Educational Review Of The Year : 2013

Rev. Fr. Paul Lelen Haokip *

Introduction:

Education is good. Wisdom is better. To have much and still be unsatisfied is poverty of the highest rate. To have little and be satisfied with thankfulness is riches indeed. This doesn't mean complacency and lack of struggle to excel. Education without wisdom is incomplete. Wisdom that does not give rise to feeling is incomplete.

Feeling that does not translate into action is incomplete. Action that does not give rise to fullness is incomplete. For, fulfillment is returning to Self. We make a living by what we get. We make a living by what we can. We make a better day by sincere review of self and surrounding.

Academic Review:

When the 365 days of 2013 are at the countdown stages, let us take an academic review of our lives. Some may pride in having read new books, some may boast of the many articles and scientific papers written, some may be cozy of the normal pass marks in the school report card, others may feel happy about the many programs conducted for the students/offices etc. Teachers may be eagerly waiting for the correction of papers to be over.

Let's pause a minute, teachers - do we authentically evaluated and reward the desired marks to the students? Your neglect can cause a year to someone. Your untimely overlook can also spoil the career of some young soul.

Students, your loving parents sweated, sacrificed and prayed for your well-being. I hope you expressed a loving 'thank you' gesture to your parents. Or you are still pestering for new Christmas garments? I would like to think that the best gift your parents have gifted you in the course of the year is the education. Thank God for them.

Review of Philanthropic Acts:

Educated and Rich people, I am sure, you are satisfied that you have contributed to the education and health of some unfortunate children/people around instead of mere stones on the occasions of silver jubilee, golden jubilee, diamond jubilee etc. To build up some one/people would be a better bet than dead stones without feelings and emotions. If you don't give, who will give? Do you expect the poor to give? Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray (Sai Baba).

Lay Leadership Review:

As we come to the close of the Year of Faith (YOF), the latest Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) held on 6th November 2013, mainly focused on Lay Leadership - social and political. One fine gentleman (Mr. Mathew) from Thanlon Parish stood up and spoke about the Spiritual Leadership that can take care of the other leaderships. When he stepped down the stage, he was heartily applauded with claps.

Yes, leadership does not start from the moment of marriage or after 40 years of age. I think, to have better and committed leadership, the youth leadership needs special care and utmost attention. As long as the youth are treated like bouquet only for some time and for a show, I think, leadership will be at stack.

Review of the 'YOF':

After a year of reflection on 'YOF' do the clerics have more faith (trust, confidence) on the lay people? Have we stopped to be masters of everything? Gone are the days when a priest was a doctor, a counselor, an architect, a teacher, a farmer and everything etc. But, the progress of science has tremendously reduced that one-man-show burden and added blessings on many qualified people in and around the Parish. The corporate world works on team-work and delegation.

In fact, Jesus sent people ahead of him to the places he would visit, he allowed the women folk to care the dietary department, he himself selected different people of varied lifestyles. In ecclesiastical term, we call it "Principle of Subsidiary". How much place and space do we allot the people who form and build up the Parish? Where are the poor? We shall look on Pope Francis who is for "A poor Church, for the poor."

The true followers of Christ who knows the master is educated in faith. From this irreplaceable experience, s/he lives for others. S/he lives means - gives, shares and builds. A person who cannot believe in others is an unbelievable person him/herself. You give only what you have. As Christians, we need to pass on the "baton of faith" not only within the Church but outside as well. If we falsely believe in ourselves, mammon, name and fame, we may not be on the MISSION but MISS-ON journey. Believe and teach what you believe.

Review of True Education:

This is true knowledge: to seek the Self as the true end of wisdom always. To seek anything else is ignorance (Bhagwad Gita 13.11). Mere ability to read, understand and write are not the hallmarks of True Education. True Education is the education that teaches you to teach yourself, and inspires you with the desire to do that. To achieve that, you need to know how to read, and more importantly why.

You need to write: not just cipher, but to communicate ideas. You need to learn to research, and you need to develop the knack of knowing that there are things you don't know but can nonetheless seek them out. You need enough exposure to every field of human endeavor that you can see why people do them and help choose one that you can contribute to (while appreciating the work others put in). You need to know that you inhabit a human body, a complex and remarkable but fragile machine, which will do the most amazing things if you treat it well.

Conclusion:

To conclude is not to close the chapter but the end of review of that particular episode of life (month, year). Success stories enliven us. Failure stories challenge us. Both mark the chessboard of life. Even when you lose, don't lose the lesson. Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct. Review is to re-visit our past and present ourselves fit for the uncertain future that is.

Review of Disunity is sure to come. "Woe to the person" who brings disunity and division in the society, Church, tribe, country etc. Better for that person to hang a millstone around the neck and sink at the bottom of the sea (Luke 17:1-6). The Sacraments, Sacramentals, Popular Devoltions etc., are to educate us to faith - to live and let live.