2008, The Year that was...

The year that went by can best be described as a very eventful one. How else would you describe it, now that we are at the threshold of another year and await the joining of another member to our family. Mukti-Heba, which literally means Salvation,a gift from God.

We began the year with a lot of uncertainty as to where God is leading us and where we would end up as my Company was in the process of implementing a new strategy. A strategy that would ultimately prove very decisive for us and in more ways than one, reveal to us, Gods hand of guidance in our lives.

Because of health issues and waning strength, a visit to see Grandma in Vancouver was topmost on our priority. We did that in the first week of February. What a trip that was. We had waited for the moment for a long time, and finally we did meet her. It was sad to see a life so well lived at the fag end of it. Jan-Feb was also a month that I inherited a very large Project in the company and led it to recover a large sum of money. The project was implemented in June and was submitted for certification recently. The project pretty much kept me occupied the whole year. February was also the month that we had a new member added to our larger family. Lavanya was born to Rani and Jayesh on the 23rd of Feb. My mom was here at that time, and later came and visited us in April. By far the toughest month was March, however the tougher the month the greater the display of Gods hand of guidance. His grace is truly sufficient. In all the busyness of work and upkeep of the house, we managed to take sessions on Hinduism and conclude the Worldviews session at Livingston.

The worldviews session began with an idea to look at all the major religions of the world with the below points
- Concept of God_Every person has implicit understanding of God and his or her own philosophy of who/what that should be
- Concept of Man_What do we really think of fellow human beings
- Concept of Life_How is life best lived
- Concept of Salvation_If there is a problem with human beings what are the ways deployed by them to get out of it
- Concept of Afterlife_What happens to us when we die

We considered Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Roman Catholicism. Along the way we also briefly touched upon Buddhism and New Age. The sessions were very well received and many told us, how the sessions opened their minds to understand other religious systems. The worldview sessions concluded in April.

In May I was transferred to Charlotte, NC. This began a long and a painful process of staying away from my dear wife for about 3 months. Every 2-3 weeks I would either drive back or fly back and forth to Jersey. The time away gave me a lot to reflect upon. I've never had a fancy for fancy Birthday celebrations; however that’s precisely how my birthday was celebrated. Anant, Manisha, Ujju and Gifty were there to celebrate. Cyril at Livingston very generously gave about 3 boxes of books and also a bookshelf before I left for NC. The Marathi conference was the highlight for the month of June as well as the implementation of the big project. Shalu and Basu came up for the conference. July really was a month where we transitioned into Charlotte as we took up a new place. Both June and July were also the months, where I took to reading again and was greatly benefited by 'Ye Search the Scriptures' by Watchman Nee. Watchman does not spend too much time on the methodology; rather his focus is the person who is searching. A right person with God benefits from studying scriptures he would say. And thenofcourse spend a chapter on the various ways one can study scriptures.

Before we knew it, we were faced with our first month in the new apartment. The first 6 months of the year were very fast and consuming, especially with the impending Presidential elections in November, the primaries were intense. Barack Obama became the nominee for the Democrats in June. August was marked by our trip to the Akron Conference. We also spend time with Prabha and Milind there. One of the messages that stuck was “Sharing truth in love” by David Petterson. Obama accepted the nomination in August at a very grand ceremony in Denver, Colorado. More than 100,000 in the stadium and millions watching all over the US and the World.

By September I was almost putting my project together for submission, when a few things went awry and I eventually did submit the results only in December. What I will surely remember September for is the Presidential debates and a visit to one of the 'to be' presidents home town, Chicago...that was some experience. We were there for the NAINA (Indian Nurses in the US) conference with Anant and Manisha. We drove from Charlotte right to Chicago...a grueling 12 hour drive. I enjoyed every bit of it. We passed South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana and finally got into Illinois.
2 events stand out for October, a visit from Rani with Rana and Lavanya and the opportunity to speak in the Indian Fellowship in Newport News Virginia. A lot of things were weighing on my heart; however the top most was the meaning of the cross. What does the Cross really mean in terms of the values that it stands for? Well, in the 1st century AD when Christ was crucified, the Cross stood for the most shameful death that was reserved for the worst criminal. The Romans had various ways of executing a criminal; however the cross was the most dastardly way amongst all those. Many today wear crosses in their fingers and around their neck, unaware many times what it really means. I spoke on the 4 absolute values that one can observe and gain from in the Cross. Love (Gods Love), Judgment (Gods Judgment), Evil (Man's evil) and finally forgiveness. It is the last value that I will conclude this blog with. The message was well received and it was my prayer that listeners would revaluate what the Cross really means to them.
We were to travel to NJ for Vaishu's monthly class there, so we did, by road in the first week of Nov. I spoke at Livingston again on the Cross. A couple of things that the Lord had placed upon my heart while preparing for the message was about the act of forgiveness. When someone commits an offence / evil against you and you retaliate back with evil, then revenge has taken place. When evil is punished, then Justice has taken place. But then, how do you stop evil at all? You see, when evil is answered with good, then healing takes place. Does it not say in the scriptures, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good". In a very simple and yet profound sense, that is what Christ has done on the Cross. He has taken all the sins of the world (both that which were committed and that which would be committed), He has taken the judgment of God because of Mans sins and He has taken all the evil of the world and allowed himself to be nailed to the cross. Evil was finally retaliated with good.
November end and beginning of December were months where I poured myself into history books. 2 of them. The Legacy of William Carey: A Model for the Transformation of a Culture by Ruth and Vishal Mangalwadi and Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins. Both the books are about Indian history, while the former dwells on the tremendous impact that William Carey had on India, the later deals with the final events / days of the Indian Independence movement. I have learned more about India, living here in the US, than when I was in India. Not just because of these books, but also because of what I have come to appreciate and love about India. November also marked the month where America elected its first black President, Barack Obama.

This post has become too long to include anything more to write; however I will post another article/write up on Forgiveness and Grace, the last best word.

And so we ended the year 2008. Very eventful. We are thankful to God for 2008 and very much look forward to an even more eventful year as God leads us on.

Amen

Mukti in our life..(Written in February 2008)

It was for some time that me and Vaishu were thinking and planning of going to visit ‘Grandma’. For me it was the first time to see and spend time with her.
To think of how far India has come in the last century especially in terms of women’s position in the society as well as her education, I, many a times, am left with a feeling of how much more thankful we need to be to God for women like Pandita Ramabai and Lillian Doerksen. Both of them through selfless sacrifice of their own life and a calling, to which they were committed to, all of their life, have laid the foundation for generations to come.

I always remember my first trip to Kedgaon and the sheer magnanimity of the number of activities that go on at the same time. As an adult I can now begin to see the significance of those activities, simple activities like the people in the kitchen, the beautiful baskets put together by those who have lost sight, the variety of candles, the grand chapel…and then it begins to dawn on you the tremendous sacrifices that have gone on behind the scenes, sacrifices that might miss many a eye, sacrifices that have come at the expense of rejecting the socio cultural set ups, sacrifices that have come at the expense of leaving behind family, friends and loved ones and to follow him who is the light of the world.

I was first introduced to ‘Grandma’ by my father. What he mentioned about her has stayed with me. He talked about her deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ and the tremendous courage that she displayed in taking care of the flock that God had entrusted to her at Mukti.

This was a trip that I really looked forward to, for a long time. Me and Vaishu flew from Newark into Seattle and then drove upto Vancouver on a Saturday morning. We planned on spending at least 2 days with ‘Grandma’ and Uncle George and Aunt May; thankfully she was still awake on Saturday evening when we went to meet her. We could immediately recognize that Alzheimer’s had taken a toll on her health. She could not remember Vaishu; she could not remember people who were a part of most of her life in India. On that Saturday evening the only joy that we could take back with us was that of being able to see her.
However as we spent time with her over the next 2 days we realized and what was amazing to us is that she had not forgotten and could remember, the marvelous grace of God in her life, she could remember the God who was with her in the 46 or so years of life in India, she could remember Jesus Christ as the only way to know God, she could remember that God still speaks to us through His word and that we can still speak with God through prayers.

The next day was a Sunday; Vaishu spent some time alone with Grandma, reading from the Bible and singing songs. We had planned to spend the afternoon at the Tea House, which was Grandma’s favorite eating ‘joint’. The ride through the Stanley Park which still showed some signs of the terrible storm a year ago was enthralling with all the tall trees and beautiful scenery. The food at the Tea House was great, however greater was the company. On the ride back we sang many melodious and well known Marathi hymns that every Marathi Christian has sung or hummed when growing up…at first it took Grandma by surprise and then the memories flooded back, she remembered the hymns and was overjoyed to sing along with us..
After the time at Tea House and the ride back, we spend time being a part of the Chapel with Grandma. It was so overwhelming to sing with her as we sang many memorable hymns, however, one that stands out is “Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?” This hymn was translated in Marathi by Pandita Ramabai and therefore also has become a part of all those who are associated with Mukti.

We were to leave the next day and had planned spending some time in the morning and leave for the journey back home after lunch. We knew that she enjoyed Chinese food and so that’s what we had for lunch. What kept coming back to us was that though she was not able to remember many events and people, she was able to remember the one, even God, who was with her in her 46 years in India.
We also spend some time in Grandma’s room, which was filled with photos of all those in whose life she has played a significant role, especially her ‘34 girls’ and their families. A few of them have been able to visit her after she came back from India, while many still pray and look forward to see her. In a general sense Grandma has touched many lives all over the world; however in a specific sense she has touched mine to. I am referring to one of the 34 girls, Neelu, whom Grandma raised while in India at Mukti, my wife’s mother and now mine. I am so thankful to God for Grandma, because in a sense she was responsible in bringing Vaishu into my life. I love reading and so does Grandma. I was therefore thrilled to receive a copy of ‘A Light to India’ by Lillian Doerksen and get it autographed by Grandma herself.

Mukti in Marathi means freedom / salvation. We can truly live a free life when we are no longer bound by our sinful behavior. It is Jesus Christ that can give us true ‘Mukti’, as it is only his sacrifice that was acceptable to God. It is when we are free from sin that we can truly experience Gods grace and His mercy. The bible says that God has displayed His love for us in the person of Jesus Christ who He sent so that all those who believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their savior have truly received ‘mukti’. Grandma believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior and it was Him that she represented all her life. Whether it was in India or in Canada, she was and is passionate for him and to share his love with so many around the world. It was this love that brought her to India and spend more than half of her life in touching lives with the love of Jesus.

While we said ‘good bye’ to Grandma that afternoon, thankful to God and filled with humbleness, we were reminded of having spent time with a life well lived and well representative of her savior.

Marriage from a bachelor's perspective (Written in August 2005)

Am 26 and Indian. Quite a qualification to be considered a marriageable age. But in an Indian setting that’s all that is required, age and job. By Gods grace I have both. So in my country I would be like an eligible bachelor. But there is a problem, I am not in India.

Anyway I was just spending some time thinking on the Christian perspective of marriage from a bachelor’s point of view. Although am not directly quoting from the bible, I assume that the reader would know which book / verse am referring to in the Bible.

Only in the Christian context, marriage is taken beyond the normal humanistic context of family background and children and in laws and cultures and tradition and society.

Marriage in the Christian context goes much beyond the parameters mentioned above. It is not only two beings coming together as one, but two beings coming together as one for a purpose. That purpose is Gods will and His desire for them. Following is just a quote from one of the letters that a young man sent to a young lady, both seeking Gods will and direction in marriage in a Christian perspective
Quote

Apart from being a believer, on a specific level I see my spouse as my best friend. Now this might raise several other questions, like what’s a friend? Well, a friend for me is the one who loves regardless of the weaknesses he sees in the other person, trusting each other no matter what the relationship is going thru, does not base decisions on emotions or feelings, but is a friend because of conviction and a commitment made to each other. So even when you don’t feel like loving, you still do, because that is the right thing to do. One who does not get blown away by silly gossips, or is driven by passion, but is firmly rooted in trust. Because loving as a friend does, is an enormous commitment. It demands time, seeps you of that last ounce of energy, it makes you go that 2 miles, when you are asked to go 1, it is that which makes you eat your pride by making you show the other cheek, when you have just been slapped on one. Life partners stand for one another no matter what, not only because they are friends, but because they have committed their lives to one another even as Christ has done for us. I look to my spouse to constantly keep me on my guard, constantly challenging me, discussing with me, disagreeing with me, communicating constantly with me (even when it doesn’t feel like it), respecting each others views, because there is never a reason to be unkind, and above all retaining her identity as an individual because that’s the way God ultimately sees us. As a husband I see my role as a person, investing my life in this person that only God has brought into my life so that she becomes the person God intends her to be.

Unquote

Taken in this context, Gods view of marriage goes beyond one can imagine on a human platform. In fact the whole of Bible could be viewed as something that culminates into a marriage, a marriage of the church and the Lamb.
Let me elaborate. Glimpses / shadows of the bridegroom are given in the Old Testament, the Bridegroom is introduced in the person of Christ in the new testament through the four gospels, the bride is established in the book of Acts in the form of the Church, the Bridegroom and the bride exchange letters before the marriage which is evidenced by the 21 epistles and finally the wedding takes place in book of Revelation.
This is a marvelous perspective of what a marriage in a biblical worldview is.

So in a sense as men all of us aim to be as Christ the perfect bridegroom, who laid down his life for his bride, but God that he is, he raised himself up to lay the glorious foundation for a wonderful hope, that someday he will comeback to takes us to where he is.
As a husband and wife we still are his bride, awaiting his return.
Marriage in a Christian worldview goes beyond the ‘now’. When in heaven on a relational level there wouldn’t be any husbands and wives, we would be individuals who were responsible for each other while on earth, so that Gods purposes could be accomplished.

And so as young person, I would completely agree with my friend whom I have quoted above. Life takes a new meaning when as Husband and Wife, each sees their role as a person, investing their lives in each other so that each becomes the person God intends them to be.

Amen.

The Power of Blogging

This is my first post on my blog. Over time, it is my prayer and hope that this becomes a place for not only penning my thoughts and the activities that are taking place in my life, that it would also become a place for my friends, colleagues, family to find words of encouragement and hope to go on.

Much prayers and regards,