Mighty Tree & A Tender Plant

There was a huge tree in a small forest and by its side was a little plant. The tree was proud and haughty because of its large size. The tree called the plant and said, “I have been watching you for long. You are tiny. Why do you not spread your roots and grow big like me, so that you could be stable and strong like me?” The plant replied, “I’m quite comfortable with my size. I feel I’m safe and stable."  The tree laughed aloud and said, "Look at my size and see my roots that are spread so deep on earth. Nothing could shake me. Ten men together cannot uproot me. But you are so small and tender that one can pluck you away with two fingers.”

The plant did feel offended. It thought time would answer the question who is strong and who is weak. A few days later there was a very heavy storm. It uprooted all the big trees and destroyed the forest. When the storm had passed; people from the nearby villages entered the forest to survey the damage and to use the fallen trees. The mighty trees were lying on the ground with all roots facing the sky and leaves scattered on the ground. But the small plants, though shaken by the hurricane, were not uprooted. In a day or two they stood erect and new leaves started sprouting in them. They were stable even though they were feeble.

The villagers cut the trunks and branches of the trees for firewood. But they took care of the small plants which, they know, would grow up and build the forest once again. 

Big or small, God creates everything with a purpose.

God's Foolishness

Today is April Fool Day. I had a wonderful reflection on this day about a biblical verse which I like and cherish the most.

God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. (1Cor 1:25)

On 1st April 2011 around 1.00 p.m. after having one hour spiritual sharing with Rev Fr R V Mathias with the intention of getting his guidance and advice, the final statement uttered by him still lingers in my mind.  He said,   “Rationality is the best weapon that can safeguard and makes triumphant one’s ego, that is ‘I’ which is not the true self. The True Self is the Divine Self which often shines gloriously in every self outside the framework of logicality. One’s purpose of living does not start from one’s ego but one’s purpose of living always proceeds from God himself which human persons fail to understand.”

On parting from him, lastly I said to him about the thing that I was reflecting these days. I was supposed to join the staff picnic to Sri Lanka from 30th March till 3rd April. Therefore I applied for my visa to Malta (to go on 12th April) much in advance one month earlier with the hope of receiving my passport in time to go to Sri Lanka. But I do not know, whether fortunately or unfortunately, I did not receive my passport even by 29th of March 2011. Then I said to myself, may be it is God’s Will that I should not go and He has better things for me in these four days. On 30th March 2011, I saw Rev Fr R V Mathias who had come to Sacred Heart Major Seminary to preach retreat to the seminarians. From that moment onwards, something was telling to my inner spirit that I should meet him personally and get his guidance about my priestly journey. I fixed an appointment with him on this day and spoke to him for an hour. It was really God inspired experience and sharing. I was enlightened on certain matters. Now I said to myself, this is God’s best plan that had to give up the trip to Sri Lanka in order that I may experience the Divine Will for me through the person of Rev Fr R V Mathias.