...till I get a son!

Mr. X : So how's your wife?

Mr. Y: She's fine, is inside resting.

Mr X: My wife said she was depressed after the abortion...

Mr Y: Oh! She'll be fine, you know these women na, will shed a few tears and then all will be back on track.

Mr. X: But Mr. Y this is the 5th abortion if I am not wrong, how long are you going to carry this on?

Mr. Y: Till I get a son! I wonder when will my wife give me a son, but one thing is for sure, come what may, I won't let a daughter be born in my household. They are such a burden, these girls....

Mr. X: But today's world has changed, girls are outscoring boys in many areas, there is no difference between a girl and a boy anymore, see how girls have entered armed forces, are becoming pilots, police officers, CEO's of big companies, teachers, nurses, lawyers and what not...

Mr Y: Really? Has India truly changed? What about what happened to that Guwahati girl, and now the recent Andhra Pradesh case, not to mention the whole lot of cases of bride burning, rape, molestation and what not....

Mr. Y had a grin on his face at this point. He took a deep breath and continued.

Mr. Y: I remember my own college days, there was this girl we had teased a lot, and had followed her cycle all the way to her society, just for fun! Being a girl in this country is nothing less than being in living hell, I was 25, and I was in a crowded bus, this 14-15year old girl was there and some old pervert kept pushing into her and rubbing into her, and that one day when in the vegetable market someone touched my wife! When my wife got married to me, I remember how my mother demanded a maruti 800 from her dad, he spent his entire life's earnings to get that car! I don't want to be the father of a girl and worry about her every day, when she is young bring her up and discipline her in customs, and when she grows up worry about her clothing, where she goes, who she befriends, what time she leaves, what time she comes back. I don't want to bring forth a daughter in this world to have her go throw hell, and for me too, why should I gather money to give away to her in-laws, when I can have a son and gather money! I am not killing a girl in her mother's womb! No! I am saving her from a living hell.

My X: I take my leave Mr. Y, I am glad all don't think like you, or there wont be any girls left in India. And be sure of one thing, I will never let my daughter interact with you and your family!

With that Mr. X left, but Mr. Y wasn't convinced, he was happy and content to keep aborting girls and 'saving' them from a bad world, he would make his wife go throw the pain of abortions till he got a son!

A Prisoner's Cry

I haven't seen sunshine
I haven't seen rain
I haven't smelled roses
I'm always in pain.

Not a human face
Have I seen this year
All is very dark,
I live in fear.

The fear of losing
A stable mind
And forgetting a voice
So sweet and kind

The voice which lives
In my heart
'From you,' it says
'I'll never part.'

Oh! When these days
Of bondage will end
My broken heart
Who will mend?

Striking a Match

Striking a match stick is generally for two purposes, it’s either to light something up like a candle, or to set a fire ablaze. A lot depends on how and for what do we strike a match, trigger an event, kick start a conversation, is it to bring light or is it to spread a wild fire.

Our words and actions are almost always accompanied by some sort of reaction, be it by a fellow human or by us. When we utter something, to an individual, a group, a crowd, we activate a trigger, which will have both immediate and everlasting effects. When we take some action, it too has an immediate and everlasting effect. For good or for bad, our actions and words determine a lot of what we will be or what we will end up as in our future. Past, present and future are not totally disconnected. It takes a right move in the past to secure something in the future.

In today’s world where speaking and acting without any moral responsibility towards others has become a norm, we seldom weigh our words before speaking, check our actions before reacting, look around before spitting venom; and hence strike the match to start a fire where originally a light was needed.

Whether you believe it or not, your words and actions do have an effect. Words spoken in darkness only to yourself mold your mind, words spoken in light in front of your company molds theirs. A chain of events are set forth, sometimes by mere words, some for good, some for bad, some to destroy, some to create, some to merely ignite other person’s intellect. Words are not just words, actions are not some disconnected movement, they all come together to shape, form, break, crack, redo, undo our surroundings and our relationships. 

So next you strike the match, be sure of your purpose.

Book Review - Rome Sweet Home

The journey of a man, and his wife from being a staunch Catholic-hating Presbyterian to becoming a devout and loving Catholic. 

Since ages I wanted to get my hands on this book, being a cradle Catholic, conversion stories have always fascinated me. This was one of those books that I kept hearing about on and off during my readings of other bloggers and converts, a book about which I had only heard praises. A book which I just couldn’t wait to read.

 

So when I finally spotted the title a month back my happiness was unending, I immediately bought the book. I devoured the book in two days, lapped everything up that it had to offer.

 

Scott and Kimberly Hahn have written their conversion story in the most candid and heartfelt way, their unabashed honesty and their clarity of thought is what makes the book so captivating. While reading the book it feels like they are actually sitting across the room talking to us. In their simplicity in writing, the miraculous power of God is portrayed, one can’t help but connect the proceedings in the Hahns lives with the Divine Intervention of God. The story is not only of Scott and Kimberly, and how they found the way back home, it is also of God the Father, Jesus, Mary and other saints and how they nudged and guided them back home. It is a journey of hope and despair, cheers and tears, human follies and divine wisdom but above all, its a journey back home,

 

The book may not answer all your questions on Catholicism, it is not going to explain to you the theological aspect of every Catholic tradition, neither will it turn you into a Catholic enthusiast in a day. But the book will surely show you the way, to discover your own way back home, the book will definitely give you the inspiration to delve deeper and to get inside your Faith, to know the Faith and know how to defend it.

This book is a must read of all Catholics who are struggling to believe the Church Doctrines and for those who are despairing and doubtful of their conversion to Catholicism.

The Mass is not about fancy words added on whim

…it is deeply rooted in Scripture.

 

 

The words the priest speaks during a mass aren’t words written by some old spiritual man of some old forgotten days. The Holy Mass (and the missal therein) draws deeply from the Bible, some verses are taken as is, others are derivations but it all has one single root, The Holy Scriptures. Let us go through a regular mass and see where these words come from. The text of the missal is in normal font, the biblical references are in hyperlink:

 

Sign of the Cross

All make the Sign of the Cross as the Priest says.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Mt 28:19)

The people reply:

Amen. (1 Chr 16:36).

Greeting

Then the Priest greets the people:

Either: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2Cor 13:14)

Or: Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Or: The Lord be with you. (Ruth 2:4)

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

Penitential Act

The Priest invites the faithful to the Penitential Act.

Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins, (James 5:16) and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows, and then one of the following Penitential Acts:

All say:

I confess to almighty God

and to you, my brothers and sisters,

that I have greatly sinned,

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,

And, striking their breast, they say:

through my fault,

through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints,

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

 

The absolution by the Priest follows:

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. (1Jn 1:9) Amen.

 

The Kyrie

The Priest or another minister says invocations naming the gracious works of the Lord to which he invites the people to respond, as in the example below:

You were sent to heal the contrite of heart:

Lord, have mercy.

The people reply:

Lord, have mercy.

 

The Gloria

When indicated this hymn is either sung or said.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. (Luke 2:14)

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory,

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, (Jn 1:29)

receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,( Mt 26:64, Acts 2:33, Rom 8:34, Col 3:1)

have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One, (Lk 4:34)

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, (Lk 1:32)

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

The Collect

The Priest says:

Let us pray.

And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while. Then the Priest says the Collect prayer, at the end of which the people acclaim:

Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading

To indicate the end of these readings, the reader acclaims:

The word of the Lord.

All reply:

Thanks be to God.

Psalm

After the First Reading the psalmist or cantor sings or says the Psalm, with the people making the response.

Second Reading

On Sundays and certain other days there is a second reading. It concludes with the same responsory as above.

Gospel

The assembly stands to sing the Gospel Acclamation to welcome the Gospel. They remain

standing in honour of the Gospel reading, the high point of the Liturgy of the Word.

At the ambo the Deacon, or the Priest says:

The Lord be with you.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

The Deacon, or the Priest:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.

He makes the Sign of the Cross on the book and, together with the people, on his forehead, lips, and breast.

At the same time the people acclaim:

Glory to you, O Lord.

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

After the proclamation of the Gospel the congregation is seated.

The Homily

At the end of the Homily it is appropriate for there to be a brief silence for recollection. The congregation then stands.

The Creed

On Sundays and Solemnities, the Profession of Faith or Creed will follow. During Lent and Easter Time, especially, the Apostles’ Creed may be used.

 

The Prayer of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers)

After each intention there is a pause while the faithful pray. The minister says:

Lord, in your mercy.

All reply:

Hear our prayer.

The Priest concludes the Prayer with a collect. When the Liturgy of the Word has been completed, the people sit.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Offertory

When he has received the bread and wine for the celebration, the Priest offers prayer of blessing quietly at the altar. Sometimes these prayers are said aloud. If the priest says the prayers aloud the assembly’s acclamation each time is

Blessed be God for ever.

The Priest completes additional personal preparatory rites, and the people rise as he says:

Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God,

the almighty Father.

The people reply:

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good

and the good of all his holy Church.

Then the Priest says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the end of which the people acclaim:

Amen.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Extending his hands, the Priest says:

The Lord be with you.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

The Priest, raising his hands, continues:

Lift up your hearts.

The people:

We lift them up to the Lord. (Lam 3:41)

The Priest, with hands extended, adds:

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

The people:

It is right and just.

The Priest continues with the Preface.

The renewal of all things in Christ

The following Preface is said in Masses that have no proper Preface, and for which a Preface related to a specific liturgical time is not indicated.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. In him you have been pleased to renew all things, giving us all a share in his fullness. For though he was in the form of God, he emptied himself and by the blood of his Cross brought peace to all creation. Therefore he has been exalted above all things, and to all who obey him, has become the source of eternal salvation. And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim:

The Priest concludes the Preface with the people singing or saying aloud:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. (Is 6:3; Mk 11:9-10).

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. (Mt 21:9)

Hosanna in the highest.

The Priest alone recites:

To you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord: that you accept and bless these gifts, these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices, which we offer you firstly for your holy catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with your servant N. our Pope and N. our Bishop, and all those who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic faith.

Remember, Lord, your servants (N. and N.) and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you. For them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer it for themselves and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of their souls, in hope of health and well-being, and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and true.

In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, (James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian) and all your Saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your protecting help. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your whole family; order our days in your peace, and command that we be delivered from eternal damnation and counted among the flock of those you have chosen. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Be pleased, O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge, and approve this offering in every respect; make it spiritual and acceptable, so that it may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying: Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me. (Mt 26:26-28)

After the words of Consecration the priest says:

The mystery of faith.

The people continue, acclaiming:

Either:

We proclaim your Death, O Lord,

and profess your Resurrection

until you come again.

Or:

When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup,

we proclaim your Death, O Lord,

until you come again. (1Cor 11:26)

Or:

Save us, Saviour of the world,

for by your Cross and Resurrection

you have set us free.

Then the Priest alone continues:

Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion, the Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord, we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation. Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim. In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God:

command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high

in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar

receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

Commemoration of the Dead : Remember also, Lord, your servants N. and N., who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)

To us, also, your servants, who, though sinners, hope in your abundant mercies, graciously grant some share and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen,

Matthias, Barnabas, (Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia) and all your Saints; admit us, we beseech you, into their company, not weighing our merits, but granting us your pardon, through Christ our Lord. Through whom you continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.

At the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer the Priest takes the chalice and the paten with the host and, raising both, he alone says:

Through him, and with him, and in him,

O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all glory and honour is yours,

for ever and ever. (Rom 11:36)

Amen.

The Communion Rite

The eating and drinking together of the Lord’s Body and Blood in a Paschal meal is the culmination of the Eucharist. The themes underlying these rites are the mutual love and reconciliation that are both the condition and the fruit of worthy communion and the unity of the many in the One.

The Lord’s Prayer

The congregation stands and the Priest says:

At the Saviour’s command

and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Together with the people, he continues:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil. (Mt. 6:9-13)

The Priest alone continues, saying:

Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ

The people conclude the prayer, acclaiming:

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. (Mt 6:13)

Then the Priest alone says aloud:

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, (Jn 14:27)

look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.

The people reply:

Amen.

The Priest adds:

The peace of the Lord be with you always. (Jn 20:19)

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

The Deacon, or the Priest, adds:

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

And all offer one another the customary sign of peace: a handclasp or handshake, which is an expression of peace, communion, and charity.

Breaking of the Bread

During the breaking of the host the following is sung or said:

(Jn 1:29)

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,

grant us peace.

After the Lamb of God, the people kneel.

Invitation to Communion

After his private prayers of preparation the Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice says aloud:

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. (Rev 19:9)

And together with the people he adds once:

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. (Mt 8:8)

Communion

After the priest has reverently consumed the Body and Blood of Christ the communicants come forward in reverent procession, and make a preparatory act of reverence by bowing their head in honour of Christ’s presence in the Sacrament. They receive Holy Communion standing.

The Priest says:

The Body (Blood) of Christ.

The communicant replies:

Amen.

After the distribution of Communion, if appropriate, a sacred silence may be observed for a while, or a psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung.

Prayer after Communion

Then, the Priest says:

Let us pray.

All stand and pray in silence. Then the Priest says the Prayer after Communion, at the end of which the people acclaim:

Amen.

The Concluding Rites

The brief Concluding Rite sends the people forth to put into effect in their daily lives the Mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection and the unity in Christ which they have celebrated. Their mission is to witness to Christ in the world and to bring the Gospel to the poor. Any brief announcements to the people follow here. Then the dismissal takes place. Sometimes this takes a more elaborate form than that given below.

Blessing

The Priest says:

The Lord be with you.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

The Priest blesses the people, saying:

May almighty God bless you,

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The people reply:

Amen.

Dismissal

Then the Deacon, or the Priest himself, says:

Either: Go forth, the Mass is ended.

Or: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

Or: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Or: Go in peace.

The people reply:

Thanks be to God.

 

Note: The order of mass was take from : http://www.universalis.com/static/mass/orderofmass.htm. Also, these are my own findings and it may not be exhaustive or even accurate. I would welcome feedbacks from those who are more knowledgeable than me in these matters

The Dark Knight Rises - A Review

The story begins 8 years after the death of Harvey Dent, where the citizens of Gotham city blame Batman for his murder. Bruce Wayne has retired, both as Batman and from the Wayne Enterprises. But a turmoil is churning up in the city, will Batman return to battle a formidable foe and most importantly, will he win?

For all the diehard Batfans its a real treat, for all those of you who aren't a fan, its still a real treat. Christopher Nolan strikes again, with the last installment of the Batman series. Christian Bale is at his best, Anna Hathaway has done a good job too but the crown goes to Hans Zimmer for the amazing background score that added life to each scene. The special effects were also good in parts. The story line was average, and it would have been a perfect movie if a few parts were not stretched too long and if some crisp editing had been done. Bane is also great to watch, Tom Hardy has done a great job. This is one villain you will truly enjoy watching.

 

The story line also has a few twist and turns that at times will bring you to the edge of your seat, but don’t expect too many of them. There are some lose ends here and there in the story, and Morgan Freeman has been totally wasted. I would have loved to see more of him. There are certain emotionally charged scenes that look too plastic at times. But otherwise, it’s a total entertainer.

 

Go watch it for the special effects and Bane!

Witchcraft

Krista was walking alone down the crowded street, it was a hot stuffy night, the hawkers displaying their wares, the children screaming and trying to bully their parents, the divas strutting along, flaunting their expensive clothing and fake accents. She was oblivious to all these, on a normal day she would be drinking in the scene and observing various characters, today her mind was preoccupied. She needed to get some work done, or it would be too late.
Her train of thoughts continued as she was going through the list of things she had to do before retiring to bed that night, when suddenly she dashed into another woman. Again, on a normal day she would have said sorry to this young thing, but today, she was too shocked to apologize. This woman was pale, tall, thin, with long black hair, and she was pale, unnaturally pale, except for those eyes, they were dark like death. The woman grinned at her, teeth unnaturally white…
Krista, saw her grin and saw her eyes, a shiver ran down her spine. There was something about this woman, something she just couldn’t put her finger on.
One saw in the other’s eyes and all went dark.
She rose, like a chilly mist, inside a cavernous underground hall. A grin on her face, a trickle of blood running from behind her ear and a vague madness in her eyes. Tonight again she had won back some 20 more years of life and youth, a body of a young woman lay on the floor. What was her name, she did not know. She did not need to know, the girl had served her purpose well. She was a soul that didn’t put up much resistance, her task had been simple, lost souls are always quicker to devour and very delicious to relish.
She wiped the blood from behind her ear, adjusted her clothes and walked out back on the crowded street.
She saw a little pink chubby girl trying to pull her mom into a toy store. She looked at the girl and smiled, the girl smiled back.
“It might be you next, little girl, lets wait and watch,” Krista said to herself as she walked towards her home.

Saturday Soliloquy: Balance

I don’t care what the world thinks about me, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to put my best foot forward and try and create a good impression. So what must I do, how much of my life do I let the world dictate and how much of it should I live according to my own terms? Where, oh where can I find the perfect balance?

Do I wear what the society wants me to wear or do I adorn my own choice, do I find a piece of society approved clothing of my own choice? What about the choice of my friends, do I go for the same gender, same class and same age, sticking to the status quo, or do I break the barriers and befriend those whom I like irrespective of there age, gender and social class?

I don’t know, where will I find the balance when it comes to my career, shall I chose the less trodden path which I so much desire and am so passionate about, or do I take up that job that my family wants me to see in so that they may feel secure about my future?

Why do I have to put up with that nosy uncle just out of respect because that’s what the culture demands, why do I have to simply smile when he asks me the most private question and makes distasteful remarks on my looks? Why can’t I speak my mind when I want to?

What part of my life do I let the world take over and what part do I keep out of bounds? Is there ever a balance, or is it just a compromise…

I've been TAGGED!!!

Rahul has been kind enough to tag me for a post! 

This is a fun chain blog post type of something where we get to connect to multiple bloggers! 

The Rules -

• Link back the blogger who tagged you.
• You must post the rules.
• Answer the questions given by the person tagged you.
• Tag eleven new bloggers.
• Set eleven new questions for the bloggers tagged by you.
• Inform them about the tag.

Rahul's 11 Questions and my Answers : 

1.Whats life for you. A: Life is a journey.
2.Whats love for you. A: Love is an amalgam of Divine and Human experiences.
3.Whats desire for you. A: Desire is a kind of a hunger, either physical, intellectual or spiritual.
4.Whats destiny for you. A: A myth created to avoid facing awkward truths.
5.Whats the craziest thing you have done so far. A: Tried to climb a wall like spiderman! My back's never been the same after that!
6.Whats your favourite quote in life. A: If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:31
7.What motivates you in life. A: The nature around me.
8.Any regrets in life. A: Just one, wish I had spent more time with my dad...
9.Idols in life. A: No one
10.Where do you see yourself after 1 year and after 5 years. A: after a year; in front of the mirror, looking gorgeous and happy, after 5 years: in front of the mirror, looking more gorgeous and more happy, and a little more wise too.
11.Words for my blog. A: Looking forward to a thriller on your blog!

And now it's my turn to tag 11 other bloggers:

1. Ruchita Srivastava 

2.Vinay Ravindranath

3. Remigius de Souza 

4. Debajyoti Ghosh 

5. Nagini 

6. Alexandra 

7. Pooja 

8. Ritvik Gautam 

9. Nabanita Dhar 

10. TangyTomatoTwist 

11. Vishal Kataria

And my questions are:

1. What is your most priced possession?
2. Will you eat a bug or any other creepy thing to survive in wilderness?
3. Your views on marriage?
4. What does India lack?
5. What is your best feature?
6. Whom will you never forgive in life and why?
7. Which is your most favorite moment in life?
8. Are you where you intended to be or has a mixture of crazy circumstances brought you to what you are today?
9. Define God.
10. Do you believe in Gandhi's principles?
11. Will you follow my blog? ;)

The Other Side of The Cross

A few days back I had a short chat with a sister. And the thing that touched me the most was her simple and loving explanation of the hardships and troubles of life that we all must go through. She showed me the cross she was wearing around her neck, she showed the side on which was Christ crucified and then turned over the cross and showed the plain side, that’s the place for us. 

It is on the other side of the cross, that we too must crucify ourselves, as the loving disciples of Christ, and His children. Every time you are persecuted, each time that you are mocked, you are on the other side of the cross. If your master was mocked, betrayed, framed in false charges, beaten, persecuted, harassed, what makes you think that you won’t also be persecuted and mocked and betrayed?

And just look at the beauty of it all, He has left the other side for you. This way you will be joined with Christ in an inseparable way, the lance that pierced His side will pierce your heart too, connecting you and Him together as one. The world may take away all else from you, but you will not be separated from the love of Christ.

Today take out some time, to meditate on the crucifix, look at the Savior who gave up His all, and then turn the cross, see the other side of it, it’s plain, its empty, its a space reserved for you. Not because God wants you to suffer, but because He loves you so much that He does not want to be separated from you in your sufferings. He wants to embrace your suffering self and weave your sufferings into His, taking away all that ails you, and turning it into a love filled gift.

So when the next time you are assailed with hopelessness of your situation, just look at the other side of the cross!

Weird facts of Life

Some funny and weird facts about life:

• In examination hall 3 hours seem like 3 minutes when you know the answers and 3 painfully long hours when you don't.
• It is easy to remember every single word you crush said to you three weeks back, but tough to remember the grocery list your mum asked you to buy this evening.
• We are more open about our feelings on FB than on a face to face chat
• Couch to TV is a huge distance to walk, but running up and down the whole house to search the remote isnt.
• Weddings are mostly enjoyable, marriage, not exactly so.
• When you have lot's of money, only silly things up for sale, once you go broke all the good stuff starts popping up on shop windows.
• Women are simple creatures who live a self-complicated life.
• The things you want keep running away from you and the things you don't want keep following you. (people too!)
• We generally measure our worth based on public opinions, sometimes of those who barely know us.

My Quotes IX

Here goes:

• Pride comes before the fall, and sometimes stays even after it.
• When people grow closer, the novelty disappears and things get boring.
• Rude, blunt and insensitive, are different and yet similar.
• Love is not a feeling, it's an action.
• Whether we want it or not, we do influence other's life, in a good way or bad.
• Independence is sometimes just a perception.
• Be good, if not for others, at least for yourself.

The Lost Princess Found

“Nice hair Tia…”, shouted a girl from across the classroom.

She looked up and smiled back to the girl, acknowledging her compliment. Two months ago, Tia would have looked around to see who was being complimented for their hair if she’d heard the shout…

~Two Months Ago ~

 

Tia read the notice board twice, once before the school began and once during the lunch break. Tia was new to the school, her family had just shifted to this new city some 10 days back, and she’d been admitted to this school a week ago.

Within one week she’d already made a friend, acquired a crush on one of the cute guys and made a rival. But all of that had taken a backseat as soon as she saw this notice on the board. Acting was her passion. She always wanted to be an actress, join a leading theatre and make the world her stage. A lead role in her high school play would look good on her resume when she would apply to join the local theatre. It would be so wonderful to bow in front of an audience at the end of the play and receive a standing ovation…

‘Tia… Tia…’

She was brought back crashing to the reality, her best friend Anupriya was running towards her.

‘Where have you been?’, Anu demanded.

‘I was just…’, Tia looked sheepishly at the notice board.

‘What? Oh the new school play is coming up, The Lost Princess? Sounds stupid to me…’, Anu saw the look on Tia’s face and stopped mid-sentence.

‘You want to take part in this play, don’t you?’ Anu asked, Tia just nodded.

‘I’ve already had a word with Miss Khanna, she said she’ll be looking forward to my performance, and I’ve already asked daddy to get me a beautiful princess dress from London….’, drifted the voice of a high pitched nasal girl across the corridor, which was followed by the girl herself, accompanied by her three loyal companions.

Roshni Sharma, rich and beautiful, the dream of every boy, and Tia’s rival from day one.

She stopped in front of the noticed board and pointed at the role of the princess and said loudly enough for all to hear, ‘This role is mine. There is only one princess in this school.. .’, then sneered at Tia and went on with a group of giggling girls following her.

 

~*~

The door bell rang, and soon there was a knock on Tia’s door. ‘Come in’, she said. And Anu entered all excited. She told Tia that she had gathered all the information regarding the auditions. For the major roles the auditions would take place first, there were already many names registered for the lead roles, after the cast of the lead roles was finalized the other auditioned actors/actresses would be cast into the minor roles in the play, all the students who registered would get a short script at the end of the week and they would have to manage their own costumes for the auditions. There were already favorites for certain roles; a senior girl was a hot favorite for the role of Queen Mother.

‘And guess who’s the favorite for the role of the Huntsman, the princess’s love interest? Its Rick, Tia, it’s Rick!’. Anu was jumping up and down as she said this. Rick, the captain of the football team, was a year ahead of Tia, tall with rugged looks, he was a heartthrob of many girls and Tia had a huge crush on him. Rick wasn’t his real name, it was a nickname, no one knew what his actual name was.

Tia did not look excited at all, if anything, she looked more depressed.

‘What’s the matter Tia, are you still upset about me calling the play stupid?’, asked Anu in a soft concerned voice.

‘It’s not that Anu, I just think I don’t want to register for the auditions of the play.’

‘Why not? I thought you loved acting!’

‘I do love acting, but didn’t you hear what Roshni said, she alone looks like a princess, and that’s the truth. Look at me, there’s nothing beautiful about me, I am not as tall as her, not as beautiful as she looks, she’s going to wear a costume bought specially from London for her, and she has those lovely locks of hair. Look at my hair, all thin and limp and dead looking. She’ll audition and she’ll win. And the rest of the girls will look like fools in front of her charm.’

‘Oh come on dear! They want an actress not some beauty queen who looks good only once she’s added 6 layers of make-up on her face!’

Anu was exaggerating, she knew even though Roshni did wear makeup to school it wasn’t 6 layers; it was just a subtle touch. But what could she do, she had to exaggerate to make her friend confident.

‘Listen to me okay’, Anu said, ‘You go and register yourself for the Lost Princess tomorrow and..’

‘But…’

‘Let me complete Tia! You go, register, get your copy of the script and leave the rest to me. Do your best with your acting skills and let me handle the rest. Deal?’

Tia was shocked, she didn’t say anything.

‘Deal?’, asked Anu again.

‘Deal’, said Tia with a hint of a smile on her face.

The next day Tia went to Miss Khanna and registered her name for the title role. She saw that there were seven other names for that role besides her. On Saturday that week she was given a two paged script. Sunday 8 o’clock in the morning Anu was banging on Tia’s door again.

‘Tia wake up! Tia we’ve gotta go wake up you lazy girl..’

Tia opened the door of her room and said groggily, ‘What’s matter Anu, why you up so early?’

‘No time to talk, get ready quickly we are going out!’

The girls left the room in half an hour and Tia saw Anu’s dad in the living room having the sandwiches and tea that Tia’s mom had served.

‘Let’s go daddy’, said Anu. And within minutes Anu’s dad and the two girls were in the car and on the streets. Anu explained to Tia that they were going to the mall to by a few things.

‘But I don’t have any money’, Tia just realized.

‘Well, when little Miss Tia was acting like sleeping beauty, I went and got your purse and made sure that your mom filled it with some cash!’, said Anu with a fake scowl on her face. Both girls started giggling and all the way to the mall they gossiped about school and TV shows and cute actors.

In the mall they first bought a regular makeup set and a few shades of lipstick, next they went to the footwear department and Tia started checking out different heels. Anu left her there saying she had something else to checkout and would return soon. Within 10 minutes Anu was back clutching a bag.

 

Tia was trying on a turquoise and silver colored studded heeled sandals when Anu asked her whether she liked them. Tia said she loved them, but one look at the price tag and her smile vanished!

'Lets buy these', Anu said. 'But these are too costly for me' replied Tia.

'I'm buying them for you!', saying so Anu walked towards the checkout counter before Tia could stop her. Quickly they were out and Anu's dad bought them ice-cream, Tia was very upset, she told Anu she would not be able to payback that much amount.

'Don't be silly Tia, you don't have to pay me anything back. What are friends for if they are not allowed to help you! And besides now that I've got you these heeled sandals, I'm not getting anything for you on your birthday!' On hearing that both the girls started laughing. It had been a good day. While dropping Tia home, Anu handed her a bag. 'It's for your hair!' she added with a wink.

Tia rushed into her room and opened her bag to find two bottles, a shampoo and a conditioner by Dove.

 

 

~*~

 

Days went by and daily Tia would practice her lines in front of the mirror, and wash and condition her hair with Dove. Her hair showed visible improvement, they weren’t limp and dead looking anymore. They were shiny and full of life. Her dialogue delivery and her confidence had also improved. Three days before the auditions Anu gave Tia a gift, Tia unwrapped the box and found a pretty turquoise dress in it. It had beautiful flowers and frills and a royal feel to it. Tia was very delighted, she came to know that her mom and Anu had secretly been working on making this dress for her auditions. She hugged her mom and Anu with many a thank you’s.

 

 

On the day of the auditions, Tia’s room was transformed into an actress’s dressing room. There was Anu’s mom working on Tia’s hair to turn them into a beautiful princess like hair-do, Tia’s mom applying make-up of Tia’s face and Anu adjusting and re-adjusting Tia’s dress. When all were done, Tia looked like a beautiful princess, her face was pretty and her hair shining and healthy. Anu’s mom couldn’t help but comment, ‘Tia, I haven’t seen your hair so beautiful and manageable before! What is your secret?’

 

‘There’s no secret aunty’. Tia replied, ‘Just use Dove shampoo and conditioner daily.’

 

‘I had lots of hair problems’, she continued, ‘…and that was the end of my hair problems!’, she added pointing at the bottles of her favorite shampoo and conditioner.

 

The auditions were spectacular. Tia’s performance was stellar, no one could come in her league. Her dialogs were flawless and her expressions impeccable, Roshni who had come in a golden dress with head to toe matching accessories was asked to stop mid-sentence, since she was delivering her dialogs with a lot of fake accent. To no one’s surprise, Tia was selected for the role of the princess, and Rick got the part of the huntsman. A friendly senior girl Neha was chosen as the Mother Queen, and another girl named Simpy got the part of the princess’s friend.

 

The next two months of practices were like dream, Tia’s acting and her hair kept improving. Tia overcame her crush on Rick and soon they become good friends. On the eve of the screening of the play, Tia got the news that the director of the local theater was invited as the chief guest. She was excited and hopeful of catching his eye.

 

On the D-day, the entire school and their family was gathered in the auditorium, the assistants working backstage told all the actors that the auditorium was houseful and that the chief guest had arrived. Tia was slightly nervous as a professional makeup artist was doing her makeup. This was her chance to prove her caliber, if she failed… These thoughts made her even more nervous.

 

‘And.. we are done ma’am!’ The makeup artist’s voice brought her back to reality. She saw her face in the mirror and couldn’t believe her eyes, she looked so ethereal, so beautiful, her hair looked like strands of the finest silk.

 

‘You are looking beautiful my princess’, Rick’s voice came from the door of the dressing room, and Tia’s fears vanished.

 

The play went on well, and all the actors gave their best.

 

Once the play was over and Tia was back stage, Anu came rushing to meet her.

 

‘You were fabulous Tia! All eyes were on you, and the way you sang out those lines! Goodness, it was all soooo amazing. And that hair-flip you did! Killed half the guys in the auditorium. Every single person is praising you…’

 

Tia received lots of compliments for her performance, and even found out what Rick’s real name was that evening! She heard his father calling him Rakesh. Rick pleaded to her not to tell anyone in the school, Tia agreed. but both Anu and Tia did keep teasing him whenever they found him alone!

 

The next day it seemed that the entire school had become her friend! The girl across the classroom had just complimented Tia for her hair and Tia was silently thanking Dove. Tia had never been happier in her life, when suddenly a senior prefect entered their class and said, ‘Tia, you are called to the principal’s office. Kindly report immediately…’

 

Nervously, trying to avoid all eyes, Tia walked towards the principal’s office. She knocked on the door and was asked to come in. The principal sir was smiling and holding the receiver of his phone.

 

‘There’s a call for you, Tia..’, he said.

 

‘Call? For me?’

 

‘Yes. It’s from Mr. Gupta, the director of Actorama, the local theater…’

The Amazing Spiderman - A Review

A new series of the web-slinging superhero is here. Some say a reboot after mere 5 years is too early, some are just happy to see spidey in action again. I just wanted to see what Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone and most of all what Marc Webb would do with this very old and very popular superhero.

Its a new story, we come to know about the childhood of Peter Parker. There is no more Mary Jane, Gwen Stacy replaces as his love interest. Peter is still the nerdy kid who gets beaten around by the school bully, and he is still good at science.

The story is weak in parts, for instance, Uncle Ben and Aunt May are meatless characters instead of being strong persons in Peter's life to help him through his various teenage life crisis. The death of Uncle Ben actually isn't the pivotal part that switches Spiderman into a superhero, instead it make him into a revenge seeking out of control highschool kid with superpowers trying to avenge his Uncle's death.

There aren't many comical reliefs either where you can see Spiderman dishing out one-liners while kicking some villain ass. And it also lacks the trade mark monologs by Peter Parker that have been an inseparable part of the superhero whether in comics or animation series or in the previous movies.

There are a few high points in the movie, for once, it is good to see the crackling chemistry between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy, something which clearly was lacking previously between Peter and Mary Jane. The action sequences and special effects are average, with nothing that would bring you to the edge of your seat. Add to that a super-villian who isn't exactly very scary, and by scary I do not mean looks, by scary I mean one who is almost manic and possessed by an evil obsession, some one like the Green Goblin who looked evil and malign even when he wasn't behind his mask.

It is not your friendly neighborhood either. This Peter Parker is an exaggerated American teenager who lives life by his own terms and half of his decisions are hormonal surge driven, he isn't the self-sacrificing Peter Parker, the eternally good boy who will suffer endlessly but still keep promises and be a good son to his aunt. No, this is a Peter who does what he likes.

All in all an average movie with some good scenes and some bad. If you aren't a hardcore spidey fan you may even enjoy it. For those of you Spiderman fans, there will be many places where you will be tempted to cry "FOUL" and come out of the theater seething in anger.

But by all means, go watch it once if you have nothing better to do, the story and characters may be weak at some parts, but the acting of majority of the actors are pretty good, and Emma Stone is par excellence.

He is...

He is stronger than

He's smarter than

He is more amazing than

He is more magnificent than

He is more beautiful than

And he is much more loving than

He is the LORD

The CREATOR

The MASTER

The GOD