AFTER A WHILE by Veronica A Shoffstall

After a while, you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security;
And you being to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open
With the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
After a while, you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much
So plan your own garden and decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth.

...........

A beautiful summation of life :)

STAYING IN CONTROL

"Never leap ahead of grace, but wait for grace and quietly follow with the gentleness of the spirit of God"

This means that I don't every have to get cerebral and lay out an elaborate blue print about how events should proceed. Nor do I have to try to coerce things into happening or push for answers. There's no tension or stress. No anxious anticipation or grasping for control because I have an organic sense that I will know what to do when the time comes to do it. I simply wait and watch for grace to unfold like the petals of a flower. There is an energy, a dynamic and a passion in doing this that I could never willfully mandate or create intellectually.


......... Sister Helen Prejean in the book IN SWEET COMPANY by MARGARET WOLFF.

BOOKS

Have had the pleasure of getting and reading a lot of books over the last few weeks. Gurcharan Das's THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING GOOD, Capt. Gopinath's SIMPLY FLY and Indira Ganesan's two books on Mughal history have been splendid. 

 SIMPLY FLY is absolutely fascinating - a true example of one man with a mission. The way he uses the metaphor of marriage for business alliances, the meticulous planning he puts in into every venture and the human factors involved in it all make for very gripping reading.

 As for Gurcharan Das, he has been a favourite after India Unbound and this one takes me into the land of the Mahabharata, brings those characters and situations to close to everyday life that it explains so much that one goes through in life. Would recommend both to everyone.