Dr Saira Paulose Thomas
Before
coming here today I asked my wife why once she remarked that Dr Saira could
have been in the ‘IAS’. The first thing you noticed of Dr Saira is her friendly
but upright, strong and firm personality. She appears to have quite a good dose
of God given intuitive ability to quickly discern right and wrong, good or bad,
how much (of praise or softness or even toughness) is enough and most of all an
ability to be firm when needed and be strong when it is called for!
As her senior in the area of HIV/AIDS, what
is that I observed? I found her to be some one who can be counted upon once you
hand over the steering wheel. Get her settled in the seat, teach her the basics
and thereafter, trust her to run it and run it to her best and that means
running it pretty well.
Her leadership style is one of leading from
the front. She believes in team leadership and work well with second line or
upcoming leaders. She is able to give them space – space to think and act on
their own. In fact I see in her leading a team of young people who themselves
are leaders in the making. I believe she has done a good job in mentoring
future leaders for missions.
As a senior EHA staff, what is important
is, am I, are You, Are We, - an embodiment of the vision and mission of
Emmanuel Hospital Association?
·
Being part of a Fellowship –
enjoying being part of the fellowship – of sailing together through all
weathers – the manner of fellowship as we find in the epistle of 1 John Chapter
1.
·
Transformation – on
transforming of all – you and me – the focus on transformation – growing
transformed in the image of our God day by day
·
Caring – caring of the whole
person – body, soul and spirit – in your professional life – in your family and
social life, in your spiritual life – a caring attention to each area.
How would we rate Dr Saira whom we bid
farewell today? As Shalom Delhi today could we say that she indeed is an
embodiment – in her fellowship with us, her transforming relationship with us
and in her caring ways – caring words, caring deeds and caring thoughts and
prayers? I believe it’s a resounding Yes.
Lastly but perhaps not the least in the
case of Dr Saira is about hospitality. In the New Testament – Paul’s
favourite word is ‘hospitality’. Saira is best known to many EHA leaders for
her hospitality. Her home is where you can go and stay for perhaps as long as
you need to do. Its just that you have to make yourselves comfortable – don’t
expect her to give extra efforts to make you comfortable (except beyond giving
you breakfast even they mostly go without it). You are part of the family as
long as you are there – the kitchen, the bathroom, the spare beds, the floor and
what have you - all are yours - all you need to do is – just be at home in
their home! If you want to try out – I suggest you visit her in Raxaul?
Langkham
26.3.2015