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by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"If you obey me and follow my commands, as your father David did, I'll let you live a long life." (1 Kings 3:14)
A medicine for Long life! CONSCIENTIOUSNESS!
A study of 1500 people over a course of eight decades found that some of our
common notions about longevity are wrong. The study reveals that people who are
conscientious lived a longer life. Conscientious means a life guided by in
accordance with conscience or sense of right and wrong. A clean life rooted in
the eternal principles of God leads to a long life span. A conscientious person
is responsible and organized, and not egoistic. They are pragmatic and think
ahead. They are less likely to encounter stress. They tend to end up in more
stable marriages. The highly conscientious are more likely to be moderate
drinkers or abstainers and are less likely to smoke. Jesus says, "Anyone who
listens to my teachings and follows them is wise, like a person who builds a
house on solid rock" (Mathew 7:24). The wise Solomon advices, "The fear of the
Lord lengthens one's life, but the years of the wicked are cut short" (Proverbs
10:27).
Rev (Dr) Curien Cor Episcopa is 98. He is a living legend in the Syrian church
community with his ever agile intelligence and sweet angelic innocent smiles. He
is always thankful to his parents for inculcating in him good values and
obedience to God. Rev. says, "I do bow at Thy feet remembering my mother and
father, they who reverentially offered me even in the womb unto Thee." He
exclaims about Holy communion, "Oh man if you are not ready to accept the 'free
cost' blessings from God. Alas! pity you." He loves all. The greatest quality of
him is his oneness with others. He has never separated from anybody - neither a
man of ninety nor a child of one. His other good qualities are transparent
behavior, commitment, astute love and belief in spirituality, humility and
soberness. He considers his deafness to be a blessing in disguise. He has
translated the complete bible from ancient Peshitho Syriac text to Malayalam for
the first time in the history of Kerala. At the age of 15, he translated the
Sunday morning prayer from Syriac to Malayalam, in poem style which is in use
even today throughout the world of Malayalee Syrian Christians. He was the
member on the Board of Studies in the secular universities of Kerala and Mahatma
Gandhi University. He was the Vicar of St George Simhasana Church in Thiruvalla
from 1959 to 2006. Truly a man leading a good life and a great role model for us
to emulate.
"Obey your father and mother, and you will have a long and happy life"
(Ephesians 6:2,3).
Jesus, instill in us a spirit of cleanliness and devotion. Let us all follow your dictums. We pray for long life for all those who are in the fields of your love and work. Let us follow our consciences that is directed and beamed from thy source. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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