“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
Respected Teachers and my dear friends,
Today as I speak on the pleasures of reading, the first thought that comes to my mind is from Francis Bacon. As he said, reading is like tasting and enjoying your favourite food. It gives immense pleasure. As food nourishes your body; reading refreshes and strengthens your mind.
The second pleasure of reading is that of knowledge. Reading exposes our mind to different cultures and languages of the world. It is through reading that we connect with people across the world and participate in their lives drama; through their sorrows and joys; their despair and dreams.
The third pleasure of reading is that of inspiration. Biographies of great men and women tell us that most of them became great because of the inspiration they got from reading books especially during their childhood days. So also, as we read, our minds are ignited with hope and courage, with cheer and determination to make our lives count and leave footprints on the sands of time.
The fourth and last point I would like to communicate regarding the pleasure of reading is that of entertainment. Novels, short stories, poems, travelogues, even comics and cartoons entertain our minds. It helps us relax. More than that it engages our mind in a way nothing else does. Our imagination is ignited when we read. We become co-creators of stories as we animate the stories we read in our minds. It is definitely a healthy exercise for the mind.
Let me conclude now by saying that books continue to be written and published because people continue to read and be entertained and inspired. Reading is one of the healthiest entertainments a man or woman can have. I am sure the pleasure of reading will continue to ignite hope in countless lives even like a thousand points of light twinkling in the night sky.
There is not one who does not feel anxious at some point in time. For a student it can be just before an exam; for a professional it can be some pending work or a meeting with the boss. For many others it is fear of the future; health issues; financial insecurity or being late to catch a train. It is natural to feel anxious. But let us try to look at how to manage it.
First of all, look to God.
He is a strong tower, a mighty rock, a shade and shelter, a comforting mother, a helping hand ever present, who lives for ever and never sleeps. He is watching over you all the time. Even when you are struggling he is seeing it and is moved with compassion for you. Cast all your anxiety on God, because he cares for you says the Bible1. So look to God. Make a conscious effort to think about God.
Secondly, try to declutter your life.
See when we organize poorly; when we accumulate little things over the years; when we say yes to all unimportant requests from people; when we refuse to say No to activities that blurs our focus on what is important; they all lead to anxiety. So take time to remove the weeds that mar the beauty of the garden of your life. When you declutter it will make life simpler.
Thirdly, talk to your friends.
Just admit that you feel anxious. Talking things with your friends can relieve anxiety. They may or may not give advice. What they say might not help or be practical in your situation. But still talking with friends will relieve anxiety. Do not be like a dam with all shutters down; but open the spillways with trusted friends.
Finally, travel with hope.
Life might not be easy. It is natural to fear and feel anxious. But hold on to the firm hope that you will emerge strong in spite of all your anxiety; God-helping you. Never give up hope. Miracles do happen. It might not be like a burst of lightning always; but like the simple ordinary blooming of a flower bud more often.
It is easy to say God is dead. Atheists believe that there is no God. There might be logic in their argument. Questions like: “If there is a God, why is there so much suffering in this world?” or “Why do people who profess to believe in God, do wrong things?” or “Isn’t it enough that I just be living a good life; trying to help others and not doing harm?” do not have easy answers.
Having said that, let me try to raise a few concerns.
Man is busy trying to explain origins dating back to billions of years. But while they are proposing theories; the reality of cold dark death bites. Why death?
Secondly, most human beings wear dress.
Forget about fashions; but think of normal wear. Why this distinction? If man is a social animal as many love to term it; why is man different from all other animals, birds, and reptiles in this regard? Isn’t it that the shame of the original sin in the Garden of Eden is haunting all men and women even today?
Thirdly, man thinks. And he expresses his thoughts through words.
As Dr. Samuel Johnson said, “Language is the dress of thought.” But why so many languages in the world. Well, the world had one speech and language at the dawn of human history. Was it not God who scattered men all around the world by confusing their languages because of man’s rebellion against him?
I do agree that love has been corrupted much. But then you will all agree that love is that which affirms us that we belong. It is love that reduces friction and makes hope-filled waiting possible. Who put love within man’s heart in the first place? If not God, then who? So then, Is God Who Gave You Life, Dead?
Having a healthy mind is critical to your success in life. And surprisingly it is quite easy to have a healthy mind. Let me give you some simple tips to achieve good mental health.
First of all, to have a healthy mind, begin the day with a smile, a prayer, and a thankful heart. When you get up from bed; just smile because you have got the gift of a new day. Pray to God to give you wisdom for the day. And be thankful for all the blessings you have in life. In that way a positive environment can be created for having a healthy mind.
Secondly, to have a healthy mind, have good friends in your life. Friends will share your joys and sorrows. They will motivate you to do better in your studies, hobbies, and career too. They will play with you and talk. And they will team up with you for projects and activities. All these are good for your mind to stay healthy.
Thirdly, to have a healthy mind, try to help someone who is weaker than you. Encourage someone to push beyond what he or she has achieved in life. Most people suffer from low self esteem. Your motivational words can shine a light in their darkness. When you do so it not only encourages them; but will also make your mind radiate with joy. Isn’t that a great way to stay mentally healthy?
Finally, to have a healthy mind, deliberately say no to gadgets: your laptop; mobile; TV, gaming station etc. They have their value. But too much of entertainment without interaction with people; especially your loved ones is going to destroy your mental health. Addiction is more addictive than you think. The more you can stay away from gadgets; the better your mental health.
Let me conclude by saying that mental health is of great importance in today’s world. So make a deliberate effort to stay mentally healthy by being thankful, having good friends, helping others and saying no to gadgets. Keep up hope.
“Be still” as your success mantra is easily said than done. Being still is not about switching off one’s mind and thinking; but bringing God into the driver’s seat of one’s mind. It is not a one-time action; but a constant attitude that shows reliance and dependence upon God and his wisdom in the affairs of our lives.
“Be still” is a command God gives and is much more than just a success mantra. He expects us to pause our worries and trust him for results. Obeying the command “be still,” is like a farmer having done all his hard work and waiting for the crops. There is nothing to do but trust that all will come out well.
“Be still” is however difficult to obey because we always like to be part of the action. But God knows that there are situations where the best thing for us to do is NOT to interfere in what he is trying to do. God’s delays might be to prepare us for the blessing ahead. But if we act without being still; it can be like a child splashing paint on to the canvas on which his Artist Dad has almost completed a perfect work of art.
“Be still” is also difficult for us because we do not trust God’s goodness. We do not wish to put our entire reliance on God. It is like God sending us an aircraft to fly. But we prefer to drive a car the whole way because we simply find it hard to believe that God is keenly interested in leading and guiding us in ways that are best for us.
Finally, let me conclude by saying that the ability to “be still” leads us to know God better. Let me also remind you that being still is not passive waiting. Instead it is an eager expectation on our part to see God act on our behalf. At the same time we should avoid to engineer people or situations in our human wisdom which can easily fail to see God’s higher purpose. Therefore a success mantra you can trust is to “be still.”
Has someone hurt you bad. It might have been years since it happened. The pain hasn’t gone away; has it? Is there anything beyond counselling help and the support of friends? Possibly yes. Your emotional healing will happen in God’s mercy.
The first and foremost thought about emotional healing is that of your true value.It has to be restored and brought back to its original design. As God had planned for you. The scars have to heal and perhaps the shame of yesterdays wiped away. But can that happen? Oh, yes! If you allow it, God can do it for you to heal you emotionally.
Secondly, emotional healing is about having hope for your future. You need not allow negativity of what had happened to dictate how you want to take your life forward. With God everything can become new in your life. What has been lost, God can bring back in ways you have not imagined. Thus emotional healing holds within it hope for your future.
Thirdly, emotional healing is about finding forgiveness with God. Even though you were the victim of the situation, you might be finding it difficult to accept God’s forgiveness in your life. Somehow you feel yourself responsible and guilty for whatever had happened. You might feel someone accusing you all the time.
But don’t let all this discourage you. Come to God and find healing of your emotions and forgiveness. For he accepts you just as you are and makes you brand new.
Finally, emotional healing is about believing the promises of God; two of which I mention here:
One, the Bible says, “by his wounds you have been healed.”1 Yes, the basis of your emotional healing is found in the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for you where his body was broken for you.
And second, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”2
Let me conclude by saying that Jesus came as One sent by God to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour.” 3
The purpose of his coming includes setting you free from fear and from all that is oppressing your mind. Your emotional healing is part of this purpose. So come to him. And seek his face continually. And Jesus, in his mercy, will make your emotional healing a reality in his own good time.
We all know the story of the greedy fox. Therefore, today, let me tell you something about greed.[Click this link to listen to the BPPS Podcast of this speech on YouTube.]
First of all, greed makes you blind to true love. When greed takes over; people become willing to tear apart blood relationships. Remember this is just for some material gain, wealth, money or inherited property. What a sad situation it is!
Secondly, greed makes us worship money and wealth. Dear friends, only God alone is worthy of our adoration, praise, and worship. But greed makes us forget that. And we start to bow down in front of greed.
Thirdly, greed can make you grab all you want; but at the end of the day you’ll be left with nothing. Remember, how Alexander the Great had the wisdom to ask his friends to put two holes in his coffin through which his empty hands could be put outside of it for all to see and think. He had conquered a large part of the world. But he was taking absolutely nothing with him when he died.
Finally, greed can make you a monster. Many angels at heart have become ruthless when they had allowed greed to take control of their lives. Values like love, compassion, mercy, and kindess disappear from the lives of those who are greedy.
Therefore my friends, stay away from greed. Let the story of the greedy fox remind you to stay away from greed. Let me conclude with the words of Jesus Christ: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”1
Thank you.
1Luke 12:15 Bible NIV 1984.
Featured image courtesy: Amanda Frank (Unsplash)
Thirst! That one thing on which a huge industry of bottled drinks from purified water to carbonated soft drinks thrive globally. Billions of dollars roll hands on thirst alone. But thirst also is one word which stands for an ocean of desires.
Let me suggest four types of thirst that motivates people:
One, thirst for personal glory. Right from getting the first rank in school to winning an olympic gold; from making money to wielding power; from being appreciated by friends to having many likes, fans, and followers on social media; most lives are characterized by thirst for personal glory.
Two, thirst for personal vengeance. Without doubt, many of us harbour resentments, hurts, jealousy, and the desire to see those who created trouble for us go down. We might not kill but we might make fun, slander, criticize, and gossip. Honestly, it is good to audit our hearts and open it up for a search to find what it contains.
Three, thirst for God. At some point in time, most people wonder about the meaning of life. When they find themselves in situations like in a desert experience, forsaken by others, they cry out to God. Jesus responded to this thirst by declaring: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.”1
Fourthly, and finally, thirst for pleasure and entertainment. It can be mass entertainment, it can be solo in secret, it can be cruel, it can be fun, it can be hobbies or sports; life for many is defined and dominated by thirst for pleasure.
I have just mentioned four motivations of thirst in our human lives. But there are many more. Thirst continues in every human life. Yet no complete satisfaction comes in any human life until God is welcomed to meet your ocean of thirst with living water he alone can gift you with!
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Featured image: Johnny McClung (Unsplash) 1John 7:37
The James Webb Space Telescope, no doubt an engineering marvel in itself, opened our eyes to the exciting world of stars and galaxies billions of light years away. So let me speak on what the stars tell.
First of all, the stars tell us that how wise and creative and Almighty God is! He simply created it all with his word.1 Moreover the Bible says he calls each of them by name 2 and because of his great power and mighty strength not one of them is missing.3
Secondly, stars tell us how small we are in the vast expanse of space. It also reminds us of our ignorance rather than our knowledge. Each new discovery is claimed to be giant leap. Yes, it surely is. But it also shows how small we truly are.
Thirdly, stars tell us that they obey the laws of heaven.4 They are under authority. Imagine if the gravitational forces started rebelling. What chaos would result! So each one of us should stand in awe at the majesty of God. The Bible says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”5
Finally, what is the meaning of shining like stars. Does not life offer us numerous examples of people using adversity to scale heights in life? Taking responsibility for your decisions and mistakes and failures in life requires moral courage and that will bring star-studded success in your life.
Beginnings are part of our lives. Much prayer, planning, and preparation ideally should go into making a beginning a success. A good start will pump a lot of confidence, hope, and the enthusiasm to persevere till the end. Now let me spell out a few tips regarding beginnings—the right way to begin anything.
#1. Begin with God.
He knows what is best for you. He is willing to guide and help you. Above all, he can give you the needed wisdom. So begin with God. Let your studies begin with God; for the fear of the LORD is beginning of wisdom and knowledge.
#2. Begin with a Determination to Finish.
You might have left many projects undone. This happens because you did not keep the long term view or have the big picture in mind. You should be prepared in your mind to deal with distractions and setbacks and obstacles. if you begin without having a plan to deal with these; most likely you will abandon what you started.
#3. Begin with Hope and Maintain It.
Life can bring a lot of changes. Some of them can threaten to derail your plans. It is in those times that you need hope. So put your trust in God and hope in him. If you do so, you will not be disappointed. So success is not just about beginning well, but keeping up hope as you progress through clouds and rain, through sunshine and storm.
#4. Believe in Small Beginnings.
One small seed can grow into a tree which in turn can provide plenty of fruit for years to come. So do not be afraid to start small. Make big plans but be willing to start small. There will be come a day when you can look back and be amazed at how far you have come. And be thankful to God for that journey.
Now let me conclude. Beginnings are special and remembered by all. But making a beginning is not easy and should not be attempted without adequate prayer, planning and preparation. When done well, beginnings are lovely; aren’t they?
Fashions change. They come and go like the rise and fall of empires. And fashions do mean more than what you see outwardly.
One, fashions reflect popular trends and culture. They show the tendency of people to be part of the crowd, to be part of the in thing or the thing in vogue.
Two, fashions capture a snapshot of history. For example,we easily identify the hats or bonnets which ladies of the Victorian era wore when we see pictures; don’t we?
Three, fashions have a way of making a reappearance with minor changes. This reminds of King Solomon’s statement, “there is nothing new under the sun.”1
Four, fashion designing as a career is there because people are conscious about fashions, about creativity and about making style statements. So there are creators of fashion, models and celebrities who in fashion shows and fashion weeks that showcase them, sporting icons and movie stars who popularize them, and the consumers who embrace that with both hands.
Positive thinking is much talked about because most of us think negatively all the time; isn’t it? We worry too much and get stressed when we face problems. And therefore it is not surprising that so many motivational books on positive thinking have been and still are best sellers.
Let me try to say a few thoughts on positive thinking:
First of all, positive thinking is a deliberate act of the mind. It doesn’t happen naturally as most of us seem to be wired to be negative thinkers. Thinking positively is like switching on the lights so that the darkness of negative thoughts cannot stand before the light.
Secondly, positive thinking is about choices. It is about choosing to keep your mind focused on good things. For there are lot of negative suggestions that bombard your mind from external sources all the time—even as you walk the streets, listen to conversations, or watch something on television or YouTube. So choose life instead of death, dreaming instead of defeat, hope instead of despair, and light instead of darkness.
So my friends, life can throw a lot of changes especially as the world is nearing its end. The moment I say this, negative thoughts might have clouded your minds. That is why positive thinking is needed even when the world is about to end.
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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Travelling is a passion for many. It is a hobby for others. Millions follow travel vloggers and enjoy the experience they present. Some like to travel alone. Others like to go with friends and family. The benefits of travel are many. In this short speech let me highlight a few of them.
First benefit of all is that travelling is a way to relax one’s mind. It brings a refreshing change from one’s daily routines at home or office. The anticipation of going places is huge with children. And the sense of togetherness is great when traveling with loved ones.
Secondly, travelling gives you a chance to experience new cultures, food, languages, manners and customs. In that sense it expands your mind to think beyond the limited perspectives you have in life. This is a great benefit as it helps you to go beyond mere textbook knowledge of people and places.
Thirdly, travelling teaches you to be resourceful. When traveling, one of the principles to follow is to travel light. You learn to adapt and adjust to new situations and environments. You learn to manage with limited resources available. The benefits include learning to plan and coordinate; learning to manage with a limited budget and learn to cope with surprises that can come your way.
Finally, travel reminds us to have the attitude of a pilgrim. It reminds us that all of us are on the journey of life and one day we have to depart and travel alone to face or meet God and carry nothing with us.
To conclude, perhaps one of things you never forget is the experience you have with people you would have never met otherwise. I think that it is one of the richest experiences anyone can have in life. So get ready for your next travel. Exciting moments ahead.
A world in which people are becoming more self-centred and busy, kindness holds a miracle-working power. Possibly kindness is a kind of tender-hearted and compassionate love in action. The Bible calls kindness a fruit of the Spirit; meaning that God makes that quality grow in us as we increasingly connect with him like a branch in a tree.
Regarding kindness, I wish to share with you four quick thoughts:
One, kindness begins with an attitude. It begins with you and me having open eyes and ears to see and listen to others. Most people are hurting in one way or other. They need a listening ear. They needed someone to tell them that there is hope ahead so as to help them find strength in God.
Two, kindness is also action-oriented. It can be the gift of a smile, a loving and understanding touch, a phone call or a message to cheer up a heart. Some need help in material ways like money for education or hospital expenses. Seeing someone in need and then not helping when it is in your power to act is quite the opposite of kindness.
Three, kindness has to be cultivated. As said earlier, it is a fruit. When we show kindness we reflect that quality in God who is compassionate and showed tender-hearted kindness to us when he gifted Jesus his Son to come to this earth and bleed to death on a cross. So kindness is about showing love in action to those who might not even deserve it. It is not easy. It requires a spirit of sacrifice and often a forgiving spirit too.
Four, kindness is often shown outside but absent within our homes. It has been often pointed out that we show kindness to everyone but often forget to show it those who are our loved ones at home. This is a serious neglect we need to address. Home becomes a light of joy when kindness is shown to each other. For example, not shouting at your loved one when a mistake is made is an act of love and kindness.
So my dear friends, let me conclude saying that kindness is a much needed virtue in today’s world that is increasingly busy, driven by artificial intelligence, and powered by selfish attitudes. Kindness can be that one thing which will bring a miracle of love, affection, friendship, and joy being restored in your homes too. May God give you the strength and courage to exhibit kindness to all; especially to those who are close to your heart.
Jesus is coming soon. It is going to be a sudden coming, a majestic coming, a joyous coming, and a momentous coming. Let us look at how this next great event on Planet Earth and witnessed by all is going to happen.
Warning and Encouragement
When Jesus comes back it will be like a flash of lightning.
It will happen in the twinkling of an eye.
Those who are ready will be taken; others left behind.
When the LORD Jesus comes down from heaven,
with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel,
and the sounding of the trumpet call of God,
the dead in Christ will rise first.
When Jesus comes in the clouds with power and great glory,
believers who are left and still alive at that time,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air
and be with him forever.
Others will be left behind.
A Sudden Coming
The second coming of Jesus will be a sudden coming.
Without warning, when people least expect him,
when they say “peace and safety,”
when mockers and scoffers who follow their own evil desires ask,
“Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?”
When people are busy planning, eating, drinking, and making merry;
then Jesus will come like a thief in the night,
and there will be sudden destruction and judgement by fire.
And people will not escape.
So be ready. Look to Jesus with hope;
for there is not much time left to decide where you will spend all eternity:
Hell or heaven is totally your choice!
A Majestic Coming
The second coming of Jesus will be a majestic coming.
He will come as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
And as the Judge of the living and the dead.
And his coming on the clouds of heaven,
with power and great glory,
will initiate events that will lead
to final and inescapable judgement.
So be ready. Look to Jesus with hope;
or else you’ll be left behind.
A Joyous Coming
The second coming of Jesus will be a joyous coming.
For Jesus is coming to take us to heaven;
all those who have believed in him
and in his shed blood on the cross
for the forgiveness of their sins;
that they also may be with him forever.
But if you are left behind,
the world can offer you NO hope,
for the world in the end times will witness great trouble,
never ever before seen in the history of this world.
So be ready. Look to Jesus with hope.
You who have this hope in you purify yourself;
in the precious blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God,
so that you may not be left behind.
A Momentous Coming
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.”
No one knows about that day or hour of his coming.
Be on guard! Be Alert!
You do not know when that time will come.
Are you ready for his coming?
Or will he find you unprepared and sleeping?
I, as the School Leader, stand here representing all the students of our school. It is the first time any one of us have been given a chance to speak out loud and clear what is in our hearts. We cherish this great opportunity.
Today, let me spell out for you what our hearts want to speak out.
First of all our hearts want to say thank you dear parents and beloved teachers for all what you have been to us, for all the wisdom you have shared with us and for all the encouragement you have given us.
Secondly, all of our hearts are anxious. In this increasingly technology driven world when many are compelled to spend much time online by choice or chance; it is becoming difficult to find true friendships. And when around the table talk during family dinner in many homes have been stolen by busyness and addicition to mobile screens, we children, each one of us feel like stranded on islands of our own making.
Thirdly, let me say we are ambitious. There are lot of more career opportunities ahead. There are a wide variety of courses to choose from to reach there. What our school has taught us is to pursue our goals and dreams. We are so happy that our parents and teachers have instilled in us the courage to persevere, to put in honest hard work, and have untiring enthusisam and hope in the midst of failures and setbacks in life.
Above all, we are learning to be compassionate and kind-hearted. We were given a lot of opportunities to get to know how people struggle to make ends meet in the communities around us. We were given many chances to make a difference in a few lives. I am sure that these efforts and the willingess to lend a helping hand will not vapourize like dreams but stay embedded in our minds for a long time to come.
Therefore dear parents and beloved teachers, thank you once again for the light you have shone on our paths; it shall be our beacon of hope when clouds obscure the sun. Thank you for the seeds scattered on good soil; they will surely sprout, grow, multiply and yield a great harvest. Thank you for your love; for even in our moments of rebellion we still believe in the goodness you have reserved for us in your hearts. There shall be a come back home. God bless you all. Thank you.
Words do have the power to hurt. Therefore speeches that do not build you up can pull you down. Surprisingly, most of these speeches originate with you; and you do not even know it. But students need to be aware of this in order to avoid these dangerous little speeches.
What are these little speeches and how do they hurt? And how do they pull you down? Let us try to find out.
First of all listen to all the I can’t speeches you tell time and again. Without knowing it you are creating a belief for yourself that you are not capable. The truth is that you fear failure. Therefore you do not want to try. Failure is Ok; but saying I can’t is not Ok.
Secondly, listen to all the negative stories you tell. They might be true incidents when people might have hurt you, criticized you or made fun of you. The more you tell those stories the more you believe that you are helpless and a victim of circumstances. Is that true? I doubt. With trust in God, can you not rise up above all that pulled you down in the past?Yes, you can.
Thirdly, listen to self-deprecating comments that you make. Occasionally that can be part of humour. But if you use that constantly, it can be an indicator of the struggle you have with your sense of self worth, esteem and significance. Therefore cut off that kind of talk. It only pulls you down.
Finally, listen to little speeches of despair that escape your lips. You might have never noticed it. But after spending time with you; your friends will leave with their hearts heavy, with lack of happiness, and clueless why their minds are feeling drained. It is because of the pessimistic, no-hope-ahead, kind of talk you might be tempted to speak. Avoid that at all costs or you’ll lose your valuable friendships before you know it.
To conclude, let me say that identifying these four kind of speeches and avoiding them is not enough. You need to start thinking differently. St. Paul tells us: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”1 When you do so, quite naturally, you will learn to speak words that, instead of pulling you down into a spirit of despair, will build you up.
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Prophet Isaiah predicted that Jesus came, “to bind up the brokenhearted . . . to comfort all who mourn . . .” and to give them “a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isiaah 61:1–3).
1 Philippians 4:8 Bible NIV 1984.
Short Speeches of Introduction, Welcome, Felicitation, Vote of Thanks!
A doctor’s profession is a very demanding one. It is therefore difficult to meet each patient with the same care and concern. Yet on the other side the patient expects full and undivided attention. Many doctors weave magic by their pleasant ways and talk. It soothes the heart of the patient and cheers him up. It is therefore important for a doctor to understand how critical it is to know how he or she should communicate.
Smile
A patient usually comes to the doctor in a complicated frame of mind. He has his discomfort to take care of. Then there are anxieties to confront. Above all, the possible causes of the disease, the diagnosis and even prognosis administered by friends and relatives weigh him down. It is in such normal contexts that a patient comes to see a doctor.
If the doctor can gift him or her a radiant smile, half of his disease will disappear. It gives confidence to the patient. It encourages him to open up and speak all that is in his mind.
It might seem easy but actually it is not. The doctor sees hundreds of patients every day. And the time he can allot to each person is very limited. So if the doctor has to gift a smile, these days he has to make a conscious effort to do so. Even though smile is one of the basics of greeting a person, it might be tough to do so in the busy schedules of a doctor’s life.
Yet if he can gift a special smile, its value is more than the medicines that he can prescribe. So let an abundant dosage of Smile be administered when greeting a patient.
Specific Questions
Often patient’s are unable to describe what they are experiencing. It is here that simple prompts from the doctor assumes vital importance.
For example, a patient is complaining of headache. The doctor asks, “Is it a dull pain or a throbbing one or is it kind of a net spread across?” These questions help the patient to speak out correctly what he is experiencing. It clarifies his confused thinking and elicits the right responses.
Often it is a good idea to ask sure-shot `No” answer questions to get the right answer from the patient. For example, a patient comes to the doctor with leg pain. He points to the portion around the ankle. The doctor asks, “So the pain is also experienced in the toes?” The patient says, “No.” Again the doctor says, “You have the pain in the calf and perhaps the knee?” Again, the answer is “No.” This helps to confirm what the patient has initially said. And it helps in quick and accurate diagnosis.
Often patients tend not to disclose some of their past medical history. Reasons can be many. They might consider it insignificant. Or it might have been some twenty years ago they had a bout of chicken pox. So they might think what bearing it might have on the present complaint since it happened long time ago. Or at times the patient might feel that the doctor might become angry because of resorting to another medical stream like Ayurveda or Homeopathy. Sometimes the patient needs time to trust the new doctor.
In all these cases a few intelligent questions from the doctor can put the patient at ease. It can also enable the patient to reveal needed information which can help the diagnosis. In many cases patients have been found to carry on with medicines that a doctor prescribed long after it should have been stopped. This they do trusting in their own faulty common sense. It is important to bring out such misuse of medicines through intelligent questions.
Giving Instructions
One of the challenges that experts face in all professions is to pass on instructions in a very simple manner. It is here that the basics need to be revisited again. To a doctor, what he explains is something he routinely does. Therefore there is likelihood of missing out some simple but vital instruction.
For example, when a child is having high fever, the doctor advises to give sponge bath. Usually doctors suggest not to do it in the area of the chest. But it is likely (perhaps one in a thousand cases) that the doctor forgets to mention the exception. Other examples can include forgetting to communicate that a particular medicine should be discontinued when another one has been started. Or not mentioning that a particular tablet has to be taken half an hour before food and so on. These are simple omissions but there can be serious consequences with major omissions.
The point that has to be made is this: Patients drink in every word that a doctor tells them. Some of them, especially from poor backgrounds may not have the initiative or skill to ask the doctor for more information even when they feel that they need to get some clarification. Often the patient also gets confused by poor listening on the part of his bystanders when the doctor communicates. These bystanders might communicate to him what the doctor said in a different way.
To avoid such communication mishaps, some tips that can be followed are these. One, explain with patience. Two, go step by step. Three, check for understanding by asking the patient questions along the way. Four, ask for feedback. That is make the patient tell what he has understood. Then confirm with bystanders that they have got it right. Thus the doctor can ensure that the communication aspect has been foolproof.
It is also good to tell the patient and the bystanders what exactly needs to be done in case of an emergency situation if it arises. First of all, tell them what possibilities are there for the likelihood of an emergency. Secondly, tell them what to do as first aid. Thirdly, give them the needed contact information. Finally, whenever possible, reassure them that they can call you anytime (or specify the time) if there is any doubt or need.
Another simple but important thing is to instruct the patient about the buying of medicines. Usually those in the medical stores will try to substitute medicines telling the patient that it is one and the same. This creates great confusion. If the doctor can tell in advance whether medicines can be substituted or not, and if so which ones, then it save the patient from some mind-troubling situations.
These steps can build a good communication bridge between the doctor and patient.
Explaining the Situation
A Flickr Image: Doctor and Patient
A simple term like “Occlusion” for the dentist might sound like a huge dictionary to an uninformed patient. It is here that the doctor needs to translate the medical terminology to a layman’s understanding. As soon as the doctor explains that it means how the teeth fit together, the patient relaxes. For otherwise the sound sense of “Occlusion” is frightening indeed.
Some doctors care enough to explain what is happening. They may display the patients X-ray or CT or MRI scan and show patients their abnormal findings on the images. All this is very comforting to the patient. It puts a lot of confidence in him. At the same time it helps the patient to have greater confidence in the doctor too.
Such knowledge gained from the doctor makes a patient feel that he is in control of the situation. He does not feel helpless. When his relatives and well-wishers come to visit him, he too finds genuine happiness in explaining to them what it is all about. He becomes an expert in no time. Even though the doctor need not educate a patient about all that he is going through some simple explanations can put his mind at ease.
For example, when a doctor shows a diagram of a blood vessel having a block, he is enabling the patient to visualize a “big thing.” The doctor then shows a picture of a small minute wire being inserted through the block and a balloon when inflated opens up the blocked vessel. For preventing further relapse, a stent (a minute pipe) is placed at the site of the block. When the patient sees this he understands the process. His mind feels a lot more at ease having understood what it is all about. This understanding is vital to the healing process. And doctors can provide that with a little bit of imagination and conversation ability.
Of course, the trickiest and perhaps the difficult part comes when explaining grave situations. It is not all easy to break the news. Always it is best to pepper the talk with “hope for the best” statements before the actual situation is described. Naturally the patient will be in all kinds of fear and confusion. And the way a doctor can handle this situation through confidence-building talk can still put some sunshine on what otherwise is a gloomy day.
Jesus and Healing
Jesus healed many during his earthly ministry of 3 1/2 years. He not only healed people with physical illnesses but also the demon possessed. Let us look at how he as the Great Physician communicated during his healing ministry.
Questions First
Often Jesus used to ask those whom he was about to heal: “What do you want me to do for you?” This question acquires importance because not many people really want to be healed. They just talk about getting healed. It is a kind of wishful thinking. But this question of Jesus provokes the patient to really affirm what he needed. And usually Jesus healed when a person gave a reply like, “I want to see (a blind man’s response).”
Forgiveness as a Greater Need
At other times he told a person, “Son, your sins are forgiven,” before he imparted physical healing to him. This kind of communication tells us about the great insight of wisdom and knowledge that Jesus had about a person. Such statements addressed the need of the person to be healed on a deeper level than just the physical healing. In fact, such loving words spoken with authority made a person whole on the inside. And then the physical healing followed.
Divine Possibilities
Finally, Jesus also commanded some persons who were healed like this: “Get up, take your mat and go home.” To a person who was bed-ridden for many years, the possibility of walking is always a distant dream. But such statements were given to make the patient see divine possibilities in life. Even though healing was given, the healed one should act accordingly and move forward in life.
Motivation at times included a warning. To some whom he healed Jesus issued stern warnings not to follow previous sinful lifestyles or else, “Something worse may happen to you.”
“. . . and by his wounds we are healed” — Isaiah 53:5b
My dear friend, “Are you thirsting for true love?” If so, your thirst ends here. For it is God who is saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”1
First of all, it is God’s promise of love. What he promises, he keeps. He remains true and faithful to what he has said. That means he will never break his word to you: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
Secondly, it is God’s love that is immeasurable. You cannot go beyond the extreme heights or depths or length or breadth of God’s love.
Thirdly, it is God’s love that death cannot break. God’s everlasting love goes beyond time to timelessness and stretches beyond death to all eternity.
Finally, it is God’s love for you for which proof and evidence has been already given. For God so loved you and me and the people of the whole world that he sacrificially gave and gifted his Son Jesus to bleed and die on the cross.
Yes, my friend, God has indeed loved you with an everlasting love. Do not trust your emotions which might feel this love at times and on other occasions feel great dryness in your heart and soul. God loving you with an everlasting love is real fact and truth. Will you love him in return?
— 1“The LORD appeared to us in the past saying, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” — Jeremiah 31:3 Bible NIV 1984
Many people are disappointed with prayer; maybe you too are! In this short speech you’ll discover four reasons why your prayers can go unanswered. Do keep in mind that your failure to wait to listen to God in prayer contributes to the problem of unanswered prayer as much as the four reasons that are going to be mentioned.
Prayers can go unanswered when your asking is not with right motives. God’s searchlights penetrate and light up every nook and corner of your heart. It shows up what you hide.
And when your lips say one thing and your heart means something else, that means you are asking with wrong motives and those prayers can go unanswered.
Faith looks more at the Giver than at the gift you expect to get. If this kind of faith is absent, then prayers can go unanswered.
Prayers can go unanswered when there is no persevering in prayer. God is not an ATM that delivers cash when you put in your card. He is more interested to see you grow in character. Therefore like a wise parent, he often delays answers to prayer. That will make some people quit praying. But those who are desperate for answers to prayer keep on praying.
This is not vain repetition but it is more of a “Do not give up” attitude Jesus taught about prayer. When this kind of perseverance is absent, prayers can go unanswered.
Prayers can go unanswered when they are not in tune with God’s will. This is very perplexing to many. We wish one thing to happen and we pray about it, and it does not happen. We become angry with God about it. Quite natural that we react like that. Yes, there are questions to which we don’t have any answers to.
Therefore Jesus taught us to pray to God, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” If our desire is in contradiction to God’s will, that prayer can go unanswered.
Finally, let me end by saying God is interested in answering your prayers. But he is more interested in changing you to be ready for the answers when he is pleased to give them to you.
So pray with right motives, pray in faith that God will answer prayer, pray with perseverance, and ask God for wisdom to pray according to his will.
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:17. 18 Bible NIV 1984.
All Sermonettes List In these speeches you’ll find hope in God to meet the challenges that you face in life!
Many demand respect but sadly it cannot be commanded. On the other hand, respect is hard-earned. In this short speech let me highlight four ways you can earn respect from others.
First of all, you can earn respect with your behaviour. Let it be courteous. Treat others with the same kindness you expect them to show to you. Carry yourself with dignity and never be frivolous in good company. Remain humble and do not try to blow your own trumpet even when you have many ahcievements to your credit. Then people will respect you.
Secondly you can earn respect with your expertize. Be extremely good at something. It can be your academics, work, or hobby or something else you are passionate about. When people see your skill and the ease with which you get things done, they’ll naturally respect you.
Thirdly you can earn respect through your communication skills especially through the way you speak. Speech reveals the stuff and character you are made of. A gentle tongue can break a bone1 says the Bible. You might need to be persuasive and you might have to command at times, but when tempered with gentleness it cannot fail to earn respect from others.
Another important way you can earn respect is by your attitude.Being cool under pressure is something that marks out great captains in cricket. Being able to inspire others even when you are tested and under pressure is excellent attitude. St. Paul had this to say of this kind of attitude:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”2
Good parenting does not happen by chance. Children need love but they also need some things more. I am presenting those things as 4 vital P’s of good parenting:
Pray for your child. There is no greater way to bless your child than commit his or her life to God’s hands.
Praise your child. Children need genuine appreciation. Instead of finding fault all the time and criticizing your children, try to make an effort to praise him or her for the good things he or she does.
Push your child. Every child grows up and finds a comfort zone. Push your child to move beyond that and excel in life. They might be hesitant to grab an opportunity. You can then push them to do so.
Play with your child. A child values nothing greater than the presence of his or her parents with them at play. It creates a bonding that time will not be able to erode.
To conclude, pray for your child, praise your child, push your child, and play with your child are the simple but 4 vital P’s of good parenting.
You can rise up in God’s strength today. This message is for you who think you are a failure in life.
Dear friend, you might have regrets in life. There are many wasted opportunities and many things you wish you could have done differently; isn’t that so?
Do not despair. There is still hope. For God is with you and for you. The only thing he demands is that you trust in him.
And when you trust in him you can rise up in God’s strength today. This is possible for four important reasons:
Secondly, God is a God of second chances. He doesn’t count you a failure even when you fail multiple times. He believes in your willingness to keep trying. Even if your efforts are imperfect God delights in you and gives you second chances to make it successful in life. Yes, he wants you to rise up in his strength today.
Thirdly, God is the master of creating opportunities. It doesn’t matter if all doors are closed. You go and keep knocking. In unexpected ways and from unexpected sources doors will open for you. So do not lie down in despair. Get up and rise up in God’s strength for opportunities will come to you.
Fourthly and finally, remember that with God nothing is impossible. The only thing that matters is whether in God’s eyes something that you desire is good for you or not. If it is God’s will for your life do not look at the impossibility. But put your hope in God. He is bigger and stronger than all the giants you are facing at the moment. So believe that you can rise up in God’s strength today.
The second F is Family. All of us are born into a family. Of course there are many who are less fortunate and are orphaned early in life. Now the divinely ordained instiution of family has undergone many changes in the last few decades. Yet in spite of all that has changed, the family is where we learn the first lessons of being loved and cared for.
The third F is Finance.Money is not everything in life. Yet money is needed for meeting the basic necessities of life. Therefore one has to learn to earn money through honest hard work. One has to learn to be wise and prudent in spending and investing money. Greed can make you blind to the more important values in life and can make you lose compassion to others.
The fourth F is Friends. There is a wider circle than our immediate family that makes an impact in our lives. Even though it includes many, there are few who stand with us in all our needs and moments of difficulty. They are your friends. There might not be many, but only few who will have your best interest in mind. Value and cherish them.
So let me conclude. The four F’s that make life what it is are: Faith, Family, Finance, and Friends. Faith in God, love in the family, faithfulness with one’s finances, and fun with friends are what makes life what it is.
Coaches help you win. They push you to perform at your best and to achieve a world-class performance.
Performance management and optimisation is the key after you have put in all the hard work in your chosen passion and pursuit.
Performance becomes critical in all disciplines—be it athletics, sports and games, Formula One (F1) racing, coding, signing or dancing or acting, or without doubt public speaking too.
Here are four important points I can remind you as a Performance Coach just before your important performance:
Be Yourself
Many lose at the final performances because they carry a subtle baggage of people they have imitated or looked to for inspiration as role models early in their lives. In mirroring your role models you limit being yourself. So do away with all that is not true to yourself. It can be even certain mannerisms or speech patterns you picked up from others.
Be Relaxed
Nothing hinders performance as much as tension and stress and nervousness. If you can manage to have a good peaceful sleep the previous night before your critical performance what a difference it can make! A certain amount of nervousness will be there when you are thoroughly prepared. But imagine it to a be a race horse raring to go.
Focus on Giving Your Best
Some habitual winners lose when they focus on winning the prize. This happens because they forget what made them winners in the first place—it was their thirst to do their best. But the label of winner is a tough one to carry. It puts a lot of pressure on you to keep winning and it makes you focus on winning the prize. This can affect your performance if you allow it to dominate your thoughts.
Enjoy the Process
All great performers enjoy what they do. They especially dream of doing well the few days that lead up to their performance. They entertain no negativity. Their minds are full of joy at what they are about to do. As Eric Lidell is found saying in the 1981 Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire, “I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.” So also you too focus on enjoying your performance.
To conclude, let me say that when you perform better than your best, you not only entertain but also inspire a host of others to raise their standards to that of excellence.
Have you not at least once in your life been fascinated by countless number of stars you saw in a clear night sky? Who created all these? Who hung them in space?
And from where are we watching them all? From the surface of a ball hurtling at immense speed through dark endless space. And what is the size of this beautiful blue and white jewel called Planet Earth?
It is what Carl Sagan famously termed as the pale blue dot, a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena, the only home we’ve ever known. Standing so insignificantly small in such a small playground in space, let me challenge you to ask these four questions:
One, who am I? It is a question about your identity and significance. Am I just matter or is there something more? Do I really matter to others?
Two, where do I come from? It is a question about origin. If you are here by accident then it does not matter. But if you are here because God created you, then you have to ask yourself, “Do I belong to God?”
Three, where am I going to? It is a question about your destination. Is death the end of life? Or is there life beyond death? Is heaven or hell real? What if there is a final judgement? Where am I going to end up?
Four, why am I here? It is a question about purpose. Life has meaning when people are able to find and fulfil what they were created for. Something like an eagle soaring high in the skies.
Well let me conclude. Einstein’s equation like E=mc2, and then the theory of relativity and special theory of relativity have held sway in scientific minds. Mass, energy, change, time, space, speed of light have all been tackled.
But what about answering fundamental questions of life? Are there equations? Is God part of those? If he is taken out of the picture, who remains? God or mankind?
They come as guests uninvited but plan to stay if you give permission.
Secondly, say no to impure thoughts. Most of them make a way into our minds from outside like flaming arrows shot to fall inside heavily-guarded forts. In real life situations, the guards will do the fire fighting. But in our minds we are too lazy to fight.
One way to fight impure thoughts is to keep yourself busy thinking on pure and lovely thoughts, thoughts of success and excellence. This will keep your mind occupied that it won’t have space for impure thoughts that try to enter your mind.
Having good friends and deliberately turning your eyes away from looking at all that is evil can help.
Thirdly, say no to thoughts of hatred. Life brings us lots of hurts. It can come from parents, brothers or sisters, close relatives or friends, neighbours, teachers, friends or strangers. Having been at the receiving end when you were innocent, young, and having not the courage or wisdom to resist brings life-long trauma.
The result is that you harbour unforgiveness in your heart. You hate others. Unless God heals this brokenness, there is no deliverance. So seek God’s help.
Finally, say no to gossip. Don’t tear down a person’s life by listening to jokes about him or her. Gossip gives us great thrill because we are enjoying at another person’s expense. Gossip separates close friends, betrays confidence, and creates unnecessary quarrels. Listening to gossip doesn’t become any less poisonous just because it is flavoured with strawberry or butterscotch and sugar.
Taking a decision not to listen to gossip and saying that you are not interested when someone else starts speaking about another in a wrong light is the solution.
Let me conclude. The more you allow negative thoughts, impure thoughts, thoughts of hatred and entertain gossip; you become more and more of a garbage dump. And you know what: People have a tendency to throw more garbage when they see it piled up somewhere. Don’t you think that it is so?
Respected teachers and all others gathered here, a warm good morning to all of you.
We live in the land where the Maharajah’s of Travancore once ruled. In spite of their great royal power and wealth, they served the people of this land in humility. Yes dear friends, humility is that virtue in life that is the touchstone of true greatness. The truly great were all humble people.
Take the modern example of Sachin Tendulkar. He is one great cricket player the world respects and admires. He holds so many world records. Yet he has remained a humble person in spite of his international achievements. Therefore millions of people not only in India, but also across the world admire him and try to follow his example.
My first point is that humility is a true sign of greatness.
Secondly, only a person humble in heart learns anything worthwhile in life. In the old gurukulumsystem of education, a student or disciple stayed with his master for many years doing all household work. It was a test of humility. The teacher only taught the art after the student was humble enough to learn it.
As students we need to remember that we should exhibit humility to learn. Only when we have humility will we have courage to ask the teacher again and again till we are satisfied that we have understood. We also need to remember what Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.”
My second point is that humility is a sign of learning.
Thirdly, humility does not insist on its rights. For example, we have often seen two cars opposite each other in a narrow lane. What happens there? The driver who is humble and does not insist that he should be first, reverses his car and allows the other driver to go first. This is an everyday example of humility in action.
In families too, this is applicable. Our mothers, even though they cook food for us are often the last persons to eat. This is because they do not insist on their rights. Thus they become wonderful examples of sacrificial love.
My third point is that humility does not insist on its rights.
Finally, this world is a better place because of people who are humble. Imagine a world where everybody is proud. Will it not lead to fights and quarrels every day? Yes, it will. Therefore humility is like the oil that lubricates the hinges of huge doors. It is humility that like salt adds taste to our everyday lives.
One such person whose living influence is present with us even today is Jesus Christ. The Son of God came down from heaven leaving his glory behind to be born in a manger where cattle fed. He humbled himself to wash his disciple’s feet. Finally, he humbled himself to be crucified like a criminal on a Roman cross even though he was innocent. He shed his precious blood for the forgiveness of sins of all mankind. Because of this one sacrifice millions around the world have found peace with God.
Let me conclude by reminding you of the main points I said: First of all, humility is a true sign of greatness. Secondly, humility is a sign of learning. Thirdly, humility does not insist on its rights. Above all, this world is a better place because of truly humble people.
Let us all try to make this world a better place for you and for me and the entire universe by clothing ourselves with humility. Thank you.
