Meena Mangalathil:

Today I stood in the judgement podium, just like Jesus stood in front of Pontius Pilate. It was not a very happy moment. But one day, we all will stand in this place for sure, for our past mistakes. The funny part is, just like Jesus was condemned for several reasons, which was fabricated, we too would be condemned for no reason of ours. But don't get saddened, that is how, we get to clear our past mistakes. If we run away and chicken out from this situation by blaming others or giving reasons, then we will have to stand in the same podium again, with another bigger issue and of much higher grade. You have a choice, whether clear off this issue by facing it and finishing it in one go and make it your last judgement or have a repeat of all these things again and again. It was weird when I used to read the Bible, why didn't Jesus, the son of God did not respond, when he was being judged or lashed or crucified. Now I understand, why. Believe me, this Bible is not just another ho

Today, I had the opportunity to speak to an Italian pilot who is now retired and now is a skipper of a boat. So I asked him, how come, he took a totally different job from what he was used to. Did he had to study again in order to become a skipper of a boat? He said, "If you have a sense of direction and the techniques of navigation, whether you are at sea or land or air, you can take any vehicles. So whenever I see people, who are connected to ships or boats, I think of Titanic, which got crashed on its maiden voyage. So I asked him, are you a very spiritual person? Do you pray, while you are taking your plane or the boat because, there are people, whose safety lies in your hands. He replied,"I don't know because I do not know there is God. But there are many times, when I am in a very difficult situation, that I join my hands and say, whoever there is on top, please help me from this situation and the miracle happens. But when I see hunger and poverty of my

I had an Eagle friend. I do not know, whether it was a he or a she because I am not a person who messes with the animal kingdom. We used to meet everyday at 6 am at church. He on the nearby fire station building would wait for me and when I arrive it would give a loud cry, just to say, he is there and I would acknowledge by raising my hand and run to the church because, my bus arrives at the nick of time and this Eagle used to wait till the mass finishes and when I come off he again says bye in his language and flies off. So after sometime, I had to leave the place and didn't return back. After several years and I went to the church, in the same bus and lo behold!!! I heard my eagle cry and looked up to find my friend there on the fire station building. I couldn't contain my tears. And when I came out after mass, it came down to the ground. That was the first time, I saw an Eagle at close quarters. It came near me, looked at me for sometime. I felt it cried. Anyway I think,

I am really glad at least, all the other living beings except man can live however they wish, without spirituality, mentality and super naturality. I just put some rhyming words, don't hold much store about that, if you cannot understand. But one thing please do understand, we are several steps ahead because we have lost the freedom and that has created havoc all around. Look at the nature, it rains whenever it feels like raining, flooding or snowing or sunning. Before, when our forefathers said, that it would rain in mid summer and they specified a specific date for snowing and it did just that. But now, sometimes, we do not have winter at all, instead summer takes its place or the summer is off and the rain takes its place. We are not sure, what is happening. But one thing is for sure, we are creating it and that is all because we are disobedient. You might think, what has disobedience to do with all these havoc. If we had played by the rules, do you think, we would get into t

My son always say, "If I get this toy, I would be the happiest person in the world." And when he gets it, he is the saddest because, it didn't come up to his expectation and his interests flies and settle on something else. Well, we all have this problem. One day, Mark came to class with two packets. One was a diamond and the other was charcoal. He packed it so nicely, that no one could understand what was in it. He brought it daily to class and returned it home. So one day, one of his friends happened to see the packets and enquired about it. He told him truthfully, what the contents were and the days passed. One day Mark found, that one of his parcels were missing. He knew, it was taken by his friend. But he didn't respond. Soon afterwards, his friend stopped coming to class. Then one day after many years, a man with a dirty beard, unkept hair and dirty clothes came to Mark and stopped him on his way to the office. Mark looked questioningly at the stranger. The st

"True to the word." I like this word attached to me. You know, that is not too easy to achieve. My children say, I do not keep my word. That is sad isn't it? But in my professional and social life, I do keep my word. Then where did I go wrong? Nowhere. No parent can keep up to the expectations of their children. But they will surely be the role model of every child. Do you know why? Simple, the children will go through the same situation with their own children and then they would know, they had acted the same at this age, then it would be flashback time. They remember how the parents coped with this situation. And that is when the parents become role models and at that moment. They would know, why parents could never keep word with the children. Children are new to this world, new to experiences, new to people. So with the little knowledge and experience they have, they decide, they act and that is where the interference of the parents arrive. But what to do? T

Today, I had a very very energetic guest that it was next to impossible to get things done in a jiffy and without paying a cent. She was literally counting her pennies and planning her tour with her computer and the free wifi. So her friend was the person who was organizing the tour for her. Since he had 13 years experience in touring the place. He did it perfectly, getting the quote from different travel agencies and decided the best option, to take the trip with the best people and that was me. So he paid his part of the payment which included the flight tickets, hotels, houseboats and taxi. He waited for his friends to arrive and when they arrived, a male and a female. They were not very happy looking. And my friend was not happy to speak to them either. But since, they had no choice, they heard him completely and she mentally calculated the price and divided the price in British pounds and did shortcut calculation. For me, actually I could feel the British strictness oozing thro

Today, thunder and lightning arrived immediately after I reached home after work. The funny situation was, in the morning, it was strike in the whole area, where it was a political storm was taking place. But the problem was, it is not a very easy situation who has to face both the nature’s and political storm is not worth living. You might ask, why do I say that. I remember, one of my friend’s family all died in a lightning strike. You know, lightning s very powerful and nobody would survive after its struck. Likewise, when you are in the middle of a political strike, no one has any normal senses, they all are blind to the cause, they have only destruction in mind. So on one side the strikers and the other side the police and the result, a big clash, where our body parts would be battered, stamped and tattered. So what do you think? Are we fit to live? Fury is one thing which cannot be contained, if it is burst from the line of control. So try not to bring out other’s fury and ou

Today, I met a very sad person, who really touched my inner me. Just don't ask me, how. But one thing is true, tears do have effect on everybody's heart. So I would like to weave a story about tears and its after effect. I do not know, how it would be. But still lets take the journey together. Long long ago in a small town, there was a girl named Roma, who was very jovial and happy. She was always smiling and gay, that everyone loved her presence. She had a pussy cat, which she loved with her life. One day, the cat went away never to return. She searched the whole place, nearby streets, forest, etc. But she didn't find her cat. She started crying and the whole town weeped with her. The next day and the next day, her tears didn't stop. It continued for days and extended to weeks. She went into the shell of sadness. She didn't allow anyone to get close to her. She never had a smile. She lost her lustre, the shine. One day, her aunt Matilda arrived very very early

Yesterday, the people were painting my place. So I was literally thrown out of my cocoon. But when I returned today, it was a new place, the face changed, the oldness changed, the shabiness changed. So seeing this I would like to weave a story, where appearance really do make a difference. Noma was a lady, who loved nature, who always tried to connect herself with nature. She never bothered with her appearance. She always looked shabby. If any one commented on it too she never cared. She just was happy that she was not like the rest of the people. One day, there was a recruitment of two nature lovers and eight scientists from the government level to be in the wilderness of the Amazon - An Expedition team. It was an opportunity for Noma. Though she was not highly qualified, the chances of she getting into the nature lovers section was meagre. But still, she applied for it. The day arrived for the interview. She dressed in her usual way and came down for breakfast excited. Seeing h

Today I am going to say a story about storms. Some like thunder and lightning. But for me, I am on the chicken hearted side. But I have always wondered. How did it start in the first place. So I am going to weave a story, where I can break free my imagination. There was a time, when there were no division between the Heaven and the Earth. It was heaven everywhere. The place was always filled with music, love and happiness. But there was one problem. There were no women in heaven. It was only Men. The men were very happy. One day, a girl landed in heaven, a very beautiful lady. She had blue eyes, golden hair, rosy lips, etc...etc... All the male was awe struck by her beauty. But where did she come from? No one knew. So one of the men, the courageous of the lot came forward and asked where did she come from. But no answer came. She just looked at him open mouthed. Then another tried, with a different form of speech, the action language. No answer. So they just left the topic. But t

Today I saw a man waiting to snare a tourist into his net.The place where I stay is a very touristic place and my job too is the same. But I have an added bonus, I can write, what I feel. So I would like to weave a story of snaring - a good snaring, where both the parties get to benefit. Tourism business is one thing, where we have lots of competition. So people go to any extremes to get business. Jeff and Martha arrived at the airport for a week long visit of South India. Since they had referred to the lonely planet as their tour guide, they made sure, they kept their guide handy and took a pre-paid taxi from the airport. They were relieved to know, that they were not cheated or bargained. A very smiling driver came and introduced himself to the guests. "Hello sir, madam, I am Joy, your driver to take you to Fort Kochi." They smiled and shook hands and moved towards his taxi. "How long will it take to reach Fort Kochi from here Joy?" "Sir it takes tw

The next story is about a tree. The place where I am sitting has huge rain trees which has really stood the test of time. nearly 450 years old. So this story is about a seed, which came all the way from Africa to be planted by the Portuguese. John was sitting under the tree and sleeping when someone nudged him. He looked around and found nobody. So he again went back to sleep when he was pushed from the root. "What the hell is this?" "Son wake up. You have been sleeping for sometime. Why don't you show your mettle and not just waste your time in sleeping. Look around, how much energy the nature is giving out. The trees, the birds, the sun, the air. They are giving out their best, the light, the heat, the beauty, the scent and what are you doing in the middle of this splendour? Nothing. Son, now you are young. You have the energy to do what you like. But there will be a time, when you are fit to lie down in bed. But sir, you are just a tree and not a human b

Seventeen Fourteen Thirteen Are you sure? I feel, you are above thousand years old. Rafael, we know you are not joking, even in Guinness book, it is 115 years old, and then how will we cross 1000 and still look youthful? Because you are spirit. Spirit has no death. You didn't arrive in this world just seventeen or fourteen or thirteen years before. You were here long before that. Who knows, you might have been the first parents or the Pharaoh of Egypt. Whoever you may be or whatever you are, during each lifetime whatever actions you have done would return to you, if it has not returned in that very life, it crosses to the next life or lives. No wonder, why some people always are not lucky from birth onwards, I have thought it If you have hurt your parents in your previous life, by ill treating them, by putting them in oldage homes or someone else's home or pushed them into the street and abused them, beat them, then it has to return to you. That is why, some chil

The practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering. That is what Euthanasia is all about I do not know how it happened. But this was the topic that came during lunch. So what do you think? Is it right to kill a person, who is alive, but not conscious or conscious, but unable to do anything? If you ask me, I can only say, I don't know because one of my colleague is in the same situation. His wife has been completely paralyzed for the past 15 years. The lady is literally bedridden, unable to even blink her eyes. What might be her thought? Nobody knows and my colleague, takes care of her so specially, that I was surprised. If I was in her place, I really would have wished myself dead. What about you? If you were in this situation? Anyway leave it. So what do you think? Are you in favour of killing a human being, whether unconscious or half dead? If it was me,I cannot do it because they have life. If it was in the machine, then I would say, l

Today, I do not know, but I had a weird sense of laughing out loud in the church. You might think, I have gone crazy. Yes, in a way. Yesterday, my mom and myself had a heart to heart talk, which brought something weird from it. She always quotes the Bible for each and every act. Though I'm not an expert, I too can stand up to her, for a shot or two. She was criticising me on something I did fifteen years before. So I replied, Mom, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.(Luke 6:37) Immediately, my mother replied, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the

How would you feel, when you have to carry a box full of goodies on your head. Its not easy. But if someone takes off some goodies from the very box which is still on your head, what will happen? Either it would shake and tend to fall, or it would literally fall on the floor breaking the box and the goodies. You might think, why I am saying all these. The box is your expectations, or our expectations. Its connected with people, which means, our expectation begins with people and ends with people. But there is a choice, you are creating that box. If you do not have that box of expectation, then we do not really need to rely on people. Then the chances of breaking that box is nil. Nobody has the power to break it, if we do not have any expectation in the first place. People, including us cannot fulfill the expectation of others. We would not be able to come up with their standards, then how can we expect others to fulfill our expectations. So don't ever make the mistake of cr

Today, I had a big talk, where we got to say about rebirth. I know, you might think it crazy and I have already spoken about it before. But I met a person, who told, she doesn't want to be born again. I was surprised because, in this day and age, no sane person would believe about rebirth and all. What do you think? Am I right? If I had not been insane, I would have been in that boat of non believers. But when you live with your heart, where you feel, when someone gets hurt or rejoice or cry, then you live with your heart and these people are not of the world. We can call them "Crazy". But believe me, they are the winners of life because, they have nothing to lose. They have everything to gain. A mother, who is a housewife, has nothing to give to her family, except her love, which would naturally be in the form of good food, clean dress, neat home and above all a shoulder to cry on. No financial perks. But all the family members comes to her and she is one hell of a p

Have you ever been restless? I have been, several times, when I was a kid. Today I met a lady, who was restless. Her being, was deathlike, when I started speaking to her. She had lost hope, expectation. I could feel it, that I asked, "Are you OK?" She said, she was not feeling well. She was having fever and she was taking antibiotic, etc..etc... but we all know, how we feel when we are sick and otherwise. So I put the next question. "Are you happy?" Then the reply arrived, "I am restless. I really want to go from here. I have stayed too long here and there is no one to look forward to here. So I want to go." Here she has a reason for feeling restless, there is no one to say as her own, a person or persons to love her. Its innate. We all have it at one point or the other. But believe me, if you are searching for that one loving person or persons, then baby, you are doomed. You would never find it. You came alone to this world and you return alone

Today, during our family prayer, we have this Bible reading session too. So today, it was my turn to read. I got the part where St. Peter heals a lame man outside the temple. And this man had never gone until then inside that temple. It's really weird, isn't it? Because, we all go to the temple or any place of worship to fulfill our needs and the real gift is distributed outside it. When Jesus was alive, He too did the same. Why is it like that? Have you wondered? Well, I became aware of it today. There is a reason. People, who believe that they have not done any wrong in their eyes and in the eyes of the Lord are the people, who go to pray inside a place of worship and they are sure, they are entitled for a sack full of gifts. But for the people outside the place of worship knows for sure, that they are not eligible to be in the vicinity of the Divine and that is why, they stay out. But there lies the truth, no man is perfect. We all make several mistakes a day wit