I try to mark the key milestones in my life with a blog post. So this one signals ten years in Madras (a 2nd innings?)... Here's a snapshot of those ten years.
On the evening of 19th April, 2013, I landed at the Madras Airport from Bombay after a week-long 'initiation' with FCB Ulka/Interface, to begin my four-year-long career in digital advertising. I currently work as an ICT Consultant in two schools, do a bit of web development and maintenance for a small digital firm, and also develop tech-focused after-school curriculum for children of different age groups (coding, data science, etc.).
So many things have changed: my family is not what it was back then. My church is not what it was back then. My eating habits are not what it was back then. My gadgets and vehicles and other equipment I use are also very different from what I used back then.
I've been wondering - for two months - on what to write in this blog post, and I haven't found a single significant thought or compelling idea or a brainwave to share.
So I'll share something simple, that has kept me going for much of the past five years or so.
Cling to Jesus.
I can't stress this enough.
What do I do, when a multi-lakh proposal falls through at work? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when the love of my life, whom I'm married to for 11 years walks out of my life? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when people don't really understand me? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when there's a HUGE 'fire' at work that around 12 people are trying to solve frantically, and you feel completely helpless? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when my son hasn't seen me in nearly two years and I don't know when next I'll see him? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when people assume something about me without getting to know me? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when my income reduces significantly - and without warning - due to a change at the employer's? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when a song reminds of the ultimate broken promise at 1 am and the tears flow uncontrollably? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when friends become strangers as time and rumours drive them away? Cling to Jesus.
I think you get the picture.
Clinging to Jesus, for me, looks like:
- talking to Jesus now and then
- reading the Bible
- spending time in a group studying the Bible
- talking over things about Jesus, the Bible and life with other people who make it a habit to cling to Jesus
- seeing Jesus through the lives of people who worship Jesus in word, thought and deed
If there's one thought I can leave you with, as you're reading this blog post, it is this: Cling to Jesus. Everything else in life will fall into the right places. (Or Jesus will mould us so that the right places are created for everything else in life)
On the evening of 19th April, 2013, I landed at the Madras Airport from Bombay after a week-long 'initiation' with FCB Ulka/Interface, to begin my four-year-long career in digital advertising. I currently work as an ICT Consultant in two schools, do a bit of web development and maintenance for a small digital firm, and also develop tech-focused after-school curriculum for children of different age groups (coding, data science, etc.).
So many things have changed: my family is not what it was back then. My church is not what it was back then. My eating habits are not what it was back then. My gadgets and vehicles and other equipment I use are also very different from what I used back then.
I've been wondering - for two months - on what to write in this blog post, and I haven't found a single significant thought or compelling idea or a brainwave to share.
So I'll share something simple, that has kept me going for much of the past five years or so.
Cling to Jesus.
I can't stress this enough.
What do I do, when a multi-lakh proposal falls through at work? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when the love of my life, whom I'm married to for 11 years walks out of my life? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when people don't really understand me? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when there's a HUGE 'fire' at work that around 12 people are trying to solve frantically, and you feel completely helpless? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when my son hasn't seen me in nearly two years and I don't know when next I'll see him? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when people assume something about me without getting to know me? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when my income reduces significantly - and without warning - due to a change at the employer's? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when a song reminds of the ultimate broken promise at 1 am and the tears flow uncontrollably? Cling to Jesus.
What do I do, when friends become strangers as time and rumours drive them away? Cling to Jesus.
I think you get the picture.
Clinging to Jesus, for me, looks like:
- talking to Jesus now and then
- reading the Bible
- spending time in a group studying the Bible
- talking over things about Jesus, the Bible and life with other people who make it a habit to cling to Jesus
- seeing Jesus through the lives of people who worship Jesus in word, thought and deed
If there's one thought I can leave you with, as you're reading this blog post, it is this: Cling to Jesus. Everything else in life will fall into the right places. (Or Jesus will mould us so that the right places are created for everything else in life)