WELCOME 2025

 

          WELCOME 2025

Today (December 31) is the last day of the year 2024. The new year 2025 starts from tomorrow. Let us welcome it with great hopes and expectations in favour of not only humanity but also all living beings and flora and fauna.

May the earth become more beautiful, the sun, the moon and the stars more brilliant and the seasons more fruitful and pleasant.

The population of the world is rising and so is the requirement of goods and chattels. Good health for all is the foremost expectation because health, not wealth,is the basis of happy life. May there be no pandemic like Covid-19.

There are other undesirable factors with which the world becomes ugly and uncomfortable year in year out. May those factors find no place in the new year.  

The English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) wrote a poem ‘Ring Out, Wild Bells’ which uses the metaphor of ringing bells to “ring out” negatives of the old year like grief, injustice, and war, and “ring in “ideals for the new year like love, truth and peace.  Some stanzas of this poem are quoted  below each one of which “lists another aspect of society or human condition that the poet wants to remove or improve upon as the new year begins.”

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light:

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out wild bells, and let him die.

                        …

Ring out the grief that saps the mind

For those that here we see no more;

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

 

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,

Ring out the growing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

                        ---

                        Finally, this short quote : Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.

                                                *****

G.R.Kanwal

31 December 2024

 

  

  

 

 

             

 

BE HONEST, AND FEAR NOT

 

          BE HONEST, AND FEAR NOT

Honest people are defined as upright, honourable, moral, ethical, principled, righteous. right-minded, virtuous, good, worthy, decent, law-abiding, high-minded, upstanding, just, fair, incorruptible, truthful, true, trustworthy, reliable, dependable, loyal, faithful, sincere, candid, frank, genuine, out-spoken, , impartial, disinterested and unbiased.

The English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) considers  an honest man  the noblest work of God. The English playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) says that to be honest, as the world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.

Shakespeare also says in the play Henry VIII :“Corruption wins not more than honesty. No legacy is so rich as honesty is also his statement. According to the English statesman Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618) : It would be an unspeakable advantage, both to the public and private, if men would consider that great truth, that no man is wise or safe, but he that is honest.

French statesman Honore Gabriel Mirabeau (1749-91) had this to say: If honesty did not exist, we ought to invent it as the best means of getting rich.

Some of the causes of dishonesty are the motive to avoid punishment, to protect oneself from harm, to maintain one’s privacy, or to protect oneself  from retaliation

Dishonesty is widespread in the world. Almost every human being is dishonest to some extent. The least dishonest are those who are God-fearing and believe in the theory of Karma which states that a person’s actions in this life have consequences in the next life.

Finally, this quote: Prefer a loss to a dishonest gain; the one brings pain at the moment, the other for all time.

                                                ********

G.R.Kanwal

30 December 2024

 

 

HUMILITY IS POWER

 

HUMILITY IS POWER

Humility sounds like weakness but it is not so. It is power. It is a divine virtue. It is the antonym of arrogance which can never become unassailable. It looks odd that man who is a mere handful of dust should boast, brag and act egotistically.

An arrogant person behaves lordly, imperiously, disdainfully, blusteringly and overbearingly. He remains far from God who is Almighty but not boastful. He is gentle and merciful.

Humility is a virtue, whereas arrogance is a vice. Humility makes a right estimate of itself; arrogance over-estimates itself.

Look at the following thoughts on humility.

*There is but one road to lead us to God ---humility; all other ways would only lead astray, even were they fenced in with all virtues. ----French critic Nicolas  Boileau (1636-1711).

* It is from out of the depths of our humility that the height of our destiny looks grandest. Let me truly feel that in myself I am nothing, and at once, through every inlet of my soul, God comes in, and is everything in me. ---English clergy, William Mountford (1816-1885).

*God walks with the humble; he reveals himself to the lowly; he gives understanding to the little ones; he discloses His meaning to pure minds, but hides His grace from the curious and the proud. ---German-Dutch Catholic Monk and Theologian Thomas a Kempis       (1380-1471).

*Humility is the solid foundation of all the virtues. ---Chinese philosopher and political scientist (551 BCE-479 BCE).

*The beloved of the Almighty are the rich who have the humility of the poor, and the poor who have the magnanimity of the rich. ---Persian poet Sheikh Saadi  Shirazi (Born 1210--?)

            Finally, this famous quote: True humility is intelligent self-respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves.

 

                                                                        ********

G.R.Kanwal

29 December 2024  

   

 

 

 

           

 

FROM ‘THE WAY OF ALL FLESH’

 

FROM ‘THE WAY OF ALL FLESH’ 

“The Way of All Flesh” is a novel written by Samuel Butler (1835-1902). He is the author of another satirical utopian novel “Erewhon”. The spellings of this word  can be rearranged to mean “Nowhere”.

The first one is a semi-autobiographical novel which celebrates “the ability of humanity to overcome both external and internal threats to the realization of its highest personal and social identities.”

It begins with the life of John Pontifex, a carpenter, and traces four generations of the Pontifex family,  “each of which perpetuates the frustration and unhappiness of its predecessor largely as a result of parental repression.” Only Ernest Pontifex, the great-grandson of John Pontifex succeeds in breaking the cycle.

The short extracts which are given below are taken from the novel because of their social and religious values.

*All animals except man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it, and they do enjoy it as much as man and other circumstances will allow.

*There are two classes of people in this world --- those who sin, and those who are sinned against; if a man must belong to either, he had better belong to the first than to the second.

*The limits of vice and virtue are wretchedly ill-defined. Half the vices which the world condemns most loudly have seeds of goodness in them and require moderate use rather than total abstinence.

*It is cheaper to buy milk than to keep a cow.

*The flesh has its own mind and desires. If a believer doesn’t crucify the flesh and keep it under control, it will eventually manifest those evil desires.

            What Butler wants to tell his readers is that the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law, indeed it cannot.”  

*******       

G.R.Kanwal

28 December 2024

 

           

 

BE A GODLY MAN

 

          BE A GODLY MAN

“God” is defined as the being or spirit that is worshipped and is believed to have created the universe.

God has all the imaginable qualities. A few of them mention Him as omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, immutable,  holy,  just, faithful. wise, loving and merciful.

He is worshipped by one and all because all existence depends upon Him for its survival. Some of the quotes relating to Him are:

*He is a circle whose centre is everywhere, and its circumference nowhere. ---Empedocles, Greek philosopher (490-450 B.C.).

*The very word “God “suggests care, kindness, goodness; and the idea of God in his infinity, is infinite care, infinite kindness, infinite goodness. ---We give God the name of good : It is only by shortening it that it becomes God.---H.W.Beecher, American clergyman (1813-1887).

*It is impossible to govern the world without God. He must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligation. ---George Washington, American President (1732-99).

*God governs the world, and we have only to do our duty wisely, and leave the issue to him.---John Jay , US Chief Justice (1745-1829).

*There is a God in science, a God in history, and a God in conscience, and these three are one. ---Joseph Cook, American lecturer (1838-1901).

*I fear God, and next to God I chiefly fear him who fears him not.---Sheikh Saadi, Persian poet, (born 1210).

* God should be object of all our desires, the end of all our actions, and the governing power of our whole souls. ---Massillon Jean Baptiste (1663-1742).

                        Finally, what the Greek philosopher Plato (born 428/427 BCE-died 348/347 BCE)  said:  To escape from we must be made, as far as possible, like God; and this resemblance consists In becoming just, and holy, and wise.

                                                            ********

G.R.Kanwal

26 December 2024       

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

                  

 

POVERTY

 

          POVERTY   

“Poverty” is defined as state or condition in which an individual lacks the financial resources and essentials for a basic standard of living.

There are different levels of poverty like: Absolute poverty, Relative poverty situational poverty, generational poverty, rural poverty and urban poverty.

According to the World Bank : poverty is a lack of income to meet basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter.

Poverty is also defined as a lack of well-being, or a lack of capabilities to function in society.

Extreme poverty is defined as a condition related to severe deprivation of food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information.

Religiously, poverty is due to self-denial.

The main responsibility for reducing poverty is of the governments in power. They must recognize the causes of poverty in their countries and adopt the best and swiftest methods to abolish poverty.

Poverty is not God-given; it is man-made . Man’s greed and wrong  economic policies are responsible for several types of poverty.

The Greek philosopher and historian Plutarch (born in the 1st century CE) said “Poverty is not dishonourable in itself, but only when it comes from idleness, intemperance, extravagance, and folly.

According to the English clergy Caleb C. Colton (1780 -1832) : “In proportion as nations get more corrupt, more disgrace will attach to poverty, and more respect to wealth. There are two questions that would completely reverse this order of things: “What keeps some persons poor? And what has made some others rich? ” The true answer to these queries would often make the poor man more proud of his poverty than the rich man is of his wealth, and the rich man more justly ashamed of his wealth, than the poor man unjustly is of his poverty.    

Finally, this quote: He is not poor that has little, but he that desires much. ---English poet Samuel Daniel  (1562-1619).

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

25 December 2024

 

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH

 

THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH  

“The Village Blacksmith” is an inspirational poem written by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 -1882).

A biographical  note says that he was one of the Fireside poets and is remembered for his place in the Romantic tradition. “Paul Revere’s Ride” which is a narrative, fictional account of the beginning of the Revolutionary War is considered his best work.

Another poem for which he is very popular is “A Psalm of Life” where he says:

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,

Life is but an empty dream!

For the soul is dead that slumbers,

And things are not what they seem.

 

Life is real! Life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal:

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul.

 

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,

Is our destined end or way;

But to act so that each tomorrow may

find us farther than today.

 

In “The Village Blacksmith” he talks about the hard work which shapes our life.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,

You can hear him swing his heavy sledge

With a measured beat and slow,

Like a sexton ringing the village bell,

When the evenining sun is low.

                                    …….

And children coming home from school

Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

Like chaff from a threshing floor.

 

The Blacksmith goes to the Church on Sunday;  hears the parson pray and preach, also hears his daughter’s voice which sounds to him like her mother’s voice.

The poem ends with the following two stanzas a spiritual and philosophical touch.

Toiling, -rejoicing –sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees its close;

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night’s repose.

 

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,

For the lesson thou hast taught!

Thus at the flaming forge of life

Our fortunes must be wrought;

Thus on its sounding anvil shaped

Each burning deed and thought!

                                                            ********  

 

G.R.Kanwal

24 December 2024

SOME BIBLICAL EXPRESSIONS

 

SOME BIBLICAL EXPRESSIONS

The Bible is a holy book of the Christian religion, consisting of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Old Testament is the first part of the book that tells “the history of the Jews, their beliefs and their relationship with God before the birth of Lord Christ. “

The New Testament is the second part of the Bible that describes the life and teachings of Lord Jesus Christ.

The phrase Biblical expressions means words. phrases, idioms and metaphors which are used by the readers of the Bible in their speeches and writings. They are very impressive aesthetically, morally and emotionally and are quotable in many practical situations of life. Their acceptance is almost universal .  

Here are some selections : :

*He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

*Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

*Refrain your tongue from backbiting.

*Give us this day our daily bread.

*Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

*A living dog is better than a dead lion.

*For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

*Fight the good fight of faith.

*Fathers, forgive them ; for they know not what they do,

*Judge not, that ye be not judged,

*Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

*You cannot serve God and mammon.

*No man can serve two masters.

*Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

*He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it.

*Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonor.

*Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they are withered.

*A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

                                    *********     

G.R.Kanwal 

23 December 2024

 

 

 

 

TENDERNESS

 

                   TENDERNESS  

Tenderness has more than one meaning.  Whereas religiously it is a virtue, medically it is physical weakness. A tender part of one’s body is uncomfortable and painful. But tender-heartedness in normal human beings is an admirable quality. It relieves the pain of others and wins their love and gratitude.  

            Dictionaries define tenderness as softness, delicacy, sensitivity, sympathy, gentleness, kindness, compassion, generosity, benevolence, humaneness, etc.

            Children want tender-hearted parents, students tender-hearted teachers, employees tender-hearted masters and criminals tender-hearted legal authorities.

            Strictness appeals to minds; tenderness to hearts. Humans as also birds and beasts expect tenderness from those before whom they appear as offenders.  

            It is better to reform defaulters than to break them .God pardons wicked people innumerable times. He allows sinners to become saints better late than never.

            The English novelist Henry Fielding (1707-1754) who was also a magistrate wrote: A tender-hearted and compassionate disposition, which inclines men to pity and feel for the misfortunes of others, and which is, even for its own sake, incapable of involving any man in ruin and misery, is of all tempers of mind the most amiable; and though it seldom receives much honour, is worthy of the highest.”

            According to William Morley Punshon (1824-1881), an English Nonconformist:  Speak the truth by all means; be bold and fearless in your rebuke of error, and in your keener rebuke of wrong doing; but be human, and loving, and gentle, and brotherly the while.

            It will not be wrong to say that a person’s tenderness shows his faith in the philosophy of non-violence.

            Finally, this quote: Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution.

                                                *********

G.R.Kanwal

22 December 2024

 

 

 

RIVALRY

 

          RIVALRY  

Rivalry is defined as competition between two or more  persons or groups of persons having identical aims.

Healthy rivalry should have no conflict. Unfortunately, it is not so. History shows that rivalry often takes the shape of antagonism, conflict, fight, jealousy, strife and hostile contests.

Friendly co-operation rather than bitter competition should be the main  approach,  especially by social groups and political parties.

It is painful to see political associations and their individual members  adopting all sorts of unfair, even violent means, to achieve their selfish  goals.  

Unhealthy rivalry can cause hatred, disunity, caste-ism, communalism and other ugly relationships in a country.  It can spoil its systems of peaceful co-existence not only short-term but also for long times to come.

The English writer John Ruskin (1819-1900) said: Nothing is ever done beautifully which is done in rivalship; or nobly. which is done in pride.

  In modern times, there is a lot of rivalry among several countries in the field of business, education, industry, means of communication ,manufacturing of arms, etc.  

The results of modern rivalry are several global conflicts about  economic, political and religious matters.

Small and medium scale wars are taking place , killing millions of people including  innocent chilldren. The destruction of schools, colleges, hospitals , religious and welfare  places  is terribly vast.

Unfortunately, there are no international peace-makers  to reverse the trend  of  rivalry into that of co-operation and co-existence.

Finally, this significantquote: Competition is great. And as long as it’s friendly and not a malicious thing, then I think it’s cool. ----Janet Jackson, American songwriter.

                                                *********

G.R.Kanwal

21 December 2024

 

              

           

GENEROSITY IS A VIRTUE

 

          GENEROSITY IS A VIRTUE 

Most of the religions provide lists of virtues and vices. If you look at them even casually,  you will find generosity as one of the cardinal virtues.

God is mentioned  everywhere as most generous. He has created this vast world so generously that nothing seems to be lacking. There is an infinite diversity and so plentiful adequacy that all humans and non-humans get in good measure what they need.

God is unselfish but man is not. Generous persons are few and far between. Most of the  men and women who have enough and to spare are close-fisted. They are not ready to share their possessions with the needy.

Somebody has rightly said: Generosity is the quality of being kind, understanding, and willing to give time, money, or other necessaries to people in need.

For example, think of distributions of blankets among the needy in severe winter; of food among the hungry in all seasons; of donation of blood for the sick now and then ; and of setting up water spots for the thirsty in harsh summer. But let not these acts of generosity and many more of other kinds stop or decrease. Contrarily, they should be multiplied with greater frequency.

The Irish writer Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) said: True generosity is a duty as indispensably necessary as those imposed on us by law.—It is a rule imposed by reason, which should be the sovereign law of a rational being. He also  adds: True generosity does not consist in obeying every impulse of humanity, in following blind passion for our guide, and impairing our circumstances by present benefactions, so as to render us incapable of future ones.

According to the English poet-playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) : It is not enough to help the feeble up, but to support him after.

To conclude, this short but admirable quote: Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

20 December 2024   

 

MERCY IS ENDLESS

 

          MERCY IS ENDLESS     

          Many saints, seers, sages, poets and religious philosophers believe that the world is a prison.

There are also such thinkers as regard  the body a temporal prison and the imperishable soul a time-bound prisoner therein.

The body is punished through different ways because  people commit several lapses, crimes and sins and ultimately seek for mercy.

The amazing fact is that if people get mercy once, they do not give up their addiction to aberrations  and repeat their evil deeds for which their prayers for forgiveness  accepted and mercy was  granted.

Some  metaphysical poets have applied their minds to the question of granting mercy again and again to the sinner. The only condition for him is that he should reach the stage of irrevocable sinlessness.

The Persian metaphysical  poet Jalaluddin Rumi (1207-1273) says to every chronic sinner:

“Come, come, whoever you are,

Wanderer, the worshipper. Lover of leaving

This is not a caravan of despair.

It does not matter that you have broken your vow

A thousand times, still come, and yet again come.”

 

  .Finally, have another view about mercy by the great English -poet playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616). He says in a sonnet:

 

The quality of mercy is not straine’d,

It droppeth like the gentle rain from heave,

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power;

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;

But mercy is above the sceptred sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself,

An earthly power doth then show likest God’s

When mercy seasons justice.

                                                                        *****

G.R.Kanwal

19^th December 2024

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A POET’S PRAYER

 

          A POET’S  PRAYER

Prayers are addressed to God. They are expressions of gratitude as well as requests for grant of some favours and gifts.

Sick people, poor people, unemployed people, unhappy people and all those people who are needy in one way or the other pray to God for His help. Though totally personalized, their prayers are also worth listening . They should be accepted by God who is All-powerful and uniquely sympathetic creator of this universe.   

            There are also some unselfish community prayers which are found in religious books.

It is worth mentioning  that most of the prayers in the whole world  are in poetry. They have been repeated ever since they were composed and shall be repeated for centuries to come.

            Given below is a prayerful poem written by the Indian poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher and social reformer Shri Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) who was awarded The Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;

Where knowledge is free ;       

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls :

Where words come out from the depth of truth ;

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection ;

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit ;

Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action---

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awak.

                                                *******

G.R.Kanwal

18 December 2024

                                                           

 

PAIN

 

PAIN 

‘Pain’ has several meanings. Some of them are : suffering, discomfort, torment, torture, agony and affliction. Some more which may be added with different meanings are : labour, exertion, struggle, strain, trouble, effort and care. Still more with medical terminology are: ache, pang, swelling, agony, soreness and hurt.

One common antonym of pain is pleasure. Others like ease, comfort, relief, relaxation and pleasure may be added appropriately.

There are many idioms, phrases and sentences, with the word pain; for example : no pain, no gain; be at pains to do something; a pain in the neck; that naughty child is a pain; it pained him to get rid of  his old friend.

The Hindu religious teacher Lord Gautama Buddha said : Pain is the outcome of sin.

According to the English clergy Caleb C. Colton (1780-1832) :  Pain may be said to follow pleasure, as its shadow; but the misfortune is, that the substance belongs to the shadow, and the emptiness to its cause.

The Irish novelist Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) said : Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other; and he only who knows how to accommodate himself to their returns, and can wisely extract the good from the evil, knows how to live.

There are at least four types of pain –physical, mental, neuropathic and emotional. They may be mild, acute, localized and  chronic. Their sufferers are all over world. In fact, the world began with pain and will probably end with pain. Today pain remedies are in maximum demand all over the world.

Some poets and philosophers advise that the sufferers should depend more upon their psychological approach to liberate  themselves from pain  than to swallow medicines or apply pain killer gels.

Finally, these words of the American novelist Earnest Hemingway (1899-1961): Life is pain, so live it while you can.

                                    ********

G.R.Kanwal

17 December 2024    

 

         

 

PRAYER

 

PRAYER

Prayer is defined as words that one says to God giving thanks or asking for help. In religion, there may be a fixed form of words that one can say when one speaks to God.

All religions have a good number of prayers which are addressed to God by individuals or groups of devotees.

True prayers should be offering of gratitude to God. Regrettably enough it is not so in many cases. People seek some relief, benefit or favour from God in their prayers and hope that He will grant it to them.

Some common synonyms of prayer are ----asking, beseeching, imploring, entreating, supplicating, requesting and appealing.

Such prayers as praise God and offer Him thanks for giving us worldly life with all its goods and chattels are the best. They should always be there day and night, in both comfortable and uncomfortable circumstances.

To forget God in happy times and remember Him only in unfortunate hours is utter selfishness and lacks sincere gratitude.

The English poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) says: Many things are wrought by prayer than the world dreams of. What are men better than sheep or goats, that nourish a blind life within the brain., if, knowing God, they lift no hands of prayer both for themselves and those who call them friends !

According to The British clergy Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) : When we pray for any virtue, we should cultivate the virtue as well as pray for it; the form of your prayer should be rule of your life; every petition to God is a precept to man. Look not, therefore, upon your prayers as a method of good and salvation only, but as a perpetual mention of duty. By what we require of God we see what He requires of us.

Finally, this short but significant quote : Prayer is the inner bath of love into which the soul plunges itself.

                                                *******

 

G.R.Kanwal

16^th December 2024

 

 

   

PRAISE IS NECESSARY

 

          PRAISE IS NECESSARY  

Praise is expression of appreciation, approval, admiration, applause, devotion, or adoration.

The short answer to the question whether praise is necessary is “Yes”. It can have many positive effects on the person praised by you. It pleases him, motivates him, enhances his self-esteem, multiplies his productivity, improves his talents, strengthens his skills, and uplifts his enthusiasm for doing more admirable tasks for not only individuals but also for masses.

According to a saying in the Bible : “God dwells close to us when we praise Him and we are strengthened by His peace.

And one of the quotations on praise says: “For many of us, praise is an incredibly powerful motivator. It tells us whether we are succeeding or not and is also linked to self-worth. If it is sincere, it makes us feel good.”

Speaking with reference to children, the American writer Christian  Nestell (1820-1904 } said  : Words of praise, indeed, are almost as necessary to warm a child into a congenial life as acts of kindness and affection. Judicious praise is in children what the sun is in flowers.    

            Scottish economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790)  does not like unmerited praise. According to him they are the most frivolous and superficial of mankind, who can be much delighted with that praise which they themselves know to be altogether unmerited.

            Greek philosopher Socrates  (469-399 B.C.) is realistic  when he says:Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions, but those who kindly reprove the faults.

            Finally, this short but beautiful  quote: Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.  

                                                            *******

G.R.Kanwal

15 December 2024

 

ACT, ACT , IN THE LIVING PRESENT

 

 

                             ACT, ACT , IN THE LIVING PRESENT

 

“Time” has been classified into three stages ---- present, past and future. None of them is stationary. The present comes and in no time becomes past.  We cannot call it back. It becomes history. As regards, the time which is yet to come is called future. But it is unreliable. It may or may not come for you. You are living at the current moment. The next moment is a dream. You may not be there to see it and use it as per your advance planning.                                                   

 

            In her poem “NOW” , the English poetess and philanthropist A.A.Procter (1825-1964)  uses in each of the four stanzas of her  poem a line beginning with the word “Rise ! These lines are:

            Rise !  for the day is passing

                                    ****

            Rise from your dreams of the future

                                    ****

            Rise ! if the past detains you      

                                    ****

            Arise ! for the foe is here

 

            Her poem is inspirational. She wants to tell her readers:

 

“The Past and Future are nothing,

In the face of the stern today.

 

She believes that time has three dimensions ----- there is present which is in your hands “Now” .  This dimension of time is alive and real. It is available to you for realizing any dream. The past time being over has become dead. The future is like a dream which may or may not come. She does  pray that the future should come but advises you to:

Rise from your dreams of the Future,

Of gaining some hard fought field;

Of storming some airy fortress,

Or bidding some giant yield;

Your future has deeds of glory,

Of honour (God grant it may!}

But your arm will never be stronger,

Or the need so great as To=day.

 

She counsels you also against brooding over the past:

            Rise ! if the past detains you,

Her sunshine and storms forget;

No chains so unworthy to hold you

As those of a vain regret:

Sad or bright, she is lifeless ever;

Cast her phantom arms away,

Nor look back, save to learn the lesson

Of a nobler strife To-day.

 

Finally, these words of the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-182): “Trust no Future, however pleasant! Let the dead past bury its dead! Act,---Act in the living Present ! Heart within, and God overhead! -- ( From A Psalm Of Life). “

                                                                        *********

G.R.Kanwal

13 December 2024