Prayers at a moment when you know that the pendulum can swing both ways!

There is nothing better than being in the company of a person who is hurt and neglected, sick and helpless, lonely, misunderstood or dying. I happened to know that friends back in Chennai and Pune did exactly the same when I read a chain e-mail titled "Subject: Israel - in coma - needs our prayers" It was written by Infy fellowship friends in Pune and the passed on to friends in Chennai, a day after my accident. It shook me on reading the mail to an extent that my eyes became moist and heavy. It was a urgent request to pray for me. Who would have thought that I would be in such a situation when I came to Netherlands, about a year ago ?

Well its true that unexpected events do happen. But the most difficult part is to comprehend the fact that a person lives no more. I have personally witnessed a tragic accident at S.P.Koil railway station about 5 years ago, Chennai when an Infy colleague was run over by a train while crossing the tracks. The other sight was the friend of the victim, in great trauma and shouting unable to accept the possibility of loosing a friend, just a second ago. I, along with some colleagues waited for all the compartments of the train to pass by before we could have a look at the tracks for the victim. We shook our heads in disbelief as we saw the body lying scatterd. After helping the body into the stretcher of the ambulance, It hurt to think about the plight of the loved ones who would miss her.

I, as a regular train traveller then made a decision that I would never ever cross the tracks but would always use the overbridge even if the pedestrian overbridge was unsafe with dirt, filth, without lights or suspicious people. To be honest, I could not keep that promise, when later after getting off the train in Tambaram Sanatorium station, I walked a few steps to use the foot underground bridge. What I saw was a knee deep water that was stinking with filth and urine. If I wanted to keep to my promise, I would have to wade through the stinking water. I broke my promise and ended up crossing the railway tracks. It was funny as I read a warning message further, which said something like: "Please Use pedestrians footpath. Trespassers will be prosecuted". Ah, its an unreasonable warning.

In Netherlands, after a point in time(aftering being caught for driving without cycle lights), I decided to strictly follow the traffic lights to the best of my ability. Even if it was an empty road and no one is to be seen, I decided to wait for the traffic lights to show me when to move. Does strictly following traffic rules assure you of no accidents? No. On the other hand, not obeying traffic rules definitely increases the chances of an accident. After all, to err is human! Everything happens for a reason and everything works together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28).

Its amazing to read that friends pray for me and want me to see me back to normal. I am really extremely thankful for such friends. The more longing it stirs up within me to get back home and show them that I am doing good. They are such a blessing. I noticed that the more deep it gets, to show appreciation and greatfulness to a person for an unexpected love or sympathetic attitude, mustering all the feelings and emotions within me I say "God bless you!"