Debt even in Death

Met a long lost friend a week earlier.
As we got talking of the Pandemic, the topic veered to Death. He turned around and said,
"Even in Death we are in Debt." 

I wondered how, if we have cleared all our Financial obligations.

He asked, "Have we Thanked the Four who helped carry our coffin to the Grave and lower it into the pit."

In essence we owe them a 'Thank You' Note for services rendered. 

If we have not done it, we are in debt....
Truly Thought Provoking

The Overripe Banana

He must have been all of Ten. A responsible child to his parents, a good student to his Teachers and loved by the entire neighbourhood. His parents were proud of him, and so was his Grandmother. She would take every effort to ensure he grew up as a good young man. 
The neighbourhood had many houses of prayer. Be it the Church, the Dargah, the Agiary, or the Temple. His father had ensured all religions were respected, but his Grandmother would have none of it. This is where the conflict first began. Later they found fault in each other's advice to Raj, yes that was his name.
One day as she returned from the marketplace, with a bunch of bananas. As Raj went to pluck a good fresh banana, she chided him for not choosing the one over ripe, which if not eaten that day would have to be discarded to the bin.

The following day, when Raj was to pluck another fresh banana, she reminded him of yesterday's advice. The banana which was fresh yesterday was over ripe today. Listening to her, he plucked and ate the over ripe. This continued for all 12 days. Eating not a single fresh, but over ripe ones daily.

His father watching the entire proceedings, called him aside and said, "Son your education has No meaning, if you cannot make the right choice. Had you discarded one banana the first day, you would have been eating a fresh one daily. Instead you chose to eat a overripe one daily, for fear of discarding one."

Life sometimes does place us in similar situations.
Are we ready to discard.

The Marketplace

 
The Holy Gospel according to St John 2:13-25

The Passover of the Jews was near.
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the Temple premises them who sold oxen, sheep and doves as well as the money changers seated there.  

He made a whip of chords and drove them all out and turned their tables, as he said,
"You have made my Father's House a Market Place."
Not much has changed since then.

The trade still continues, only now it's in his name.