Beyond the Clouds by Fr. Jacob Nampudakam, S.A.C. | Page 93

Any flight description would be incomplete without mentioning the control
tower directing all of the incoming and outgoing flights. Air traffic control is
like the airport’s brain, and it’s amazing to see the men and women monitor
the plane’s paths and all necessary functions. Even the slightest mistake can
have serious consequences; it is an incredible operation indeed!
We are familiar with all sorts of different control towers, even our own brain
with its data processing capabilities can be considered one. We hardly ever
take note of our beautiful minds that function 24 hours a day. As far as I
know, even in a competition between the human brain and super computers,
the human is still ahead; as it is capable of doing far more than mere
mathematical calculations.
As we know, the different areas of the brain have unique functions,
controlling various systems throughout the body. For example, one of my own
family members had a fall, hit is head, and how his personality has very much
changed. In most cases as we get older, our brain functioning will be vastly
reduced. While there are some people who are blessed with excellent brain
capacity until the last moment, many others suffer from memory loss and
degeneration. Such a dysfunction of mental faculties can be much more
distressing than other physical handicaps, and those who suffer from
Alzheimer’s do not even recognize the closest members of their families, or
even themselves. It is all the more painful when it happens to our parents and
dear ones. For a mother not to recognize her own daughter is heartbreaking.
This conversation makes me recall one of my own confreres, who held the
highest responsibility in our Society. Sadly, he began to show signs of
forgetfulness in daily living, and- seeing as it was progressing- was soon
diagnosed with a serious illness. It was devastating to see him struggling to
recall names. For some time, all that remained was a smile, but that, too,
eventually washed away.
How important it is to take care of these vital organs like the brain or heart as
much as we can. Even then, regardless of all the care, we can still get into air
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