With a determined will in God’s path
In course of time, a rebellious
youth led him to live a life surrendered to alcoholism. Suddenly one day
a desire rose in his mind - to say farewell to those evil days and to make
a retreat. And that must be in Potta. Unfortunately Avarachan had to take
the return train home as soon as he reached Potta. There was no seat. He
had not applied on time. He went straight to Mukti Sadan in Pazhaganad.
In that centre he remained for a whole week listening to the word of God.
Step by step, marvellous changes began to take place in Avarachan and his
family. He then got the chance for a retreat at Divine. Each of these experiences
became nutrition to sow the seed and nurture the foundations of his spiritual
life.
His guiding star
The picture of a priest in
contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament! His heart was touched by this
picture in a devotional magazine. It was the picture of Fr George Kuttikal
of Divyahridya ashram in Chennaipara. When Avarachan later went to Malayatoor
as a volunteer for the retreat directed by Fr Kuttickal, he began mounting
the steps of spirituality in the mountain range made sacred by the footsteps
of St Thomas. Those were days that changed his line of thinking and plunged
him headlong into the vortex of evangelisation, into the midst of action,
into a complete surrender - his pilgrimage can be described thus.
Ridicule and contempt in the days of transformation
In the house transformed
into Divyabalaka Ashram, there are 28 members- Puramadam Abraham (Avarachan)
, wife Chi-nnamma, two children and some volunteers who are the personification
of goodness. This ashram saw the light of day in May 1997. Only young boys
and girls are admitted here. Binu, Arun and Jiju George lend power and
strength to the services at the ashram and to Avarachan and Chinnamma.
To the sisters of Samaritan Hospital, Pazhaganad and Lizie Hospital, Ernakulam.
Avarachan and Chinnamma are ever grateful for the medicine and other kinds
of help they render for the treatment of the patients. Five children are
being educated in schools. Others have the opportunity to learn some trade
and to develop in it if they have the necessary aptitude. When this dwelling
became a refuge for "the birds of the air", the locals at first viewed
it with disdain. There were also a few objections. A non-Christian even
attacked Avarachan physically charging him with proselytizing activities.
"Later", says Avarachan, "he came to me and apologised. He realised that
it is not change of religion but change of mind that is our aim. Through
the Eucharist we store up strength to meet the crises that arise daily.
Devotion to Mary our Mother, is the shade under which we take shelter".
From 7 to 9 am, 12 to 1 pm and 7 to 9 pm prayer services are held. Next
door is "Prathyasa Bhavan" run by Avarachan’s brother, Varghese for mental
patients roaming on the streets. All the relatives maintain a co-operative
attitude towards these efforts.
Reminiscences of the past
When Avarachan recalls past
memories, about the days when he first walked on the streets as the refuge
of the poor, to gather the destitute and abaundoned, he savours anew the
sweetness of those early attempts: the days he spent in the company of
lepers in Perumbavoor and in the midst of helpless patients in the general
Hospital in Ernakulam; the efforts to reclaim the women engaged in immoral
trafficking from the influence of evil and bring them to the divine light
through the word of God. He had seen days of ridicule and disgrace, condemnation
and blame. However, there was no shadow of regret or despair in Avarachan’s
eyes.
The wise man and the shepherd became one in the manger
With an expression of self-confidence
Avarachan says: "Look, brother. This is also a retreat centre. We speak
the word of God to every individual who enters this house. The word is
also active in him. Miracles take place. We preach the faith rooted in
action. There are no preachers, no loud speakers - that is all the difference.
"Avarachan, relates an incident as he fishes from the sea of his memories.
"Once a missionary called on us. He left after going through a spiritual
experience. He thought to himself: If Avarachan, who has only 14 cents
of land, can do so much, why can I also not do something!" That divine
touch gave him a strong inspiration. Today, he is in charge of a house
that takes care of numerous children of the street.
Jesus, was that you?
Avarachan painted out to
a little girl covered with sores. She was a North Indian. "This child was
brought here from Aluva railway station by the porters out of sheer compassion.
They found her among the boxes in the goods shed with crows furiously pecking
at her putrifying flesh. The little darling is called Beeba. Not a single
child brought here is sent back." Certainly, this is the peak of humanitarianism
that receives its power from God in the midst of limitations and difficulties!
The other is greater than I
According to Avarachan, we
should practise looking at everyone with the same attitude. The houses
of "the birds of the air" are not places where old clothes or old things
are to be dumped. The children there, like our own, should wear new clothes,
and pretty shoes, carry colourful umbrellas, and run about with a smile
on their lips. Listen to an example Avarachan cites: "Once a very rich
man came here. He began to think. I buy garments for my children from the
posh textile shops in Ernakulam. I shall buy similar clothes for these
children too." He kept his word. All of us need to grow from the discipleship
of John the Baptist to the discipleship of Jesus. The Baptist said, "Whoever
has two coats must share with anyone who has none", and Jesus has commanded
us, "Love your neighbour as yourself".
New rays of hope
What about the future of
these children? Avarachan has no doubt or anxiety whatsoever about it.
The same dreams, ambitions that he has regarding his own children, Basil
and Anu, he cherishes regarding these children, too. "My children must
be well settled- study well, get a satisfying job, choose an appropriate
vocation and for this I make the greatest effort possible. I’m very particular
about one point. Each of them must become holy. There must be priests and
nuns from among them. Around this ancestral house, several houses of my
children must be built." This man, father to many children, have a request
to make. "Little children, when you are at school, you must look into the
wants of your schoolmates. In their name you must stretch out your hands
to your parents and relatives. And pray for them".
Shattered childhood, hunted victims of a cruel destiny
Shattered family relationships
are, in great part, responsible for so many children to be cast into the
streets. When they do not see goodness in the family, unconsciously they
are seduced by the influence of evil. These tender minds become the graveyard
of the traumatic memories of their lost childhood, shattered and torn apart.
When we enter deep into those minds, what we find are the memories of a
heap of tragic and bitter experiences . These are all good examples of
an infancy disfigured by the faults and shortcomings of human nature.
The media - burning flames of fire
Avarachan uses the media in his charge to fan the flame of innate goodness in children. He was referring to his publication "The Little Jesus to be Loved". Likewise, the magazine, "The Treasure God Gave Adults" aims at achieving the same goal. The wealth of experience and knowledge Avarachan received from Fr John F Cheriyavely's Charism retreat, adds to the investment he already has in this respect. The copies of these publications are distributed free of cost. May the kingdom of God spread all over the world so that the seeds of the word be sown and the seedlings of goodness sprout abundantly.
O Malayidam Thuruthu, you are blessed! The clarion call to establish the kingdom of God on this earth has sounded! The word of God has reached the hearts of those in the lowest strata of society. Heeding its trumpt call, here in this Divyabalaka Ashram, there is an army set in battle array. To enrich this village, to cause it to be filled with blessings, to make it fertile with the grace of God-certainly, this little tabernacle of the Lord’s presence, his mercy and compassion can achieve this. May the praise of God rise unceasingly from this house and echo and re-echo in the atmosphere!
Address:
Abraham Puramadam (Director),
Divyabalaka Ashram,
Malayidom Thuruth P.O 683 561,
INDIA