was born in an army family, the third son of a senior officer. Our life was very organized. It was quite a good thing and certainly has its benefits.
My family was very religious. We would have daily poojas and visited temples regularly. While we were free to choose most things, missing poojas was not an option.
We never had long lasting friendships as we moved a lot. We lived in at least 8-9 cities, growing up.
I had several accidents when I was younger. I fell from the third floor onto a concrete path. Was run over by auto rickshaws twice! Rolled down a spiral staircase for a couple of floors. But each time, I had just a few scratches. A precautionary night’s stay in the military hospital gave my parents peace of mind. Mostly my Mum, as Dad was away.
But this planted a thought in my mind that someone divine had a purpose for my life. A thought that I carried with me for a long time.
My wife and I had thriving careers as hoteliers in Oberoi Hotels in management. She is from a family of freedom fighters and non-profit volunteers. Her grandfather was with M K Gandhi in India’s struggle for freedom.
But we felt a void on the spiritual front. Looking for ways to fill that gap, we came across many gurus, some with very good values. And a plethora of gods, with varied demands to reach them.
But one caught our attention. One who wanted a relationship with us and reached out to us. He came to the earth as a human, and conquered a painful death on a cross. He has chosen us to be His and loves us unconditionally. And He promises to be with us in every situation.
That is Jesus Christ. And His word is the Bible.
He does not promise us a life devoid of suffering and challenges. But through them, He is able to mould us to be stronger, yet more humble.
He calls us to serve others. And He guides us through every challenge in life. We can speak to Him anytime, and He will hear us.
It’s been over 21 years since we have a relationship, not religion, with Christ Jesus.
Our happiness is no longer dependent on our circumstances. Rather, we’re joyful, a state of mind that’s immaterial of the challenges we face.
We’ve had and continue to have our fair share of struggles. A special needs son, uncertainty at work, cancer that looked terminal but presently in remission, a daughter with deteriorating eyesight, and many more.
But we are at peace and have a joy that surpasses all understanding. We have it all through Jesus, by surrendering our imperfect selves to His divine workmanship.
I invite you to choose Jesus Christ and explore the life that He gives. You will benefit from it in every way - your relationships, health, work, ethics, family, finances and more.
Find a Church, Christian friend or Pastor and ask questions, just like I did. If your questions and interest are genuine, you will find answers. They will be the foundation for an abundant life.
