Thursday, July 24, 2014

Beyond the Boundaries!

Beyond the Boundaries!

“In the name of God” “as all Afghans would begin any speech with this phrase, I too am

influenced to start my sharing similarly. Having been in Afghanistan for the last 2 years, which

becomes a blessing in time for me, I now recount all the wonderful things I have experienced in

this land of mountains. From the genesis of the desire to serve in Afghanistan, followed by the

exodus of journeying with love during the stint and reaching out and looking at the zenith with

contentment and the resulted impact in me, the missionary journey many not end here and now

as it appears, but will continue “Insha Allah- if God wills” in time and space as “I have promises

to keep, And miles to go before I sleep,”

In the beginning: My initial days were filled with a lot of learning and acclimatization: The

different environment, the people around and the culture, the local language, and being aware of

myself in these situations- the response to stimuli and homeostasis. The trans-plantedness has to

follow quickly after one feels the up-rootedness. Both phases are essential to orient oneself as we

are beings in time and space.

Trying to know new things which are essential for the survival over here and accepting the

existential realities becomes ones duty especially when we are eager to incorporate our being,

shedding all the differences and willing to be one among them; as one of them, which requires an

open mind and “a big heart- bigger than the world”

senior Jesuits from their rich experiences during this stage made things easier and formed a good

source of information for our stepping stone.

Redefining Mission: Any responsibility shouldered on oneself is a mission entrusted to a person.

Normally there is a notion that being a missionary means to teach about Christianity in a far

away country and putting up with the inconveniences due to limited facilities. I consider this

description of missionary life as an outdated one and become a pseudo definition in a broader

sense. Loving people without any resistance is the basis of missionary life. This may sound

abstract and flamboyant when we see it superficially. It, in fact, is the means and end, and

transcends beyond the geographical, ethnic, religious and any other possible discrimination and

alienation, and could be equated with the totality of the spirit of incarnation with an undivided

heart.

.

1

. Valuable guidance and mentoring by our

2

Being a missionary does not mean ones’ ability to work hard in difficult situation.

It only means a capacity and generosity of a heart to accommodate anyone and everyone in it

without any affinity and choice. Being in the last leg of my stay over here, I can uphold this

stand of mine on missionary way of life- an outreach of caring hands and loving hearts to give

and to receive has to top the to-do list, to have a qualitative difference ,with no if’s and buts ‘of

a restricted and isolated mind. This will become a synonym of who we are and what we do

 Robert Frost-Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

1

 Pedro Arrupae’s prayer of “Falling in Love”

2

increasing the curiosity of the people who encounter us and whom we encounter in our daily

lives expanding our horizons beyond imaginations and mentoring. But all these factors are

connected with one string of love which makes the mission possible with its universal law of

transcending diversities and springing of hope, no matter whom we are and where we are sent to.

This energy can be the only motivation to drive us beyond the natural desires. It may not be

interesting, but fascinates when one reaps the fruits of understanding, acceptance leading to

cooperation with the trust built upon in time and resulting in a refined personal relationships

without any hooks attached. This could be the best ever possible response one can taste with

only tears to shed and deep memories to always treasure and look back with a pleasant feeling

blooming into ones being with no other factors to enhance or influence – the actual produce of a

shared mission.

My Afghan friends: Clearly and categorically, I have to admit and acknowledge that I was

able to come across and befriend some of the incredibly super-good, spectacular personalities

(both nationals and internationals), whom I will badly miss when I leave from here. Being in

their company was a great joy for me –something really reliable with no murky controversies.

Some of us could not speak the same language but still our smiles communicated a lot with

resonating minds. I am happy that I have sailed with them in the journey of life -which is much

loaded than the scale of time, as a friendly intruder, dutiful teacher and an informal instructor.

I completely agree that everywhere, people have a heart to love and to be loved. It is always

human beings who make the difference and not the infrastructure. I have learnt a lot from them.

“Mountains cannot reach out to mountains; only humans can reach out to humans”: this is the

translation of a Dari proverb in Afghanistan. Humans have the capacity to transcend and so this

proverb makes a lot of sense to me and to the rest of the Afghans who believe in the goodness

of the human person as a creation of God to reach out to the fellow human beings. The implicit

interpretation of this proverb – those who are not able to reach out to the fellow humans are, in

fact, equated with the dry and lifeless mountains.... often threatening with landmines in it and

destructive in nature, which one could find everywhere in Afghanistan.

The war history: The deep imprints of war and violence culture has its impact on every

common person ardently seeking for peace. The ethnic diversities and its strong affinity seem

to cut the unity and add the divisive agony which brings the one nation into bits and pieces.

Nothing less than a miracle, can solve this strong weed of divisive factor to make a better inter-
mingling of ethnics and sects with a broader ethos and sharing of fertile thoughts.

The dynamics of a dialogue: Dialogue is always a vital composite of life and makes it

meaningful. A composite dialogue need not only be restricted to inter- religion. Respecting the

other precedes any dialogue. Dialogue always breaks the ice of indifference and imposition -

the decaying attitudes. Dialogue in itself is a disposition. Being different and dialoging with

persons is much liberative than being indifferent and isolated. Ignatian indifference is a virtue.

Dialogue brings in a common consensus in a collective search which leads us to march forward

in unity and integrity and become more and more part of the truth which is more objective. There

is always a fear of the unknown which doesn’t facilitate a dialogue. Dialogue cannot occur in a

prefixed, patronizing, spineless, sanctimonious, dominating, non objective mind which aims to

defend oneself and blame the other with vested interest resulting in stunted growth of common

good increasing the opportunities of conflict and hurt. Being dogmatic, sacro-sanct and wanting

to absolutize something will only bring about puncturing of egos and we lose persons and will

lead to pathos.

Challenges: Afghanistan has its own special challenges. In Bamiyan we have a single newly

surfaced road (stretching to a length of 2 km) which has second hand Toyotas, and donkeys, both

forms of transport on the same road. Like everything else, one sees great contrasts... dwellers in

ancient caves, and students trying to get a university degree- a beautiful chaos.

The very different culture, and sensitivities that we need to be always conscious about, the

unreliable transport, between the cities, the lack of the right personnel, (ie right person in the

right job) both with the Afghans in various institutes, and also with the NGOs who seem to take

who so ever is able to come rather than finding the right person for a particular job, the extreme

climate, and the power and internet problems, all together do make some days quite a challenge.

Besides this and for various other reasons, a person coming to Afghanistan could find himself

facing long days with little support of the type that we are used to in India. Our colleagues may

be struggling to adjust themselves, and may not be able to provide the support that one needs.

Hence, this whole experience gives one the opportunity to reflect and to build up one’s inner

strengths and resilience. It is this whole new, different and difficult situation that could lead to

spiritual growth and self reliance. This is also a place where I have experienced over and over

again God's helping hand in the form of help and support from my dearest Afghan friends. God

bless their hearts!

The New beginning: Going back to the roots of the immeasurable and tangible consolations I

received through various incidents- ultimately through various persons, will never fade in time. I

am grateful to each and every one of them. “If you love me, don’t leave me” – my favorite verse

from the Holy Quran, brings out my farewell sentiments aptly. Life leaves us with mysteries to

be confronted with the holy boldness. We don’t understand here and now our roles in this galaxy

of uncountable reasons. What little we have done will have its satisfying answer in time. My dear

Afghan friends, Thank you for all that you have been to me in season and out of season. I pray

that you all be happy and harmonious in your land as I leave you as a friend who will always like

to hear from you. There are no endings; only new beginnings..................

No comments: