Pilgrim's Ponderings

The Gospel of the Kingdom It’s no secret that this world and its systems leave us dissatisfied, stressed, worried, depressed, hurt and bitter. In fact there are a lot more negative adjectives that could be added on to this list if I took the time. The kingdom of this world runs much like how scientists espouse evolution ran – the survival of the fittest. In previous times fittest was defined by physical stature. In our times however the rules have changed and the fittest are now defined by intellectual and financial power. But the truth that streets of the kingdom of this world are strewn with people wallowing in poverty still remains. They are poor financially, emotionally, mentally or spiritually. They are seeking another kingdom, a different kind of kingdom. We know that the kingdom of heaven – the kingdom of God is vastly different from this kingdom of the world. We know that the rules of worth and survival and importance in that kingdom are not in any way similar to ours...

In the morning Lord I know Your grace, The sun reminds me of Your kindness. The falling dew speaks of Your love, It speaks of the freshness of Your love. You surround me with Your glory And fill my heart with worship. You saturate my mind with Your thoughts And cause my mouth to overflow with Your praise. In the morning Lord, I know Your peace Through the day I will enjoy Your presence. I will meditate on Your word and commands I will take confidence in Your promises I will walk in strength and obedience I will take refuge in You when I am unsteady And will wait on You to strengthen my hands. In the morning Lord, I know Your strength, For in You alone do I trust and in You I am made complete. - Sandeep Samuel Christian

If not for Your love O Lord Where would I be? But for Your grace O Lord I might have been a self-made man. But You planted my feet On Your unshakeable word. You have forgiven my wrong-doings According to Your unfailing love. You have hidden my life In Your undefeatable hands. If not for Your love O Lord Where would I be? But for Your grace O Lord I might have been a self-made man. - Sandeep Samuel Christian

(An anglicised version of a regular conversation between me and an auto driver) Me                          : Is your meter working? Driver                    : where do you want to go? Me                          : Vasant Kunj. Driver                   : Meter’s not working, it’ll cost 200rs. Me                         : No chance. Driver                   : ok, bye then...

We live in an imperfect world and no one will debate that. The only part of a newspaper that you can open without expecting bad news anymore is the comics section and even that seems to be filled with sarcasm and negativity at times. A walk down the road of my city or any city for that matter will show off the wide chasm that exists between the haves and the have nots of our world and to the especially prone ones a burden will be placed on our heart for the latter. I live in Delhi; polluted, brown, smoggy, dusty, crowded and always under construction Delhi. Sometimes (okay, many times) I wonder why life has to be so difficult and so tiresome and hurtful.  In the midst of all this dreariness and the cloud of the mundane that shrouds our society the moment I pick up my camera things change. The really gifted photographer’s eye you see has a remarkable ability to find beauty in almost all he sees. To him a walk down the street of a crowded marketplace might just lead to an ...