malankara marthoma syrian church Rev.Dr. G.Varghese Purohitha Dharshanam

GO AN EXTRA MILE; IT IS REWARDING

A man was asked to paint a boat.

He brought with him paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him.

While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it.

When finished painting, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a cheque, much higher than the payment for painting.

The painter was surprised and said "You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!"

"But this is not for the paint job. It's for having repaired the hole in the boat."

"Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant."

"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole.  When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.  They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time.

When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.

Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed."

So, no matter who, when or how. Just continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively and carefully repair all the 'leaks' you find, because you never know when one is in need of us or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.

You may have repaired numerous 'boat holes' along the way... of several people without realizing how many lives you've saved. Keep up the good work.

I take this opportunity, as we enter another year, to praise God for enabling me to repair a few boat holes last year and also thank everyone who repaired my boat this year in every way like Good Wishes, thoughts, love, care and prayers!

COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY

A Story that helps us to reflect  and introspect:

“I was jogging this morning and I noticed a person about  half a km ahead. I could guess he was running a little slower than me and I felt good, I said to myself  I will try  catch up with him. I had about a km before I needed to turn off. So I started running faster and faster.

Every block, I was gaining on him just a little bit. After just a few minutes I was only about 300 feet behind him, so I really picked up the pace and pushed myself.

You would have thought I was running in the last leg of an Olympic competition. I was determined to catch up with him.

Finally, I did it! I caught up and passed him. Inwardly I felt very good. "I beat him". Of course, he didn't even know we were racing.

After I passed him, I realized I had been so focused on competing against him that I had missed my turn to my house. I had gone nearly six blocks past my turn and I had to turn and go back.

It then dawned on me, isn't that what happens in life when we focus on competing with co-workers, neighbours, friends, family, trying to outdo them or trying to prove that we are more successful or more important and in the bargain we miss on our happiness within our own surroundings?

We spend our time and energy running after them and we miss out on our own paths to our given destination. The problem with unhealthy competition is that it's a never ending cycle.

There will always be somebody ahead of you, someone with a better job, nicer car, more money in the bank, more education, a prettier wife, a more handsome husband, better behaved children, better circumstances and better conditions etc. But one important realization is that 'You can be the best that you can be, when you are not competing with anyone.'

Some people are insecure because they pay too much attention to what others are, where others are going, wearing and driving. Take whatever you have, the height, weight and personality. Dress well and wear it proudly, you are blessed. Stay focused and live a healthy life! There is no competition in Destiny. Each has his/her own.”

Comparison is the thief of joy; so run your own race.

CHECK YOUR HEARING ABILITY BEFORE JUDGING OTHER'S?

A man feared that his wife wasn’t hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss the problem. The Doctor told him there is a simple informal test the husband could perform to give the Doctor a better idea about her hearing loss.

“Here’s what you do,” said the Doctor, “stand about 40 feet away from her, and speak in a normal conversational tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response.”

That evening, the wife was in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he was in the den. He says to himself, “I’m about 40 feet away, let’s see what happens.” Then in a normal tone, he asks, "Honey, what’s for dinner?” No response!

So the husband moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Still no response!

Next, he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Again he gets no response. So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. “Honey, what’s for dinner?” Again there is no response!

So he walks right up behind her. “Honey, what’s for dinner?”

“James, for the FIFTH time I’ve said, CHICKEN!”

The problem may not be with the other one as we always think; it could be very much within us!

PREJUDICE: THE CAUSE OF MISUNDERSTANDING

Peter was very helpful, kindhearted, and generous. He used to help anyone in need.  One day while walking into a dusty road, he saw a purse, so he picked it up and noticed that the purse was empty. Suddenly a woman with a policeman showed up and got him arrested.

The woman kept on asking where did he hide her money but the man replied, “It was empty when I found it, Madam.” The woman yelled at him, “Please give it back. It’s for my son’s school fees.”

The man noticed that the woman really felt sad, so he handed all his money.  He could say that the woman was a single mother.  The man said, “Take these, sorry for the inconvenience.”  The woman left and a policeman held the man for further questioning.

The woman was very happy but when she counted her money, later on, it was doubled, she was shocked.  One day while the woman was going to pay her son’s school fees towards the school, she noticed that some skinny man was walking behind her.  She thought that he may rob her, so she approached a policeman standing nearby.  He was the same policeman, who she took along to inquire about her purse.  The woman told him about the man following her, but suddenly they saw that man collapsing.  They ran at him and saw that he was the same man whom they arrested a few days back for stealing the purse.

He looked very weak and the woman was confused.  The policeman said to the woman, “He didn’t return your money; he gave you his money that day.  He wasn’t the thief but hearing about your son’s school fees, he felt sad and gave you his money.”  Later, they helped the man stand up, and the man told the woman, “I saw you and followed you to be sure that no one steals your money!”   The woman was speechless.

Life gives you strange experiences, sometime it shocks you and sometimes it may surprise you. We end up making wrong judgments or mistakes in our anger, desperation and frustration. However, when you get a second chance, correct your mistakes and return the favor. Be kind and generous. Learn to appreciate what you are given.

GIVE JUST ENOUGH TO KEEP THE ROOTS STRONGER

Once upon a time, there were two neighbors living next to each other. One of them was a retired teacher and another was an insurance agent who had a lot of interest in technology. Both of them had planted different plants in their garden. The retired teacher was giving a small amount of water to his plants and didn’t always give a full attention to them, while the other neighbor interested in technology, had given a lot of water to his plants and looked after them too well.

The retired teacher’s plants were simple but looked good. The insurance agent’s plants were much fuller and greener. One day, during the night, there was a heavy rain and a wind due to a minor storm. Next morning, both of the neighbors came out to inspect the damage to their garden. The neighbor who was an insurance agent saw that his plants came off from the roots and were totally destroyed. But, the retired teacher’s plants were not damaged at all and were standing firm.

The insurance agent neighbor was surprised to see it, he went to the retired teacher and asked, “We both grew the same plants together, I actually looked after my plants better than you did for yours, and even gave them more water. Still, my plants came off from the roots, while yours didn’t. How is that possible?”

The retired teacher smiled and said, “You gave your plants more attention and water, but because of that they didn’t need to work themselves for it.  You made it easy for them.  While I gave them just an adequate amount of water and let their roots search for more.   And, because of that, their roots went deeper and that made their position stronger.  That is why my plants survived”.

This story is about parenting where children are like plants.  If everything is given to them, they will not understand the hard work it takes to earn those things.  They will not learn to work themselves and respect it.  Sometimes it’s best to guide them instead of giving them.   Teach them how to walk, but let them follow their path.

WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

A priest, passing through his church in the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar to see who came to pray. Just then the back door opened, and a man came down the aisle. The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was torn and shabby, and his coat was worn and frayed. The man knelt down and bowed his head, then rose and walked away.

In the days that followed at precisely noon, the preacher saw this chap: each time he knelt just for a moment and went off. The minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, and he decided to stop and ask the man, “What are you doing here?”

The old man said, “I am a factory worker and lunch is half an hour. Lunchtime is my prayer time to derive strength and power. I stay only a moment because the factory's far away. As I kneel here talking to the Lord, this is kind of what I say: I just came by to tell You, Lord, how happy I have been, since we found each other’s friendship and you took away my sin! I don’t know how to pray, but I think about You every day. So Jesus, This Is Ben, Just Checking In Today.”

The minister, feeling foolish, told Ben that it was fine. He told the man that he was welcome to pray there anytime. “It's time to go, and thanks,” Ben said as he hurried to the door. Then the minister knelt there at the altar, which he'd never done before. His heart melted, warmed with love, as he met with  Jesus there. As the tears flowed down his cheeks, He repeated old Ben's prayer: “I just came by to tell You, Lord, how happy I have been, since we found each other’s friendship and you took away my sin! I don’t know how to pray, but I think about You every day. So Jesus, This Is Ben, Just Checking In Today.”

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Ben hadn't come. As more days passed and still no Ben, hence he began to worry about something might have happened to him. He went into the factory and found that Ben was ill and admitted in the hospital.

The week that Ben was in the hospital, changes started to usher in the ward. His smile and joy was contagious.  The head nurse couldn't understand why Ben could be so glad even when no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.

The minister stayed by his bed, He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends had come to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up and with a winsome smile;  “The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, He's been here all the while. Every day at noon He comes here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down and takes my hand, leans over and says to me: “I Just Came By To Tell You, Ben, How Happy I Have Been, Since We Found This Friendship, And I Took Away Your Sin. I Think About You Always, And I Love To Hear You Pray. And So Ben, This Is Jesus, Just Checking In Today.'

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart... May God hold you in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you. 

VALUE LIFE; NOT DEATH

Isn’t it a paradox that we have reversed many things we ought to do?  The following is received recently for us to ponder of our perspective in life:

1. We care more for the dead than we do for the living!

2. We spend more to bury a person than we do to save their life.

3. We will not travel to go to see a sick relative but will travel to bury him /her.

4. People will rarely respect you while alive but will want to "pay their last respects" to your casket.

5. A person may never receive roses in their entire life but they will get lots dumped on their graveyard!

6. We will spend a night at a neighbour's funeral and it will be our first time to see the inside of their house!

7. No one cares to know your community until you die and they will all fill car after car to "escort" your corpse.

8. We will take the dead to the mosque/temple/church, knowing fully well they had nothing to do with God while alive.

9. We might not have granite tops in our kitchens but use the granite in the graveyard!

10. A person may under no circumstances be able to afford a limousine ride when alive but will be driven in one when dead!

We have a culture of "hypocrisy" ... a culture that is "Pro-death" and not "Pro-life!"

We need to value life BEFORE death.

Please love people while they are alive, show them your kindness when they need it, your presence at their funeral will never make up for your absence when they needed you. Do it now rather than regret later.

THANK GOD FOR WHAT YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU CAN!

A rich man looked through his window and saw a poor man picking something from his dustbin ... He said, “Thank GOD I'm not poor.”

The poor man looked around and saw a naked man misbehaving on the street ... He said, “Thank GOD I'm not mad.”

The mad man looked ahead and saw an ambulance carrying a patient ... He said, “Thank GOD am not sick.”

Then a sick person in hospital saw a trolley taking a dead body to the mortuary ... He said, “Thank GOD I'm not dead.”

Only a dead person cannot thank GOD

Why don't you thank GOD today for all your blessings and for the gift of life ... for another beautiful day!

What is LIFE?

To understand life better, you have to go to 3 locations :

1. Hospital

2. Prison

3. Cemetery

At the Hospital, you will understand that nothing is more beautiful than HEALTH

 In the Prison, you'll see that FREEDOM is the most precious thing.

 At the Cemetery, you will realize that life is worth nothing. The ground that we walk today will be our roof tomorrow.

We all come with NOTHING and we will go with NOTHING ... Let us, therefore, remain humble and be thankful NS grateful to GOD at all times for everything. 

ROOT OUT WHILE YOUNG!

A teacher took his students for a picnic to a nearby botanical garden. As they were walking through, the teacher thought of a game and asked the smallest of the students, “Can you pull this tiny plant?” The boy easily pulled it out.  Then the teacher showed a plant which had deeper root and asked the same question. But however much the boy tried, he couldn’t. Then he summoned a bigger boy to pull that one out and he could do it with ease. The game continued with a deeper rooted plants and no one in the group could.  The teacher pulled that one and then showing the mother plant he said, “I could pull this one, but not even a strongest man can pull out this mother plant!” 

“So it is with bad habits,” said the teacher. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted.”

The teacher who was a believer in God’s power further said, “Though the strongest man cannot pull out this mother plant, an elephant can. So there is hope for even a person who has deep rooted sinful nature. Seek His/Her help if you cannot do it by yourself.”

Don’t wait for bad habits to grow in you, drop them while you have control over it, else they will get control of you. If you are in a stage where you cannot do it by yourself, seek God’s assistance!

 THREE TYPES OF PEOPLE AROUND

Once a teacher showed three toys to a student and asked the student to find out the differences - all the three toys seemed to be identical in their shape, size, and material. After keen observation, the student observed holes in the toys: the first toy had holes in the ears, the second had holes in the ear and mouth and the third had only one hole in one ear.

The teacher asked the student to put a needle through the hole. The student put the needle in the ear hole of the first toy. The needle came out from the other ear. In the second toy, when the needle was put in the ear the needle came out of the mouth. And in the third toy, when the needle was put in, the needle did not come out.

Then the teacher told, “The First toy represents those people around you who gives an impression that they are listening to you and cares for you. But they just pretend to do so. After listening, as the needle comes out from the other ear, the things you said to them are gone. So be careful while you are speaking with this type of people around you. Be aware that they do not care for you.”

“The Second toy represents those people who listen to you giving an impression that they care for you. But as in the toy, the needle comes out through the mouth. These people will use your words and use them against you by telling it to others. They are gossipers! They are more dangerous than the first.”   

“In the Third toy, the needle does not come out from it. These kinds of people will keep the trust you have in them. They are the ones who you can count on.”

Be careful not to be like the first two sets of people and also not to associate with these kinds.

THINK WISELY AS YOU SPEND

The wisdom of Birbal was unparalleled during the reign of Emperor Akbar. But Akbar’s brother in law was extremely jealous of him. He asked the Emperor to dispense with Birbal’s services and appoint him in his place. He gave ample assurance that he would prove to be more efficient and capable than Birbal. Before Akbar could take a decision on this matter, this news reached Birbal.

Birbal resigned and left. Akbar’s brother in law was made the minister in place of Birbal. Akbar decided to test the new minister. He gave three hundred gold coins to him and said, “Spend these gold coins such that, I get a hundred gold coins here in this life; a hundred gold coins in the other world and another hundred gold coins neither here nor there.”

The minister found the entire situation to be a maze of confusion and hopelessness. He spent sleepless nights worrying how he would get himself out of this mess. Thinking in circles was making him go crazy. Eventually, on the advice of his wife, he sought Birbal’s help. Birbal said, “Just give me the gold coins. I shall handle the rest.”

Birbal walked the streets of the city holding the bag of gold coins in his hand. He noticed a rich merchant celebrating his son’s wedding. Birbal gave a hundred gold coins to him and bowed courteously saying, “Emperor Akbar sends you his good wishes and blessings for the wedding of your son. Please accept the gift he has sent.” The merchant felt honored that the king had sent a special messenger with such a precious gift. He honored Birbal and gave him a large number of expensive gifts and a bag of gold coins as a return gift for the king.

Next, Birbal went to the area of the city where the poor people lived. There he bought food and clothing in exchange for a hundred gold coins and distributed them in the name of the Emperor.

When he came back to town he organized a concert of music and dance. He spent a hundred gold coins on it.

The next day Birbal entered Akbar’s darbar and announced that he had done all that the king had asked his brother-in-law to do. The Emperor wanted to know how he had done it. Birbal repeated the sequences of all the events and then said, “The money I gave to the merchant for the wedding of his son – you have got back while on this earth. The money I spent on buying food and clothing for the poor – you will get it in the other world. The money I spent on the musical concert – you will get neither here nor there.” Akbar’s brother in law understood his mistake and resigned. Birbal got his place back.

The money you spend on friends is returned or reciprocated in some form or the other. The money spent on charity gets converted into blessings from God which will be your eternal property. The money spent on pleasures is just frittered away. So when you spend your money, think wisely as you spend.

HONTESTY HAS A PRICE

DD Podhigai telecast an interview with Mr. P. M. Nair, (retired IAS officer, who was the Secretary to Dr. Abdul Kalam when he was the President). I summarize the points he spoke in a voice choked with emotion.  (Mr. Nair has authored a book titled "Kalam Effect")

1. Dr Kalam used to receive costly gifts whenever he went abroad as it is customary for many nations to give gifts to the visiting Heads of State. Refusing the gift would become an insult to the nation and an embarrassment for India.  So, he received them and on his return, Dr Kalam asked the gifts to be photographed and then catalogued and handed over to the archives. Afterwards, he never even looked at them. He did not take even a pencil from the gifts received when he left Rashtrapathi Bhavan.

2.  In 2002, the year Dr Kalam took over, the Ramadan month came in July-August. It was a regular practice for the President to host an iftar party.

Dr Kalam asked Mr Nair why he should host a party to people who are already well fed and asked him to find out how much would be the cost. Mr Nair told it would cost around Rs. 22 lakhs.

Dr Kalam asked him to donate that amount to a few selected orphanages in the form of food, dresses and blankets. The selection of orphanages was left to a team in Rashtrapathi Bhavan and Dr Kalam had no role in it.

After the selection was made, Dr Kalam asked Mr Nair to come inside his room and gave him a cheque for Rs 1 lakh. He said that he was giving some amount from his personal savings and this should not be informed to anyone.

 Mr Nair was so shocked that he said "Sir, I will go outside and tell everyone. People should know that here is a man who not only donated what he should have spent but he is giving his own money also”.

Dr Kalam though he was a devout Muslim did not have Iftar parties in the years in which he was the President.

3. Dr Kalam did not like "Yes Sir" type of people. Once when the Chief Justice of India had come and on some point Dr Kalam expressed his view and asked Mr Nair,  "Do you agree?" Mr Nair said "No Sir, I do not agree with you". The Chief Justice was shocked and could not believe his ears.

It was impossible for a civil servant to disagree with the President and that too so openly. Mr Nair told him that the President would question him afterwards why he disagreed and if the reason was logical 99% he would change his mind.

4. Dr Kalam invited 50 of his relatives to come to Delhi and they all stayed in Rashtrapathi Bhavan.  He organised a bus for them to go around the city which was paid for by him. No official car was used. All their stay and food was calculated as per the instructions of Dr Kalam and the bill came to Rs 2 lakhs which he paid.

In the history of this country no one has done it!

Now, wait for the climax, Dr Kalam's elder brother stayed with him in his room for the entire one week as Dr Kalam wanted his brother to stay with him.  When they left, Dr Kalam wanted to pay rent for that room also.

Imagine the President of a country paying rent for the room in which he is staying. This was any way not agreed to by the staff who thought the honesty was getting too much to handle!!

5.  When Kalam Sir was to leave Rashtrapathi Bhavan at the end of his tenure, every staff member went and met him and paid their respects.

Mr Nair went to him alone as his wife had fractured her leg and was confined to bed. Dr Kalam asked why his wife did not come. He replied that she was in bed due to an accident.

Next day, Mr. Nair saw lot of policemen around his house and asked what had happened. They said that the President of India was coming to visit him in his house. He came and met his wife and chatted for some time. Mr. Nair says that no president of any country would visit a civil servant's house and that too on such a simple pretext. I thought I should give the details as many of you may not have seen the telecast and so it may be useful.

The younger brother of AJP Abdul Kalam runs an umbrella repairing shop. When Mr. Nair met him during Kalam’s funeral,  he touched his feet, in token of respect for both Mr. Nair and brother.

Such information should be widely shared on social media as mainstream media will not show this because it doesn't carry the so-called GB TRP value.

WE ARE TOURISTS & GOD IS OUR TRAVEL AGENT

Today’s post is a sharing of a beautiful message I received recently.

 An old man has 8 hair on his head. He went to Barber shop. Barber in anger asked: “Shall I cut or count?” The Old man smiled and said: "Color it!"

LIFE is to enjoy with whatever you have with you, keep smiling. If you feel STRESSED, give yourself A Break.

Enjoy Some:

     Icecream

     Choclates

     Candy

     Cake

Why? Because: STRESSED backwards spelling is DESSERTS; Learn to master and enjoy it.

Alphabetic advice for you:

A B C: Avoid Boring Company.

D E F: Don't Entertain Fools.

G H I: Go for High Ideas.

J K L M: Just Keep a friend like Me!

N O P: Never Overlook the Poor and suffering.

Q R S: Quit Reacting to Silly tales.

T U V: Tune Yourself for your Victory.

W X Y Z: We (e)Xpect You to Zoom ahead in life.

 Also remember:

ONE Good FRIEND is equal to ONE  Good Medicine.

 Likewise ONE Good Group is equal to ONE Full medical store!

 Six Best Doctors in the World:

          1. Sunlight

          2. Rest

          3. Exercise

          4. Diet

          5. Self Confidence

          6. Friends

Maintain them in all stages of Life and enjoy healthy life.

If   you   see   the   moon; You   see    the    beauty    of    God.

If    you   see    the   Sun; You   see    the    power   of    God   &   

If   you   see   the   Mirror; You   see     the    best    Creation of   GOD.

So    Believe   in    God and yourself. We all are tourists & God is our travel agent who has already fixed all our Routes, Reservations & Destinations.  So Trust him & Enjoy the "Trip" called LIFE!

WHAT IS THE WORTH OF GOLD IF NOT USED?

A Miser had buried his gold in a secret place in his garden. Every day he went to the spot, dug up the treasure and counted it piece by piece to make sure it was all there. He made so many trips that a Thief, who had been observing him, guessed what it was the Miser had hidden, and one night quietly dug up the treasure and made off with it.

When the Miser discovered his loss, he was overcome with grief and despair. He groaned and cried and tore his hair. A passerby heard his cries and asked what had happened.

“My gold! O my gold!” cried the Miser, wildly, “someone has robbed me!”

“Your gold! In that hole! Why did you put it there? Why did you not keep it in the house where you could easily get it when you had to buy things?”

“Buy!” screamed the Miser angrily. “Why, I never touched the gold. I couldn’t think of spending any of it.”

The stranger picked up a large stone and threw it into the hole. “If that is the case,” he said, “cover up that stone. It is worth just as much to you as the treasure you lost!” 

Saving, spending wisely and appropriately is a good sign if you do it for good purpose. Otherwise, a possession is worth no more than the use we make it for.

A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION WITH A PROFESSOR & STUDENT

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the problem Science has with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor: “You are a Christian, aren't you, son?”  

Student: “Yes, sir.”

Professor: So, you believe in GOD?   Student: Absolutely, sir.

Professor: Is GOD Good? Student: Sure.

Professor: Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL? Student: Yes.

Professor: My Brother died of Cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him.  Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

 (Student was silent)

Professor: You can't answer, can you? Let's start again, Young Fella.  Is GOD Good? Student: Yes.

Professor: Is Satan good? Student: No.

Professor: Where does Satan come from? Student: From . . . GOD.

Professor: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World? Student: Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it? And GOD did make every-thing. Correct? Student: Yes.

Professor: So who created evil?

(Student did not answer)

Professor: Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?

All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?

Student: Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them?

(Student had no answer)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD? Student: No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD? Student: No.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?  Student: No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor: Yet you still believe in HIM? Student: Yes.

Professor: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?  Student: Nothing. I only have my Faith.

Professor: Yes, Faith. And that is the problem Science has.  

Student: Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student: And is there such a thing as Cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student: No, sir. There isn't.

(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events)

Student: Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat, a Little Heat or No Heat. But we don't have anything called Cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the Lecture Theatre)

Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness? Professor: Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?

Student: You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light . . . But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called darkness, isn't it? In reality, darkness isn't.

If it is, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man?

Student: Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student: Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is Life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD.  You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.  Sir, Science can't even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.  To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of Life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.  Student: Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)

Student: Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?

(The Class was in Uproar )

Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor's brain?

(The class broke out into laughter )

Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? . . . No one appears to have done so.  So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir.

With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your Lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)

Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on faith, son.

Student: That is it sir . . . exactly!

The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.

That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.

Guess who the student was: none other than Albert Einstein!