தமிழுக்கும் அமுதென்று பேர்...

தமிழுக்கும் அமுதென்று பேர்
அந்த தமிழ் இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள்
உயிருக்கு நேர்... உயிருக்கு நேர்... (தமிழுக்கும்)

தமிழுக்கு நிலவென்று பேர்
இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள் சமூகத்தின் விளைவுக்கு நீர்
தமிழுக்கு மணமென்று பேர்
இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள் வாழ்வுக்கு நிருமித்த ஊர்
தமிழுக்கு மதுவென்று பேர் (௨)
இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள் உரிமை செம்பயிருக்கு வேர்
பயிருக்கு வேர் (தமிழுக்கும்...)

தமிழ் எங்கள் இளமைக்கு பால்
ஆ ஆ ஆ.......
தமிழ் எங்கள் இளமைக்கு பால்
இன்பத்தமிழ் நல்ல புகழ் மிக்க
புலவர்க்கு வேல்... புலவர்க்கு வேல்
தமிழ் எங்கள் உயர்வுக்கு வான்
இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள் அசதிக்கு
சுடர் தந்த தேன்... சுடர் தந்த தேன் ( தமிழுக்கும்...)

தமிழ் எங்கள் அறிவுக்கு தோள்
இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள் கவிதைக்கு வைரத்தின் வாள்
வைரத்தின் வாள்
தமிழ் எங்கள் பிறவிக்கு தாய்
இன்பத்தமிழ் எங்கள் வளமிக்க உளமுறற தீ (௨) (தமிழுக்கும்...)

[பாரதி தாசன்; பி. சுஷீலா; பஞ்சவர்ணக்கிளி]

Kingdom of God and the Church...

Jesus came announcing the Kingdom of God: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." Mk 1:15. Some he invited to follow while others flocked around him. After his crucifiction the disciples came together. After the 'conversion' of Saul into Paul, he went around preaching Jesus and presented him with his Jewish background. The small communities to which he preached were called as churches with their own elders as leaders. In course of time, these and other commnities seemed to have recognized their similarities with regard to Jesus and thus they formed the 'Church.' In this 'great' passage the Kingdom was slowly ingnored to this day.

As long as the Church holds on to itself, the Kingdom won't be a reality here on this earth which was Jesus' dream. "...unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat." Jn 12:24. The church seems to explain it as an eschatological phenomenon and avoids its responsibility to die out to give birth to the kingdom. The church can't easily give up its powers and other parapharnalias. It conveniently forgets its founders words: "... the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mt 20:28.

The church is not radical, because it wants to carry on its own schemes and present itself rather than the kingdom. By this it somehow becomes an idol and even makes God and his words also an idol! Its liturgy, theology and the like helps its schemings and not the cause of the kingdom.

No one is perfect, just be what you are...

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots Had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and alwaysDelivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the House, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments,Perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot wasAshamed of its own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to Deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causesWater to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of myFlaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I Planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life. Don't forget to send this mail to all worthy people. [Again from Marto]