Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Pay Attention...Be Alert
I always tell people about the importance of paying attention and being alert. In fact, that is the title of my friend Piero's book: "Pay Attention,Be Alert" which I have inscribed in my consciousness. And yet, I made a boo boo last week, and almost paid for it,but the 'Universe' came to my aid and made it nice.
I upgraded my cell phone recently, but did not like the devise I ordered. So I got a new phone, but the old devise had to be sent back to ATT for which they had provided a pre-paid address label.
I packed the phone, affixed the pre-paid label and droppped it off in the UPS counter at the nearby Office Depot. Few hours later, I began doubting whether it was a UPS label or a USPS label? Very similar, yet different. Sure enough, when I went home and checked the old box, I found out to my dismay that it was supposed to be dropped off at any US Post Office.
I was distressed because, if the phone did not reach ATT in ten days, they will charge my credit card $299, the full price of the device. That was distressing in this hard economic times.
So the next day,I went back to the Office Depot to see if the package was left behind as UPS driver cannot scan it through his system. But there was no package left behind. In my distress, I said a small prayer, that the Universe take care of my problem and save me $299. I was driving while saying that prayer, and viola, I see a UPS truck in my rear view mirror. It pulled up beside me to turn left and I noticed the toll number on the side of the truck: 1-800-PICK-UPS. I just called that number to see if they could even track a package which was not in their system. The agent said that UPS and USPS had a mutual agreement that if they got each other's packages, they will drop it off in each other's facilities, because" People do this all the time." Obviously, I am not the only one not paying attetion!
I was really comforted by that news. Seven days later, I got an email from ATT saying that they had received my returned phone in their Texas wharehouse!
Praise the Lord! I thank God for the honesty of the people who handled that package. I thank God for the honesty and integrity of the majority of people. There are people who may do you harm, but by and large I believe in the goodness of humanity. My view of others as images of God, has always helped to turn apparent negative energies of situations into positive ones.
Always believe in the goodness of humanity and slow down and pay attention! And say a prayer too. It can eliminate a lot of pain and make life easier.
Posted by Paul Veliyathil at 7:34 AM 0 comments
Labels: Alertness, attention, power of prayer
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Johnny's First Interview
Friday, April 30, 2010
Johnny's First Job Interview!
My autistic son had his first "job interview." He also received his first rejection letter: "Unfortunately, you did not qualify for the position we are offering..." But that is all right.
Johhny turned 17 last December. He is autistic. He can take care of his basic needs, but his comprehension is low. He understands things, but he cannot express himself in a comprehensive fashion. He can express his needs and wants, and he is happy in his own world. A young man with very few needs and and satisfied with the minimum. Johny teaches me valuable lessons about simplicity and contentment every day and I am so blessed to have him in my life.
People have asked me how we deal with life, taking care of an autistic child on a daily basis. Yes, it does restrict our lives a little, as Johnny has to be supervised at all times and he is with us every day. Jonny cannot go for a sleepover with his friends. He cannot go anywhere alone. But the joy he brings to our lives through his innocent ways is more rewarding than most other benefits we may have had if he were to be normal like Tommy,our younger son.
Few weeks ago, Johnny went for his first summer job interview. We dressed him up including a neck tie and drove him to the place of interview. When the door opened for him to enter the interview room, Johnny stopped and asked his "mommy" to go with him. Parents were not allowed as the interviewers wanted to find out how Johnny could function on his own. I watched him sit in front of the interviewers, but could not hear what he said.
Judy cried when Johnny went into the room. "My child is growing up" she said amid tears. She thought it had come too soon, too fast. When we asked him how the interview went, all Johnny said was: "Seven dollars." He just repeated that when we asked anything about the interview. Apparently that was the hourly wage and they must have talked about it.
We finished the interview and went home and Johnny went back to his computer games. He could not care less if he gets the job or not. When I told him that he did not get hired, he had no reaction except to repeat" "not hired."
We will try again next year, but there is no guarantee. We don't know what his futre will be, but I know who holds the future and that is enough comfort for now.
Posted by Paul Veliyathil at 6:31 AM 0 comments
Labels: autism, johnny
Johnny's First Job Interview!
My autistic son had his first "job interview." He also received his first rejection letter: "Unfortunately, you did not qualify for the position we are offering..." But that is all right.
Johhny turned 17 last December. He is autistic. He can take care of his basic needs, but his comprehension is low. He understands things, but he cannot express himself in a comprehensive fashion. He can express his needs and wants, and he is happy in his own world. A young man with very few needs and and satisfied with the minimum. Johny teaches me valuable lessons about simplicity and contentment every day and I am so blessed to have him in my life.
People have asked me how we deal with life, taking care of an autistic child on a daily basis. Yes, it does restrict our lives a little, as Johnny has to be supervised at all times and he is with us every day. Jonny cannot go for a sleepover with his friends. He cannot go anywhere alone. But the joy he brings to our lives through his innocent ways is more rewarding than most other benefits we may have had if he were to be normal like Tommy,our younger son.
Few weeks ago, Johnny went for his first summer job interview. We dressed him up including a neck tie and drove him to the place of interview. When the door opened for him to enter the interview room, Johnny stopped and asked his "mommy" to go with him. Parents were not allowed as the interviewers wanted to find out how Johnny could function on his own. I watched him sit in front of the interviewers, but could not hear what he said.
Judy cried when Johnny went into the room. "My child is growing up" she said amid tears. She thought it had come too soon, too fast. When we asked him how the interview went, all Johnny said was: "Seven dollars." He just repeated that when we asked anything about the interview. Apparently that was the hourly wage and they must have talked about it.
We finished the interview and went home and Johnny went back to his computer games. He could not care less if he gets the job or not. When I told him that he did not get hired, he had no reaction except to repeat" "not hired."
We will try again next year, but there is no guarantee. We don't know what his futre will be, but I know who holds the future and that is enough comfort for now.
Posted by Paul Veliyathil at 6:31 AM 0 comments
Labels: autism, johnny
Good Friday...Easter Sunday: Connect the dots
It is Easter again. This year it came too soon, because we just celebrated Christmas the other day. I get the feeling that the Christian world is just "going through the motions." On Easter morning people get dressed up and go to church; Some of them attend church only for Easter and Christmas only. I heard a pastor say that Easter is to Christians like Superbowl is to foot ball fans. Yes, we go to church on Easter Sunday. Then what? Is your life on Monday after Easter Sunday any different that it was, say, last Monday? I doubt it...
Priests and Preachers read the story of resurrection from the Gospels and tell congregations that Jesus is risen, rejoice, alleluia. And people hear it without understanding the meaning of the story. I feel that many people fail to connect the dots between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We cannot have the glory of Easter without the pain of Good Friday. Jesus said that the grain of wheat has to fall to the ground and disintegrate before it can become a plant and produce new grains. Our ego has to die before resurrection can happen in our lives. Going to church without letting our ego and our selfishness to die to the whims of the world,is merely a religious social activity without any lasting significance. Always remember that the path to the glory of resurrection intersects with the road to Calvary.
When Christians wonder why Christ has not risen in their lives, they should ask themselves if their ego has died. We live in a Good Friday world, but we are an Easter people and if Jesus is alive in your hearts, notify your face.
Posted by Paul Veliyathil at 5:44 PM 0 comments
Priests and Preachers read the story of resurrection from the Gospels and tell congregations that Jesus is risen, rejoice, alleluia. And people hear it without understanding the meaning of the story. I feel that many people fail to connect the dots between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We cannot have the glory of Easter without the pain of Good Friday. Jesus said that the grain of wheat has to fall to the ground and disintegrate before it can become a plant and produce new grains. Our ego has to die before resurrection can happen in our lives. Going to church without letting our ego and our selfishness to die to the whims of the world,is merely a religious social activity without any lasting significance. Always remember that the path to the glory of resurrection intersects with the road to Calvary.
When Christians wonder why Christ has not risen in their lives, they should ask themselves if their ego has died. We live in a Good Friday world, but we are an Easter people and if Jesus is alive in your hearts, notify your face.
Posted by Paul Veliyathil at 5:44 PM 0 comments
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)