Driving with Bullock-Carts! A Poem

The  bullock  cart rocks  forward,   wheels lurch  over a  pot-hole,

While   a gleaming red  sportster purrs  throatily,  skimming  over

Ditches,  and  potholes  ready to take off as soon as  lights  turn

Green.  Both  bullock   cart   and  sportster  wait while dogs  dash

Around  chasing chickens clucking in  annoyance  and  distress!

The  light  turns  green,  and  sportster leaps  while the bullock cart

  Lurches  forward!  The motorcycles  vrooms, drivers  wave  at   the

Bullock Cart driver in triumph! Chickens scuttle, and dogs scamper

Lest  tails be crushed and egos hurt while all   dash forth in a  mad

Rush ere the lights turn red, and they miss the party on page three!

  Alas, the whole  troop of  sportster,   bullock  cart  and    Motorcycle

  Meet   again   at    the    next  red   light  simmering   with   rage,  as

  They  cool   their  heels,  waiting  for a  green signal! The sportster’s

  Driver   glares   at   the   bullock   cart  driver   and  the   Motorcycle

   Rider fumes  with impatience,  while  they  cook in the summer  heat!

Thus,  it   happens  that   Porsche,  Ducati,   and   Bullock   cart,

All share the same  road  with  Buffaloes,  Dogs,  and   Chicken.

They   all have  a  destination  in  mind,  and  they  all  move  at

The   same    pace!   Speed   doesn’t   matter, here,  it  is  what

The road allows!So take your time while the road takes you  on!

Remember  me  right, when you  drive  on  this  road  unique, do

Not  think  you can  beat  the   traffic  light!  Speeding will make it

Only  worse when you  are  caught up by  the bullock cart and he

Smiles  at  you while you  fume  with  frustration  and  anger!  You

Can only go as fast as the road allows you,and not just by speed!

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The importance of fasting in the Lent Season

The importance of fasting in the Lent season has been a most debated topic in recent times. In Ethiopia, where a large percentage of the population is made up of Coptic Christians, most of the people strictly adhere to a special menu during the Lent season. In a country which is mostly made up of meat eaters, no meat except for fish is served during the forty days of the Lent Season! My Hindu friends too keep fasts on specific days, although they would be allowed to eat only fruits during the day! I have known very close Christians who keep fasting prayers and  break their fast only in the evening! I am frequently reminded by my pastors, and some of the elders in my family that the Lent Season is not just about fasting, but a time when you try to overcome your weaknesses, don’t use harsh language, don’t do ill to others, and in general refrain from doing those things which are hurtful or harmful.

The tough regimen of fasting during the lent season, is not an end all, rather it is a way of trying to understand the significance of forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness prior to his being Crucified on the Cross! This period of fasting should be seen as a means of Spiritual Cleansing where we try to resist temptation. We might forego the things that we enjoy most, and perhaps be more humble, modest, and meek. The avoidance of a boisterous get-together,  avoidance of eating meat, and for those who are spiritually and physically strong, there would be fasting which would be broken only in the evenings. The concept of abnegation,  self-effacement, or self-negation,  well known in the Hindu society with some ascetics going to the extreme forms of self-deprivation in order to reach Moksh is however  different from the Christian concept of fasting during the Lent Season. This is because fasting during the Lent Season  is meant to prepare us for Mukti, or freedom from Carnal desires, temptations, and all those material things which would distract our minds from understanding the significance of  the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Cross, and the pain and suffering he underwent for our sake ! Fasting  also is a time for introspection, a time for coming closer to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! It is a time to develop empathy for those who suffer, those who are hungry, and most of all to understand the s suffering and pain that Jesus underwent as a human being for the forgiveness of our sins, and the redemption of all Mankind!

What is important during the Lent season, therefore  is not just about whether we are fasting or not, but rather it is a time for introspection and meditation, a time of looking within ourselves and trying to understand the significance of the sacrifice that Jesus had to undergo for our sake. Fasting and abstention should have the function or purpose of cleansing our minds of all the distractions so that we might prepare ourselves for meditation and introspection.

So, it is clear that it is not just enough to be fasting during the Lent season, but it is also important to keep our minds and souls clean from negativity, bad thoughts, and we should mind what we say to others, be very careful not to be spiteful and in bad taste! Moreover, fasting when undertaken as a duty or a forced regimen loses all its value. If you are not inclined to fast, and yet fast with ill-will and spitefulness then it is better not to fast at all.  The New Testament Book of Mathew, Chapter 4, verse 1 very clearly describes how, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil ”, and in verse 2 and 3 we are told how, “After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him…”. The Old Testament Book of Isaiah chapter 58 describes the meaning of “ True Fasting” and warns lest, according to the third verse, “your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists”! Furthermore   chapter 6, verse 16 in the book of Mathew clearly warns against hypocrisy while fasting. The 16th. verse reads, “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting.”

Technorati Tags: To Fast or not to Fast?

A Glossary of Philatelic Terms

A collector of stamps will come across some new terms related to Philately. I have tried to list some of these with examples. The term FDC or First Day Cover refers to an envelope carrying a stamp which shows a cancellation on the date on the date of issue. Often first-day day covers commemorate an event, or honours a famous personality, organisation, cultural event, scientific discovery…etc..

Given below is an example of a First Day Cover:

A Cachet refers to the design on the envelop which complements the design of the stamp. First Day Cover Envelops usually have a Cachet like the above example.
Pairs refer to sets of two stamps joined together.

A Triptych refers to a series of three se-tenant stamps as given below:

A quadripartite refers to  a block or strips of four stamps as given below:

A Souvenir refers to a small sheet with a set of stamps describing an event being commemorated:

Bisects refer to stamps cut or perforated into two parts, each half representing half the face value of the original stamp. In the example below, we have what is called a quadrisect. The group of stamps below also form a block , two vertical and two horizontal:

Commemorative Stamps refer to stamps printed in limited quantities to commemorate an anniversary, a historical event, or a landmark.
                                                                        

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A field of flowers-A poem

A host of flowers stretches down the horizon,

With pinks, whites, and reds,and yellows fair!

The senses reel with scents so rich in the air!

Nodding,  smiling  and  waving in  the  wind,

They  promise  a  life  awash  with fulfilment!

A  feast rich  for  those  who  pause  to  rest!

The  cup which overfills  with  nectar  sweet,

Calls  to  them  to take a sip,that they might

Find a  bountiful life filled with joy ‘n’ grace!

While  some sip from  the red  cup,  others

Sip  from the  yellow, while  some  sip  from

The  pink cup. All satiated  lie  intoxicated!

The butterflies dance , the bees buzz, and  birds

Sing!  The whole  world  feasts. The table’s  laid,

A  treat  aplenty, for  those who   deign to tarry!
 

The scent of bergamot and cinnamon sharp,

Entwine  with the  scent of  Jasmine smooth,

To   send   sweet   dreams   to  tired  minds!

While  flowers  bloom,  and  dreams  realise,

A  wish fulfilled, and  victory  near, of  lovers

Won and babies born! The world celebrates

Of  birth  and  joy!  And  you and I sing aloud!

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Vortex

That  year the roar of  the Lion of Judah was lost forever,

In  its place came the rumble of despots of different kind,

Who  unleashed  the dogs  of war on an innocent people

Of a nation suffering from famine. “The  Revolution,” they

Said, “was because of the Famine,” but famines still exist!

While  Terror Red roamed the streets,  like    vultures    ready,

The   Mothers   hushed  their wailing children, lest the Dergue

Should   hear  and  break   open  the doors!  The   Walls  had

Ears,  and you   watched  your  tongue,  lest  they heard  you!

The   young,   hearing    motherland   call,  joined  the    militia,

To   train with  wooden sticks for  guns! They punched the  air,

And  cheered  aloud, and  went to  fight  a  battle  never  won,

While Despots  ruled a Nation suffering  from famine ‘n’ shame!

While   the nation   suffered  from  further war   and   draught,

The despot   collected gold and silver!  The nation shivered in

Greater    fear,   as   E.P.L.F.  and  T.L.F.  further   advanced,

And   Migs    poured   napalm,   while   hungry children wailed!

For  I sing  a song of  all  those  lost,  in  a  reign  of  fifteen

Years,  of  terror  and madness  sheer! For,  after the reign

Of  lions, came  Hyenas  and despots    who unleashed  the

Dogs  of war on  the  innocent  suffering  from famine harsh!

And so is my song of a Nation of milk and honey, of emperors

Great, sucked  into a vortex of pain and  suffering,  as despots

Collected  gold and  Silver.  For  such  was the  reign of  terror,

It  cowed  down  a  nation  suffering from draught  and  famine!

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