Tags Archives

in hope

You’re Not Just a ‘Regular Person’

Growing up in South India, I attended a church with an Anglican service format. The service would begin with the resounding music of the 19th-century pipe organ. It signalled that we needed to rise to our feet.  The Bible would then be carried down the aisle and placed on an impressive bronze lectern shaped like an ...

Gentle Spirit, Fierce Faith: A Tribute

This morning, my great aunt went home to be with Jesus. Her husband, PC Verghese, was a dynamic and respected evangelist in India for decades. He went to glory just two days ago. Both of them were like grandparents to me and instrumental in my faith journey. I have no doubt that they are rejoicing ...

Journeying with Jesus – A Lent Devotional

As I write this short post, I am on a journey. I don’t mean that metaphorically. Thankfully, I’m not on an “eat, pray, love” type quest for meaning and purpose. In a few hours, I’ll be hopping on a plane for a seven hour trip to Indonesia. I’ll be meeting up with friends there — ladies ...

How to Feel Loved

Earlier this week, I read a New York Times article about a new book by two leading researchers who study happiness. According to the piece, if these two authors had to choose one thing as the secret to happiness, it would be “feeling loved.” The book points out that “In order to feel more loved by ...

Can We Go Back to “Striving”?

It has evolved into a distateful word in the Christian lexicon. A word we feel guilty about. Over the years, I’ve dismissed and disparaged it, too.  What word am I referring to?  “Striving.”  We’ve turned the word “striving” into something almost sinister and sinful. I’ve written blog post after blog post saying “wise” things like, “May we not ...

A Prayer for 2026

The Arabian Sea stretches endlessly before me. As it curves toward the shoreline, fierce waves thrash against the barricade of jagged rocks. The waters roar and foam. The sound thunders in my ears as I gaze out at the ocean from the balcony of our Airbnb. We are on a family vacation in Kerala, in ...

When You Don’t Know What’s Next

Eighteen years ago, when I was expecting our first child, What to Expect When You’re Expecting was considered the go-to pregnancy “bible.”I know there’s an app for that now. But, back then, the book provided all sorts of baby advice and trivia. We would know, for instance, that at week 16, the baby would be ...

The Thrill of Hope, The Weary World Rejoices

Back in 2007, eighteen long years ago, I hung up an ornament on our Christmas tree. Why would I remember that moment?  The hubbers and I had been married about two years, and I was six months pregnant with our firstborn. We were excited and anxious soon-to-be parents. I remember hanging up that particular dull-gold ornament ...

Give Thanks in ALL Circumstances? How??

On the eve of Thanksgiving, we walk through tired hospital corridors. We are there to visit a friend, but we can’t meet him because he’s still in the ICU. His sister watches the clock in the waiting room. She is emotionally exhausted—but she is also remarkably resilient. As we talk to her, there’s something else—through ...
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…