Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how God sometimes gets unfairly criticized. For over twenty years, I kept my relationship with God in the background. Yet, like soothing music on a Sunday afternoon, He was always there—a steady presence of peace. Like over 6.8 billion people, I’ve always sensed something greater than myself guiding and protecting me. According to the Pew Research Center, about 85% of the world identifies with a religion or belief system. Most acknowledge a higher power. Even when my efforts were half-hearted, I tried to honor Him through my actions. Faith’s quiet presence shaped my life, even when I didn’t realize it.

Beyond the Headlines: Why Faith is a Modern Conversation

This conversation is especially relevant now. Recent debates over spirituality, religious freedom, and the role of faith in public life are amplified by ongoing news cycles. Viral social media discussions also amplify these debates. This shows that questions about belief are as alive as ever. With new data from Pew Research Center and Gallup, there are shifts in religious affiliation. There is also growing openness about spiritual seeking. It’s clear that faith and the search for meaning are part of today’s cultural mainstream. My hope is that sharing my story offers timely encouragement for anyone wrestling with these same questions right now.

More Than Comfort: The Power of Purposeful Belief

But it’s not just about personal comfort. Faith has the power to transform how we see ourselves. It changes how we view the world. Faith shapes our values and our sense of purpose. When I consider the enduring impact of faith, I realize that returning to it is not a retreat. It is a courageous act of reclaiming what is true and good.

Roots of Faith

From Devout Roots to Personal Journey

My lack of devotion as an adult did not reflect how I felt about God as a child. I had the privilege of being raised by a mother who was a devout believer. Her father dedicated the second half of his life to ministry. His wife and family supported him. This meant giving up some of the worldly comforts he had provided them earlier in life as a successful businessman.

Lessons on a Banana Leaf

As a little girl, I remember my mother likening my grandfather’s ministry to Protestantism. She shared that he served over a dozen groups, including his local church. When I was eight years old, I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing my grandfather’s ministry. I experienced it firsthand during a visit to India. Before one of his sermons, my siblings and I laid out large banana leaves in rows on the ground.

Each leaf was about the size of two plates. This took place inside my grandfather’s large, bright yellow compound. We placed drinking cups beside each leaf. My recollection may be larger than life, but I recall setting down at least 50 leaves and 50 cups. On each leaf, my grandmother, aunties, and cousins scooped out portions of food. They took these portions from large bins filled with rice and curry. These meals were prepared several days beforehand.

Witnessing Service

My family was committed to serving meals to the less fortunate in town who gathered to hear my grandfather preach. This act of kindness remains etched in my memory. I also remember my grandfather’s sneaky attempts to feed naan bread to his red dachshund under the dinner table. After we returned to the States, I recall my mother making many attempts to integrate us into a church community. My siblings, her husband, and I were all encouraged to join.

She was determined to raise her children in the knowledge of God. She gently “dragged” us—and my reluctant father—to various churches. We witnessed and participated in a variety of church communities and events, including Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, Evangelical, Catholic, and Episcopalian. I’m fairly certain Quaker and other denominations were included in the tour as well. My siblings and I also attended several Bible camps and large religious conventions in different states during summer breaks.

A Tour of Denominations: Seeking Connection

Some of these experiences were rooted in Indian communities in New York and New Jersey. Others took place in predominantly white communities in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. We toured churches for the better part of four years until my mother gave up on finding a perfect fit. We learned a lot.

We enjoyed many of our experiences. Nonetheless, my dad did not. He preferred Hinduism and liked relaxing at home in his recliner, watching CNN. Even my mom felt that these experiences were quite different from what her father offered. None felt simple. Some churches were lined in gold. Others had clothing restrictions. Some even passed the collection basket more than once. A few had unnecessary community drama. Still, Mom did not give up on God.

The Family Room: Faith in a Circle

Every Sunday, we gathered on the floor of our family room. This began when I was about 12 and continued until my sister left for college. The five of us would sit in a circle for what we called “her church.” We sang two or three songs from hymnals gifted to us along our tour. We also read a few chapters from the Bible. We each took turns reading verses, and at the end of the chapters, my mom would translate the key message. When Mom finished her sermon, we would all get on our hands and knees. We prayed and thanked God. We also made our wishes known.

Begetting and Believing: The Sunday Night Sermon

As years passed, we must have read the Bible cover to cover at least six or seven times. I remember those Sunday evenings with love in my heart. We learned a lot about faith and ritual. We also laughed a lot. It was amusing to read verses in Chronicles. Everyone seemed to beget someone with an unpronounceable name to populate the earth. Moreover, my Dad always fell asleep during his prayers. He snored loudly, woke himself up, and then rolled to his side. Hysterical.

The Healing Journey:

Losing and Rediscovering Faith

Grief as a Catalyst: Missing God, Not the Institution

My intention in sharing all this is to demonstrate that God and church were happy experiences for me. The camps and conventions were also joyous experiences. Mom’s church was a positive part of my childhood too. These memories became a foundation I would later long for. The death of my mother in 2020 was a profound catalyst for rediscovering my faith. During that period of deep grief, I realized how much I miss God.

I miss God being at the center of my life. I don’t miss the institutions at all. I miss God. I miss divinity. I miss not feeling alone. This realization was a turning point. It prompted me to reconsider how faith could bring fulfillment and comfort back into my life, rather than religious institutions. It is during our hardest moments that faith shows its deepest power. It offers hope, solace, and the courage to move forward.

Disillusionment and the Problem of Attribution

I miss it because, after I left Mom’s church and entered the world on my own, I saw unsettling things. Hate, violence, poverty, famine, genocide, war, fear, guilt, shame, and doubt were often attributed to God. They were seen either as acts of His will or as a result of His refusal to intervene. Sometimes that may be the case. However, what troubled me even more was witnessing the judgment.

There is also hypocrisy and even corruption that can infect organized religion. Too often, those in spiritual authority have misused faith. They have used it as a tool for exclusion or personal gain. They did this rather than using it as a path to love and service.

This disillusionment led me to distance myself from organized religion for the past twenty years. Instead, I focused on raising my family. I was guided by the simplest form of faith—honesty, diligence, and compassion. I chose this path rather than embracing the complexities and contradictions of institutional religion.

Quit With The Apologies:

The Problem with Qualifiers and Labels

Embracing the Undivided Source

I have developed a disdain for qualifiers. I also dislike the need for inclusivity regarding the concept of God. For me, it doesn’t matter if you call it God, the universe, or the source of creation. All these names point toward the same divine origin. At their core, the teachings of all faiths are aligned.

Whatever name you give to the source, they are in harmony. We should not box in or apologize for our beliefs. Doing so only serves to divide us. The essence of faith is about connection and shared humanity. This conviction has helped me move beyond labels and embrace the underlying unity at the heart of spirituality.

Faith in the Modern World

Shame and Cultural Pushback

Challenging the Narrative: Faith as a Universal Experience

What also frustrates me is how popular culture makes many feel ashamed for believing in a higher power. This is odd, since almost 6.8 billion people—about 85% of the world—identify with a religion or belief system, and most acknowledge something greater. So, what’s the big deal? Why should anyone apologize for expressing faith when it’s such a universal experience? Let’s stop letting the loud minority shape the story. Instead, let’s recognize the quiet strength of billions who draw hope and meaning from belief. There is no shame in faith—only courage.

Gifts of the Unseen: Perseverance During Hardship

At times, life was incredibly challenging in relationships, with finances, or my career. When someone I loved died, I dismissed God as a mythical childhood fantasy. Yet, despite my doubts, I managed to raise my children with love and empathy and persevere through hardships. Only later did I realize that the very qualities that helped me endure were love, empathy, and perseverance. These qualities were gifts that faith had instilled in me. I received them even when I wasn’t consciously aware of it.

Your Story: What Was Your Anchor?

Look back on your own life. What carried you through your hardest times? Was it luck or coincidence—or was it something greater? Often, it’s an undercurrent of faith, resilience, and the love that shapes us long before we notice.

Confusion Culture:

The Search for Clarity

Anxiety and Anger: God’s Role in a Human World

I’ve noticed deep anxiety about God’s involvement in politics shared widely on social media and in the news. Like many in our world, I’ve observed this concern. There is also anxiety about God’s role in business and disasters—both natural and man-made. Many are angry with God, almost obsessively. They do not realize that much of what they fear is the result of human choices, not divine will.

It’s my general cultural observation that in the US and around the world, people either reject powerful leaders. Alternatively, they idolize them. Leaders such as Trump, Musk, Barack Obama, or Oprah are often assigned the authority to solve society’s problems. Some even go so far as to claim these figures are prophets. This confusion about where to place faith has left me searching for clarity. I am searching for myself. I am also searching for my children and now my readers.

A Deeper Trust: The Enduring Foundation of Faith

I think genuine faith asks us to look deeper. We should trust not in the shifting winds of public opinion or the promises of celebrities. Instead, rely on the steady foundation of spiritual truth. The wisdom and security we seek will never come from power or popularity, but from a faith that endures.

Finding Guidance:

A Modern Encounter with Isaiah

Where to Look: Guidance from an Unexpected Name

This morning, a seemingly small encounter reminded me where to look for guidance. The young man at the drive-through wore a name tag—’Isaiah.’ When I returned home, a quiet urge led me to pick up my dusty Bible and open to the Book of Isaiah. I had forgotten much about its message. As I read, I was reminded: Isaiah is a prophet in both the Christian and Hebrew traditions. His words emphasize that righteousness comes from God. It does not come from government or human authority. Isaiah reassures us that God is already addressing injustice and that those who ignore His guidance will ultimately face consequences. This message resonated deeply, bringing my reflections full circle.

The Right Fear: Reclaiming Childlike Reverence

So, ask yourself: Are you acting according to God’s will or are you acting according to man’s will? Because God is already handling those who are not, regardless of who the president, inventor, or famous talker is. You don’t have to live in fear if you fear God. Isaiah Chapter 8:13 says, “Sanctify the Lord of hosts, himself; and let him be your fear, let him be your dread.”

Looking back, I’ve experienced many dark times in my life. I recognized my own role in perpetuating fear. I had chosen to be afraid of worldly things. Instead, I began embracing the childlike reverence I once had for God. That is when I began to rediscover my authentic self. This process led me to realize my purpose: to share love and to foster togetherness. My hope is that others, too, will consider returning to God, or at least to whatever made them feel loved and whole as children.

The Courage of a Comeback:

A Call to Action

Return to what made you feel loved as a child. Rekindle your relationship with those memories and experiences. For many, this will be a challenging task. Some of you may have to let go of what you once thought was love. You may need to make big changes in your life. At times, it will be painful. But growth always demands courage. If you want change in your country, start by making a comeback in your own life.

The Red Sox Comeback: Courage Beyond Worldly Power

I’m a Yankees fan through and through. I’d be remiss if I didn’t liken your comeback to being a part of what the Red Sox accomplished in 2004. They finally broke the Curse of the Bambino and ended 86 years of suffering losses. Folks blamed it on leadership and management, but in the end, that win was a team effort. Some team members, like Curt Schilling, did not back down from his post, tearing up bloody stitches on his ankle, all to support that win.

Some of us will face even greater challenges in our own comebacks. We may become like Schilling. We will fight through pain and adversity for a greater purpose. We will strive for what God truly wants us to stand up for. These are the true leaders. They work for the betterment of humanity. They are not the false prophets who seek power for its own sake. Look to such people for advice and guidance. Rely on your faith in God. This will help you seek to live a better life. Isaiah’s message is clear: righteousness doesn’t come from human authority, but from God.

The Quiet Pull: Reconnecting with the Sacred Source

Let this be your reminder: the most powerful change does not begin in the halls of power. It starts in the quiet decision to return to faith, to love, and to the values that make us whole.

Have you ever felt a quiet pull, a sense that there’s something more? Maybe you’ve wondered if something is calling you back to your own sense of the sacred. If so, you’re not alone. Many of us are searching, quietly yearning for meaning beyond the surface.

If you’re willing, take a small step. Ask the questions that matter to you. Reconnect—with yourself, with your faith, with the source that has always been waiting for you. There’s hope in the journey, and you don’t have to walk it alone.