“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity”.
Ecclesiastes 1:2
Dear Saints and Aints.
Shalom.
Solomon’s words, no doubt, sometimes find a refrain in our own heart as we look at our accomplishments or the seeming absence of them; even more so as the appointed span of 3 score and 10 inexorably becomes a number of greater interest to us. I call it “The King Solomon syndrome” a syndrome to which, being honest, I am no stranger.
Still having said all that are we really justified to let ourselves fall victim to that syndrome? While mulling it over - Bapu’s handling the affairs of the homes gives me more time for that - the words of Jesus penetrate my heart, “What you did to the least of these my brothers you did unto me.” And that includes: "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
I never thought much about the giving of that “cup of water” whatever it may represent in our activities for God, because it seems a natural extension of my life for God to help and - to judge by your gifts – in your life as well. This besides, I always was filled with a zest for life and accepted the bad, the ugly, the fearsome, worrisome and the terrifying as much a part of that life as the joyous, the beautiful; and the peaceful. The quiet meditations were as much part of it as the hustle and bustle of working with and alongside the kids. And sometimes, near despair, the words of the hymn writer would bring encouragement,
“Hast thou not seen how they desires have been granted by what he ordaineth.”
And indeed, I have.
Furthermore I often focused more on the journey rather than the destination; the doing of an activity rather than the finishing of it. Though the destination was obviously always in my mind, I still very much enjoyed the journey; I enjoyed the activity – and still do. The lament of Oliver Wendell Holmes is not mine.
“Many people die with their music still in them.
Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live…
Before they know it…time runs out.”
Though much of the music has gone out of me - I still have a few croaks left…
I am not sure who said the following but it is a well of wisdom which, however, sad to say, I often disregarded – to my hurt - and hence heaped tons of pain, disappointment and trouble upon myself.
“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option”
Forty-five years walking with God ... Without wanting to sound sacrilegious, I have tried God’s patience so often that He did not summarily dismiss me is a miracle the scope and depth which cannot be fathomed. Yet in my defense, if such be possible, my love for God and my devotion to him never stood in question even if, at times - I seemed to have cheered for the opposition.
Yet during all those years to me God was ever the Priority; at no time was He ever an Option out of several. There was never a choice between Him and somebody or something else; between what He wanted me to do and what I wanted to do. The thought to set him over against another choice never occurred to me.
God in His turn reciprocated this priority in most wonderful ways and in largess i.e. a big gift and sometimes just in somebody’s brief flicker of an encouraging smile in an office where all around me was gloom. The latter gift was the greater for it indicated how much he really cared for his distraught servant whose heart needed to be encouraged at that particular moment.
As for offering “the cup of cold water” The almost beautiful compound; the transformation of some of the kids from the slums, from backward classes to servants of Jesus Christ; the joyous sound of some 400 plus little and big girls laughing and chattering proves they got at least some sips...
Also, any function in the big dining hall at the Nagpur compound that brings all our kids together takes my breath away as I hear them sing and raising their hands - praise. What an awesome potential for the kingdom of God. Had King Solomon seen such a sight he would have revised the quote below; it would have disabused him of his pessimism.
“Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity”.
Once, looking at some of our college boys and others, seeing their obvious short-comings, I briefly questioned my hope for their future in God’s service. Then God gently rebuked me, “I didn’t choose you for your “obvious qualities and virtues”. Did I? I didn’t chose you because you are such a fine specimen of the human race, Did I. Actually I chose you when you were a reject, a man disqualified, a man not wanted. Didn’t I? I can hardly argue against that, can I? After that little straightening out from my God; my hope for these young men; not only for them; but also for our girls - again soars.
But back to earth … The exams have started for the upper classes and the kids seek divine intervention - by lighting candles … It is difficult for them to accept that -
“It is hard to take over the world when you sleep 20 hours a day”.
With the academic year slowly winding down; our thoughts turn to the ravages inflicted by the kids upon the property and what to do about them. Amazing, you tell them there are 3 billion stars and they believe you. You tell them the paint is wet and – they have to touch it…
My dream is adding the three remaining wards to the clinic; thus complete the ground floor and thereby - add to the comfort of the kids. But we don’t have the money and that means we will have to postpone that. The laundry room though functioning could use wall tiles and other things to improve it. Also we will get another big washing machine. We will order it this month. A big job will be the renovation of the ground floor of the school. We also will buy benches as the smaller kids are squatting on the floor. The new school building at the girls’ home, partially completed will get flooring. The rest has to wait though of course we would love to see the building completed.
I am still ok and in good health and keep busy. Still, the other day somebody suggested I buy stocks. At my age I am even hesitant to buy green bananas as I might not be around long enough to see them ripen. Christmas caught up with me, my dentures broke; either all that sugar or all that talking must have eroded them. For a couple of days I had a little boy chewing my peanuts for me…
“Though Bapu and I fight a lot he is doing well and my appreciation of him keeps rising. As a friend I cannot wish for a better one and neither as a man for the homes. Yohan needs your prayer about his health.
A last thought; an apt antidote to the Solomon syndrome:
“The tiger doesn’t know his strength – but the deer knows how strong the tiger is.”
You might not - but we know your strength - through your caring...
Frank and his “dears”…
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