Patloo

I recently went to see Prema Akka in their family friends house as she wasn't feeling well at that time. I have went once to their house earlier and they used to have 3 pet dogs they were little big compared to the pug I have in my home. When I was talking with Akka suddenly one dog came near me, I patted it and it was there for few mins and went out. After 10 or 15 mins that owner of the house that akka came and said that door was left open and one dog went missing. First I couldn't process what she was saying, I said to her just 10 mins before a dog came to me and It was playing with me for few seconds and left. She may would have thought I was just saying, just to pacify her. I was able to feel her sadness as she was all alone and the pets are like family for her and akka was saying that this dog is very close to her and she was also fond of that pet and this will be with her all the time. We both walked to the end of that street and we couldn't find it, I asked her I'll go check and see if I could find her. She said that’s fine leave it, as she also didn't want to bother me. But for some reason I was so burdened, cos I also have pet Pug which is like a kid in our home and it will be the same for her and I know what it means to be missing the one thing what you love. I asked her whats the name of the pet and she said Patloo. I had hardly come twice to their home and I don't even remember the breed or how it looks like. Just a few seconds it was near me when it was playing with me in the room and I patted it. I kept walking street by street. Almost 2 or three streets have gone by I don't see any traces of any dog. I don't know what to do at that point. I said a small prayer Lord it may sound very silly or stupid but I don't know what to do Pls help to find the pet take me to where it is as that Akka will be also upset missing their only source of happiness. As I prayed and was walking I felt a small whisper from the Lord saying go further not this road go next. I kept walking and walking further the end of the road and took a left and there I saw a dog on the road. I wasn't sure whether it’s the same one which I was searching for as I had just seen for few seconds I don't know. I took a photo and tried calling Annan as I wasn't having her phone number either to confirm whether its their dog. Annan was also not answering as he was also away at that time. I went near to it and called Patloo, it didn't even respond. I don't know what to do, I just took the photo and took the google map location and was about to leave to go home and inform them and if it’s the same I can ask them to come here. When I was about to leave still I called Patloo it wasn't responding, so I don't know what to do. Suddenly three to four dogs from that location started to bark at this dog and was trying to approach to attack. Then I thought may be its not from that location or its Patloo. I called patloo come follow me and started walking it started to follow me for 2 or three steps and stop again. I couldn't able to guess whether its really following me whether it is Patloo or cos of the fear from other dogs its following me. I kept repeating its name and asking it to follow me it started to kept walking and following me. At one point when the other dogs werent there it started to run on the middle of the road and one van almost would have hit it, it stopped I kept calling it and again it started walking and following me. Then another 2 or three more streets left, again another set of dogs started barking seeing me protecting it and Patloo kept following me. As soon as we entered their street, it ran fast and it went into their home. As soon as I informed that Akka she couldn't believe at first. Cos the location I showed it almost would have crossed nearly 1.5 to 2Kms. I still couldn't believe couple of things, how the dog played with me just for few seconds recognized me and followed my instructions cos I know how difficult that it is. Though we have our pug we never leave it outside so it gets so excited and it leaves or goes out it never listens to any instructions and will try to run further away. Though having the pug for almost 8 years still won't listen to instruction and obey whereas a pet met just for few seconds would listen to instructions and follow. That Akka was saying she was more worried cos it had cataract on both eyes and can't see that even blew my mind. It was a very good experience and a new learning. It doesn't matter how small or silly prayers may be God still answers our silly prayers as well. Not only that are we ready to listen to his small whispers, sometime we are more concerned or waiting to hear the Loud voice of God in our lives but God is ready to speak to us in little whispers in every small things of our lives as well but are we ready to listen. When we believe and ask Him and if He whispers and if we Obey even the things which never could be made possible will also happen in ways which we cannot even think or dream of.

Flower Shop surprise

After my Dad has gone to be with the Lord, almost for every festival or start of the day or any accessions I used to go to the cemetery with my Mom. It used to be regular habit used to get flowers from velachery where I used to buy regularly and take to the cemetery. Today being christmas thought will go to cemetery in the afternoon after the lunch. As we have shifted house to different place and so thought will buy in Saidapet on the route to Nandanam YMCA cemetery. After I have placed all the orders and I asked how much and whatever she said I gave the money. I never used to negotiate with the street vendors. She asked me for what purpose and where you are going. I said to her I was going to Nandanam YMCA cemetery as its Christmas and buying this to my father's tomb. Don't know what happened she called me and gave me a bunch of big floweres in my hand and said take it. I just thanked her walked 2 steps and again went back to her and asked Akka how much I need to pay for this please tell me. She said sir take it happily and you don't have to pay anything. I said thank you, but deep down by eyes were about to get wet with tears don't know why. This last entire month I would have spent a lot and got lot of new things. But I don't know for some reason that little flowers that Akka gave me to take it my fathers tomb on Christmas of surprise gave lot of happiness compared to every other expensive purchase I did in the last couple of months. It should have costed that Akka, but her gesture moved my heart. This is a sweet lesson for me, even little gesutres what others does to us of compassion or love that moves our heart. It’s a reminder for me to be also like that Akka more often to bring smiles to others.

Morning Beach Walk

When I used to work in the IT it used to be a regular habit for couple of years, I used to go to beach early in the morning for walk. It used to be very refreshing. It had been a regular practice for me until I started the café. After started the café cos of the late night closure of café and reaching home very late night couldn't able to get up early in the morning and eventually have stopped the early morning walk in the beach. Recently I was looking for shifting the house and that time initially I had the idea and was looking for houses near the beaches and for some reason I forgot that and totally looking for house near the place where I'm planning to setup my new office space for business. But something or the other was happening and it kind of getting dropped due to space restriction or pet restriction or we didn’t like the house at all. At that time one mediator said there is one house of what you are expecting but that’s little far from the place you are looking for. I just went and seen the place, I liked it and we finalized it. He though mentioned its near the beach only but I didn't consider at the point. Once I was about to finalize and shift that’s when I realized its hardly a 10 min walk to the beach. Though I haven't started going all the day to the beach. But eventually started going on some days. Unlike before I used to go for almost 5km walk in beach, but this time I just walk from home to beach and stand there and enjoy the nature and the God's one of the best creation. Just standing there and thanking God listening to the sweet whispers of the waves and seeing the mighty vast creation. It can't be more peaceful and refreshing to start the day. Sometimes we think lot of things don't go the way how we wanted but when it all happens at the end only we know that God didn't allow few things for reason and he allows them little late to ensure we are prepared and he fulfills the even tiny little desires of us.

Good Old days

Recently I was reading about Moses encounter with God in the Mount Sinai, Where he would be there in the Mountain and cloud would descent in the place. God's glory was filled in the mountain. Moses talked to God as if talking to a friend. He was there on the Mountain and would request God to show his Glory. God would say to him, He would die if his Glory is shown. He will tell him, I'll hide you with by hand till I pass by then you could see only my back. Moses stayed on the mountain 40days and night without food and water. And he had great encounter with God. When he came down everyone seen Moses face radiance with Glory which he wasn't aware. Moses will go to God for Israelites and his prayer and request would be to ensure God's presence be with him where God asks him to go. He would even say don't send us if your presence does not comes with us. It reminded me one of an incident in my childhood, hardly I would have been studying 2nd standard or 3rd standard. Since from childhood Mom used to say all biblical stories and also used to attend Sunday class. I was so curious and used to ask Mom I need to see Jesus. I want to see him. As a child had no limitation to think imagine and want. When Mom said you pray God will reveal Himself to you. I took it so seriously and used to pray very frequently and whenever possible without a single doubt to see Jesus. One night I just woke up from my sleep I was a bright light as a back of a person surrounded with blue luminous light. I realised it was Jesus at the moment and fear gripped so much and turned and slept I didn't even tell anyone. I stopped praying that prayer to see Jesus. When I was reading the Moses encounter recently I was reminded of this childhood experience. It as reminder for me to check how as a child my faith and how earnestly I used to long to seem him and for his presence without expecting anything in return. What happened to those faith and encounter? Even after getting saved the first love which I used to have for God just longing to be in just His presence expecting nothing. It faded away over the years. It was a reminder for me to get back to God as how I used to be in child without expecting anything just wanted to see Him and be with Him.

Good Bye!!

There are some good byes which we have to say in our life's. Some of them are painful and some of them are very meaningful very much needed in our lives to progress further. Some good byes we never wanted to say to few people things situation circumstances. But we could see God forcing us or creating situations to say good bye. We sometimes can't understand why and for what but at a later phase in life we could realize that good bye was a very much needed one that has transformed our life way better. In this year I have been saying good bye to lot of things people and situations in my life. I could see God clearly separating me from lot of things and preparing me personally to be equipped in lot of areas. This good bye which I said to something today was something which I have been with almost the last 10years almost every day most of the time, hardly I would have not been with it in days or week over the last 10 years. The one which gave me lot of memories, happiness, joy, experiences, travel, new places, lot of people, excitement, bonding, long drive, lonely drive it has been a place of my solace. My hideout, it has seen all my happiness, joy, sadness, failures, excitement, disappointments, cry, success, victory almost everything for the last 10 years. I could only say thank you Lord for giving it me for the last 10 years. It's none other than my car. If I look by 15 18 years before I used to dream and think will I be able to get any car. From dreaming about something to having it, from not knowing to drive or not wanting to drive until I had my own car to be driving it all the time to all the places for 10 years. And the care I used to give in the initial days months years without any dust and scratches. And that love faded over the years and the care stopped like I used to care in the initial days months and years. From caring fully to hardly taking care of it. It has seen the good times as well as the bad times. Accidents floods from no scratches to all scratches. As years gone my and lot of things have changed over the years when a time has come to say good bye to your most loved things. Rather that feeling sad or worried about letting it go. I'm cherishing every moment which God helped me to spend on it, from all the joyous to my painful moments which has seen all my laughter cry heard all my music. But from today on I may not have that one with me. I may get something better bigger or smaller worse it really doesn’t matter. I’m grateful to God for giving this journey a companion for the last 10 years which I will continue to cherish even if I get THE BEST cars in the world in the days or months or years to come. A good bye filled with little tears and lot of memories, missing more than a friend who accompanied me for last entire decade.

Unexpected Break & Breakthrough

Last month end, I was going through a very tough phase in my life. As if I was holding on to the last rope of hope with almost everything was crashing. Only a few close friends of mine would know the phase I was going through. It was like there is no way ahead and whoever knows my situation would know there was no hope. I could feel that God is clearly talking to me lot of things and He is preparing me for something. But in that situation when the breakthrough wasn't happening and when you are more broken its really difficult. At that time only Annie has comedown from Belgium, she was casually saying she has decided to go to Naallumavadi for the Prayer which happens every month end. Immediately priya also said she will join, Reuben who has never travelled in the last 6 years said he will also join. But there were lot of things going around me where I had to take lot of life changing decisions in my life at that point in time. Everyone forced me to join, I really wanted to go but my situation wasn't favorable as I was reluctant due to the lot of things happening at the same time. Annie booked the tickets and said you come. Even after the travel was planned last day before the travel I couldn’t confirm cos I had couple of important meetings which I can't miss at that important junction which I have been waiting to happen for months. But some how I made up my mind and I decided I will travel for this prayer. As friends think this is the first time we all travelled again others after marriage this is the first time we all are travelling for the first time, Avi was there already in Naalumavadi. As soon as we started the journey there was some peace of mind, it was a total break for me to think of all whats happening and the things what I was going through. The 2 to 3 days was a life changing moment for me personally. I don't believe in places, God answers our prayers wherever we pray sincerely as He looks only our heart. But for me for that breakthrough to happen which have been waiting for couple of months, I was able to feel in the spirit that time itself its done. Each one of us where going through different things but it was a needed break and breakthrough for all of us. I learnt this for sure, over the last couple of years I have been trying to do lot of things putting lot of my time, energy, efforts, money my everything but I couldn't see anything happening. Though I had all the Trust in Him, somewere I was trying to do a bit relying on my strength, now I know the next phase of my life is Going to be the other way around, not relying a bit on me and its going to be 100% relying on Him alone. Exactly a month after, on the same date of this month prayer couple of things which I have been waiting for couple of months happened. I could see God clearly guiding and taking me completely away from my existing situation, people, surroundings which have been draining all these years and placing me in a complete new environment and preparing for breakthough and the things which I have been waiting for all these years. If Annie didn't plan for the prayer or pushed for that prayer, I don't think I would have gone or all of us would have gone for that prayer. It was indeed a greater blessing for all of us. I'm not sure who is reading this, if you are going through a tough phase in life and thinking there is no way around, God is ready to make that way for you in an unexpected way. Just surrender to Him no matter how far you have gone or how far you have failed, He will bring you closer and you will be able to see His strength and all the success you have been waiting for.

Words

Normally my Mom used to water all the plants in the house on daily basis. Once my mom went to my sisters home for a week, so I had to water all the plants for a week. That’s when I noticed couple of plants were dried up and some were in almost dying stage. That time I remembered of seeing a video or reading somewhere about an experiment when you speak life to the plant you can see it growing and when you curse it dies up eventually. Just for few days I tried speaking life to those plants while I watered them for a short while I was amazed to see the major difference all the dried ones could see new life and growth. I just wanted to try whether the experiment was true or false was eventually able to see significant difference. That reminded me of how many times we personally would have experienced in our life. When we are with few people, how energised and charged with few people cos of their kind, appreciative, motivating words enlightening us, empowering us, even a failure person it gives the motivation that you can achieve big things. However there are few people when we meet them they drain out the energy completely from us by their words. Whenever we meet them we feel hurt if their words they speak they demotivate a person who can achieve and do great things can also become a person who can’t do anything just listening to them. How many times we have been a person who always motivates and speak life to other people’s lives or how many times we become the people who hurt our loved ones by our words and being a demotivating person for many lives. It’s time to think and be surrounded with people who can speak life into our lives and not the ones who drains and demotivates us and be the person who can speak life to other peoples life and not demotivating them.