Saving for a Cause- Happy Season of Lent

Today the whole Catholic World begins the Season of LENT- 40 days of mortification, fast, prayers and alms giving leading to EASTER. But Jesus calls us above all to be more Loving towards our neighbor. Pope Francis calls all of us to Love the poor. The word Poor can have many different meaning. A person can be poor of appreciation, poor of love, person suffering from depression, peoples suffering from alcohol abuse or substance abuse, victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse and the list can go on. Each of us our fighting our battles some of us have friends and dear ones for help while others face them alone.

During this lent What can I do? Last evening I was with few of my friends. After a good game of volleyball they went for a smoke. And one of them spoke out saying " This season of Lent I am thinking of quit smoking." A thought ran to my mind why not save the money during this Lent Season which could have been spent in Smoking or drinking or lavish living, whatever little I can save. The same could be used for charity with NGO's working for Betterment of Girls. You would ask me 

Why specifically girl? With so many cases of rapes and molestation these days. I feel I need to do my bit. I have sisters, friends, relatives  who need to be safe and this is my small way of contributing towards it. I hope all you read this will be a part of it. 

I am not asking you to Contribute only through your savings. That is a later part. But you can say a kind word to a fellow colleague. A thank you to your Family members. A smile for a sad person. A prayer for those in need. Small gestures, random acts of kindness is what each one of us needs to do.

Have a Happy Season Of Lent.

Mera Naam Joker- Share a Smile

One of the movies which I had been waiting to watch for a long time. And finally last night had the fortune and time to watch it. The excellent story line with great acting by Raj Kapoor. There were many captivating dialogues in the film but a singular one summarizes the whole movie-"Kya main pyar karta hu... Ha me pyar karta hu, Bacho se, budho se, aadmi se, phool aur phatar se" I cant remember the exact words. The translation would mean the question is not "Do I love a particular person?" It is "DO I Love?" Yes I love, I love the children, I love the elders, I love the women and I love the men, I love the flowers and the stones.

All the recent controversy around the AIB knockout made me compare the two of them (AIB Knockout and Mera Naam Joker). Where the first pokes fun at other to make people laugh, the other pokes fun at himself to spread a smile. You may say what is so different about them.Both have the same goal, they make people happy, they bring cheer around. But the means used are different. Raj Kapoor proves that you can make people smile by not insulting or making fun of the other. I am not defending or blaming anyone. you are smart enough to judge for yourself.

People are same everywhere. Stricken by poverty, misery, corruption, rape, killings. lets do our part to make it a better place. This is not a sermon lets bring a smile to each others faces. Hope you liked this post. Ending it with the song from the same movie which is my favorite.

Kisiki muskuraahaton pe ho nisaar,
Kisika dard mil sake to le udhaar
Kisike waaste ho tere dil mein pyaar
Jeena issi ka naam hai.