hope for change. He was told that he will be visited by three more ghosts.
At the disappearance of Marley’s ghost Scrooge falls asleep.
Charles Dickens now paints for us the arrival of three ghosts—the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Be. The encounter with these three ghosts gives a chance to Scrooge to travel through memory lane. The scenes of Christmas he is shown shake him up. He is so afraid that he truly desires to change.
In fact, A Christmas Carol focuses on this one thing about Christmas—change. It focuses on repentance and tears that help a man mend his ways. It shows us how change comes to the heart of a miser Ebenezer Scrooge.
As we come back to the story of Scrooge, he is now visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. The ghost radiates with light and Scrooge begs him to put his cap on which can conceal the light. The ghost is angry at this suggestion. We are reminded of the words of Jesus who said, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” The ghost carries Scrooge to his native place. Scrooge is shown his own childhood when he delighted in stories, was kind and innocent. But most of his childhood was lonely. He is reminded of his tender relationship with his sister who died young leaving behind his nephew Fred. Then there is a lovely scene of Christmas where his first employer Fessiwig hosts a Christmas party which Scrooge and his fellow apprentice enjoyed to the full. The generous attitude of Fessiwig is in marked contrast to the miserly attitude of Scrooge in the present. A final scene is that of the parting between Scrooge and his fiancée. She ends the relationship with him because she understood that Scrooge had fallen in love with a golden idol which is money. She parts by saying she will always remember the kind person that Scrooge once was. We are also shown how this lady is happy with her husband and children on Christmas Eve. Some of these scenes lay the groundwork for the change to happen in Scrooge’s life. He sheds a tear now and then. He remembers how he had rudely reacted to a boy singing carol that evening and also how he did not treat his clerk Bob Cratchit in a fair manner. Tired by the scenes he saw, Scrooge falls asleep again.
Now the second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present who holds a glowing torch makes his appearance. He carries Scrooge to different places. The ghost is seen blessing the dinner and the houses of the poor especially and Scrooge wonders why the poor are treated with such special care. One highlight is the visit to Scrooge’s nephew Fred’s home and Christmas party. It is a happy family and Fred speaks of his uncle with pity. Scrooge is then shown Bob Cratchit’s family feast. They are full of joy and the special focus is Tiny Tim, the youngest in the family who is ill and needs crutches to support him. Bob comes home carrying Tiny Tim on his shoulders and tells his wife that Tiny Tim was saying in church that it would be good for people on Christmas Day “to remember the One who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.” The Ghost informs Scrooge that Tiny Tim will soon die if their circumstances do not change soon. Even though the mention of Scrooge’s name casts a shadow on the party, the scene ends with Tiny Tim saying, “God bless us every one.” Before disappearing the ghost shows two ugly looking children namely Ignorance and Want. When Scrooge expresses concern for them, the ghost quotes Scrooge’s own words: “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” On hearing his own words Scrooge hung his head in shame.
Soon the clock struck the hour. And a dark-looking ghost appeared. It wore a black robe which hid its head, face and body; only the hand could be seen. Scrooge trembled with fear. The ghost did not speak but only nodded his head and pointed its finger. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to come showed him scenes of Christmas one year later. Someone had died. He was a wretched man. Scrooge is unable to find himself in the crowd that moves around. The dead man’s charwoman and laundress and the local undertaker steal his bed curtains, his bed sheets and even his shirt and trades it to Old Joe for money. All this time the dead man lay, in the dark empty house, with not a man, a woman, or a child, to say that he was kind to me in this or that! Scrooge did not have the courage to move the sheet that covered the dead man’s face. The Ghost shows Scrooge a man rejoicing because of the dead man as he got a little more time to pay off his debt. The Ghost also showed Bob Cratchit and family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. As the Ghost and Scrooge move past Scrooge’s office, he runs to the window only to see someone else seated on the inside. But the Ghost’s hand was pointing in another direction beyond an iron gate to the graveyard and to a neglected corner in it. There Scrooge sees his own tombstone.
Scrooge realizes that he himself was the dead man. He cried out to the Ghost, “Why show me all these if I am past all hope. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life.’
He further prayed saying, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” When he saw his own death; the man who a day ago said Christmas was humbug is now ready to honour it and keep it all the year. Yes, Christmas is not just a season but its reason is the sacrificial generosity of God who so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son Jesus to bleed and die on the cross for the sins of all mankind.
Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning. Realizing that he still had a chance to make amends he laughed. It was the father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs. He shouted, “A merry Christmas to everybody” once he checked with a boy in the street on what day it was. He is wonderstruck that within a night his life was changed.
And the change in him was permanent. He spent the day with Fred’s family and sent the best Turkey in town anonymously to Bob Cratchit. He raised the salary of Bob the very next day, and became a second father to Tiny Tim, who did not die. He went to church on Christmas Day and promised the gentlemen who had earlier called at his office a substantial amount of money to help the poor. The miser Scrooge had now become a generous man in line with the true spirit of Christmas. His life now reflected Apostle Paul’s comment on change that Christmas brings: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” As far as Scrooge was concerned, the old had gone and the new had come indeed!
