And... I made it!!

Yes, it's true! I made it!... after all those lazy days that I've spent here at home, I finally managed to make a move... The "move" wasn't just self-inspired.. It came as an after-thought of having to hear a couple of complaints (especially from my parents) that were ringing right down inside me, that it was long since I've made it to the church! And to make sure that I would make it, I already started announcing it to all of my fellow teammates and friends about my planned visit to the church. Atleast, that announcement would compel me to achieve that daunting task.. or so I thought!
And that did the trick!
I had made a quick google search on the nearest catholic church and tried locating it on google maps. I pretty much had a rough idea of where the church would stand amongst so many of the lanes that were present across the length and breadth of the "Great West Road"! And with that image in my mind, I set out from my house, all alone in that very cold and windy morning of February, the 1st! It had been a bit late and I didn't want to miss even a minute of the mass, and hence the idea of running/jogging overtook the act of walking, atleast until the bus stop, or so I thought! I did a quick topup of 5 pounds on my oyster and quickly "jogged" away to the stop. After a while of that "restless" wait at the stop and while every small minute seemed longer than ever, I decided to go by foot to the church. And while I was walking down the street, all of those lanes that were etched across my mind slowly unfolded and that was enough to keep me going and I knew I was taking the right path. And as I seemed to have almost reached the intended destination, I felt that I was lost. But I remembered it very clearly.. it definitely had to be the lane on the left of the Great West Road, just before the Osterley tube station, while approaching from Gillete Corner. And I knew that I just had to keep walking down this lane, off Kilberry Close and gosh! I was blank.... but it had to be somewhere towards the right hand side on this very lane.. and there I was walking down that lane with my head tilted towards the right, in the hope of finding a "cross" somewhere amongst the trees and buildings that were lined up on either side of the lane. And when I felt that I've had enough of that walk on that lane, I decided to take that "right" turn and to my dismay, all I could see were houses and cars parked out there! I had almost given up the thought of being able to find the "cross" that morning and lo, there it stood! I found it! And I saw an old lady passing that way down into the church and I followed her hurriedly. When I reached the entrance, I quickly glanced at the board outside that displayed the mass timings amongst other details and I immediately grabbed my cell to take a note of the "delay". Yes, I was late.. late by 12mins! I entered into the church and it was a small building; no wonder that I couldn't notice the cross while I was a few yards away. I had to pull open two doors to finally reach the prayer hall. It being a small parish, there wasn't much of a gathering. Or I guess, I'm used to seeing a huge crowd, since I belong to a country with an ever increasing population and hence this gathering seemed to be rather small! But whatever it was, I had walked into a church after a number of months and I felt that I had regained something that I had lost long back! I humbly walked down and took a seat towards the rear of the church (I had been late afterall and it would be so embarassing to walk towards the front; especially when the gathering is so small, any small move would be easily noticeable!). The priest was seated on a chair right towards the front of the dais and not behind the table (as I had expected) and hence I guess my entry had caught his attention, or so I thought!
The 1st reading had just begun while I had entered and I was quick to catch up with "crowd"! The homily was good and the priest had a wonderful disposition. He simply didn't read out the bible verses but brought life into his preachings by involving the masses gathered. He was aware of the names of most of them and he had made a wonderful attempt to make the mass lively! I was impressed already and I enjoyed being there.
It is a custom here that the priest provides each one with a warm handshake after the mass ends while each of them are on their way out from the church. I being towards the rear end, was the second one to have shook my hand with him at that hour. And while he shook his hands with mine, he said with a warm smile, "Are you single?".. and I almost fell off but I regained my senses and with a huge laugh responded in the affirmative.. By that time, I realised.. what he had actually asked was "Are you a singer?" (He would have noticed a newcomer singing away to glory in the church!). He then said "Well then, why don't you consider joining the church choir which consists of young people like you?" and I was quick to add "Sure, I shall". By then, it was time for me to depart as there was a queue lined up right behind me, all of them eager to recieve that warm handshake and I hurried away.
I anyway was impressed by the priest himself and that small gesture on his part made him even more adorable. I really had a wonderful time there and it revitalised or rather re-energised me. And I "jogged" away to glory on my way back home... and towards the end of the day (or rather the morn of the next) while I still am typing this down, I still can feel the pain in my muscles that hadn't moved an inch over these days... all thanks to the sudden decision to jog to and fro and more importantly all thanks to the complaints that I've had been receiving all this while! And after this experience, I shall consider making "going to the church" a weekly affair, without fail, that is!!!! I'm happy that I made it, finally!!!!!!

The 1st Sunday of the year '09!!

Oh my! That title sounded more like a liturgical reading! It reminds me of the Sunday masses that I used to religiously attend, as a child. I, infact, have a very faint memory of the time that I had last been to a Sunday mass. It's been a real long time, and I would love to attend one! Not that there aren't enough churches around; churches there are aplenty! It's just that I've been a bit too lazy these days. It was easier to put the blame on the weather; it being either too cold or too cloudy, stepping out of the house [and that too on a Sunday] never seemed to be a good idea. But it's never too late to start afresh.... So off I shall set to the church, the following week! And believe me, this decision has come in without the influence of the weather forecast that I had read sometime back! ;)

Giving it a start!!

It's been long ever since I wanted to put down all those thoughts that keep on running across my mind. These "thoughts", a number of them that they are, and varied that they are in existence, need to be captured (or so I thought) for the very reason that I might have a hearty laugh after reading it all someday!
Never ever managed to put them down before!... So, here I am.. finally, giving it a start!!

It's the very 1st weekend of the year starting 2009 [a very good start, must I say??] and I really wonder how often I shall manage to "post" my "thoughts" in this blog that I have created of which I had no clue until about an hour ago!