“I hope I’m not going to put you and your family to any inconvenience,” I tell a friend as I enter his house. “No problems for any of us. We have a guest room waiting for you!” I shudder when I hear those words. I’ve never been particularly lucky with…
More Light, Less Noise..!
The world is full of noise makers: People who shout and yell, people who put on a great show, and act like actors on a stage: Full of craftsmanship but little content! I’ve seen this in leaders who can speak great oratory but have hardly any content. People with more…
Encouragers Who Will Clap and Cheer.!
A few years ago while giving a talk on ‘Public Speaking’ I noticed somebody in the audience nodding his head vigorously in agreement with all I had to say. I was pleased and a little later in the day when calling people to come up and speak turned to this…
The Bhopal Fall…!
The streets of the old city of Bhopal are pretty crowded, with traffic screeching at your elbows, but that didn’t deter mee Mumbaikar, from striding along the road as if I owned it. I didn’t see the number plate sticking out of a parked scooter, tripped on it, and went…
The Spirit Of Christmas..!
In a week, we will be celebrating the first Sunday in Advent which means the beginning of the Season of Christmas. For many of us this is the time for revelry, fun and parties! Getting drunk, and getting high! And for those of us with such a picture, allow me…
Check Your Foundation Today..!
A favourite Sunday school chorus of my childhood was about the wise man building his house on the rock, and the foolish man on sand. Maybe because it was an action song and showed the effects of wind and rain, we loved it, but today as I thought of that…
Your Lil Room..!
“When I’m down and out, I get stuck in my room!” said my philosophical friend Sam. “Depression?” I asked, “It’s not a good thing!” “Who’s talking about depression,” said Sam as he took me into his room, “What does the ceiling tell you?” “Oh it speaks to you does it?”…
Finish Your Race..!
A sad plea I hear ever so often, especially from the old or sick: “Bob!, why does God want to prolong my life, can’t He take me away?” By 7 p.m. on October 20, 1968, at the Mexico City Olympics Stadium, it was beginning to darken. It had cooled down…
Take it Slow..!
An executive went to visit a doctor for a checkup. He showed signs of overwork and stress. The doc warned him to slow down, to take up a hobby perhaps painting to relax. He agreed and started right away. The next day the high-achieving businessman phoned and announced enthusiastically, “Doc,…
Everything Is Possible..!
Many years ago, I fell sick with a near fatal illness. Most people gave up on me, except God. After getting back on my feet, I remember conducting a choir, in which my gift to the people was the song, “Nothing Is Impossible!” How many times have you heard someone…
Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.