From the moment I first heard this song, it made a huge impact on me. With its simple, beautiful lyrics, it reminded me of all the things about my faith that I held dear. This song has always been a personal favourite of mine. It reminds me of the price that the Lord paid for me, how he humbled himself and sacrificed his life for me, a sinner, someone who couldn’t be worthy of his unconditional love and mercy.
This song reminds how amazing it is that when Jesus died, he was thinking of me.
Crucified, laid behind a stone;
You lived to die,
Rejected and alone,
Like a rose,
Trampled on the ground
You took the fall
And thought of me
Above all.
- "Above All" - Michael W. Smith
Coming from a large, close family is annoying. They’re times when you feel overshadowed and lost in the crowd and times when you feel so overprotected, you think you’ll go crazy. It’s easy to argue with one set of parents but you can’t argue with seven sets of pseudo-parents who are only looking out for your well-being. Yet, recently when someone in my family fell seriously ill, my entire perspective changed. I realized how amazingly lucky I was to come from a close-knit family.
For most of my life I lived in a nuclear family (two parents, two siblings), returning home to my large family only for brief holidays. To then return, for good, to such a large family is a stretch at first. I felt surrounded on all sides in both a comforting yet frustrating way. Like a security blanket that’s both warm and smothering. But when my uncle fell ill, the way my family banded together and rallied, it tipped the scales into comforting. I realized I was blessed to have such a family.
My family, like all others, is constantly fighting and squabbling. But when they’re needed the most, they’re there, supporting each other and taking care of each other, all grudges aside. No matter the curves thrown to them, they’re in this together. I know how lucky I am to have that because I know that most people don’t. I know they would put aside all fights, squabbles and grudges to support me and be there for me if I was ever in trouble. That’s what I’m grateful for the most, to know that Im incredibly loved and protected.
If I’m ever seriously ill, I know without a shadow of doubt that my family would be there for me, praying for me. They would be angels storming Heaven for me.
Anybody who’s seen the movie “3 idiots” will leave the theatre in stitches, an instant walking advertisement for the movie. Because the movie is just that good. During a time when the multiplexes are filled with dark films and typical Bollywood dramas, this film is a breath of fresh air. With a new spin on 'ragging' and the Indian system of education, it is a light-hearted comedy tackling social issues.
Standing by the doors of a fast train in the morning (when it’s reasonably crowded) is the perfect start to a wonderful day. To feel the cold breeze mingled with the warm sunshine while the miles fly by is pure bliss.
The cold buffeting wind makes your eyes water, your fingers go numb and your hair whip about your face. Yet, you know you won’t exchange that idyllic sense of calm and happiness for anything in the world. There’s that moment where all your worries and anxieties float away from you and everything seems right in the world. It’s that sense of perfection that permeates and lingers throughout the day that almost makes you glad you rose before the sun, to catch that fast train.
G.K. Chesterton wrote: "Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed."
- Criminal Minds
“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” - Tom Clancy
