False Love found in Loneliness

My friend recently shared his conversation to me and I thought this great conversation is worth to share and reflect upon especially when the right time comes for me to make a life-long commitment of choice. The path can seem painfully obscure and the destination out of reach. It will never be an easy, but this real ‘princess’ is definitely worth to wait. All I have to do now is using BLT method which are: Believe God loves you, Listen to the Spirit, Respond in trust

I would like to put a letter ‘N’ (non-believer) as his friend whereas a letter ‘B’ (believer) as a friend of mine. Enjoy this conversation as below:

I meet an old friend to have a drink, and he popped up this question,

N: Hey, it has been almost 2 years.
B: What?
N: You broke off.
B: Why?
N: Why haven’t you found a girlfriend?
B: Why rush?
N: Wouldn’t you feel lonely?
B: Not really, and why must I go to look for a girlfriend just because I’m alone?
N: That is called life! Don’t you feel lonely?
B: Then tell me why do you find a girlfriend?
N: I’m very scared to be alone, that’s no way for me to be alone.
B: Are you ready to sacrifice everything in order not to be alone?
N: Oh yeah, I will.
B: Do you love her?
N: Yes, I am.
B: If a year after married and she dies, what would you do?
N: Ermm… choi!! (choi here means the curse of bad luck)
B: hahaha ….. What if it happened?
N: I will go to look for another one.
B: Okay, that’s so sad to hear.
N: Why?
B: Why do you need to find another one?
N: I said earlier I couldn’t stand to stay alone in my life.
B: That’s not love. That is called selfish.
N: No way, I love her
B: Then love her forever
N: But then who is going to accompany me?
B: Her.She’s the only!
N: You are crazy.

B: smiling

N: …………(speechless)
B: When you feel alone and wishing someone to love you.. That’s selfish. Because you only think about you own. When her love couldn’t fill you, you look for another one just to fill in the loneliness. Do you think fair towards her? It means all the while your love only based on your own “loneliness”…. What else?
N: …………(speechless)
B: True love is giving, not taking.
N: But…. if you have got married, the girl also have to give it all to  you what!
B: True!! But when you have children, your wife will spend more times with kids than you, then what would you do?
N: …………(speechless)
B: Would you continue to love her even though she don’t have time for you at all?
N: …………(speechless)
B: Love her not because you are lonely, but love her like how God loves you.

N: …………(speechless)

I would like to end my entry with the following music video. The title of the video is ‘Love Me for a Reason’ by The Osmonds. Ironically, believe it or not God doesn’t need your reasons to love him. Though you don’t love Him, He will always be there for you.

He loved me first, so how could I not fall in love with Him?

Holy Mary, Annai Velangkanni

This unique Marian shrine (read here for The Shrine Story) dedicated to Our Lady of Good Heath is called Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni. Based on the popular decoration to Mary who is said to have appeared in 17th century in a coastal village called Veilankanni, in Tamil Nadu India and she has come to be known as Annai Velangkanni, meaning Mother of Velangkanni just as Mary our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima. Now she has taken her residence in Medan, for the first time to make it an archdiocesan pilgrimage centre in Indonesia.

The uniqueness of this shrine lies in the originality of its Indo-Mogul architecture, in its ornaments and display of colours done by amateur hands and above all in its Biblical content. This majestic looking building resembles a towering temple, which will certainly draw the attention of any person by Sandwiched, as it were, between two housing estates, Taman Sakura Indah and Taman Alamanda Indah, the shrine could be noticeable from afar. Multipurpose building in nature, the shrine consists of two floors ; A community Hall on the ground floor and a place of worship on the first floor with a balcony and scene storey tower with triple domes, symbolizing Heaven, the abode of the Triune God Almighty. By its left side lies a little chapel of Annai Velangkanni used for daily prayers and in front of it is a beautiful Mini Garden dedicated to the memory of Marian Pope John Paul II. In addition you can see a Children’s Park at the back of the Chapel with in the shrine complex an area of 6000 square meters.

The ceiling above the altar representing The Sistine Chapel at Vatican

As any one enters the main gate he will not fail to notice the inculturation welcome of North sumatra with traditional Batak houses in miniature, adorning the entrance. The visitor could immediately feel that he is entering a pilgrimage centre which is a place of welcome and encounter of God with His people at the sea, the asphalted road in the form of man falling in prostration before the Majesty of God and the two ramps that lead to the second floor where huge statue of Annai Velangkanni with the baby Jesus stands, look like the two arms of Mary receiving the visitors with a motherly embrace.

Just in front of the Community Hall is located an attractive fountain symbolic of Jacob’s Well where the Gospel scene of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman who came to draw water is depicted. 

Side view of the shrine

When the visitors starts his tour, the shrine will begin narrating the Biblical history of Salvation starting from creation until the Second Coming of Jesus through its structure, ornaments and paintings.The whole concept of the shrine was inspired by one of the contemplations on the mystery of incarnation as suggested in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order. The designers, Rev. Fr. James Bharataputra S.J, has tried to give a concrete form to his life-long contemplation as a Jesuit.

At the entrance of the second floor stand two huge statues of St. Paul, the Apostle of nations and St. Francis Xavier, the Apostle of Asia welcoming the visitors. As soon as we want to step into shine’s main church we are greeted by the Lord ” Come to me all you who work hard and who carry heavy burdens and I will refresh you” making us at home in His house.The interior of the church is studded fully with relief, paintings, and ornaments it is a feast for our eyes. The Altar with its background is another unique feature. The dome above the altar has three paintings describing the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment scene. If anyone who happens to visit Medan and fails to pay a visit to Graha maria Annai Velangkanni, he will certainly miss something in his life.

Rev. Fr. James Bharataputra, S.J. designer, architect, and contractor of this monumental shrine

The shrine of Mary Annai Velangkanni was under construction from September 2001 up to September 2005 and was declared open by Acting Governor Drs. Rudolf Pardede of North Sumatra Province in Indonesia and the dedication of the Shrine was performed by the Mgr. A.G. Pius Batubara OFM Cap., the archbishop of Medan on 1 October 2005. As the shrine contains too many details to narrate within this short space, it would be better if you can come and see for yourselves for “to see is to believe”