For some time now, I've been wanting to do a whole "Forty Before Forty" run, posting something every day for forty days leading up to my fortieth birth anniversary.
Just now, I decided to ditch that whole project.
There are just some monumental life decisions I've taken - which I've taken for Jesus, and with Jesus, and these form the solid foundation on which I stand.
1. Mechanical Engineering in CSI College: There's so many details surrounding how this decision was taken, how I took this with completely different plans, and how my relationship with Jesus just deepened so much because of my time here. This is also why the Nilgiris will always be my second home.
2. First job at HP: Picked this at a job fair only because Ford refused to hire freshers, but then I had an amazing six years there. There are so many corporate things I've learned that stay with me still. After four years away from my home in Madras, I was dying to come back home - but God had other plans, and I chose what he wanted, instead of the other job offer I had in Madras.
3. Choosing Smitha: I was in a weird place in 2006 - out of college, new job, new city, completely new life. Smitha was the one for me, and I can see the positive impact in my life following that decision. People sometimes ask me if I regret that, and it's always an emphatic no! I am what I am today because I entered joyfully into this relationship with Smitha, guided by Jesus.
4. Quitting HP in 2012: I wrote then "When God says Go, you just go. No questions. No turning back. No second thoughts." More than 12 years later, I can say that I am beaming with joy for taking that decision. My career has been such awesome, much wow. I am truly grateful to Jesus for taking me down this route.
5. Moving from Advertising to Education: While I wrote at that time that I would be working for my church and my old school, I did not know that God would move me fully into the field of education. Today, I work part-time in three schools, getting to understand where technology is going in the world, and figuring out how to implement it in a way that works for schools in Madras.
Through every such major - and so many other minor - decision, what a journey it has been.
Every decision made for Jesus came with sacrifices. It came with pain. It came with doubt. It came with tears spent - either inside a bathroom of the first year hostel at college, or in the pillow of my bed - alone at night. These decisions are not easy to make, nor are they easy to follow-through with.
Through it all, the love, grace, and joy that has been given to me, sometimes overwhelms. I feel unworthy of the story God is writing with my life.
Am I really that important to you, Jesus?
I like to think, that Jesus then replies as he smiles says, "My child..."
I was born a mewling baby forty years ago. I am still a baby today... looking to the hero of this fantastically awesome and invigorating trip I'm on: Jesus.
Praise Jesus for every inch of my body, every feeling in my heart, every thought in my head, and every single possession and like and love that my life is filled with.
May He always reign and be glorified. Amen.
About Dan
Tech has been my fascination for a long time. Education has been an area I had strong convictions about, also for a long time. God opened doors to combine my fascination and convictions.
I work at bringing Technology and Education together to make excellent learning. Have been working with multiple educational institutions at various capacities for the last 12 years and I thoroughly enjoy watching God bless the works on my screen.
