The bond of kindness
When I think back on my unforgettable freshman semester in college, an image of a six-foot-five, lanky fellow with longish black hair comes to mind. Steve was a senior in... »
Personal Accounts
Kings and queens
Some years ago there was a popular song about righting all the wrongs in the world. I don’t remember all the words, but the gist of it was “If I were king of the world, I... »
Shine your light!
I first met Marina almost 20 years ago at a workshop organized by a Japanese NGO for Bosnian refugee women. She was warm and friendly and was definitely adding her own ve... »
How to make a difference
A sad part of my day is when I listen to the news. Almost everything is about people facing terrible situations. Both Christians and non-Christians face very painful suff... »
Who is my neighbor?
I was reading the familiar story of the Good Samaritan [[See Luke 10:25–37.]] from a well-illustrated cartoon Bible to a group of eight- to nine-year-old Sunday school st... »
George’s story
“This humanitarian work you do—is there some religious motivation? If it’s religious, I’m an atheist.” The old bum tugging at my arm looked more like a beast than a man.... »
The power of a smile
Smiles are powerful. You’ve probably met a few gifted people, like I have, who radiate warmth and friendliness all the time. They smile so much that just being around the... »
The joy of serving
For the last few years, I’ve volunteered in a project teaching underprivileged youngsters. I was brought up in a typical Indian upper-middle-class family, and for most of... »
Don’t roll over, Beethoven
When my father had me listen to Beethoven's 6th Symphony for the first of many times, he was undoubtedly trying to impart to me his passion for classical music. I was on... »
Taking stock
I don’t imagine that the word “spreadsheet” invokes excitement or joy in any but the most hardcore of office warriors. I know it sure doesn’t for me. Nevertheless, this w... »
Between a rock and a hard place
I’d been going through a few tough weeks, when I began questioning my faith. Not questioning God, but questioning how much faith I had to face difficulties. I’d also been... »
The first day
“However much you’ve prepared beforehand,” my friend warned, “the first day at university will still be an overwhelming experience.” I wasn’t sure why she thought somethi... »