Reno in the snow

Over 25 states in the US had either a winter snow advisory or a thunder storm advisory this past weekend into Monday night.  Record breaking temperatures and snow were encountered in many parts of the West Coast.
Reno got it’s share of snow Sunday evening into Monday night. The elegance of snow is beyond words but the aftermath is a venture, especially for a small city like Reno quite unprepared for the snow.

Reno in the snow is venturesome for many reasons:
1) There is no precautionary measures taken like usage of  salt.
2) There is not enough equipment and man-power to plow the snow off the road.
3) The hilly landscape of Reno results in wide variations in snow accumulations.
4) The drivers in Reno are a bit  inexperienced driving in the snow.

Our area received approximately 10 inches of snow. We are thankful for our 4 wheel drive, and our handy shovel we purchased last summer.

From my heart to yours

Grace Church was an incredible experience today. Christmas carols like Hark the herald, O Come let us adore Him, We three kings, filled the air and the sweet aroma touched the hearts of many. The performance of the Christmas choir was superb. One loud unified voice is all I heard from beginning to end.  I felt a true experience of joy. Overall, it was a great rendition of the season. Wishing “Merry Christmas” to others on the first week of December was absurd at first but sure felt  “right”.

The songs, the message, and the fellowship reminded us the true meaning of the season. The birth of the Savior was a day  long awaited even from the pages of Genesis. A fulfilled promise which arrived years later, the greatest of all impossibilities, yet a divine plan so well executed beyond human understanding.

Today, as I am watching the first snow fall of the season in Reno, I am wishing a “Merry Christmas”  from my heart to yours.
God Bless!

Last month of a glorious year

Today is December 1st, the first day of the last month in 2009. There is a popular saying, "Time flies when you are having fun" and 2009 was a year of  fun, excitement, and adventure in my life. A year ago, I would have said that 2009 will be the slowest moving year for us, a notorious 12 month away from our family and our hometown. I was totally wrong in my assumptions. As I look back at the year 2009, I want to capture each moment back, relive each second, and freeze every venture.

With only so many days left this year, before I embark on the year 2010, a year of new challenges and adventures, I am simply thankful to God for His provisions, for His miracles, and for His love. Great is thy faithfulness - and without Him, I would have been an empty vessel.

I am definitely sad to say good bye to the year 2009. We take in our hearts numerous memories to remember for a life time and some great moments to chuckle over during the rainy days. Welcome to 2010, a year of new discoveries.

More about me

I was born on October 31, 1982, in Bendel State, Nigeria though I hail from a small town in Kerala, India. I hardly recollect any of my childhood days in Nigeria since my family moved back to India when I was 3 1/2 yrs or so. From 1986 to 1996, my childhood, my teenage, and  some glorious years were spent in a small town in kerala, India. In May of 1996, my life took another twist and turn, hence I am here in the US.

New York- The Big Apple, is where I landed with my family. I did my high school education (9-12) at one of the Yonkers Public High Schools. Graduated with the popular Y2K class. Pursued my college education at Manhattan College and then College of Mount Saint Vincent, both located in Bronx, NY. I graduated in 2004 with a BS in nursing. Soon after graduation, I started working at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York city.

I got married to my wonderful husband in 2006. In 2008, Ajo & I moved to Reno, NV where Ajo is pursing his Master's degree in MSIS. I am currently working at Saint Mary's Regional Medical center, Reno, NV. This is where I am right now and what lies in front of me is still part of my adventure and journey which will unravel in His time.

What is the mystery?

A question that visitors try to answer after their experience at Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz, CA. What is the mystery?. But, Is there a mystery?. Mystery Spot is an area of land encompassing a mini cabin and its surroundings. Here is where you wonder, question, and practically drive yourself crazy due to various obscurities and anomalies you observe and none whatsoever makes sense or even gives you a vague representation of reality.

We attended a 45 minute guided tour to see/solve the mystery spot on August 18, 2009. We were alarmed watching a ball roll upward, astounded by pendulum that defies gravity, and baffled by variations in height. Many theories and interpretations exist to solve the puzzle behind the mystery spot but fail to unravel the ambiguity conclusively.

Once again, my question revert back to this; Is there a mystery? or Is it just a fluke or perhaps even a illusion due to the brilliant construction of the cabin on a steep hill?. The answer still remains a mystery.

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving day starts for many of us with friends and families greeting each other via phones, emails, text messages or perhaps in person. With all the celebrations, preparations, and formalities associated with this holiday, I often wonder if the real meaning of thanksgiving is perhaps lost in the plethora of every mediocre American family. Text messages use "Happy Turkey Day" instead of "Happy Thanksgiving Day". People try their best to avoid family get-together and are content with celebrating thanksgiving with a closed door mentality.

Thanksgiving day was filled with adventure, gratitude, and sincerity. We spent our thanksgiving in Sacramento, about 150 miles away from Reno, a getaway spot for most Reno residents. Driving through the Sierra- Nevada mountains during the winter months is an adventure due to unpredictable weather conditions. The weather was perfect and the drive was serene. We had traditional thanksgiving dinner with Jojochachan, Josychechi & Jovin, a family we really got to know since our move to Reno. We are thankful for their hospitality and sincerity. We also watched the movie "Up" with them, a great family movie. We drove back late that night watching the beauty of the silhouette of mountains ahead of us.

Adieu!

A month ago, we bid farewell to a man we respectfully called "Babu Sir". I still remember the day we received our first phone call from him, our initial visit to his house, our short but warm conversations with him, and our many other cherished encounters in Reno.

In a short time of one year or so, we met him, got to know him, and said goodbye to him. It still seems too surreal to us. Perhaps the reason is because we never ever expected our lives to intertwine in this small city in a real short span of time. God's plans are far beyond our understanding.

We were perhaps the only two people in Reno who called him "Babu Sir" though we were never his students before. Ironic enough, he did train us to sing few Christmas songs for the Reno Christmas function. He taught us not just music but about hospitality, meekness, and simplicity .

Saying good bye to him was hard for us. When we last saw him at the hospital, he held our hands and did not want to let go. Those moments will live for ever and moreover what he meant to us during our first few months in a new city is simply wordless.

Blessings on Your Birthday!

Let me share my birthday wishes to my better half. Wishing you health, happiness, and longevity. May this year be filled with lots of blessings. Embrace the open doors, accelerate through green arrows, and kindle the smothering flames. May God bless you!

"The paradox of birthday is that when you add one year to your life, you are really subtracting one year from your life." Anonymous

Big Picture

I haven't blogged for awhile. Past month has brought its share of ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and faith and doubt. Through it all I was not alone - burden seemed too heavy to bear but He carried it for me, tears poured down but He wiped every single drop of them, doubt overwhelmed my heart but He planted verses of faith in me.

Life is unpredictable and most often taken for granted by people who realize its fragility. Am I thankful for each and every moment in my life? No. I want to be thankful and therein lies the great challenge.The reason it is a challenge is because  I have to be equally thankful for the ups and downs, failures and successes, joys and sorrow etc. Tough!  Isn't it?.

This past July, we visited Yosemite National Park in California. I was stunned by the picturesque view. There is no words and one has to see it to fully grasp the reality of its depth, width and height. Pictures and videos do not do justice regardless of how professional it is. Pictures and videos grasp only a frame of what real eyes can perceive.

It is impossible for our human eyes to comprehend the big picture of what God is doing in our life. We are unaware even about our next moment but God has our entire life with its depth, width and height in front of Him. We are mere  mechanical cameras and camcorders which sees only one frame at a time. Though I do not see the big picture, my prayer is that I have little faith as a mustard seed to believe that God sees the big picture and it is more stunning than the "Tunnel View" at Yosemite.

When the unthinkable happens...

Last night, our one and only reliable laptop crashed.  We did not plan for it to happen but it happened.  Considering, Ajo had this laptop for about  5 years and with all the wear and tear it acquired over the years, the crash was inevitable.  Ajo did back-up our data to an external hard drive about couple of months ago, but we may have some recent documents and pictures since then.

Whenever the unthinkable happens, there is a time period of havoc, hassle and halt. Ultimately, its a time when decisions have to be made. We have a couple of choices in front of us. We are debating, re-thinking, and weighing the pro and cons.

I am upset and more disturbed that the computer crashed while I was working on it. In addition to all the end of the semester deadlines for projects, papers, and presentations, that my truly beloved have to meet, now an added stressor comes to the scene. Life is full of unwanted surprises, unexpected events, and unforeseen challenges. Some are great, others are not so great.  Regardless, we learn from these experiences more than from books, lecture halls, and research.

Give Me an Addiction

A couple of weeks ago, the above statement came into my mind. I am not sure whether it was a petition, a prayer, a request or all of them. I pondered, I meditated, I analyzed as to what I was yearning for. In addition to all the worldly addiction that we hear about, which I myself am guilty about, what was I searching for?

I was petitioning for an addiction to the Bible. I realized that asking for an addiction for the Word will ultimately draw me away from all my other unwanted addictions. Was I asking for too much? Will He answer me?

After going through some rough roads this past week, I realized that God did answer my prayer. I do not want this addiction to stop, nor I want to quit ever.

Frozen Keyboard

 Mind is full but words are few. A tough week in Reno passed by, yet a tougher week ahead in Reno. Fear, grief, uncertainty, and grace all experienced concurrently. Praying for guidance for all, strength for the broken, and hope for the bereaved.

Was Jesus popular or unpopular?

I guess you may think that the answer here is obvious. His ways and His teachings were unpopular but He was sure popular.

Do you remember a special page in your high school yearbooks called "The Popularity Page"? The idea is people get voted into categories such as: most likely to succeed, best smile and the list goes on. If  a popularity contest existed in the 1st century, would Jesus have been voted in for something or other? Perhaps, yes, perhaps, no. Regardless, He was, is, and will be the "Most Influential person in History."

Jesus had a unique power of attracting a crowd around Him. The circumstances which led to the mob or multitude varied from preaching on the mountaintop, to a simple stroll down the road, to the final trial and crucifixion. One would say, Jesus had the most number of friends and most number of enemies in 3 years of His ministry. He had no music to gather a crowd nor did He perform magic to attract people. Even the rich and affluent waited to see Jesus.

Perhaps, it is no exaggeration to claim that almost every person in the Jerusalem area has seen this influential person at least once. There was no mass media, no newsreels, no newspapers to make him popular but it was solely through the word of mouth.

Sun is Back!

Sun is back in Reno today. You are right! I did get to do my laundry today. How exciting! I did get Ajo to help me out a little since he stayed home most of the day. For once, his obligations of being a student did not entirely engulf his whole day.

While I was folding my clothes which came out of the dryer, I find this: a tiny sock which was quarter the length of my regular sock.

First, I was not sure if it did belong to us and wondered if  the new dryer may have done this atrocity to my normal length sock. On a second look, I was able to conclude that it was definitely not ours. For some unknown reason, it may have been stuck in the dryer from a previous tenant. After taking a lovely picture, I returned the sock to the laundry room. Perhaps, a mom pairing her kid's sock frustrated to find a sock missing may return to search for the lost sock, or may be the other pair already ended up in the trash. Not sure. It's always worth a try.

Rainy Reno

It's raining in Reno after many days, weeks or may be months. Rain in the desert is uncommon and always welcome. Yet, I waited the whole day to see the sun or may even for the rain to stop just so that my personal plans may prosper. I could not do my planned laundry today, since I have to walk a few steps to get to the laundry room and needless to say, I didn't plan to get myself wet nor the dry clothes wet. Hence, I waited and waited. At this point, I have moved my chore to another day. I am not content yet I thank God, not just for the rain but for  small incidents like these teach me the frailness of man's plans.

Confessions about my Prayer

Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth taught his disciples a simple prayer called "The Lord's Prayer". Like a well- balanced diet, the Lord's prayer is well-balanced, and often we recite the prayer in a perfunctory manner and I am guilty of this many times. That is my first confession.

We use the phrases "Give Me, Help Me, Bless Me, Guide Me" too often in our personal prayers. Perhaps, the problem is not about using these phrases but we tend to only use these phrases. That is my second confession. Hence, I have made a decision to add these phrases, "Take Me, Mold Me, Use Me, Fill Me" to my prayers. The key difference between the phrases is that the latter conveys availability. Should I be waiting to hear the words "Follow Me" like the disciples heard at the sea shore or should I be like Isaiah and say, "Here I am, Send me" ?.

October Ornaments

October welcomes me in Reno with snow capped mountains at a distance, cool nights, sunny afternoons, and scarce but vivid fall foliage. Two among the above mentioned are my favorite - the snow capped mountains and the fall foliage. Why? Let me explain.

The snow capped mountains remind me of unembellished beauty, too far to attain yet close enough to desire. Fall foliage is not just an autumn trademark in Reno. It brings life to the desert as Christmas ornaments adorn a simple tree.

I start to appreciate vivid colors more now than ever now. Snow capped mountains at a distance depicts more than just approaching winter but a hope for abundant water in the desert.

Unfinished Work

On August 20, 2009, Ajo & I drove from San Jose to San Simeon to take a tour of "Hearst Castle". We love to travel and explore, hence we decided to take the trip to see this castle. William Hearst who inherited a ranch land from his family wanted to build a "little something", hence the building of this magnificent castle began. The castle stands in a hill which used to be called Camp Hill but now renamed to Enchanted Hill.

The dedication and toil behind the castle is worthy of applause since the labor behind building a castle on a hill is quite a complex and tedious task. The castle has 3 guest houses, one main house, one indoor pool, and one outdoor pool. If you are not impressed yet, here is what the castle as to offer -56 bedrooms, 41 fireplaces, 61 bathrooms, and 19 sitting rooms. That is huge. One man followed his dream to built a "little something" which turned out to be an enormous work of art, architecture and history.

Despite all the number of rooms he built for the castle, ironically there is only one dining room. It was during these meal times that Mr. Hearst met with his guests. Every one gathered together and dined around one table. Perhaps, there is more than a simple reason why the castle was designed with one dining room. Perhaps, the gathering around one table reminded him about his humble beginnings from tents and camp fires. Whatever the reason may have been, I feel that it highlights a character trait of a man who had much perseverance about building his dream.

This magnificent castle with all its splendor and charm still remains unfinished. From below the hill, the castle is perfect in every way but at the top of the hill, you notice the unfinished exterior. The construction had to come to a halt due to financial burden in 1947. More so, the dreamer left the castle to seek medical attention and the work of the castle never resumed. Hearst Castle stands as an embodiment of one man's dream and the unfinished work proves that no man can ever finish another man's dream.

Through the Eyes of a Child

Last Wednesday evening, Ajo and I attended a talk organized by UNR and a few other local sponsors in the Reno area. The talk was by Eva Kor, a holocaust survivor. Her one hour poignant speech amazed every soul in the lecture hall. Her ordeal and her survivor story was moving beyond words. Her childhood was not like any other childhood. Eva and her twin sister endured major road blocks in their life to survive. She said that though she got liberated from the camp on January 27, 1945, she was only able to liberate herself in the early 1990's when she decided to forgive. Forgiveness, what a powerful word! A word we often take for granted, a word we want to receive but not give, and a word that ultimately granted salvation through grace to every believer. Let us embrace our small blessings, value our life, and show gratitude to our existence.

Read more about Eva Kor at http://www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org/index.php?sid=26

The Road to Emmaus

Even a perfunctory reading of this account recorded in the Gospel of Luke gives me goose bumps. It started as a journey of two people to a place called Emmaus about 7 miles from Jerusalem, which soon turned into a journey of three. Here the risen Lord is labeled as a "Stranger". There are several meanings for the word "stranger" but here I would like to define it as a person who you are not familiar with or a person unknown to you.

As a kid I was taught to avoid strangers like every other kid. I still avoid strangers like every other grown up. We almost always keep a distance from strangers. We almost never walk side by side to a stranger. In the account by Luke, we read that "Jesus himself drew near and went with them." This stranger was not like any other stranger but unique. For the two, the Road to Emmaus was infact a Road to Uncertainty which soon turned into Road to Redemption with the presence of the "Stranger". The stranger they encountered during this road-trip became their Savior.

Again, Luke records in the Acts of the Apostles about another road trip, where Saul journeys to Damascus. During his road-trip he encounters the Lord who once was a stranger to him. His Road to Perdition turned into Road to Redemption. In Acts 9:5, we see Saul asking this crucial question, "Who are you, Lord?". This was the start of the relationship where Saul inquires about the stranger he met. Saul fell flat to the ground only to rise up as Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ who was a defender and follower of his Savior until the end.

"Emmaus experience" happens in our lives as well. It is when we encounter the Savior and the path of redemption. It's when we are not afraid to say that He was once a stranger and now my Savior.

Opening Lines

Once a stranger now my Savior is a series of posts about a journey, more like a road-trip where we encounter freeways and highways, hills and valleys, smooth roads and rugged paths, sand and rocks, desert and springs, snow and rain, and many more. In addition, there are road blocks, detours, U-turns, traffic lights, yield signs, stop signs, and others which add life to this journey. How strange that I used a simple word life rather than excitement, thrill or even adventure! Simply LIFE! That one word LIFE encompasses a million others.

Take a look at the Genesis 2: 7 where it says "the Lord God formed a man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of LIFE; and man became a living being".

Today, sitting in front of my laptop in Reno, NV, I am simply trying to search for words to write and striving to be as expressive as possible. Why the doubt and uncertainty, I am not certain at this point. I honestly know that if God is in control, my fingertips will continue typing my thoughts regardless of my feelings of inadequacy as a writer.

A Day at Gilroy- Aug 21, 2009

Perhaps it was the brochure with a 5-year old which instigated our trip to Gilroy Gardens. When we look back, we have no regrets about spending 6 hours of our day at a theme park for kids ages 2-7. At the ticket booth, we were a little embarrassed to be the only couple buying tickets without kids. Perhaps we also felt uncomfortable since we had coupons for half off the ticket prices. Like our parents always say, “when there is a deal- take it, use it & enjoy it.”

Gilroy Gardens is known for its Circus Trees. These awesome looking trees were grown by a man who never shared his secret with anyone. After years of research horticulturist are still unable to replicate what this man did in the 1920’s. They are amazing wonders in botany.

Though our initial plan was to just see the circus trees, we were quite surprised at the parks’ ambience. At a theme park geared towards kids, we saw kids – a lot of them. One of the things, we are both fond of is watching kids. You are right; we just watch them and enjoy their innocent conversations, dramatic actions, and unpredictable tempter tantrums. To make a long story short, we saw it all at Gilroy Gardens.

We roamed around the park for awhile and then we decided to go on a ride. Oh yes, I was not going to walk out of a theme park without going on a ride. I quickly glanced through the brochure trying to decide on a ride which could accommodate two adults. The rides were rated on a scale of 1-3 on the intensity of difficulty. Most of the rides allowed a parent chaperon to accompany the children. As we walked, we ended up in a small lake where we saw paddle boats for two. They were shaped like a swan or a duck. We immediately got on the line after inquiring if two adults can go on them. The lady at the front had to ask her boss since that wasn’t a frequent question she encountered. We were a little embarrassed when we heard him saying “TWO ADULTS!” and then “yea sure”. The ride was rated 2 on a difficulty scale and we wore our life vests and hoped on the line. Still I am not sure if the life vest Ajo wore was a kid’s life vest or an adult’s life vest. Even if it was an adult one, I am questioning if that floatation device would do its job on a 200 plus pound guy. I am glad we never had a find out the answer to the question. We started to paddle with much confidence and pride but within a short time we realized that this was no easy task. It was quite rigorous to paddle our way through the lake and back. Though I was tired and furious from paddling, we chuckled at our adventure filled ride.

Ajo would describe Gilroy Gardens as a “brat fest”. Perhaps it is an ideal description for the place, and the brat fest did make our day entertaining and amusing. Parents would wait in line with their kids, the kids would watch the ride and back out at the last minute and hop on a more appeasing and less strenuous ride like a carousel. How funny!

As I look back to that one day, I can honestly say that I truly enjoyed the park and I would go back in a heartbeat. Next time, neither the circus trees will amaze me nor the rides will entertain me but the children at Gilroy will both amaze and entertain me.

Sky is the Limit

Today, we went to the Reno Air Race held in Stead, NV which is about 8 miles north of Reno. I was not quite sure as to what to expect at this event and that is precisely the reason we felt the need to join others who are the so called “air race fans.”The name of the event precisely conveys what it is all about – Racing of aircrafts. What is interesting is that we hardly hear racing and aircraft put together. We are familiar with land and water racing but not air racing.

This year, the US Navy “Blue Angels” did an Air Show for an hour or so. It was simply breath-taking, adventurous, and entertaining. It was a good treat for us. My husband took some catchy snaps. I sat on the bleachers with many others while I gaped at the limitless sky as I watched the aerial acrobatics of six aircrafts. Applause and cheering by spectators dominated the general ambience of the crowd. Their “graceful maneuvers” gave me goose bumps more than merriment as I continued to pray for safety for all. I wondered if it is possible to not have a tinge of fear as aircrafts performs acrobatics over your head and at times even less than a mile away from you. Perhaps, a seasoned viewer has surpassed the stage fear and all I need is time.

I have to say that I enjoyed the event. I admire the pilots and their performances, and the hundreds who worked back stage for a safe air show this year. Today when 29 young citizens got recruited to the US Navy for training, their oath ended like this “………help us God.” Let us always have those three words linger in our words, in our hearts and in our lives today and always.

O ye of little faith

A phrase used by Jesus during his ministry on earth. Perhaps, a phrase that still resounds in the heart of many a believer. Surely, it is a phrase that resonates in my life from time to time.

Yesterday, while flipping through my husband’s Bible I came across a few verses in the Gospel of Matthew that was marked by him with a note that says, “1/21/08 –These verses protected us…”

On January 21, 2008, we were on our return flight from India after spending about three weeks among family and loved ones. Everything was a blessing up until we felt some low to moderate turbulence in the plane when we were close to home. Our laughter turned into fear and we contemplated the unthinkable as we held on to the hand rest when the flight went through some rocking moments.

Occasionally, my in-laws who sat two rows ahead glanced to look at us. My Brother in-law who sat next to me continued to flip through magazines. I could hear passengers praying, and chanting as we went through those moments of uncertainty.

Suddenly,I remembered about the stormy sea and the sleeping Jesus. As I meditated on the event in the Gospel, I realized that we were the wavering disciples in the storm while Jesus was onboard. The sequel of events from the Gospel strengthened both of us but we did not utter a word in the plane. The turbulence dwindled after about half an hour and 5 hours later we landed safely at JFK airport.

In retrospect, I would like to reword the phrase in bold to this- Everything was a blessing including when we felt…

Our story of life continues with events like these which reminds us constantly about our faith.

Charles Spurgeon once said "Many a believer lives in the cottage of doubt when he might live in the mansion of faith."

The Mass Ascension

Why do people come back year after year to see the same sight? Hot air balloons look the same, the numbers remain pretty much unchanged, and an amateur photographer will probably have similar snaps year after year. Then why the return of the massive crowd to the Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, NV?.

Today, we woke up at 5am to go to the “The Great Reno Balloon Race”, a yearly event enjoyed by the young and the old. This year was our second year attending yet it looked anew to us. Perhaps that is the sole reason people return year after year to see the same site.

An event like this is not plausible in many areas of US but yet among the few places in US, Reno happens to be one, about 3 minutes away from where we reside. We did stand in awe seeing the beauty when 100 hot air balloons launched last year. Today, once again we stood in awe like a first-timer. Pictures, movies, or words can never fully express the beauty and uniqueness felt by first-hand spectators. You have to there in person to see it for yourself and you will never regret it.

The Great Awakening -9/11/01

The world once again mourns today. Perhaps, it is more appropriate to say that the world still mourns today. Eight years ago, this day, one of the most horrendous acts of terrorism happened when four commercial air crafts crashed in New York City, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. Thousands lost their lives, ten-thousands grieve the loss of a family member/a friend/a co-worker, and millions still has shock and disbelief in their hearts.

I still remember that day in September though for many reasons (despite the obvious one), I prefer not to. One of among the few regrets I have is not able to see the WTC buildings prior to its collapse even after living in New York for 5 years.

Fear, disbelief, grief, anger were among the several emotions stirred in the hearts of many that Tuesday morning. A day overwhelmed by emotions would be a more ideal way to describe the day. More than any emotions felt that day; perhaps REGRET was the most significant. Regrets about unresolved conflicts, unspoken words, unexpressed love, among a few to mention crushed the heart of many. Simple words unsaid like “Thank-you”, “Sorry”, “Good-Job” would still have to remain that way. Effortless act of emotions like a hug, a smile or a kiss would have no second chances. Life is short and for many including myself it took a day like 9/11 to recognize it.

Though it was a day filled with sorrow and grief, for some it was a day of joy and praise. Few called in sick, few missed their trains, and few had canceled appointments/interview dates which initially may have aggravated them, yet now when they look back it was truly a blessing in disguise.

Hope, faith and love still remains in our hearts today as we share our joy with the survivors and mourn with the families who lost their loved ones. Today wherever you are, say a word of prayer for the broken and say a word of prayer for our nation.

Why Reno? From New York!

Why Reno? From New York - a frequently asked question during first encounters with the people in this city. Every time I answered that question – a sigh preceded my equivocal explanation of the scenario which led us to Reno.

Psalm 121 Verse 1& 2 says “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” A verse which we embraced during our travel and a verse we still hold close to our hearts.

Reno is famous for the popular slogan “The Biggest Little City in the World”. However, a lot of people in NY hardly ever heard of this city in Nevada, a few have read about Reno or has vague acquaintances about the city.

The day after we got to Reno, while shopping at Best Buy, we noticed customers and even few employees rushing to the door. Curious about what was happening we followed them. As we gazed outside the glass entrance we witnessed a great downpour. I heard someone next to me say –"It hasn’t rained in Reno for 3 months" - and this was in mid-July. Perhaps, even in NY, a huge downpour is infrequent or perhaps rain is taken for granted and no one notices them anymore. I stared at the huge torrent of water and shared the joy with Reno residents that day. The heavy rain lasted 20-30 minutes and when we left the store, the sun was back out again.

I still sit and wonder what the huge downpour meant to “us”. It was our 1^st day in a strange city, uncertain about our future, with fear of the unknown. My heart was blazing and perhaps the downpour that day calmed our hearts and gave us hope and life. That is exactly what rain brings, hope for the desert and life for the dry.

Matthew 5:43 says “for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

The population of Reno is about the same as the suburban Yonkers we used to reside in. Reno is less diverse, quiet, and slow-paced compared to Yonkers. With mountains on all four sides, Reno looks really beautiful year around. People in Reno enjoy the weather though we find it unpredictable most days. Where is the fun in life if everything was predictable?

Finding spirituality and religion in one of the most unchurched cities in the US seemed a challenge in the beginning. Perhaps it was our culture we grew up in and our associations with home churches in NY, we were confronted with fear about religion and spirituality. We were most certain that Reno did not have enough malayalees or Indians to form a church. Honestly, we doubted the existence of even one malayalee family. Once again, we were wrong about our assumptions. We were thrilled to be wrong. It was like an answered prayer when we were able to join a local malayalee prayer fellowship in Reno.

It was July 22, 2008, one of my happiest days in Reno. Singing songs, reading the Bible and praying with a small community of believers who we met for the first time was truly an experience. Perhaps, that is how the initial church started and Gospel reached to others. I started appreciating our small blessings in life like being able to pray at a prayer meeting. What a blessing! and most often we take them for granted or even let an opportunity slide saying these popular words “next time”. I am guilty myself for the missed opportunities but this was different. My shyness or sitting next to someone who I met minutes ago did not stop me from praying aloud. The spirit led me and I was able to do it.

We church shopped like every other Christian to find a place we felt right. During those weeks, we heard repeatedly about “Grace” from our local churches and radio preachers. Grace! What a powerful word! We all have experienced it and continue to experience it day by day. Yet many times we forget what the word really means. Our search of a church somewhat ended when we found “Grace” Church.

Reno has taught us a lot in a relatively short time. I recollect a statement by one of my patients at my hospital about Reno, “Reno is a small city – You will either love it or hate it – There is no in-between.”After over a year in this place, I am thrilled to share that I am truly loving it.

Why Reno? From New York! still continues to be conversation starters during first encounters with the people in this city. Now, my answer has changed to simply this - “It was God’s doing.”