Author Archives

from Susan Narjala

When We Leave Our Nests For A New Normal

I was twenty years old the first time I was all alone in a house for more than ten minutes. I know you’re thinking: Whaaat? Like 2-0? You got to be kidding me, woman. I don’t have a whole lot to say in my defense. Growing up, on the rare occasions my parents went out without ...

You Are Not What You Do

Watch any online motivational video and, soon enough, you’ll hear one focal message: pursue your goals. We are told to dream big. We are persuaded that we can make that audacious dream a reality. We are convinced that our fulfillment and our identity lie wrapped up in that achievement. We are egged on to “make ...

While You Wait

Fifteen years ago, while I was a single woman waiting for my forever man, I prayed this rather ridonculous prayer: "Father, I want you to be the cake and for my future husband to be the frosting." I wrote this not-really-Biblical prayer in my journal a few months before I met my dashing dude. Thankfully, God answered ...

Installing India – Phase 1

Pulling out another one from the archives. I wrote this post four years ago, when we still experiencing "reverse culture shock" when we moved back to India after about 12 years of living in the US. Four years on, I cannot believe that Trader Joe's and Costco don't appear on my to-do list. But professional in-home ...

Giving My Kids The Space To Find God

Somewhere along the way, she stopped needing me to hold her hand as we walked in the parking lot. Somewhere along the way, he stopped needing me to read him stories before bed. She stopped needing me to wash her hair with the raspberry scented shampoo. He stopped needing me to tie his shoelaces. They ...

Don’t Ignore The Nudges

Five. That’s the number of articles I wrote that were rejected by DesiringGod. They were very nice about it – their rejection emails were always encouraging, and thoughtfully accurate. Despite their kind words, turns out I’m not a big fan of rejection (surprise, surprise). Each time I would say to myself, “Okay, this is the last ...

Vacations Don’t Have to Be Vacations From God

If there’s one thing that goes out the window during vacations, it’s routine. Close on its heels would be any pretense at calorie control. (Having recently emerged from a love affair with BBQ ribs on a trip to Texas, I have personally vetted this claim. But that’s a topic for a different article, if I can get ...

Questions for Those Left Behind

It’s another sluggish summer afternoon – I am trying to keep myself awake with ridiculously large quantities of caffeine. I look at my phone because that’s what I do when I have nothing else to do. Or when I have plenty to do. I don’t expect to see the message. My heart turns to ice the second ...
MEET SUSAN

I love words. But you probably figured that out by now, considering this website essentially collates my words on the web. Read More…