God made the trees.
The brown wood and the green leaves are pleasing to the eyes.
A garden full of trees in bloom is a lovely sight too.
They provide birds and animals a home and shelter.
Trees give us fruits.
It gives us shade.
Above all it gives us much needed oxygen.
But today because of man’s greed trees are being cut down in large numbers. Greenery has given way to concrete jungles and bonsai.
Yet there was a time people used to gather together under large trees. They met, they talked, they made friends with each other. But those good old days are gone.
Let us bring back those beautiful memories by planting more and more trees. Thank you.
I talk to you today because I’ve been there.
Not once or twice, but many times.
I know what it feels like to be discouraged.
I know what it feels like being a failure.
I know what it feels like when all around you people are full of fun and happiness but you are down.
Yes friends, discouragement has put more people in the side benches than have casualties in war.
It has sapped the strength of talented people committed to their cause and calling.
It has taken away from people their confidence.
It has made people forget that there is a purpose for which they can live for.
I hope I am not speaking to listeners far away, but to you.
Yes, to you, who now with dropping shoulders stand before me with that desperate look in your eyes as if there is no tomorrow.
Let me thunder in your ears.
The night shall not remain.
The dawn will break.
And you shall rise from your bed of despair with renewed strength and hope.
First of all, know that someone believes in you. Yes, I along with God, believe in failures. I believe your rotten performance today cannot erase what you truly are within you.
Hey team, you are talented; but talent will not take you places.
What you need is grit.
A game lost; a trophy not won is not the end of life.
Fame is a bubble; when for a moment all lights flash on you.
But today, we show character when all eyes are turned away from us.
Yes, we choose, to stay undefeated in our failures!
All of us have struggled at some point in life in taking decisions; haven’t we? In this short speech let me outline a few simple practical steps to take decisions.
First you need information. Collect it from as many sources as possible. When collecting information from the internet make sure it is credible. Then list out information that is most compelling which you cannot ignore.
Secondly list out the positives and negatives. Know that every decision has consequences. Try to think through all that can happen in favour of your decision and against.
Next you have to assess time available. To take some decisions you get days or even months. For some other decisions like applying sudden brake while driving; you get hardly a split second.
Having collected information, listed out pros and cons, and assessed time available; you need to start eliminating choices. There are obvious items in your list that you now know can be discarded easily. Once this is done, you are left with toughly competing choices.
It is at this time courage fails. The voices of your critics and people who constantly advice against your dreams and ambitions will sound loud in your mind. And you will feel like being pulled apart in all directions.
At this time asking friends and experienced people might be helpful. Sometimes such conversations can throw light on some grey areas. That will ease your struggle a bit and give you peace of mind.
Then there is the question of motives. Are you taking a particular decision because you have some hidden agenda? For example you might say that you want to study at a far away reputed University. But the real motive might be to enjoy independence and be away from home. Examples like this are many. So find out your true motives before you decide.
Equally important is what to do when you are put under pressure. Let me tell you point blank that when people put pressure on you to take decisions; the safe answer is a bold NO! In case it is a mistaken decision you can easily change that to an Yes; can’t you?
Now it is time to understand that you should learn to discern between major and minor decisions. If you are someone who spent a lot of time analyzing what to eat for breakfast or whether to carry an umbrella with you; then you have a problem. Be decisive in taking decisions; and start that habit with the simple decisions you make each day. That will help you make a clear decision for a major choice someday.
Finally, I cannot emphasize enough about trust and dependence on God in taking decisions. The Bible says,
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”*
In no way does it minimize or do away with all the intelligent thinking you have to do. But a pilot of an aeroplane finds safety in being guided by instructions from the control tower. All you need is a listening ear and willingness to obey.
Life is a journey.
However hard we try there is no way to reverse the journey and start from the beginning again one more time.
So what about mistakes made?
What about opportunities lost?
What about relationships that turned sour or broke apart?
Who is to blame?
If we put the blame on others, however true that might be, it is not going to help in any way at all. The best thing to do is to own responsibility.
Now, what does that mean?
It simply means that we decide to accept the reality of all that happened.
It means to refuse to give up.
It means that we refuse to bow down to negative circumstances.
It means to get up and make the best of the rest of our lives.
Is that easy? I don’t think so. Our emotions come to play. They often try to move us to self-pity. They make us feel we are helpless victims and hopeless failures.
Emotions keep us tied to our past hurts and don’t allow us to think of creative solutions. Never for a moment yield to the lie that you are not good enough. The truth is that the Bible says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”* See, God has placed immense value on you even with all your cracks and faults and shortcomings.
Therefore take command. Order your emotions to stay behind. They are the servants to your will. Keep your emotions chained; that however much they bark they shouldn’t be let to run loose to bite.
Now it is time to do three things:
One, trust God to lead and guide you.He cares for you. He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you* even as you trust in him.
Two, lift up your head and look around. You will find that there is much left in the journey of life for you to enjoy. So many of us are just concerned about the destination. It is more important to travel hopefully, joyfully and enthusiastically the different stages of the journey. Be like a child seeing the world around for the first time.
Three, pick up the broken strands of relationships. Wherever possible tie them back together and have a fresh start in life. Forgive as much as God gives you the grace to forgive. Let not your emotions decide what is love, but let your decision to love make your emotions feel the same.
Not one of these steps is going to work like magic. It takes time to repair the dents and repaint a car that is badly hit. How much more your life!
But be patient. Persist in thinking good. The journey is still a long way to go. It might be that before the sun sets the skies will paint a glorious canvas just for you!
Then your tears will be wiped away. Your faith will be rewarded. Many will also have found life to be worth living because you struggled, prevailed, and won at the end of it!
Eyes can speak without words. It can express love, hate, anger, excitement and so on. Therefore it is the speakers best connect with audiences.
In spite of this fact many beginner speakers fear to look in the eye of people in the audience. They might look up or far away. This is self-defeating as the speaker loses rapport with the audience.
Now part of the problem is caused by feelings of inferiority or loss of confidence. But a larger part of the problem is because the beginning speaker lacks knowledge on what to do on stage to maintain healthy eye contact with audiences.
The basic thing to know is that people expect you to look at them. This shows your confidence, preparedness, openness, as well as your good intention to connect and engage with people sitting in front of you.
The second thing to note is the manner in which eye contact can and does happen. If it is a big audience just send your gaze to the back of the auditorium. Then let it scan towards the front. What you will probably see is a blur of faces. That is how it is.
Once that is done you can give sideways glances. This will make sure that you have the entire audience covered with your eye making contact with them. As you speak whenever you look to any one part of the auditorium you will feel as if your eyes are interlocking with one or a few people. Every time you turn in that direction your eyes will interlock with the same person or group (They may or may not be people known to you.). When this connect happens know that everyone in that part of the crowd feels included in your speech.
On the other hand when you are talking to a small group within a room make sure that you look at each person in the eye. If they are seated in a semi circle with you standing in the middle make sure that the people sitting at both ends of the curve are given due notice occasionally. Otherwise they will feel left out, lose interest in your speech, and maybe in the worst case go to sleep.
Having said that, do not gaze at any one person for too long. For 4 to 5 seconds can feel like an eternity when a speaker is looking at one person alone. Especially those who participate in Group Discussions should ensure that they do not engage in a one to one conversation too long. Instead break eye contact with the one to whom you are responding to and look at the entire group as you continue to speak.
Now coming to the positive side of eye contact; you should smile with your eyes. Let the audience know how delighted you are to be with them. As you exhibit ease and confidence through proper eye contact; you will feel the same reflected back to you in a magnified way from the audience.
As far as reading from manuscript is concerned, proper eye contact is the key to its success. You might have seen American Presidents do that in a thorough professional manner for their inaugural address. The secret is to look at a group of words and deliver them looking at the audience.
A well-prepared document in big point size with wide margins and typed in double space is a must for this. So also many rehearsals will make it look natural; full of energy and enthusiasm, and make it look stunningly confident.
Well, you may not have the expertize of a classical dancer to express a variety of moods with your eyes. But with a little practice you can show delight with a twinkling eye. A stare can communicate anger, hatred, resentment or rebellion. A far away look can signal disinterestedness, dejection, wishfulness or sadness. Yes the eyes can speak volumes without words.
Little did any one of us imagine that we will meet together like this after twenty-five years. It seems like it was only yesterday that we parted from here.
Twenty-five years is a long time. A few of our loved ones–both teachers and our friends had left us sorrowing. But like a train that just halts briefly we stopped; and then continued our journey forward.
Some of us found success in our careers; while some others still search for meaning in their work. Most of us found our helpmeets and have shared struggles common to all families.
Life, my dear friends, was not predictable; was it? See where it has taken each one of us. How differently we had thought in our teenage days! How varied were our dreams! Yet one thing common was our hope that the future would be bright.
Yes, looking back, we can be thankful to God for bringing us this far. As we become the same old friends once again today in the same old classrooms where our friendships bloomed; let us celebrate with much joy.
Life is busy with each one of us. Yet this gathering together here today shows that we all have time for that what is important; what is cherished, loved, valued and held dear to our hearts.
So let us celebrate. Let us take time to be that young school boy and girl that each one of us was twenty-five years ago. Let us remember the times we studied together, played together, and had times of wonderful companionship.
Life is brief. What seemed like a long journey now seems like the blink of an eye, a dream, a page turned over. I wonder how many of us will make it to the golden jubilee. That reunion might happen with the stars in the galaxies.
But this moment is ours. In another three days we say goodbye again. Some of us will never meet again. So we spend time here together fully knowing well that all that we have is only gifted from above.
So with thankful hearts, joyous tears, and the scent of this Jasmine-decked hall evoking nostalgic memories; I welcome each one of you and wish each one of you a wonderful silver jubilee reunion.
Thank you.
Speech of Felicitation by Former Principal
My dear children,
I am now running the last lap of my life on earth. It is with great happiness that I accepted your invitation to be here this evening. What a joy to see all your faces once again.
It has made me young once more. As I look back at your time at school; those days were filled with lively activity with each one of you contributing to academics and co-curricular activities of the school.
Many of you, I remember had made the school proud through your achievements. I remember the school band where some of you played. The Annual Athletic Meet, the Science fair, the Christmas celebrations, and many more were times of fun, refreshing, and purposeful recreation.
Today, I feel honoured that you brought all the former teachers together. I thank you for the love and gratitude you have showered on us. We feel happy that some of our efforts inspired you to dream big and create a future for yourself.
I take this opportunity to wish you all well. The only reminder perhaps is that of giving back. Time will run its swift course; and before long you will find yourself where most of your former teachers are today–in the sunset years of their lives.
Therefore use every opportunity wisely. Create platforms for others to succeed. I am very glad that one among you has won the Best Entrepreneur Award. Hope many more from this silver jubilee reunion will follow his example.
The last two hours will not be forgotten. The kind of emotions I feel are like the waves that keep rolling in. Joy; especially the freedom to be the young boys and girls we once were is just exhilarating. I am sure this is not just what my heart alone says; but given a chance each one of you will whisper and shout the same things that I shared.
As the Organising Secretary of the Silver Jubilee Reunion, it was my pleasant task to get in touch with each one of you. What a joy it was to connect with all of you dear teachers and friends. Even though life took us on different roads; we all found our way back to our second home, our dear Alma Mater once again.
To all my friends who supported me with getting connected with our teachers and batchmates a big thank you. To all teachers who are currently part of the school and who supported us with arranging this venue and providing us with all needed logistics, a heartfelt thank you from all of us. To all our former teachers, let me tell you words will not be enough to say thanks, for your kindness in being part of our silver jubilee reunion and for blessing us with your gracious presence. We always will remain the same old children you taught in those evergreen years. Thank you so very much.
Such a mega event would never be possible without supporting finances. To all my friends who took care of the sponsorships and to all of you who contributed generously, much and more than we asked or expected; thank you very much.
Above all, to God Almighty, without whom I firmly believe this memorable night will not have been possible; belong our deepest thanks.
The night tonight will be long. Music, dance, and entertainment will fill the air. To all of you who will electrify this night with your talents, sincere thanks. Once again, thank you one and all.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
2000 years ago, a historic never-forgotten night that stretched long into the early hours of morning is remembered also for the following note of hope . . .
Farewell and the Promise of a Reunion Beyond Time
Jesus Christ, the night he was betrayed and arrested, the last night before his death on the cross, delivered this comforting farewell address to his disciples. He began by saying:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
If you ask me what is that people fear the most about public speaking ; I can answer in one word: Mistakes! I can almost see you nod your head in agreement. I have learned that mistakes will comeno matter how talented you are or how best prepared you are. It is just the way we human beings are.
If you ask me again, what is that people fear about public speaking, I can answer again in one word: Criticism! This is tougher still. “What will others think about me?” Well, what can you do about that; absolutely nothing. People might smile at you and say nasty things behind your back. Well, why should you lose your sleep about something that you have no control over at all? Think about it.
Now, what if your mind goes blank? And thus make yourself a fool on stage! So what; my friend? Many great speakers began this way; and there is nothing to be ashamed about that. The brain sometimes makes its presence known by such tricks that it plays. Don’t worry; your mind will back you up with better speeches in the days ahead.
Now what if your speech is boring? Well you don’t become an interesting speaker the Day 1 you speak. It happens over time. The key is to understand people. Ask yourself what their fears, needs, and dreams are? You need to learn to speak not just logic but also with feeling and emotions. Simply be yourself and touch on life and life experiences while you talk.
Above all; create memories. Not just speeches. If one person smiles because of what you said; if one person is inspired to hold on for one more day and not give up saying “I quit” ; if one person comes up to you years later and says that the words you spoke made a lasting impact on his or her life; if one person makes a connect with hope in God through your words; then that is what is the true stuff speeches should be made of.
Let me close with one final word. Some golden rules are never meant to be violated. Keep it short and simple is one such. And when you are in doubt about something you feel like speaking; it is always better to leave it out.
Of course, you can glide in or halt with tires screeching or get people ready to act while you end. And remember, if you attempted to speak; if you gave your very best; then even if you failed—it is triumph!
The first thing you need to be clear about is where and how your plane is going to land. Your audience will not like it if you go around in circles indefinitely and without purpose at the end of your speech.
Imagine you telling them, “That’s all” at the end of your speech. It is like the panic announcement over the loudspeakers after you have fastened your seat belts. As you eagerly await the landing; it is as if the Pilot announced, “I don’t know how to land this plane!”
So make sure where you are heading your plane to.
In case you want people to remember something after you stop speaking, you can try something like: “Let me end by reminding you once again that cleanliness is next to godliness. So if you find bits of paper lying on the floor making the place untidy, make sure you pick them up.”
If you want people to go home thinking about what you just said in your speech, just give them a thought to think about and ask them to think about it: “Now let me end by asking you, ‘Would you like to stay where you are and be like a frog in the well; or would you like to travel the world and have a taste of different cultures, manners, customs, and foods of the people all over the globe? Think about it.”
If you wish people to take immediate action, urge them to do something about it at the earliest. Right now if possible: “My dear friends, the simplest steps to save water and electricity is right at your finger tips. When you step out of your home, just go to every room and check if all lights and fans are switched off. If not, switch it off. Similarly make sure no taps are dripping. Close all taps. It is that simple. Do it now, do it every day.”
If you want to impact people make a thundering landing and crash into the nearby building in fire and smoke: “If not today, know that there is no other day. This is your last match. Go and play like you will never play again. And don’t come back with your tails tucked between your legs. As a coach I have taught you everything I know. But play I cannot. Winning or loosing isn’t everything; but today winning is all that matters. Get me that glittering trophy or go sell peanuts on the streets tonight. I will not accept anything short of victory.”
You can go for a quote at the end if it ties up with the topic of your speech quite strongly. For example, if you are speaking on Father’s Day, what General Mac Arthur said about a Father who builds up rather than tears down is a case in point: “By profession, I am a soldier, and take pride in that fact, but I am prouder, infinitely prouder, to be a father. A soldier destroys in order to build; a father only builds, never destroys. The one has the potentialities of death; the other embodies creation of life; and while the hordes of death are mighty, the battalions of life are mightier still. It is my hope that my son, when I am gone, will remember me, not from the battle, but in the home repeating with him our simple, daily prayer, our Father Who art in Heaven.”
And don’t forget how advertisers find a lodging place for their products in the hearts of millions; through that slogan or sound bite that grips thoughts and emotions. Something like Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream,” something simple and persuasive like Obama’s “Yes, we can.” Apple co-founder Steve Job’s conclusion to his 2005 Stanford Commencement address, “Stay hungry, stay foolish” is a classic example of a sound bite that puts down its roots deep.
Yet another simple method to end is by going for a very short illustration or story. For example: A little girl was seen reading a book in a plane which had hit bad weather. Others around were tensed; some were earnestly praying for a safe landing. A man observed that there was no worry or anxiety on the face of a child seated next to him. So he asked her, “Little girl, are you not afraid.” She replied, “Sir, my Dad is the pilot, and he is taking me home.” Our trust in God our Heavenly Father should be like how this little girl trusted her Dad to pilot her home!
Finally, let me ask you not to make the mistake that millions of speakers make all the time. They start working on the introduction first. Then they work on the body of their speech. By the time all this is ready; they don’t have time to prepare the concluding lines. So they decide to land their plane as lucky as it gets. So far in the history of flying planes and public speaking no one has landed safely without planning a safe landing to perfection.
Hope from now on you will have the end in mind when you begin!
Isn’t it amazing that for every one human being there might be around 1 million ants in the world. So today, let us learn something from these common ordinary creatures.
Go to the ant. It is a tiny creature. But it is able to accomplish so many things.
Go to the ant. It stores its food in summer. That means it makes hay while the sun shines or it is storing provisions for difficult days ahead. In other words it has great foresight.
Go to the ant. It has tremendous perseverance. As you look closely at the ants moving, you find that they will not quit until they overcome obstacles somehow.
Go to the ant. It shows amazing teamwork. Together, they are able to carry loads that will surprise us. They unite and motivate each other to achieve common goals.
Go to the ant. They keep on communicating with each other. Have you not seen in how short a time the news of availability of some food is conveyed by one ant to many. The unselfishness of ants make them wonderful communicators.
Go to the ant and learn said Solomon the Wise King and Teacher. How wonderful it is that God our Creator has shown us wisdom through such tiny creatures as ants!
“Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
— Proverbs 6:6–8 Bible NIV
Sluggard means a lazy, slow-moving, inactive person.
Ants–Interesting Facts and Figures
Myrmecology (/mɜːrmɪˈkɒlədʒi/; from Greek: μύρμηξ, myrmex, “ant” and λόγος, logos, “study”) is a branch of entomology focusing on the scientific study of ants. [Source: Wikipedia]
Ants can lift objects which have 10 to 50 times their body weight!
Ants have two stomachs. One for holding their own food; the other for sharing with others!
There are more than ten thousand known ant species in the world!
Leiningen Versus the Ants is a Short Story by Carl Stephenson. It grips the reader with the fighting spirit of a man against an army of ants.
What is the purpose of education? Is it just imparting knowledge? Or something more?
Respected teachers and my dear friends,
I stand here today to oppose the topic, “Schools of tomorrow will have no teachers or books.”
Let me try to answer the question about the purpose of education. If it is imparting of knowledge alone; it is a short-sighted goal indeed. What about character formation? What about values like honesty, punctuality, discipline, and respect? These are learned in school in the early years. It has stayed with us; and I am sure will stay with children in future too.
But the argument is that in future when attendance is marked in class, both teachers and books will be missing. I wonder who dreamed about this improbable idea!
Let me ask again: How did the world get the gift of such a fine mind like Helen Keller? Was it not Anne Sullivan’s patient encouragement? And to those who are not aware, Ann Sullivan was the teacher of the blind, deaf and mute genius Helen Keller. And you still want to argue that there will be no teachers in future? Or read the autobiography Wings of Fire. There you will find the missile man of India, the late President Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam paying glowing tributes to the teachers who influenced him to dream big.
When you think about schools, I request you all not to just to think about schools for normal kids alone. What about children who are specially or differently abled? Do you think that such children can come into the mainstream of society without teachers or books? Or do you plan to totally ignore this special group of otherwise talented kids for the sake of embracing the bleeding edge developments in science and technology? Think about it.
“No more teachers or books” means just one thing. There will be many a graveyard and valley of dry bones in the world where the unfulfilled potential of children will lie buried. Great talent that went unnoticed. Great torches that went unlit because there was no one to light the spark. Do you still wish to entertain the foolishness that in future, schools will have no teachers? I pity you!
Now let me come to books. Just take a look at Amazon where one of the largest percentage of books are being purchased online. Printed books have not died out just because ebooks are the in thing today. Neither has reading of books taken a downward plunge in spite of all the information and entertainment available in the internet at your finger tips.
My dear friends, books are not just storehouses of knowledge. They are our companions. There is a nostalgic flavour to the reading of books that no futuristic classroom can do away with.
Let me take you to yet another field. Sports and games. In spite of all the modern technology available why do individual players and teams have coaches? It is simply because the personal care of a teacher and mentoring cannot be substituted by anything else. So also future schools of tomorrow cannot do away with teachers.
Let me conclude. Many of the problems teenagers face today cannot be solved by artificial intelligence or smart classrooms. Relationship issues, substance abuse, stress because of broken homes, the search for meaning of life are part and parcel of young lives. Do you think absence of teachers are going to help them in any way? Or do you think more smart gadgets and smarter apps are going to make youngsters have better emotional quotient?
My dear friends, schools of tomorrow will continue to have better teachers and inspiring books as well. Thank you.
It is said that man is born with at least two fears.
Basophobia–the fear of falling
Phonophobia–the fear of big sounds.
Some add Xenophobia–the fear of strangers to the list as well.
Respected judges, teachers and friends,
A warm good morning to one and all.
As man grows up a lot more phobias get added to this list. In other words the list of phobias too keep growing. Today let me tell you about another phobia that has made it into the list of phobias in recent times.
Nomophobia or no mobile phone phobia is the irrational fear of being without your mobile phone or unable to use your mobile phone for a certain reason. Some people do not think it is a phobia because Nomophobia or NO MObile PHone Phobia is not strictly irrational. Running out of battery or being in a situation where signal is weak are real problems that need to be addressed.
At the same time Nomophobia raises a few questions. Let me try to answer some of them.
First of all, the question that is asked is, “Is Nomophobia a real thing?”
Well, it is real. Many people struggle with it. Surveys show that a large percentage of men and women, young and old are affected by this kind of anxiety disorder. But doctors today are looking into it seriously as Nomophobia can be considered a real problem affecting the mental health of users of digital media. It is reported that many do not even switch off their phone and feel stressed if at all their phones get switched off.
The second question is, “What is the impact of Nomophobia?”
Stress, anxiety, nervousness, depression, in extreme cases panic attacks; all these are related to Nomophobia. The fear that one will not be able to be connected to people can paralyze a few if not all. As people are depending on the mobile for practically everything; even simple things like remembering the phone numbers of close family members have become a lost art. In that sense, human memory and its capability seems also to be affected. Nomophobia can also be considered a non-drug addiction even.
The third and final question i want to raise is, “How can Nomophobia be reduced or overcome?”
Let me spell out a few techniques:
One, make it a point to spend quality time with your loved ones and friends and talk with them face to face. As you put human relationships and real life interaction with people a priority, your dependence on mobile phones will grow less and less. The point is engage in real human contact more and more.
Two, discipline your life as how you treat mobile phones. Set certain times to check your phone. Try to keep it at a distance when you are at home especially when you sleep at night. At least switch off your cell phone one hour before bed. Let mobile phones be your servant rather than you being its slave. The key word is discipline.
Three, set goals in life that are other-people focused. Why is this important? Mobile phones with social media sharing, selfies, and the craze after getting more likes for your posts have made people fall in love with themselves. This has made them addicted to cell phones. It is no secret that psychologists are employed by social media giants to get people more and more hooked to their chat platforms. But when you seek to empower others and help others achieve their dreams, you addiction to mobile phones might be reduced.
Let me repeat those three key words for you. Relationships, discipline, and goals that are other-people focused.
Now let me conclude.
As long as mobile phones and apps and social media are present in this world, Nomophobia will be on the increase. But like warning signals you find while you drive on the road, people are now being alerted to the overuse and misuse of mobile phones. If you are wise you will heed these warnings and find a meaningful life ahead. Let me end by saying mobile phones cannot be avoided but they can be better managed.
The Bible declares, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters”— (Psalm 24:1, 2).1
Respected Principal, Beloved Teachers, and my dear Friends,
Lend me your ears; and close your eyes for a moment. As you open them again, let me call your attention to the beautiful blue and white jewel that spins its way in space around the sun. The Earth we live in, God-designed perfectly for human life.
The atmosphere, land and water where countless number of birds fly, animals live, and fishes swim; provide this earth with an ecosystem unmatched and unparalleled in the entire known universe.
The brown soil, the deep blue oceans and the vast endless skies, the snow-capped majesty of the towering mountains, the greenery of the vegetation, the beauty and the fragrance of the flowers:
On this earth live Men and Women, the crown of God’s creation. But all is not well. The News is bad. Earth is reeling under pressure of Man’s greed and selfishness and thoughtlessness. Tomorrow looks bleak.
Pollution is the main villain. It comes in all forms. Air, water, food; all are contaminated. Plastics, pesticides, fossil fuels; all contribute to the problem. Once upon a time, if it was the green trees that dotted the landscape; now in its place have risen skyscrapers. Deforestation has spelled disaster.
On the one side are natural calamities and disasters. Tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes all create havoc. Scorching heat at times, torrential rains that flood on other occasions; life is becoming more and more unpredictable. Clean drinkable water sources are fast disappearing and we are buying water in plastic bottles.
The debris that is dumped into the oceans is disturbing marine life too; while the debris we have left behind in space as an aftermath of space exploration programmes also will create trouble in coming years.
Who or what is to be blamed? Certainly, man’s selfishness and his greed and exploitation of natural resources.
Without doubt; climate change, global warming, emission of greenhouse gases, damage to ecosystems, rising sea levels are all matters of great concern. Not to mention the threat of a nuclear warfare, and possible takeover of the human race by robots empowered by Artificial Intelligence!
Will some debris from outer space hit the earth in future?
Will the earth reel under its impact?
Will human life survive?
Will the earth survive?
Will it handle the population explosion that is predicted?
Or is population explosion just a myth?
Is it just maldistribution of resources that is the problem?
My dear friends, life is not going to be easy in the coming years. Not all problems can be solved. But we can certainly make an honest attempt. It is the fruit of trees planted by our forefathers that we enjoy today. So, we owe our next generations a generous giving that they too may have a chance to live life with dignity.
The change will not begin in international summits; it can begin only in the backyard of our homes. There is something you alone can do. Do not wait for others to do it. Let life continue; for there is no other planet which sustains life in the entire universe. We have been gifted this earth as our home!
Inter-stellar and inter-galactic missions, Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan will continue. But let us not forget our earth; our home where we live and move and have our being. We bear the imprint of the dust of the earth but have in us the breath of heaven. Let us not forget that!
So friends, let us make a brave effort to preserve something of the beauty and richness of our Planet Earth for the next generations. Thank you.
Respected dignitaries on the dais, my dear colleagues, participating teams from different universities, and all gathered over here, a warm good morning to one and all.
As the Principal of the College hosting the event, it is my pleasant privilege to speak a few words of felicitation at the inauguration of The Extravaganza, the Inter-University Arts and Literary Fest in our region.
The Extravaganza suggests possibilities, opportunities, creativity, and the colourfulness of youth. Today all of you get a chance to express yourself in the best spirit of friendly competitiveness. It is a time to enjoy the splash of immense talent on the huge canvas that is spread out for you.
I take this opportunity to welcome all the participating University teams once again. Life, let me remind you is made special by memories. I am sure The Extravaganza will become for you a cherished memory, a snapshot that you will showcase for the rest of your lives.
Let me wish all of you good success. At the end of the day there will be winners. At the same time there will be some who may not finish at the top three. But then they are not losers. They have put in their best efforts. That is what counts more than being able to win. So strive to excel.
Let me also remind all of you that the true achievement of programmes like The Extravaganza is the exchange of ideas and establishment of new relationships and friendships that paint our life’s canvas with a variety of colours.
Such programmes allow us to think beyond our daily spheres of influence and think of the world beyond our immediate surroundings. It expands our minds, gives us a greater capacity to love, and enables us to push ourselves to new standards of excellence.
All this would not be possible without an organizing team and their voluntary efforts to make The Extravaganza happen. I congratulate and thank all the members of the organizing team for their selfless effort to make this event a grant success.
I once again wish all participants success. Let the competitions happen in the true spirit of sportsmanship. Life is made beautiful by shared moments like what is happening here right now. I can see the eager faces all around looking ahead in anticipation. Wish you all success. God bless you all. Thank you.
The art of leadership is as old as human history. At the same time mastering leadership is a life long pursuit for those who wish to lead effectively.
Countless books have been written on leadership. Thousands of seminars and workshops are conducted across the globe every year. We witness leadership summits and conferences. Yet there is no end to the variety of ways in which leadership is studied, presented and understood.
In this short speech let me put across to you 7 Essential C’s of Leadership.
First of all, leadership is about effecting change. For change to happen it should begin with the leader himself. The change most needed, I believe, is in the ability to be flexible. Old habits, thinking patterns that do not match the demands of today have to be discarded. It simply means that the leader should not try to impose change on others without modeling it himself.
Secondly, leadership is about exhibiting courage. Primarily, it is about courage in taking decisions. The man who delays decisions so as not to offend anyone cannot lead. So also the man who wavers at the first sign of opposition. But one who is bold in decision and action will find others align with him sooner or later.
Thirdly, Leadership is about character Sadly so many are just concerned with cosmetics. That is how to appear charismatic, winsome and have an appealing personality. All this can do you good for a season. But it is like building a super structure on sand. On the other hand a rock-strong foundation characterized by integrity is a must to lead effectively.
Coming fourth in the list, leadership is about conviction. Now conviction comes when truth is firmly established in one’s heart. It can be an understanding of truth about people, situations or even what motivates opposition. Conviction comes also from a clear understanding of what you can or cannot do. Without conviction, a leader fails to inspire.
In the fifth place leadership is about contexts. In other words each leadership situation is set in the backdrop of a historical context. Sir Winston Churchill whose voice broadcast over radio instilled courage in the hearts of the people of Britain during World War II is a classic example. He was the man for the hour. You too can rise to the occasion and lead if you have a keen insight and awareness of the context in which you are in.
The penultimate thought is that leadership is about confidence. Let me put it this way: Who will follow someone who is a bundle of nervousness; whose words exhibit anxiety and whose body language is like that of a little boy who broke his favorite toy? A leader, therefore believes in the best even when the ship reels to and fro in troubled waters. Everything about his poise and posture exudes calm.
Finally, leadership is about communication. A leader’s words should inspire, make others think, take needed action and impact people beyond the immediate audience. Just look at a list of world famous speeches. Most of them came from leaders who were able to articulate and communicate their vision to the masses. Leadership communication is therefore critical to the success of any endeavour. A man or woman who is able to communicate with clarity and a sense of purpose leads brilliantly.
Let me conclude.
Warren Bennis in his Introduction to On Becoming a Leader wrote, “To an extent, leadership is like beauty: it’s hard to define, but you know when you see it.” Even though it is hard to define, you can learn and master some of the components that go into the creation of effective leadership.
I believe that, though there are so many other components, Change, Courage, Character, Conviction, Contexts, Confidence, and Communication are 7 Essential C’s of Effective Leadership. Mastering these leadership principles take time. An effective leader is someone who experiences growth in these areas as time passes by.
Red says STOP. When the light is red, do not act; do not move, do not proceed. You can escape so many tears and heartbreaks in life; if you simply learn to see Red.
There are many who will offer you your tomorrow today. And you might feel the irresistible pull to go along.
But wait a minute. Did you forget to see the colour Red? Did you forget that one simple yet power-packed word you can and should say? NO! “No” is the bold word you should say when you see red!
Remember that the best things in life are worth waiting for. Don’t seek instant pleasure and satisfaction in anything. Secret things can thrill; but they also kill. It is one moment’s thoughtless adventure but a lifelong journey down to the depths of hell.
So learn to see red. And when you see red, say NO.
Know that consequences are there for every stand you take and every move you make. But you have got everything to lose if you dance to the tune others play for you.
So stand strong. And be bold. A fierce lion-like stance once you say NO might be your only hope.
As a young girl, there is nothing you need to learn that is more important than the word NO. Always, keep it ready like an arrow pulled back on the string. Shoot it without a second thought.
It will hurt some; but it is worth the risk. For it is your safety that matters most. A glass jar; if it breaks might not just be the same even if you glue it back again. So be bold enough to say NO.
Let me conclude. Life is beautiful; but there is red everywhere. Trust in God; be bold, and say NO when you see red.
We are all gathered here with hearts full of gratitude to felicitate her. Dear teacher, we your students are indeed proud of your achievement. We are immensely privileged to share with you the joy of you being selected as the best teacher.
There are three things I wish to highlight this evening.
One, your commitment to excellence. There is nothing that you do that is not stamped with your passion for making the best efforts possible.
Two, your depth of knowledge. There is a welcome freshness to your class each day. We are left yearning for more when the bell rings to signal the end of class.
Three, your personal touch in our lives. You had a gentle word of encouragement to each one of us when we were down. For all our little heartaches, you had time to listen to us. More than what you have taught us, it is the fact that you cared that has touched us.
Above all this we all know that you are a loving wife and an affectionate mother. We are happy that you have found a work-life balance that has given us such a wonderful teacher in you.
There is much more to say. But some things remain etched in memory when it is short and sweet.
So let me wish our very dear teacher many more awards and recognitions in the years ahead.
Even in our earthly existence we know that all our tomorrows were shaped by what we all did yesterday; isn’t it? If all those actions had consequences; then definitely life when it moves beyond death is going to feel the impact of all your choices made today.
The one thing that can shape your tomorrows is whom you trust your tomorrows with? Some prefer to trust their tomorrows with their Banks; some others with people close to them. But some choose to trust God. This is often made fun of by others. Yet in the end, trusting God proves the wisest of all decisions you can make.
Some people make elaborate preparations for journeys. We don’t find people travelling long distances without making plans and arranging for a comfortable stay. But so many wait too long to prepare for eternity which stretches timelessly ahead. For those who delay to make a decision; tomorrow will spell darkness, no hope, no return, and no end to misery.
But to those who hope in God today, life becomes meaningful; because in God they find the LORD of their tomorrows. They realize that tomorrow is in God’s hands. And nothing can separate them from the love of God; not even death. Those who hope in God lose sight of tomorrow; instead they see the One who knows what tomorrow brings.
Life is God’s gift to you. Do not nip it in the bud.
Life might not have been fair to you. But that is not reason enough to take your own life.
You might have made mistakes. Yet when you choose to live, you get a chance to redeem those mistakes made. But if you choose to end your life that is the biggest mistake you can make. You cannot undo it.
Do you say no one cares for you? God will not forsake you even if your father and mother forsakes you.
Even if a mother forgets the baby at her breast and has no compassion on the child she has borne, God says, “I will not forget you!”
He has loved you with an everlasting love. His unfailing love for you will not be shaken for he has compassion on you.*
My dear friend, thoughts of suicide can attack you at any time; sometimes without any reason at all. What should you do then?
Let me ask you what you would do if an ugly worm falls on you when you are standing under a tree? You will shake it away in disgust; won’t you? Yes that is what you should do with all negative thoughts; always! Brush them away. Do not entertain them. Do not lovingly spread a bed for them. Instead, kick them out!
If you have a friend share your struggle with him or her. Accept his or her love and care. Never deceive yourself by thinking that no one cares. It’s a lie!
My dear friend, you can come back from life’s defeats, loss of confidence and failures. Just hold on. The Bible says, “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Remember my friend, God loves you even if you don’t feel like it. Even when your problems seem so huge and unsolvable, he has a plan and purpose* for your life.
Sometimes you might have faced abuse, mental torture, and been the subject of jokes. You might be going through shame and guilt and feelings of worthlessness. Yes, I admit some memories are hard to erase.
Yet you can have a brand new beginning* in life! Choose Life. My friend, that doesn’t mean life is going to be easy, but life will certainly be meaningful when you look forward with hope as God walks along with you!
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — Jesus Christ (John 10:10, 11; 14:6 Bible NIV).
*Bible references: God’s child (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1), Father and mother forsake (Psalm 27:10), Mother forgetting (Isaiah 49:15), Loved with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) Unfailing love and compassion (Isaiah 54:10), Apple of God’s eye (Deuteronomy 32:10), weeping and rejoicing (Psalm 30:5b), Plan and purpose (Jeremiah 29:11), brand new beginning (2 Cor. 5:17).
Respected dignitaries on the dais, colleagues, parents, the rank holders and dear students.
A timely word is a treasure that is wrapped in timeless memory .
We are gathered here to celebrate the achievement of these seven young minds who through their persevering effort has won personal distinction as well as accolades for our Institution. Their truly deserving achievement reminds us of Napoleon’s words, “Victory belongs to the most persevering.”
Though it is only (Name), who was my student in English Literature, the rank holders from other Departments of this College are known to me as well.
Some of them have overcome a variety of difficult situations and have come out with flying colours. On this joyful occasion, let me remind just three things.
First of all, not all but only very few have the privilege of studying in a college. And you have set yourself apart from that elite group and have carved a niche for yourselves as rank holders which will always be etched in golden letters in the annals of our history. So be thankful to God, to your parents, to your teachers and all those who supported you so that this achievement was made possible.
Secondly, there is a principle in life that the more you give, the more you are able to receive and still keep on giving. As you walk out of this Campus today, think how much the time you had spent here influenced and impacted you. Think about it not just in terms of knowledge gained but more in terms of relationships, the wisdom of life lessons, the guidance and encouragement of teachers and the value of the brand identity of this prestigious institution you now call your Alma Mater. Think about what you can give back to this Institution and the community at large. From now on, it is a time to give back and gift back in multiplied measure all that you got from here.
Finally, your achievement shows all the others especially the students who will be appearing for their final examinations this year that beginning well is good and important; but greater still is the art of finishing well. Lot many of youngsters today lack this determination. My dear students determine to finish well and finish strong in life. Your ability to dream of great achievements is important, but greater still is the will to win and the discipline to achieve it. It is this burning desire that will bring you success in the end as has been shown by these seven brilliant minds.
I take this opportunity to wish each one of the seven rank holders God’s very best. May life unfold for you in all its loveliness, may you find greater success in all that is to come, and may you find greater meaning and purpose as you contribute to society through your work and career in later years.
On behalf of this college community, the management, the principal, the teachers, parents and students, I once again congratulate you on your achievements and wish you all success. Thank you for accepting our invitation and being present for this meaningful and august felicitation meeting. Let this be not an end but a beginning; let the journey continue; and may you find new knowledge, new avenues of service, new opportunities for growth and may you find success in all your endeavours.
Thank you.
I do not dream of greatness, but I do dream of making my life meaningful. You ask me, “How?” I can simply say, by showing love and genuine concern for others.
I do not dream of being famous, but I do dream of being a person of influence. You ask me “How?” I can simply say, by disciplining myself to do the best I can and excel every single time I am called to act.
I do not dream of becoming rich, but I do dream of giving as much as I can out of all that I have. You ask me “Why?” Well, there are things that money can’t buy; it can’t stretch your life by a nano second nor can it buy a heart of love. So let me do all the good I can and count myself rich by all that I can do without.
Finally, I dream of making the most of opportunities; and not let them go.
I dream of having a few real good friends; and not fall for a million likes and followers in the world of fantasy.
I dream, yet again, that I might be given grace to love those who are close to me; to value and cherish them, and hold them dear before like a lone bird on a barren tree my life becomes.
I dream, my friends, of fighting back when defeats come; of rising above my occasional loss of confidence and of making it to the finishing tape to win the race set out for me.
Above all this, I dream of finding my life’s purpose; the reason why God put me on Planet Earth. If I can not only dream but also fulfil all that God has called me to do; then my dream shall find its wings and soar high with great joy!
This is my dream, my friends, and I believe that this dream will come to pass with God helping me to make it come true not only for me but for each one of you too.
Teens, not surprisingly, is a time you commit many mistakes. Some of them are painful, some others embarrassing. Do not worry too much about what others think about you. Know that you are significant and have great value in God’s eyes. Some of his best selections are those who are failures in the world’s estimate. So do not despair.
Teens, is a time of yearning to be loved and respected. Love is mostly a feeling, an emotion, a sudden unexplainable connect with someone for most teens. Yet love is more than anything of these. Closely associated with love is respect. A safety line that can be drawn is not to trust anyone who does not respect your private or personal space.
Love that makes demands, love that manipulates,
love that tries to control, love that puts pressure on you to yield,
love that compares you to someone else,
love that demeans your dignity as an individual
and treats you like an object, exhibit or commodity,
love that bargains to make deals—these cannot be called love.
They are a cheap imitation, and at its worst, deception.
Teens, for some at least, is a time of heartbreaks. Broken promises, lies and deception, the luring world of instant messaging, cheating, rejection, having someone dump you are all sadly common. If you have been at the receiving end, do not think about yourself a failure. It is time to focus, have new dreams, and start working towards worthy goals in life.
Finally, if no one else is there to listen to you, God is there. When you feel worthless, when your thoughts like wild horses on the gallop uncontrollably go, when thoughts of suicide come, when others forsake you, make fun of you, and give up on you, you still have God. Teens, God loves you You will find acceptance with him just as you are. Always. God is near, much nearer to you than the breath you breathe.
At the sound of this one word, some hearts flutter, some others skip a beat. There is rush of adrenaline for some; others blush.
Love, surprisingly, has been equated with emotions. But is it all that is there to it? Emotions keep changing; don’t they? Today, you feel madly in love with someone; when the sun rises the next day you wonder where all the “love” you felt yesterday has gone; don’t you?
So love does not properly belong to the realm of emotions; though emotions do colour our love with all kinds of splashes. Then what is love?
It is basically a decision to hold the other person in the highest esteem, value him or her above all else, and cherish that person like no other and hold him or her so close and dear to one’s heart.
Love is not about getting; it is about giving.
Love is not about selfishness; it is about sacrifice.
Love is not about being on top of the charts; it is about humility, the willingness to serve.
Love is not about bragging; it is about doing things for the other without advertising.
Love is not about covering up evil; it is about being transparent and living in the light.
Love is not about falsehood; it is about speaking the truth.
Finally, we cannot think on love without thinking of God. The well known passage in the Bible speaks about love in this compelling way: 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.”*
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Respected dignitaries on the dais, beloved teachers, dear parents and students,
Good evening to one and all.
We have just witnessed a magnificent display of talent by the students of our school. It is most fitting that such a variety of cultural events showcased the splendid history of the last 25 years of our school on this concluding programme of the Silver Jubilee Anniversary Celebrations.
As the head girl of this school it is my honour and privilege to propose the vote of thanks.
First of all, let me thank our Principal. Sir, the words of wisdom you shared with us today will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives. You have challenged us to discipline ourselves to succeed in life and not to lose our human touch in the process of doing so.
I am sure this light you have lit this evening will blaze on in the lives of all the students gathered here. Thank you very much.
The Guest of honour today, [name], is one among us, who started dreaming sitting on the benches of the classrooms here. It is not often that students get a chance to listen to eminent persons like you. You have exemplified through your life what it means to fight against disabilities, and live without complaining about difficult circumstances in life.
Your enthusiasm is contagious. What touched our hearts this evening is your bold fight against gender discrimination and harassment of women in the workplace. Your words have inspired all the girl children in our school to be aware of their rights and privileges; and to have courage to speak out against injustice. Pledging our support to all your work on women empowerment; a big thank you for your gracious presence with us this evening.
Today we were blessed to have the megastar of [name] Malayalam movies as our celebrity guest. Well, we have seen so many of the wonderful characters you portrayed so well on the silver screen. For most of us, it was the first time, we got to see you so close. Your unassuming nature surprised us.
Now it is time to say thanks to our beloved teachers. What can I say!
Without your support, your care and concern for us, your constant endeavours to bring out the best in us, your instilling in us a sense of values and priorities in life, your teaching us the importance of managing time, and above all your being with us for any help that we needed; all this above and beyond what you teach from text books; yes, all these and more have made our life in this school the happiest and most meaningful period of our lives.
In a big way, more than words can say, from the depths of our hearts and with due respect, thank you all our beloved teachers.
A word about our parents gathered for this ceremony this evening. Your coming here, your presence with us means a thousand times more than all the expensive gifts you could have given us. For all your love and care, for all the sacrifices made to educate us in the best school in this part of the world, for gifting us with dreams and possibilities, a big thank you.
We assure you that nothing of what you have done for us will ever go wasted.
It is time to say goodbye. The Silver Jubilee celebrations of our school comes to an end; but the legacy lives on.
What has been achieved will be written in golden letters in the annals of our history; but what is yet to come will surpass all that in its magnitude, in its brilliance, and in its reach.
To all who came to witness this event, to all those who wished our school good luck on this momentous occasion, to all who toiled day and night to make the Silver Jubilee celebrations unforgettable, thank you once again.
Finally I thank God Almighty for showering his blessing upon today’s function.
As the star studded skies on this black velvety night twinkle in euphoric delight,
Wishing you all good night, sweet dreams and radiant memories. Thank you one and all.
On one side, man is exploiting, polluting, and wasting drinkable water. On the other side man is spending billions of dollars seeking signs of water in other planets. Pitiable, to say the least!
Water, I believe, is one of God’s priceless gifts to mankind. In the past civilizations and cultures took shape in the banks of rivers in acknowledgement of this fact.
Today, the post-modern culture revolves around bottled water. In this we see a loss of goodness that once was seen in offering a stranger a cup of cold water to drink as he walked by our homes.
Those of us who have constant access to fresh water resources should pause a moment and think about millions who do not enjoy this privilege. In fact, there are many, especially women and children who die for the lack of safe drinking water.
Now just thinking won’t do much good. We need action. In this case, we need practical steps to preserve our water resources for our children.
Think about it. How can the next generation survive if after having the best education and highly skilled jobs they don’t have water to drink?
The simplest thing you can do is to see that your taps don’t leak or drip. Once you are about to leave home ensure that all taps are closed.
Then explore the possibility of taking a shorter bath, consider reusing water from the kitchen for gardening, or using stored water in a bucket to wash dishes instead of running water.
There are several more of these practical tips. It is not creativity that is lacking to implement them; instead it is the will to do so. Remember the saying “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Perhaps there is no better way to end these thoughts than to quote what the missile man of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam predicted, “Future wars will be over water.”
With atomic, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons kept ready for the need and the hour, another world war would contaminate what little safe water that remains. Let us therefore unite to save water to save lives!
Before I conclude, let me remind you that water quenches thirst. It satisfies. Especially after having walked in the hot sun, how refreshing a splash of water onto one’s face and drink of cold water. Therefore water is a powerful symbol of the longing of man for truth, for God, for the meaning of life and for all that ultimately satisfies.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” — Jesus Christ
–(John 4:13, 14 Bible NIV.)
World Water Day–March 22
Life is
limited by time,
happening in space,
and destined for eternity.
Let me explore Time, Space, and Eternity one by one.
First of all Time is the stuff life on earth is made of. Though 24 hours is equally made available to all, the length of years one lives is beyond the scope of man to determine.
Time given is best utilized when one realizes that life has a purpose on earth and it has been God-ordained.
Secondly, Space is the platform on which life happens. Earth is just a tiny speck of dust; a blue and white jewel in the endless galaxies and stellar regions of space.
The stars shining at night are a constant reminder that life on earth is no accident and it has been God-designed in wisdom and sustained by his mighty power!
It is when you think of the vastness of space and its endless wonders that you cannot but exclaim with the Hebrew poet, “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”*
Thirdly, God has set eternity in the hearts of men. Death is by no means the end of life.
Life becomes meaningful when it is lived in the perspective of eternity. What determines the quality of life in eternity are the choices we make here and now.
Life we live on earth is just a preparation; and what we sow here is reaped for ever and ever.
Let me conclude. In the light of what was spoken about Time, Space, and Eternity, go throw a pebble into the still waters of a pond and see what happens!
Isn’t there more to life than what you have seen so far? Truly,
“No eye has see,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him.”
The moment has finally come when you are called to act. It is not to do something great the call is; but just to exercise your rightful duty.
First, let me do a little bit of straight talk. You are given this time and opportunity to cast your vote. But before you decide it doesn’t matter; let me ask you, “What if all think likewise and stay at home instead of coming to cast your votes tomorrow?”
I know that your excuses are genuine. It is the rainy season and travelling in the cold moist weather is not pleasant. Maybe your thought is that it is Friday tomorrow; and if you choose to stay home you get an extended weekend. I agree to both those arguments.
But give me a minute before you make a final decision.
See friends, it is not a matter of winning or losing. It is about understanding that each one of you is significant. You will not come to know the power of your right to vote until your best candidate loses the election by just one vote!
Again, the right to vote, especially that of women, came about after a lot of struggle. Every single time you fail to vote you are counting the sacrifices made for obtaining this right as nothing.
Now that you know you cannot and should not miss your privilege to vote, let me ask again, “What is a college magazine all about?”
Is it just a report about activities in a year? Is it just about certain articles contributed? Or interviews with celebrities? Is it just about photographs? No. No. No. Not at all.
My friends, a college magazine is about memories. It is about nostalgia. It is the treasured collection of the most colourful, vibrant, and never-to-return time of your life. It will carry the whisper of the breeze as you sat chatting under the cool of the trees, it will have the dynamics of debates that sparked fire, it will hold the thrilling sensation of arts, cultural events and sports.
Above all this, the college magazine that I have in mind will be a brilliant display of the finest kind of student-teacher cooperation, team play, and coordinated effort for which our Campus is uniquely known for.
This is what I promise you. Some 20 years from now as you flip through the pages you will walk through the beloved corridors here, and of Time as well. Well, for those of you who love the digital version; it will be more of like an emotionally charged live revisit to your most loved alma mater.
So cast your precious votes in my favour. My worthy opponent has made tall claims to be elected. He deserves a chance. But did he deliver last year? He was elected the arts club secretary; wasn’t he? We expected much, but it all came to nothing. Except a delayed and ill-timed inauguration there was just nothing. Do you want to vote him back to power again?
My dear friends tomorrow is your opportunity to vote for change. Let history record a massive turnout. Your confidence in me will be amply rewarded.
So friends, do not forget my name. I am no stranger to you. In all your moments of ecstasy, and in times of struggle I have been with you. You know that I have not run away from challenges; nor from standing up for your rights in your moments of disagreement with the management.
Do vote for change. With each vote in my favour, you will have the immense satisfaction of having made possible the most fantabulous magazine of our college ever. Thank you.
Yes, my friend, God loves you. It is an undying love; an everlasting love. He loves you not because you deserve his love; but because he decided to love you even before you were born.
What greater love do you know than you being called a child of God! It is true. You became God’s child when you trusted in him.
Love has been lavished on you.
You might say you have sinned against him much. Let that be true. But the greater truth is you’ve been forgiven much.
Will you love him less?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
Hi friends, today I would like to speak a few words on hope.
First of all, hope is what makes life go forward. It helps you forget the past. It makes you feel that the best is yet to be. In short, hope looks ahead to a better tomorrow.
Secondly,hope looks up. It is when the night is dark, that stars shine the most. Hope looks up to God when all earthly help fails. In short, hope believes in miracles.
Thirdly,hope helps people to hold on. When life is tough and bad things happen; it is hope that says, “Do not give up.” It is hope that helps you to fight one more round.
Finally,hope rises in our hearts as we listen to promises. When parents tell us, “Next birthday, we will be buying you this gift,” we rejoice in the hope of getting it, When God says, “I will not leave you nor forsake you*,” we get courage by his presence with us.
Let me conclude by saying, hope is the stuff life is made of. So live in hope. Overflow with Hope
Life is forward. And birthdays are milestones along the journey. It reminds us that the gift of life is God-given; to be cherished, valued, and kept as a sacred trust.
Birthdays also are reminders. It tells us that time is ticking on. It does not stop for anyone. A birthday thus becomes a snapshot of a good moment, a tiny speck in the passage of time. It is a day you can feel special; which you truly are.
Birthdays remind us to be thankful. Each birthday you celebrate is a time to thank God for bringing you thus far.
And it is also an opportunity to take stock of all that is past, correct mistakes, and move on with hope.
Yet again, birthdays tell us how special our loved ones are. In fact it is our family and friends who share our joy with us. It is definitely our loved ones who make birthdays special.
So also the gifts they bring. We often remember with love and gratitude the people who gave gifts to us on our birthdays.
Most of these gifts are carefully chosen, sacrificially given, and lovingly gifted not only to express their heart to you but also to let you know how valued to them you are.
To put in a final thought, birthdays tell us that life can never be truly estimated or measured in years. The length of time lived rarely is an indicator of how well it was lived.
Therefore, may each birthday find you with a stronger resolve to live your life with purpose.
On behalf of friends and family and all gathered here, let me wish you a wonderful birthday with God’s blessings accompanying throughout the coming year!
