Don Bosco India -

SPEAK UP

CHANGE TEXT A A A

| Next

Print Article

Mail to Friend

Comment on Article

Paul Vadakumpadan, Guwahati says,

Pate, Paunch and Power
By Fr Paul Vadakumpadan

360° VIEW

Guwahati, May. 2. Men in midlife face a three-fold problem, more correctly a three-fold challenge. Each begins with a P. We may speak of a 3P problem: pate, paunch and power.

PATE, PAUNCH AND POWER

Men in midlife face a three-fold problem, more correctly a three-fold challenge. Each begins with a p. We may speak of a 3P problem: pate, paunch and power.

The bald pate is characteristic of many men in this age group. Hair is a gift of God. But God takes it away sooner than we would like him to. If so, there is little that we can do about it. We read in newspapers about miraculous cures for baldness. Perhaps, these miracles are limited to the paper on which they are announced. Who says a bald head is something undesirable? If that is how nature has ordained it, that is how it ought to be. So be it. And it is O.K. Emphasising the worth of each single human being, Jesus says, ``Every hair on your head is counted.`` In our case, the words of Jesus are literally true. So instead of looking for magical ways to raise up what has fallen, hold your head high; praise and thank God who deigns to count every hair on your head, every day. And since he counts it, why do you want to count it too? Forget about it. Be bald and beautiful.

The protruding paunch is yet another obvious feature of men in midlife. This of course, need not be and is not universal. In most cases, with a correct regimen of food and exercise, it can be kept under control. Unlike the bald pate, the pot belly does not seem to be part of any divine design. Nor is it an affront to God in any way. If someone finds in it something to crow about, go ahead. After all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. However, it may add to such problems as cholesterol, blood pressure, heart attack and the like. Be careful!

The problem of power arises from the fact that many men in positions of leadership belong to this age group. Given the system of dynastic democracy at work in India, there are exceptions to this rule. Generally, however, people take some time to reach such positions. Middle age is just about the right time. After having reached it, what does one do next? One obvious temptation, some call it challenge, is to keep climbing till one reaches the very top. This is unfortunate, even unrealistic. After all only one can be at the very top.

The purpose of authority is service. Service is not merely the primary purpose, but the only purpose of such an institution. Instead, if it is used to cater to one`s personal needs, a significant structure of society could be subverted. Sometimes the community itself contributes to it. One then witnesses the working out of the Peter Principle.

We are used to cabinet reshuffles. Sometimes, a minister or other is peeved because he does not get the chair he wants. Obviously, someone else is occupying it. So the whole preoccupation is the chair. They forget the fact that ministry simply means service. Someone else is worried about his/her place in history. Here too there is little interest in realising the purpose of authority. Concentration is on self.

Jesus seems to have been deeply conscious of this temptation among his followers. That must be the reason he warned them about it repeatedly. He even washed their feet to teach them the values of humility and service.

We pray for deliverance from the power problem. It`s serious. As for the paunch problem, it`s not serious. Finally the pate problem, that`s no problem at all.

Fr. Paul Vadakumpadan sdb

| Next

CHANGE TEXT A A A

Comments

Post a Comment

More Speak Up in LIFE AND HEALTH

PARETO PRINCIPLE

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY

IS YOUR BEST FRIEND BEST FOR YOU

MOTHERS APRON STRINGS

SOOTHING TOUCH

Rate this

Current Rating

3.0

Article written by
Paul Vadakumpadan(Guwahati) vvpaulsdb@rediffmail.com

This Member's Latest Article

Nehru in Nongpoh

REMEMBERING AN EVENT

HIDDEN AGENDA OR OPEN AGENDA

THE CONFUSION CALLED CONVERSION

SIGNS AND BEARERS, NOT WORKERS AND FUNCTIONARIES

Contact via Email

BIS is the information service of the Salesians of Don Bosco in South Asia.
The information available on the site is posted by the online registered Salesians in the South Asia Region and are approved by their respective Province BIS Coordinators.

This site is best viewed with Mozilla Firefox and/or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 + at a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768