Life – Page 42 – Sugar And Spice… Among Other Things

Family and Society, Life, Personal Musings

Choice of Flight or Fight

Posted on October 16, 2018September 28, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

As I was reading the reviews of few movies, many were based on the trope of either the hero or heroine struggling in one town, get their heart broken, dreams smashed and then they pack their bags, finally reinventing themselves in a new place.

This cliché wins the crowd almost all the time. Maybe it’s because it centers on the fact that we can win any struggle by changing our environment, resetting our frame of mind and then give a fresh try. The only catch is that we always believe the guise of being bold to step outside our comfort zone and renew our positive forces is enough to get our dreams going all the time. To an extent this may help. For at times we do need to detach, step outside our regular zone and take a chance for change. Yet this strategy doesn’t always work.

For some, running away from the problems may not work and we are thrown into the state of chaos again. Instead of embracing and dealing with the discomfort and sorting out the mess, we leave falsely believing that doing so will give us the control of calling the shots. But on running away we are adding to an indefinite issue of our emotional mess and trauma. Finally the clutter will seep through every facet of our life, ranging from work to our social and even mental life. As Haruki Murakami quoted, “Distance might not solve anything, no matter how far you run.”

We can’t write a new chapter without completing the old one or closing it with an abrupt finish. If we do so, there is a chance that we will flutter about in the new chapter. This fairy-tale world that we live in for now will be overturned by the baggage of the past and problems or loose ends that were never resolved. Instead we will eventually bleed out at minor scratches. Such an existence will be a terrible one. Eventually the time will come when we lose our roots and forget who we were, to start with.

The art of life rests on our understanding of when to stay and when to leave, of when to fight or when is flight the answer. True that the art does lie in reining our positive energies and our focus, striving to step out of our comfort zone and explore new horizons when required. Yet the art also lies in staying when the initial reaction is to flee and also to focus on what truly matters even if it unsettles us. The primal fear of man is being stuck in a rut of discontent and indecisiveness of whether the right choices were made. Yet all the “ifs” can be fought only if challenge the fear, face it, rise up higher than it and then fight it down. Then the fear will shrink away when it matters. To refuse to run when it really matters and stand our ground will make all the difference in the long run.

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Christian, Life, Personal Musings, Work

Perception of Being Free

Posted on October 13, 2018September 26, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

In the course of the history, one of the concepts which has been largely studied is the concept of freedom. Through time, there has been different dimensions and contexts to freedom. Essentially in philosophical terms, freedom is associated with free will balanced by moral responsibility, not constrained by any undue or unjust means. Yet the term “free will” can be advocated as freedom of thought innate to the human mind engaged at that particular point of time. Yet to the most reasonable person, freedom doesn’t essentially mean to do whatever one wants. Freedom also stands for securing to everyone an equal chance at life and pursuit of happiness.

In reality, there are two concepts to freedom. While negative freedom is about being free of any interference or constraints; positive freedom is being free to self-actualize or being free from internal constraints. It is important to comprehend the distinction between both as they often need to strike a very delicate balance. Through experience we realize that undue disruption and loss of positive momentum can be caused if freedom is misused.

Although the christian freedom is on similar lines, strongly bordering on the sense of moral and social responsibility; it also urges to do good on the widest scale possible with the intent to build up the church and the Word of God. In simple terms, if a man has his heart on the salvation, it make a big impact to regulate his conduct in context of the world. Although there may not be any specific laws or rules to follow in the code of his attire, his entertainments, his work or style of living; if the underlying manner of life is contrary to doing good to glorify The Word of God, then to him that particular manner or behavior is improper. Such a concept of freedom is a better guideline to direct life in this world than would be exact minute positive statutes to regulate everything.

If we go through the verses from 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, “23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”

While the original context of the verse was with respect to the limits of Christian Freedom with the way of life, written in the letter to the Corinthians; the underlying message is that the Christian way is not to simply exercise one’s rights. Instead the freedom we attain through Christ should be used to help others and not hurt or bring down the morale of others. However, it doesn’t imply that man is not in any instance to disregard his own welfare, happiness, or salvation nor that man owes no regard or duty to himself or family. Neither does it allow man to neglect his responsibility both to family and himself to advance the welfare of others. It implies that when no direct law or guidelines are laid down, our actions should be governed by the Word of God to show the salvation to others and not to behave for one’s ease or comfort. For on taking care of our fellow beings, the actions we do should bring glory to God’s name. We’ll be able to enjoy the true sense of Christian freedom when we use it not only for our sake, but as an example for cues of conduct to others.

On the other hand, we may not be able to please everyone. Being a doormat is difficult, for by trying to please everyone, we please nobody. However that doesn’t mean to do something we have to impose our decisions or changes on others. It is a very delicate balance to strike between true freedom as well as getting the work done. The Golden Rule which holds true then and even now is,”Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This is a simple rule which can be easily put into practice. It can aid as a balance-wheel in the various actions and plans of our lives. If everyone would adopt this rule, there would be less danger of going wrong and ensure that our lives on this earth would not be in vain.

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Life, Personal Musings, Reflections, Stories Around the World

Alta Alatis Patent

Posted on October 9, 2018September 24, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Last night being movie night for my husband and I, it felt pretty good to be watching “The Pursuit of Happyness” again. There are some movies which never fade in time and this is one of them. Based on the life of Chris Gardner, the C.E.O and founder of Christopher Gardner International Holdings ; it is an essentially an biographical film. The story revolves around a troubled childhood, failed marriage, monetary problems and difficult times; which I guess is a little of something that has happened to everyone at some point of time. But what makes the film adorable is that despite all the hardships, you find your own happiness. There may be many movies along similar lines, but to put them down from ‘reel’ to ‘real life’ may be difficult. Yet some of the real stories show us that although it’s difficult, it’s possible to rise from the ashes.

In fact, there are many more real-life people who have echoed similar times in their lives. The creator of Mickey Mouse was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of imagination and good ideas. Years later, many animation pictures and other movies start off with “Walt Disney” logo. Even Steven Spielberg was rejected from his university of choice. Nevertheless that never affected his talent nor skills, and he rose to become one of the greatest directors and producers of all time.

There are many more people who have gone through similar struggles. Some of them we may have only seen in papers, some heard of while others may be there who live in our own neighbourhood. If we look up our old high school friends or seniors and even juniors, we then realize how some of them have risen from their roots and have found their own happiness.

Although all these people have become legends today, at one point of time they have gone through the struggle and the toil. Immense courage and faith in oneself is required to rise from the ashes and build the dream. As said in Latin, “Alta alatis patent”, i.e. the sky is open to those who have wings.

We all have our own set of wings. We just need to find them, strengthen them, train them then look ahead with keen foresight and fly sky high.

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Daily, Life, Personal Musings, Random Thoughts

Light of the Stained Glass

Posted on October 8, 2018September 22, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Daily challenges are thrown to us in different forms. A late morning, rejected interview, difficult exam, kids late for school, flat tyre in the middle of the morning commute, merchandise late, business meetings rescheduled or clashing and worst of all, when you have deadlines nearing with hoards of work unfinished. And at times in the middle of the entire fiasco, life throws us a curve ball when we least expect it.

Imperatively it’s easier to buckle down under all the stress and give up so easily. Yet the beauty of getting everything done at the end of the day with a few compromises depending on the context makes all the hassles worthwhile.

During the haywire, it’s keeping the calm and cool is severely tested. Many a time the urge to snap out at someone is there, even if the latter is not at fault. But that’s when we have to take a pause and remember that there are people out there who have it even worse. Everyone has their bad days and good days, but it’s how we deal with the bad that makes us prepared to enjoy the good days. No ship can survive the ocean calm without getting through the storms.

As Elisabeth Kübler-Ross said,“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.” Just like the stained glass, there is a lot of work going into each and every one of us, as trials, tribulations, triumphs and even tests of life. Yet through all these marks of life, seizing each day as it comes and still trying to glow from within is what makes us beautiful.

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Christian, Life, Reflections

The Priceless Gifts

Posted on October 7, 2018October 6, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

As children, we were always eager to attend parties as well as host them. For which birthday girl or boy wouldn’t love cutting the cake, opening all the presents, giving away the game prizes, handing thank you kits for all the guests and in short, having loads of fun. The pre-birthday days or rather week would be all hush-hush with eager eyes and ears round the place hoping for the best surprise gift. Post the birthday, we engage in the fun of our gifts. Yet a month later down the road, with some of the gifts the novelty may wear off, while others may be still in use for some more time or their use may have been past time though they may still be precious to us.

It’s almost the similar scenario for Christmas, country fair prizes, competition prizes and so on. No doubt, the joy of getting a gift or winning a prize is exhilarating but it lasts for only some time. Then it fades away into a sweet memory.

Compare these gifts with the priceless gifts from our Heavenly Father. The heavenly gifts, whether of providence, nature, family, grace or blessings far outrank all the materialistic gifts of the world. The inner joy and sanctum of peace granted by the gifts from Our Father doesn’t change with the shadows, neither do they wax and wane with time. Instead, they grow quietly and steer us through the battlefields and downhills we face in life. For like the stars above, Our Father is always there keeping watch and guiding us through His Light and His Grace when we have lost our way or are left in the dark.

As James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Sometimes it’s only in hindsight that we realize these precious and perfect gifts bestowed on us. Yet even then, the beauty of these priceless gifts don’t fade away but persist with time. Even words can’t express the joys of the gifts. The only way to thank the Lord for the benevolence of His Grace would be to live by His Word, which though may sound difficult, is feasible.

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Family and Society, Life, Personal Musings, Stories Around the World

True Purpose of Education

Posted on October 5, 2018September 29, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Today, October 5 would be the 24th year of the International Teachers Day ( a.k.a World Teacher’s Day). Initially established in 1994, this day focuses on the appreciation of educators especially teachers and even university professors as well as their role played in the development of students; thus giving an immense contribution to society. Although in some countries it may be celebrated on different days, many nations have given importance and appreciation to the role of the teachers in the society.

With generations of teachers in the family, everyone strongly believes that education is beyond the blackboards and the books. During my high school days, I had chanced to read the “Letter to His Son’s Teacher” , a letter Abraham Lincoln had allegedly wrote to his son’s school teacher on the first day of class. Though the letter is every parent’s wish that their children would learn, sources and citations are insufficient to claim that the letter was originally written by Abe Lincoln.

In spite of the query of authenticity, this letter holds additionally to subject or textbook learning what teachers and educators should make sure their students learn. For those of us, who haven’t read it, the letter is as follows.

“My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage.

So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him – but gently, if you can. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.

Teach him if you can that 10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar found. In school, teacher, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose, and enjoy winning when he does win.

Teach him to be gentle with people,tough with tough people. Steer him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Teach him if you can – how to laugh when he is sad, teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics.

Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tell him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to every one, but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, in God.

This is the order, teacher but see what best you can do. He is such a nice little boy and he is my son.”

Life as we all know isn’t restricted to books alone or to the hard facts of knowledge. It is a blend of learning, thinking, emotional and social responsibilities with innate faith in God and oneself. To live a life of meaning will require us to look beyond the desk of assignments and grades alone. They are indeed essential in order to dream of aims, ambitions and to reach them as well. Yet there is a world out there beyond that, which every parent wishes their child would learn so as to eventually would carve a niche for themselves in it.

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Christian, Life, Personal Musings, Reflections

Everything In His Time

Posted on October 4, 2018September 19, 2018 by Sugar and Spice..... Among Other Things

Most of us who listen to gospel music or attend church would have either heard of or sang along to the popular hymn “In His Time“. It was originally written and sung by Diane Bell. The lyrics are based on the verse from Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” The entire chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes has beautiful concepts regarding time, God-given tasks and the prevalence of injustice as well as the final judgement by God. During difficult and busy times, or through injustice and even sorrows, the words of this chapter have always comforted me.

Starting from the verses of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; these words give importance to every activity and every emotion of man’s body, mind and soul. Every action has its own time, every growth happens in their allotted time and every word will be said as per its’ time. There is time for fun and gaiety as well as time for sorrow and forgiveness. There is a time for struggle as well as joy. Even birth and death will happen in their time as well as love and leisure. In short, everything has its’ own time.

3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: ²a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, ³a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, ⁴a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, ⁵a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, ⁶a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, ⁷a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, ⁸a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

As we read on, the futility of man’s attempts to gain from his toil as well as his mortality is asserted. In fact his very gains are gifts from God and whatever God has done, nothing can be added or subtracted for even the past will be accounted for. In fact, the words show that the best man can do in his allotted time is to be happy and do good.

⁹What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹²I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. ¹⁵Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15)

The last set of verses highlight the harsh reality of today’s world. The prevalence of injustice is rampant though at times it may be very subtle, other times it may be very obvious. However the Lord will hold all accountable and there will a time for every deed to be judged. We all from dust and we go back into the dust. So in our time here we should enjoy our work, live by our Faith and reap the fruits of the Spirit.

¹⁶And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. ¹⁷I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” ¹⁸I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ¹⁹Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. ²¹Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” ²²So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them? (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

On reading God’s Words, there is always an answer for every trouble and hope for every problem. In fact armed with His Words, every difficult time would be endurable and we would be able to not only survive but also rejoice. Although our Faith should lie in the truth is that it will all happen as per His Time.