This Blessed House

First let me start off saying how much I really enjoyed this story. The first time I read it just because it needed to be read for class, but once I reread it I began to linger on the text and found it to be even more enjoyable than the first time around.

In reading the story the you learned more and more about the characters as the story progresses. Sanjeev and Tanima (Twinkle) are a newly wed Indian couple who in getting settled in their first home, also show signs of getting settled in their relationship. Sanjeev seemed like a very rigid, straight-laced, meticulous individual who always thinks he is "right". Twinkle on the other hand seems to be a fly by the seat of your pants type of person. Seriousness is not her strong point. In reading this story you find that Sanjeev, prior to marrying Twinkle, was a bit of a loner....Twinkle was way on the opposite end of the spetrum. Sanjeev in a sense saw that was one of her "flaws".

Throughout the story they are engaged to disagreements over "Christian" paraphernalia that is found in their home. Sanjeev does not want it in the house one bit but Twinkle refuses to get rid of it. Sanjeev cared more of what others would think than anything else. He just wanted to fit into preconceived societal mold and not appear to be different. Twinkle on the other hand could care less. Midway through the story, during their housewarming party Twinkle, through sharing the story of discovery, has pretty much recruited the entire party to look for more trinkets throughout the house. Even though by the end of the story Sanjeev is pretty much convinced that while they are looking for trinkets he could secretly discard the others, he stops and thinks of Twinkle and how all the little odd things that are not "normal" about her is what makes him love her all the more, and just goes along with the flow.


After doing some reflection on this story it made me think a little about the Christian types that are in the world today. There are the frigid and the free-spirit ones. Sanjeev represents the frigid ones (by the book and only the book, no room for tweaking the bigger picture - basically it is what it is and that is all their is. It's either the old way or no way. If you are not 100% living right (forget trying to live right - Chrisitans are not a work in progress), if you don't fit that "cookie cutter Christian" prototype... you are going straight to hell...do not pass go do not collect $200. Tanima (or Twinkle) of course would represent the free spirit - one who shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ in away that makes other want to get to know her God better. It is the reckless abandon for the search and the joys of the discoveries along the way that has the people mesmerized. Their light shines so bright that people can't help but jump on board. Christ said when He is lifted up he would draw all peoples to Himself.

How many times have you met people who say they "don't do" church because they do not feel welcome. It's either because of the way they are dressed, how they look, their past precedes them, etc. See people want to come to Christ but shy away from doing so because of the judgement of man. It becomes truly hard for people to accept the unconditional love of Christ because they are judged by alot of rigid "Christians". We should see the differences in all of God's children, not as flaws but as unique characteristics that make Him love us all the more. Can you imagine what the outcome would be?