l'amante di fiore - dedicated to Fr Ashley Miranda SDB

I have never seen a person so fallen in love with flowers. When asked, “Since when you had the interest in flowers?” He replied,”Since I was a brother, but even more after I became a Priest.”

The discovery of fascinas for flowers was seen when we went for our picnic to Igatpuri the other day. Where we had a long walk between mountains and landscapes.

A scene where he is engrossed taking and saving the image of a peculiar flower on his Nokia…..

Whether to call it a hobby or a passion I leave it to you reading this…… I would often wonder why people like to bring nature at home with planting and potting of fruits and flowers. I think it is because of only one thing- that is LOVE. I would often think that they are killing or destroying life of a plant/tree/fruit/flower but maybe I was wrong. It is to bring and give life to the world around them.

His eyes are always racing just like his mind to pick on things (nature-flowers) which we don’t see around. He is a person living in the present, the now, the moment- he enjoys living life to the full. By this I mean that whatever he is at be it - Celebrating Mass (Priest), taking class (professor), marketing for us (Administrator), talking to brothers (Formation in-charge of the Provincial Councillor), when he walks there is energy, when he talks there’s fire within.

You might be thinking why such praise and flattery or rather a query ticking as to why I am pleasing this chap. Well, you are free to think as you like. All I have done is expressed what I have seen and only seen, thought and only thought about this “top chap, top there”. Who has touched the lives of many youngsters (brothers), including myself. He is fondly called ‘Papa’. Loving yet firm, kind yet demanding. He believes in doing things well with energy, and whole heartedness. The Lover of Flowers has got a lot to give each one of us. Let us also be lovers of flowerz…