Abi, Ajay.gang, Akhila, akshayaK, alan.fly, alfredo, AlpaD, anila, Aparajita, archanaR, Ashika, ayeshaB,
Beena, Bernadette, biancaP, biniS, Bosco,
candiceC, carenF, carissa, carl, charmaineD, chitraP, chong, claudette, clydeG,
deepaSom, Derek.sonia, deven, dishaK,
farinaz, francisDM,
geetaC, giselleL, Glenda,
Insia, Jasmine, joey, Johncie, judeA, Jyotsna,
Kaneenica, Kanica, kashu, kavithaM, kenrick, kezzy, kevin, Kiran,
Latika, loo.,
manasviS, Manuja, mariaB, , Mariette, marisaM, Mayuri, meganD, melanie, Mishka, merle,
Namita, nanditaM, nanditaSethu, namrataS, Nanda, nayana, Nidhie, NimishaB,
Oleen, Oovi,
Parinaz, PayalS, pervinC, poonamB, Preethi, priyankaR, priyankaS,
rakheeP, rebeccaDL, Reema, renny, rheaC, roannaB,
saahil, sanjanaM, SaradaB, sharmisthaC, shalmaliK, shetalS, ShivangiParikh, shivaniS, Shonali, shriyaC, ShrutiA, simon, snehaT, Sohini, soniaJ, sophiaJ, sujataS, supriyaC, Suragini,
TanyaM, Thaiza, Tonydias,
urvijaaG, Vabriena, vanithaK, Varsha,Valerie, vibhaK, vijayG, vinitaB, vrushaliK, Yaks,
Zaitoon, zaver, zeniaA, Zomie
My new room in the Fathers’ Quarters is ready and I have shifted there already. It is a quaint room in the older part of the building and has a heritage wooden floor and a quite heritage wooden this-way-that-way multi-sloping ceiling. All the furniture is quite heritage too. All of this makes me fit in quite comfortably considering that just now I am one of the older fathers in the community!!
After the news about my leaving the hostel went public I have been getting a number of mails congratulating me and wishing me a happy retirement!
Jesuits only retire when they are buried… so I thought I would clarify things a bit.
That last mail of mine was not about “moving away” but about “moving on”.. and I like the positive flavour that has about it. It is always nice to be moving on….
More about that in what follows…..
It’s lonely out there oftentimes
long distances yet longer run
through less traversed new wooded paths
light shadow patterns ever change
dreams silently quick pace pursued
ne’er fully sure what lies ahead.
And yet the will to run, run on
committed to the dream once had
assurance known, fulfilment hoped
attained with steadfast effort made.
Much easier to stop and say:
“Enough! I’ve had enough!” Return
to old familiar paths devoid
of charm and challenge, wreck debris
already lived, now safer lives.
Sunrise, sunset day after day
the yet again but safe routine
through second-handed bygone dreams.
The challenge is to run, run on
new paths discover, newer scenes
to newer quests, horizons reached
beyond horizons distant seen
an invitation yet beyond
with joy accepted, hope pursued
fleet footed spirit winged soul
to soarings trans-ethereal.
Quite suddenly the bridge is crossed
and one arrives to joy surprise
unchartered heavens way beyond
to stars no mortal eyes can see.
Behind a journey much enjoyed
ahead the skies and so much more
of life and wonders yet to be.
So I will run, run on till life
and breath still run run on in me…..
terryq: 2003
I must admit that the breathing gets a bit heavier and the running gets a little slower as one grows older… but run on I will….
And if one considers this running metaphorically, as it is meant to be, then one can run all the way from the hostel to the Father’s quarters and to wherever horizons beyond.
New FYJC admissions are over and there are fresh and enthusiastic additions to my activities here.
Meanwhile went through (actually still going through) a bad patch of fever/body-ache/throat inflammation and related things over the last ten days. Viral fever? Feel better but not yet on top of things….The restful weekend should help…
More run run ons in life to you as well! And it is good that we bump into each other and run run along together every once in a while even as we differently run run on wonderful distances to exciting destinations.
Take care. Lots of love, Terry