I
woke up to this news on September 28, 2014 on the passing away from this
life of Mr. P.A George on Marthoman TV web page.
The
web post indicated only the passing away of the retired director of Indian
Meteorological service. The post did not give any reference to
what Mr. P.A George's connection with Malankara Orthodox Church
was and probably it is quite difficult to the media to find out his connection
as he may have not donated or managed charitable/spiritual organizations associated with Malankara Orthodox Church. Since it mentioned him felt it
fitting to share some thoughts.
First
of all let me say, I have met Mr. P.A George only twice in my life and
considered it a blessing both times and am posting this to honor his
memory and praying that through this post God may use us for His
Glory. My first interaction with Mr. P.A George was almost 25 years back
and second in July 2014 during our visit to India.
Almost
25 years back, during a study leave vacation from Bangalore where I was
studying for my Engineering degree to Prashanth Nagar, Trivandrum when I met
him as a retiree for the first time. His
sight was poor even then but very modestly as if he was not sure
if he had captured the essence appropriately, shared a small book that he
had published with notes on Holy Qurbana.
It was
an eye opener to me - God in His mercy has blessed abundantly and
given us the Church and it falls on each of us who are born
again into it to come to it , learn and live in Christ .
This realization
of me as one who have hidden the Talent given was reinforced, when
I saw him for the second time after 25 Years. After the first
visit, I had tried many times sporadically to visit him, but the
house was either locked or someone would come tell that he is not there. After
a while and in my travels, PA George Sir was forgotten and the
book that he gave was just a passing memory.
In 2014, when we
visited Trivandrum , we passed by a small house and was told
that the person who lived there was a very old man who had lost his eyesight
and under the care of a family for whom he had built a house there. His wife
had passed away and children had moved on to other places for their livelihood.
Somehow, I felt compelled to ask the driver to stop the car to see him
and sure enough I see PA George sir around 90. Though he could not see, he recognized
my voice and invited me to come later on in the evening for evening prayer at
his home.
When
I mentioned of his book and that I still have a copy , He told how he
has heard that they republished it and told while there may be many books
now how in those days there were none and it was a passionate
desire to produce that to help himself and future generation. He told of how
some of the Bishops like HG Barnabas of America has encouraged him.
What
amazed me most during that evening with him was that in a time when many a
clergy and us forget the need and how within our resources Christian fellowship
, He had been opening him home weekly for an hour for any one to walk in read
the Bible, Sing few Hymns together and help each other live out faithfully
their life in Christ. While He also explained that his home was open all
denominations and even those outside of the faith comes there, His conviction
on Orthodox Christian faith has never faltered and as he is old to travel has
the local priest come home to hear his confession and partake of Eucharist.
It
is the prayers and encouragement of those like PA George Sir, that the
Church will always thrive and so fitting they are in Christ and our faith to
proclaim Memory Eternal!
September
25, 2017
Calgary,
Canada
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