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.

Industrial Visit

This incident which happened during our college which we will never forget. Hope none of our college students will forget this. Forgot whether its first year or second year. We have been scheduled for an industrial visit in our college to Ennore. I was studying in Sathyabama Engg college. The college is known for its strict rules and regulations most of us would be aware of. When we studied it was part of the madras university and it was one among the top 2-3 college across the city. Though the college is very strict I also don’t study much but I always remain disciplined I had never ever bunked a class or taken even a single day holiday during those days. It was so planned to have an industrial visit for the entire batch of us from our department to visit the Ennore thermal plant. There were 2 buses arranged one bus with entire girls gang and the few very studious guys in the bus. The other with all the boys of the class in the bus. As we started the bus as soon as we exited out of the campus all the boys were so hyped and everyone was shouting and having a lot of fun in the bus. As we started our journey from Sholinganallur towards Ennore, suddenly what happened one or 2 guys from the bus started to plan to get down from the bus and go somewhere else. As soon as they got down every signal another bunch of guys planned something and got down either movie or hanging out or to malls each of the bunch got down with different agenda. Before we came near adyar almost the entire bus was empty hardly with 2 or three left. That time I don't know what was running on my mind even I got down with another 2 or 3 boys down the bus. We didn't do anything we just went each to our homes. I have never bunked a single class till that time in college don't know why I did that that too on our visit to industrial visit. We all didn't know what happened after that and we all went normal to our college next day. To our surprise our HOD has reported this incident to the director of college and the entire boys who all got down were given the office duty. Office duty is nothing but if anyone follow the rules or didn't do what they supposed to do they have to be standing in front of the office. As we all were standing then only we all came to know when the bus we all went and reached the location there was none in the bus when the staff who was sitting in the bus turned back to see he was so surprised. Director of college have instructed all our students to bring their parents to college to meet the director in person. That incident is so unforgettable we all bought our parents, now all our parents it was a nice opportunity for them to meet all their kids friends and even their parents. Though it was a very funny moment whenever we think of it we will always laugh. But that incident reminds me to think it from a different perspective. Though I had never taken leave to college even a single day unnecessarily though it was a fun trip to enjoy though educational when everyone started doing it we got carried away. There were lot of guys even very studious guys not like me also got down from the bus and they had to bring their parents. It’s a reminder to see are we getting carried away by seeing the crowd though we have our principles though we stand a lot to do right things we can be easily carried away when we want to be included and are not willing to be differentiated from the crowd. Though we may be that 1 or that 1% who didn't want to go with the crowd, are we willing to letgo of wanting to be included in the crowd compromising ourselves and our principles or standing out from the rest.

Chicken Floss Bun

When I went to Srilanka for the first time with Avinash when Caleb was working there, he took us to Bread talk. He gave too much of hype stating the chicken floss bun there would be tasting so good and it’s a must try. I felt he is giving too much hype, as we know he is used to do that for everything so we can't trust him. Anways with a little doubt we went to that place. To the surprise it was tasting really good. I fallen for that food, can't explain it properly how tasty that food is. The buns will be so soft and inside it will have kind of cream cheese filling and in the top of the buns it will be layered with Chicken floss. Those chicken floss looks like cotton candy that’s how those chicken would be done and topped. When you bite, the soft bun, the cream cheese and the cotton candy kind of chicken all together in the mouth altogether gave a different experience. I loved that, had couple more again the same day. Think we came again to the same place before we left. Also When I went twice to that place later once for Toastmasters conference and other time with family when Caleb was there went both the times to taste that lovely Chicken floss Bun. After I started the business its been more than 5 years have stepped outside the country. Last year decided to go to Srilanka with Dev as it has been more than 5 years without any travel outside India. I was giving so much hype to Dev and as soon as we landed we went straight to Bread talk. To our surprise and disappointment they said there is a lot of delay in getting those shipped from Singapore these days. After Covid and also after that Srilanka eeconomic crisis. I immediately asked them whether it will come in the next couple of days, they said no it will take minimum of 20 days for it to be shipped from Singapore. I was totally disappointed as soon as the start of the journey. Though we had good time exploring all the places and tried different food. But disappointment to the fact that expectation wasn't fulfilled after a wait of 5 years and not getting the one which I so longed to have was a scar at that moment. Have experienced the same in most of the times, though we have lot of really great moments to enjoy and cherish. Without enjoying and cherishing those moments we get disappointed cos of expecting something and that not happening in our lives. Our lives become more enjoyable with lot of cherishing moments when we least expect anything or from anyone and enjoying every little little moments and people God has blessed us with.

Oil Spill

When I used to work in HCL BPO, I used to be working in all the shifts. I worked in almost every shift under the sun. The one worst shift which I used to work is the graveyard 3am shift. During those time I used to be driving my YAMAHA RX135 to office. I used to be very rash driving at that time. I never wore helmets. Probably the few hair which I had lost also cos of that. During those morning shift timings I used to wake up only at 2.30 get ready by 2.55. Exactly at 2.55pm I start from Velachery and within 5 mins I will be in Greams Road, That’s how rashly I used to drive. When I reach office all the little hair I had will be spiked up. I easily drive between 80 to 110kms/hour during those days without any helmets. Though I rashly drive, I had a very good control over bike. I never fell down riding rashly. I used to cut between two cars in just a fraction of second and just fly away. Now when I drive the car only I know how painful that is when driving car seeing those kind of bikers. Though I used to drive so rashly I never met with accident or fell from bike. But I could remember this incident, where I was just driving at 20km/hour very very slowly in Tharamani road. Suddenly don't know what happened, my bike suddenly skid and I fell down from the bike. Nothing has happened to the bike, I had a small scratch on my fingers as few flesh part was torn I still have those scars. I couldn't get to know what happened, then only I realized there was a oil spill very less on that road that caused the tyres to skid. If at all I had seen someone in the front driving and falling or someone cautiously driving or if the oil was visible seen I would have avoided and this would never happened. If I could think of this incident only one thing comes to my mind. However efficient you are in driving, how effectively and fastly you can go. But there is a point in life we would not even know or think of a small oil spill. Which we might have not even considered it as something or we even un noticed but that could be a reason for us to fall. Though how great our driving can be a small oil spill can make us fall. How great we can be, how great we have achieved in our lives, we may think we will never fall of who we are and what we have accomplished and what we can do but we would not know any one small oil spill which we have unnoticed in our lives could be a reason for the great to fall like any other normal men.

Second Hand

When I was studying in first year college, my friend prince was studying in his School 12th Standard. At that time itself his dad has bought him an TVS Super XL Bike. Whatever he asked His dad will buy it for him cos he loves him so much and he is his everything. When he was about to go to college first year he asked for an Yamaha immediately his dad bought his bike for him. He used to well maintain his XL Super. As he is getting his Yamaha he was about to sell his TVS Super XL. At that time I pestered my mom and asked to buy that XL super bike from him. I never even thought about our financial condition, my dad was working in Saudi that time though we didn’t have much money. Paying my college fees itself was a challenge. Since I was interested my mom didn’t say any word she kept her jewelry and helped me to buy the TVS Super XL. I was so happy, I used to drive that XL super crazy. I used to drive like a super bike not even the racer bikes can't come near it that’s how rashly I used to drive that bike but well controlled driving. Days went by few months went by, one by one I started to face issues with the Excel super. Once the kicker went of, it wasn't working. Once the silencer went of, once the chain sprocket went off. I kept on servicing one by one. Though I kept on servicing to maintain it every time I used to spend 3k, 4k for every service. Though I had bought it for 10k, I would have spent more than 30 35k for the service. The bike was well maintained by prince when he was using it, not even a single issue. Also he left for proper service before even giving it to me. That’s when I realized, since I wanted something I didn’t even pray or wait and ask the Lord, I just wanted it and got it. Not even thinking a bit of family financial condition even wasn't thinking a bit of moms jewelry been kept, I wanted it I got it. Years went by it had come to a worse condition can't even ride properly sometimes. I always had a dream of getting the Yamaha from my childhood. I used to pray Lord I need that bike, fast forward after finishing college and after a wait for job for sometime. When I joined the job with the first month salary I just went and booked the Yamaha RX135 2 stroke of my dreams. The model which I took was similar to the Vintage RX100. As soon as I took and drive on roads everyone will ask how did you got this bike. How did you got it. As soon as I booked and it got delivered the manufacturing and the production of the Yamaha RX135 was stopped. I have never seen any bike of this model in the city. Not only that it was stopped for all the 2stroke bikes across the country. That’s when got reminded me, when you pray to me and wait on it I will make all your dreams come true beyond even your Imagination. After couple of years, when we were searching for houses to purchase. We have been looking for all the second hand houses. None of it was satisfactory for both mom and dad. Don’t know somehow God showed us a new single bedroom house and moved there. Though it was a single bedroom, I have lot of memories associated in that house, I still remember all our friends we used to just sleep in the balcony almost 6 of us will lie down and sleep in that small place. Little forward when we decided to look for a double bedroom after many years, I went on to search for all the second hand houses cos thinking that’s the only thing we can afford. But none of them our parents didn't like it, neither I liked it. We never had the peace at all. But suddenly mom when she went and asked the place near our house where a construction was going on. They updated its all sold out, but again when mom went and approached he said everything is available. We didn't have even a little amount. I can apply for Loan but didn't have any small amount to pay initial. The builder himself said I'll give agreement as you have paid the initials you can go ahead and apply for loan and give it to me once you received the loan. Who will do it for a person whom he has never met. Its was God's great favor. When we were looking for all the second hand houses, he gave the new one which we didn't even ask or search for. After couple of years worked in Wipro, after I learned car driving I was so interested in getting car. At that time all my friends had second hand car. I have one bad habit if its not mine, I wont use something if its not mine. All my friends used to ask me to drive their car but I never would have driven. I wanted to drive my car. I made up all my mind to buy second hand car. Went and checked for few Maruti Zen. I Liked it whenever I liked and was about to buy, I could see something or the other would stopping me from proceeding further. It happens once I liked the car so much, it was a fancy number as well. And the owner was so kind and he said you take I don't know I feel like I need to give it to you. You take it now and you go and pay the advance. I was so so tempted to go for it, but some how felt it was stopped. I felt God was saying me not to go for the seconds. I decided to stop proceeding further and wait till I get my own new car. It took many years of wait, but I got an opportunity with Zero down payment I took the Honda City in 2014. Its still with me, have lot of memories attached to it. If I look back and think, I could only see God's Hand is in it. I would always used to feel when we give the choices to Him, He always gives us the first Best in our lives. But at the same time, when we go behind things based on what we want its always the second best it can never be the best of what God has indented in our lives. It’s a reminder for me to check over the years have I forgotten what my God has done and given always the first best in my life, Have I drifted away from my faith and waiting on the Lord to get the first best in my life and settling down for some second best or even last worst in my life.

Morning Drive

Today I took my car for a drive in the morning. People in chennai will know how the weather during summer. We can’t even travel due to excess heat. It’s been so hot for the last couple of weeks. Even with AC’s running we can still feel the heat. But today it was exact opposite as it has rained in the early morning. It was so soothing to enjoy the ride listening to some nice songs. It’s a quick reminder for me however the weather may be, what ever the season may be still it can be changed in a flash of second if God intervenes. We may be going through situations it may look like the long summer nothing pleasant in our lives. But inspite of the situation and circumstance we all know rain is not possible in that season but still God can bring about a rain in our lives that can change any situation that’s not possible or practically nothing can be done. God can bring that needed breakthrough in our lives in unexpected way where every eye can see as we enjoy and be delighted in that unthinkable miracles in our lives.