Passionately M

Since I was a small child, I have loved to read newspapers. I used to go to my mother's dress shop in the old public market every Saturday and sit on the pallet bench in an area where people used to read tented comics and other reading materials. It brought me an immense joy. Some stall vendors recycled newspapers and used those as paper bags for the items they sold like fruits, coffee, etc., which I flattened after opening and read whatever was there. In high school, we had a subject on current events in Social Studies. There was an additional reading material for us to digest to know what was going on in our country and around the world.  My mother did not buy a television set for us intentionally, since she wanted my brother and me to focus on our studies. Yes I never experienced to have our own TV set at home for a score of my life (20 years or two decades). I had to go to my neighbors / friends' houses on weekends or school days-off, to watch my favorite shows, and in betw

  In the history of the Christian world, the Good Friday is the celebration of the most momentous event. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and His death at the Calvary. This basically reminds us of my favorite Bible verse, according to John 3:16 NIV -- For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. When I was young, I remember that in our community, some families would host the reading of the Passion of Christ. People used to gather together to read the contents by singing, 24 hours a day, by shift. The host would prepare foods and snacks for all. Always there would be such a delicious hot ginger tea to soothe the throat. We did not eat meat, only fish and vegetables. Those who had no medical issue, would fast, as a way of expressing feeling the grief. Then we used to go to the church full of devotees. Images and statues were covered with lavender fabric.  There was a deafening silence. At 3PM, t