Beyond the Clouds by Fr. Jacob Nampudakam, S.A.C. | Page 82

lightless under sea channel, leading to nowhere. Heavily depressed people feel this way quite often. They are no longer able to distinguish between their inner reality and the world outside. When their inner misery is projected on the outside world and to such persons, those who are depressed can no longer see good in anything or anybody. Therefore, it’s so important to be aware of the Bermuda Triangle in our lives. The dawn of negativity into our daily life is a clear warning that one is slowly being drawn into this dangerous riptide. There can be a thousand motives for being pessimistic in our day to day living, it is enough to watch the daily news to lose our equilibrium of mind. Paradoxically, very often we also find a sort of secondary gain in our own suffering. Many TV channels strive on sensational news, ultimately reduced solely for economic gains. More people watching means more business; fake news is good news, they need high ratings. That is not to say all channels are so, because without the service of such, we would be lost to what’s happening around us as well. Thus, the moral of the story is that we need to nurture our soul and inner being with all that is noble, precious, and beautiful. This sacred, inner state of our soul will determine the way we perceive external realities, as well as dictated the quality of our relationships, person, and mission. Those emitting hope, joy, and optimism are those who have the inner resources- physical, psychological, and spiritual- to resist the pull of the Bermuda Triangle’s current. They are the lighthouse for the fisherman lost at sea. They do not curse darkness but light the candle, however small that may be. During the final days of her life, St. Therese of Lisieux- whose little way was love, simplicity, and joy- shared that one of the most special graces in her life came from the tiniest flame. “Sister Marie of the Eucharist wanted to light candles for a procession; she had no matches; however, seeing the little lamp that was burning in front of the relics, she approached it. Alas, it was half out; there remained only a feeble glimmer on its blackened wick. She succeeded in lighting her candle from it, 82