Transformation

On the first day back at work after Songkran, which is Thai New Year, Monsignor told us at mass that the Thai word Songkran means transformation. 

For ten years, I have experienced at two levels the annual water festival which falls on 13, 14, 15 April.  There is the lovely water blessing of one's seniors and elders, wishing them well and thanking them for their care and leadership.  Then there is the other which is the mass pandemonium on the streets when everyone lets forth with throwing water at everybody.  The latter is real with three days of outdoor water sports for all - no choice. 

Until this week, I have never thought of this time of mass venting as a moment of personal transformation in one's life, as some sort of theoretical, Thai version of the resurrection.  There again, I guess the wish of every human being is to be transformed for the better and what better symbol to use than water for expressing this human desire.

Water cleanses, gives life, refreshes, makes us feel better.  All these elements speak of transformation in life and who doesn't want to feel clean and refreshed?  Who doesn't want to live life and live it more fully?

Happy transformation!