Confessions of an introvert

Have you ever been in a situation where you walk into a room thinking it’s gonna be empty but bump into an acquaintance and you  start thinking if you can casually make a run for it or is it too late and he is already waving at you? If yes then you probably belong to the community of socially awkward people such as me. You may wonder what is so hard in making eye contact and smiling at someone who is coming from the other end of the street. But every time I spot a familiar face in a crowd my brain just starts looking for possible evacuation routes! It’s not like I am anti-social or hate people or anything but I guess God wired me in a way that I prefer reading a book or binge watching a Friends season rather than hanging out in a club with a bunch of people.

The problem is not that it’s lonely or anything! People like me, we like the solitude. The problem is what do you do, when every time you go to the nearest tea stall to have your favourite masala chai, you meet that girl in your class with whom you have attended several classes but your relationship goes only as far as a smile to each other if you accidentally make eye contact and now you don’t know if you should strike up a conversation. Even if you somehow convince yourself and do decide to talk, what will you say? Isn’t it too late for introductions, it’s already been six months for crying out loud!

You know what’s worse that I always assume that people might feel that I am some stuck-up person, too proud to say hello. Who knows they might not even be thinking like that but my brain doesn’t get it. It gets insane sometimes when you see someone you know and one part of your brain tells you to go and say hi and ask them how it is going while another is screaming to start walking in the opposite direction. And you are in splits as to what to do and end up taking your phone out and suddenly become very interested in your wallpaper. What would I not give to be the carefree gregarious individual who doesn’t worry about what to say next to a person and not long for the kindle lying in my bag?

Well I have never been the person who feels comfortable in a party. I like spending time with my close friends and I am a chatter-box when I am around them. I like texting because it is much easier to express yourself to a screen than a human being. So yes I confess, I am a socially awkward person and while I am at confessing things, I guess am bit of a nerd too! But I like who I am. Yes some days I would like myself to be a bit more extroverted but only some days! One can say that come on it’s not rocket science you know talking to people but trust me, to people like me rocket science is much easier!

Demonetization: Shadow of things to come

It’s safe to say that most of us are sick and tired of everyone talking about Demonetization and what a great job Modiji has done. So I am not going to write about the efficacy or the impacts of the announcement made by our PM in his speech last month. There are ample people debating over its good intentions but poor execution. What I want to really talk about is the shock waves it generated all over India. Out of the blue everything came to a standstill; people didn’t know what to do with the money they had in their wallets which has suddenly become worthless, rich and poor alike.

Amidst all this chaos, the endless discussions and the changing of rules every other day this other thought came to my mind. Just as how this announcement took people by surprise, how many more all around this world will find themselves completely flabbergasted on the judgment day. Now many reading this blog will think I am insane. But bear with me for a few minutes more. Imagine how many will be taken aback when they will know that what they considered a myth or just a story the Christians believe in is actually true. How it will be when each one will be judged on every sin that one has ever done even the small lie one told to their teachers about their incomplete homework.

Now you may think why you should believe what the Bible says. The question is then that is the Bible reliable? To answer that, Bible is not just a holy book but it is a historical document whose reliability can be tested by the process called historiography. Fulfilled prophecies concerning nations and concerning Jesus, eye-witness testimonies, scientific facts mentioned in the bible predating their actual discovery itself prove that it is no ordinary book. External historical evidences supporting the events mentioned in the Bible gives additional evidence of its authenticity.

So knowing that Bible is true, I want to draw some parallels with the current situation. This time most of the people had no clue about the decision and the government wanted it to be that way, but unlike our prime minister who wants the black money hoarders to pay; God doesn’t want sinners to be taken off-guard. He doesn’t want anyone to perish and end up in hell rather he wants us to be saved, and yes I mean all of us even the worst of terrorists. That’s why He made sure that His people will tell others about what’s coming and how they could all save themselves. But there will still be many who would choose to not listen.

Just like in the existing state of affairs, where many are still under the ludicrous notion that it is all just a nightmare and soon people will come to their senses and will take the decision back, in future also many will bury their heads in the sand and continue denying the urgency of the situation even when all the signs will point differently. This is quite evident in the fact that even today many refuse to believe the fulfilled prophecies of the Christ’s birth, death and resurrection.

But at the same time unlike the current circumstances where many have been able to dodge the bullet; people won’t be able to masquerade their “illegal money” as some poor soul’s hard earned money. One can’t hide their sins from the all-knowing God even if they are smart enough to hoodwink the income tax authorities. Unlike this situation where many haven’t been affected by it at all because they aren’t hiding anything; the second coming of Christ is a matter that concerns and directly affects both the Haves and the Have Nots. Why? Because all men have fallen short of the glory of God which means all of us have sinned and deep down all of us know that it is true that we are far from God’s standard of holiness.

So what can be done? Take some time to introspect on your life, repent and be right with God. Believe in the one who was sent to redeem mankind because that is the only way. Jesus Christ is our ultimate lawyer who is going to take up our case in front of the father. His sacrifice on the cross has indeed made us perfect and blameless.