The distinctive feature of Father Egerton Perera’s writings is that they inspire readers to a fuller appreciation of life and prepare them to face the inevitable challenges of life with courage, fortitude and equanimity. The Challenges and Rewards of Being Human, like his previous book, Marvels of Being Human, will no doubt help in developing a wholesome perspective of life and contribute to the development of healthy values for living. The book is devoid of a religious bias. It is simple, thought provoking, logical and lucid. It is honest and forthright in its discussions of social issues.
The Challenges and Rewards of Being Human discusses problems faced by ordinary people in their daily lives. It will help readers to develop a healthy attitude to life, develop sound values for living and assist them to gain the rewards of a complete life.
It will equip them to face the unavoidable problems and challenges of life courageously. This book enables one to discover oneself and to respond to the challenges of daily life. It is a book that contributes to readers’ personal growth and their relationships with others and society.
This book of fifty-one short chapters is divided into three themes: Personal Growth, Relationships and Sri Lanka. Each chapter has three sections: Where are we? Chewing Gum and Practical Considerations.
The reader is introduced to practical issues and asked to reflect upon them. Sensible measures to cope with the issues are suggested. The book helps one to discover oneself, reflect on the issues and take some realistic actions.
It is a book that one reads an episode at a time and contemplates on the ideas and the understanding of the issues presented and responds in one’s own personal manner. It is not a book intended to be read from cover to cover in a single day and yet some may just do that and come back to it to reflect upon the themes discussed in it.
Fr. Egerton does not give prescriptions but guides you to resolve the problems.
In the third section Fr. Egerton ponders over a number of issues in national life. This too would assist us in forming sound values with respect to our role as citizens. The book is simply written and could be understood by youth. In fact it would be most useful to those in their formative years. As one commentator has observed, “it is simple in its profundity.”
Fr. Egerton is not a recluse nor has he been one. As an undergraduate at the University of Peradeniya he was the life and soul of any party on campus. After obtaining a degree in Economics he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and practised as one. His social graces and enjoyment of life is manifest in his winning medals for ballroom dancing. It was after a rich and varied lay life that he joined the Jesuit order. He ministered to simple people in the poorest of parishes living like them.
He is now the Chaplain of the Peradeniya University where he is most concerned about student welfare of all students on campus.
The book is available at the Jesuit House, Bambalapitiya, and the Jesuit House at Gregory's Road, Colombo 7 and at the Lewella Retreat House in Kandy. |
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