A Lesson In Humility

I think I must be a very arrogant person. Every time I think I have beaten the demons that trouble me, I realize that I am in danger of being a hypocrite.
During the Christmas week of 2008, I got invited to visit folks in Vizag and Aruku. We packed our bags and boarded the train to Vizag (our first as a family together). The night was fairly uneventful except for my son falling off the berth. Fortunately, he was on the lowest berth and didn't really hurt himself except for a rude awakening.
The morning saw us in Vizag waiting for some friends to arrive and escort us to where we would camp for a couple of days. Later that night I was preaching in the church in Vizag. The kids made us feel great with their singing and natural enthusiasm. The kids belonged to a school run by New Life Fellowship, Vizag for those who could not afford schooling.
As I took the microphone to preach a message, I remember thinking what I could possibly say to the people gathered there. A special stage was set in anticipation and I just could not bring myself to teach from the Bible. Instead I shared about God's love to me and my family. Being a thinking man myself I was wondering if I had wasted the evening but to my surprise a few people came by and told me that they were indeed filled with hope with my testimony. I felt really small that day.
The next day was a free day to look around Vizag and we checked out the beaches and the submarine museum.
The following day, we left for Aruku to go minister to the tribals of that area. We arrived amidst great anticipation by the locals who were celebrating Christmas. My family stopped celebrating Christmas a long time ago and we usually use the opportunity it presents to preach the Gospel.
But that day seeing the enthusiasm of the crowd, I could not help but think of the many Christmases I had enjoyed with my family as a kid. It was more of family time than remembering God and His greatness. I felt nostalgic to see a cake sponsored by a brother especially for Christmas and the "visiting" women had the honor to cut it.
I also met three New Zealanders who had spent a few days at the hamlet (for that is what it was) in a little ramshackled hut. Having shared my personal experience of Christmas and a word of caution, we wrapped up the event with great gusto. Clothes were distributed and people had beautiful smiles on their faces. What struck me was the use of bright and cheerful colors by the tribal women folk. It really was a riot of colors.
We then got promptly invited for lunch and were led gently to the house of the local pastor. His wife was the perfect hostess courteously piling food on the plate. Rice and chicken curry was the fare. Scrumptious smelling but also spiced up dangerously, but then that is another story.
Well fed, we departed from the village and I remember thinking to myself that here were simple folks who had welcomed us into their homes and treated us like kings and in return all we were doing is bringing them some used clothes and knick-knacks.
If the truth be told, they gave me a lot more than I could scrounge up. I gave from my abundance the things I did not want. They gave to me and my family all they had - hospitality and food that I do believe would have come at a high price for them.
The simple villagers made me feel like a king for a day. Leaving behind the people I almost felt a pang of regret. My world is so different. It entails a lot of thing that we sophisticated city dwellers need to do to keep our standing in society. The simple villagers had none of those constraints. They welcomed us and the joy was genuine. They felt honored to have guests at their homes and they did everything possible to make us feel at home.
As I ate lunch that day I also bit into humble pie. It tasted like ashes then but now I can feel the sweetness of that lovely experience.
I was blessed that afternoon and I thank God for it. I realized that sometimes it is not what you can do but rather what others do for you that can make you feel complete. It is a humbling experience!
Isn't that what God did for us? In receiving His gift we are made whole and are complete...

I was an arrogant man!

When You Are Close To Me

When you are close to me
The sky seems blue
The tinge of red in the morning
Reminds me of you

The cuckoo in the branches
Sings a song so beautiful
The imagined reflection in the river
Makes me feel absolutely wonderful

Come my princess, alight
From my imagination alright
Look at your smitten beau
Crooning a song for you

Lets dance in the rays of the sun
To the tune of sparrows
And soar on wings of eagles
There is no thought for tomorrow

And up and high we will go
And find the loftiest peak
To look at the world below
And then, my beloved do speak

Speak my darling, with words of love
And fill the air with glee
Hold my hand and pull me close
Kiss me and let us forever flee

Far away to a distant land
Where seals sing in unison
The world is full of wonder
Waiting for you to plunder

You will marvel at it all, to see
The mist rolling over the mountains
The valleys and hills will charm you
Until my arms around you tightens

Oh see the wonders thru my eyes
And feel the thumping of my heart
It beats like crazy longing for you
You are, after all my sweetest heart