rediff.com: Anita Anthony's Diary

Anita Anthony

O Ye of Little Faith
I believe in God. Passionately.
I am sure the atheists and their cousins out here in the cyberworld are already preparing to click away. Hang on folks, do. It is your attention that I want most.
I write this diary not aiming, or hoping, to transform you into a person of faith. No, this is the product of my desire to share with you the most revealing incident in my life.
Also, I want to inform you about Pota, a small dot on the map in Kerala.
I do not know precisely what you will gain from it. All I can assure you is that it did wonders for me. Perhaps it will help you too, someway, someday.
All my life I have lived in a hostel...
No, let me amend that a bit: I have lived in a hostel ever since I can remember. My parents put me there when I was five.
I am an only child. My family went through a lot of problems. Finally, we were financially ruined.
I was away when that happened. Mom conveyed to me that she would not be able to pay my school fees and hostel fees.
Which was how I came to earn my first pay. By stitching uniforms for other children.
I was then in the fifth standard.
What stands out in my memory most about those days is the prayers. My hostel was a Christian institution. Though born a Hindu, I loved the way they prayed.
The Bible impressed me. I kept on reading it over and over, for months, years.
I was influenced to such an extent that I wanted to be a Christian.
On December 8, 1992, I was baptised.
Being a Christian, however, did not bring with it an end to my sorrows.
I started working. I thought having a steady income, standing on my own two feet so to speak, would give me confidence and peace.
It didn't.
Probably because of my childhood, I had grown up into a touchy, oversensitive person. In the interactions that my work demanded, I gathered innumerable hurts.
I felt inferior to others. I was weak-minded, dreaded criticisms. Sorrow and anxiety were my constant companions.
I tried being arrogant and aggressive. But that didn't help.
Those days I was desperation personified. I truly wished I was dead.
I had some 18 days before I was to take up a new job. It was then that my friend, who knew how fed up with life I was, insisted that I visit Pota.
I am glad I listened to her.
The huge retreat centre at Pota accommodates over 100,000 people from all over the world in a single week-long session.
It sprawls by the side of National Highway 47, about a kilometre from Chalakudy town in Kerala. It's open to all people, of all religions.
Retreats are conducted in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Konkani, Kannada, Telugu and Oriya.
I felt completely bored the first day. There was a lot of praying that you had to sit through, a lot of testimonials from people who had experienced miracles, a lot of 'knowing God' talks.
But I felt a sense of calm. I was looking on the retreat as a sort of holiday.
I had no tensions here. No boss to please, no colleagues to worry about. I didn't even have to bother about getting my food.
The second day was not much different. It was long and it was boring. But I was completely at ease. Relaxed, enjoying my break.
The third and fourth days went by. By then I knew my way around the prayers. I had begun to enjoy my interaction with the people around me.
By Day Five I was taking an active interest in what was happening around. I listened to testimonials keenly and even joined in the prayers enthusiastically.
And the sixth day, it happened. During the 'healing session'. As I was praying I felt -- I swear I was not dreaming -- a presence come upon me.
Suddenly I was enfolded in His arms. A wondrous warmth and feeling of peace enveloped me. I felt there was nothing I need fear or worry about anymore.
His hands held me for about an hour. Soothing me, comforting me.
Around me miracles were happening.
I had earlier made friends with Melody, a 17-year-old non-Catholic. She suffered from severe stomach pain, so severe that she couldn't even laugh.
Suddenly she found that it had disappeared. She went up to the stage and thanked the Lord.
Twenty-nine-year-old Bharati was in a wheelchair. I saw her getting up and walking to the stage.
A 42-year-old man followed. He said he had been blind when he came to Pota. Now he could see...
My life has definitely changed after Pota.
Today I am confident of my abilities. I can handle stress. I am competitive.
Most importantly, I am happy to be alive.
What I have recorded here is my personal experience, and a couple of miracles I was a witness to.
I don't urge you to believe it. What I do urge is that you give it a try -- experience Pota once.
I guarantee it will be memorable.
Anita Anthony manages the front office for a multinational firm. Besides God, she believes in jazz dancing.

For more details, contact Divine retreat centre travel counter, Muringoor, Chalakudy, Kerala -- 680 316. Phone: (0488) 842513, 843413.
Page design: Dominic Xavier

Tell us what you think of this diary

HOME | NEWS | CRICKET | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | BROADBAND | TRAVEL
ASTROLOGY | NEWSLINKS | BOOK SHOP | MUSIC SHOP | GIFT SHOP | HOTEL BOOKINGS
AIR/RAIL | WEDDING | ROMANCE | WEATHER | WOMEN | E-CARDS | SEARCH
HOMEPAGES | FREE MESSENGER | FREE EMAIL | CONTESTS | FEEDBACK

	I believe in God. Passionately. I am sure the atheists and their cousins out here in the cyberworld are already preparing to click away. Hang on folks, do. It is your attention that I want most. I write this diary not aiming, or hoping, to transform you into a person of faith. No, this is the product of my desire to share with you the most revealing incident in my life. Also, I want to inform you about Pota, a small dot on the map in Kerala. I do not know precisely what you will gain from it. All I can assure you is that it did wonders for me. Perhaps it will help you too, someway, someday. All my life I have lived in a hostel... No, let me amend that a bit: I have lived in a hostel ever since I can remember. My parents put me there when I was five. I am an only child. My family went through a lot of problems. Finally, we were financially ruined. I was away when that happened. Mom conveyed to me that she would not be able to pay my school fees and hostel fees. Which was how I came to earn my first pay. By stitching uniforms for other children. I was then in the fifth standard. What stands out in my memory most about those days is the prayers. My hostel was a Christian institution. Though born a Hindu, I loved the way they prayed. The Bible impressed me. I kept on reading it over and over, for months, years. I was influenced to such an extent that I wanted to be a Christian. On December 8, 1992, I was baptised. Being a Christian, however, did not bring with it an end to my sorrows. I started working. I thought having a steady income, standing on my own two feet so to speak, would give me confidence and peace. It didn't. Probably because of my childhood, I had grown up into a touchy, oversensitive person. In the interactions that my work demanded, I gathered innumerable hurts. I felt inferior to others. I was weak-minded, dreaded criticisms. Sorrow and anxiety were my constant companions. I tried being arrogant and aggressive. But that didn't help. Those days I was desperation personified. I truly wished I was dead. I had some 18 days before I was to take up a new job. It was then that my friend, who knew how fed up with life I was, insisted that I visit Pota. I am glad I listened to her. The huge retreat centre at Pota accommodates over 100,000 people from all over the world in a single week-long session. It sprawls by the side of National Highway 47, about a kilometre from Chalakudy town in Kerala. It's open to all people, of all religions. Retreats are conducted in English, Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Konkani, Kannada, Telugu and Oriya. I felt completely bored the first day. There was a lot of praying that you had to sit through, a lot of testimonials from people who had experienced miracles, a lot of 'knowing God' talks. But I felt a sense of calm. I was looking on the retreat as a sort of holiday. I had no tensions here. No boss to please, no colleagues to worry about. I didn't even have to bother about getting my food. The second day was not much different. It was long and it was boring. But I was completely at ease. Relaxed, enjoying my break. The third and fourth days went by. By then I knew my way around the prayers. I had begun to enjoy my interaction with the people around me. By Day Five I was taking an active interest in what was happening around. I listened to testimonials keenly and even joined in the prayers enthusiastically. And the sixth day, it happened. During the 'healing session'. As I was praying I felt -- I swear I was not dreaming -- a presence come upon me. Suddenly I was enfolded in His arms. A wondrous warmth and feeling of peace enveloped me. I felt there was nothing I need fear or worry about anymore. His hands held me for about an hour. Soothing me, comforting me. Around me miracles were happening. I had earlier made friends with Melody, a 17-year-old non-Catholic. She suffered from severe stomach pain, so severe that she couldn't even laugh. Suddenly she found that it had disappeared. She went up to the stage and thanked the Lord. Twenty-nine-year-old Bharati was in a wheelchair. I saw her getting up and walking to the stage. A 42-year-old man followed. He said he had been blind when he came to Pota. Now he could see... My life has definitely changed after Pota. Today I am confident of my abilities. I can handle stress. I am competitive. Most importantly, I am happy to be alive. What I have recorded here is my personal experience, and a couple of miracles I was a witness to. I don't urge you to believe it. What I do urge is that you give it a try -- experience Pota once. I guarantee it will be memorable. Anita Anthony manages the front office for a multinational firm. Besides God, she believes in jazz dancing. For more details, contact Divine retreat centre travel counter, Muringoor, Chalakudy, Kerala -- 680 316. Phone: (0488) 842513, 843413. Page design: Dominic Xavier Tell us what you think of this diary
HOME \| NEWS \| CRICKET \| MONEY \| SPORTS \| MOVIES \| CHAT \| BROADBAND \| TRAVEL ASTROLOGY \| NEWSLINKS \| BOOK SHOP \| MUSIC SHOP \| GIFT SHOP \| HOTEL BOOKINGS AIR/RAIL \| WEDDING \| ROMANCE \| WEATHER \| WOMEN \| E-CARDS \| SEARCH HOMEPAGES \| FREE MESSENGER \| FREE EMAIL \| CONTESTS \| FEEDBACK