the discomfort of a disciple

Germanischer Krieger mit Helm (1902)

By
Osmar Schindler (1867–1927)

Yesterday I was doomscrolling (in my spare time) and came across a reel from The Chosen series. 

I have already seen this episode, but this time it struck me differently.

The reel showed Jesus and his disciples walking along a path when they came across some Roman soldiers. The soldiers, by right (and according to Roman law), demanded that the disciples and Jesus carry their ‘very heavy’ gear for one mile. So reluctantly they did. They were not happy; it was a hot day, and the gear was heavy, and the Roman soldiers patrolling were laughing, and, well, a bit relieved as well.

Jesus smiles, and happily carries the gear, and wears the heavy helmet as well on his head, and when they crossed the one-mile mark, the Roman soldiers knew that by law, they could not demand them to carry further; but then Jesus here does something remarkable: he continues walking… and beckons his disciples to do the same.

The disciples are aghast and question him, "Rabbi, why?" And here Jesus takes the opportunity to show what a disciple curtails…

Reciting the verse from Matthew 5: 41: “If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” Jesus smiles and continues walking, carrying the heavy gear… and the disciples do the same.

 In the scene from the Chosen series, the Roman soldiers look surprised, and even a bit ashamed of their behaviour… they help carry parts of the gear, and one soldier even removes the heavy helmet from Jesus' head… and together they continue walking down the path.

I have read and come across Matthew 5:41 soooooooo many times. Growing up in a Baptist family and attending Sunday school, youth service, and camps, sometimes Scripture's familiarity leaves us with no personal reflection; it isn't profound or deep. So when I saw this clip again (the reel) from the Chosen series, it reminded me in a new way what being a disciple truly means. 

The discomfort of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The kingdom principles here are reversed, and while it is readily acceptable to embrace the love of Jesus Christ, being a disciple, a follower, and a Christian at times demands discomfort because it contradicts the world's standards.

If anyone wants to follow me, he/she/they must pick up their cross, deny themselves, and follow me.

If you are ordered by the court to give up your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

If you are slapped on the right cheek, then offer your left cheek as well

Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who persecute you.

And these principles are not easy to follow (at least for me).

I demand my rights, my right to be heard, to be seen, to be acknowledged.

When someone cuts me off in the road, I cuss at them in my car, or at least in my mind; I don't say, " Wow, God bless you, brother, thanks for nearly knocking me down."

Or when someone else steals my ideas, plagiarises my work, and takes the credit that is due to me, I take immediate offence, because why not.

When someone slanders me, I cannot love them; I cut them off, block them, and remove them.

When someone has hurt me, that's it; I cut off all communication and hold a grudge in my heart, silently hating them…because how dare they.

How many times must I forgive them?  Seventy times seven?

And of course, the discomfort; why should I sacrifice my time, my comfort, in this hot and humid weather, to do something that will only serve others?

What about me? 

And that is how the world usually operates.

It demands that we be justified. It teaches us to distance ourselves from those who only seek to benefit from us. 

The world tells us that discomfort is not for us.  We should not go out of our way to serve others. 

The meek are trampled upon, the humble are ignored, and the lowly are mocked.

It tells us that 'we' are the main character. (Main character energy). 

And yet, here we have Jesus, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, walking the extra mile literally, carrying heavy Roman gear in the hot weather… and teaching his disciples to do the same.

I am reminded that being a disciple of Jesus asks for my discomfort; if it glorifies God, if it means building bridges, if it means showing love in the face of unkind people, if it means bringing people closer to the revelation of the Cross.

Perhaps this is the only way to live in this world, because it is serving, selfless, sacrificial,  just like what Christ did for us. 

The Walled Veranda

In my final year at Seminary, for my MDiv, we had a module on Homiletics, and part of our assignment was to pick an entire book (from the Bible) and build a sermon series around it. I chose the book (or memoirs) of Nehemiah because of my love, and interest in historical narrative.

 

After graduation, I joined my local church as a full-time youth minister, and through a strange turn of events and an impending need, I ended up writing and directing a high school musical based on Nehemiah.

 

That was 13 years ago.

 

This morning, as I strolled around my parents’ house, the railings caught my attention.

Here in Dimapur, most houses have what we call a veranda. A space right outside the house: an open area with a roof, pillars, no walls, no windows, and maybe some cane furniture, potted plants, etc. And our veranda, as much as we love it, has been terribly exploited by our two faithful German shepherd guards, Max and Zoe.  They are so faithful; sometimes I feel they are human. Anyway, at night, they roam around the compound and get into all sorts of mischief and bring their exploits and place them on our very clean, white-tiled veranda.  And because we live in a place where lots of creatures crawl around, especially at night, Max and Zoe feel it is their duty to capture them and place them on our veranda.

 

So, every morning, my Mom would wake up to the sight of a pool of blood and the wild creatures lying next to it. Finally, she decided enough is enough and built an iron/drill wall around the veranda (see picture).

It’s been a few months now, and so far, so good.

 

Now, every morning when we wake up, we can have our morning tea or coffee on the veranda without seeing any gory graphic details of their exploits. And somehow, Max and Zoe have also lessened their activities in this regard, perhaps sensing our displeasure.

It made me think about boundaries and how building walls helps and protects us.

In the memoirs of Nehemiah, the story is about building a literal wall around the holy city of Jerusalem.

 

"Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."Nehemiah 2:17

The physical wall carried a symbolic meaning. It also holds a message of honour and identity. 

Walls stood to create a sense of belonging, and the whole story of Nehemiah is literally about rebuilding the 'wall' to restore their dignity and sense of belonging as the people of God. 

In Ezekiel 42:20, it says, "It had a wall around it... to separate the holy from the common."

“Not everything or everyone belongs in your most personal, intimate space. Setting up a wall helps you distinguish between safe people (holy/healthy spaces) and unsafe people (common/destructive spaces).”

Walls or boundaries are not a bad thing, as popular left-wing media so amplifies these days.

Sometimes walls are meant to protect us; they create healthy boundaries.

Those of us growing up in large Asian families are only too familiar with the intrusion of boundaries and spaces, and how tiresome and traumatic it gets. Family obligation is often treated as having zero boundaries, and we never have the right to say no. 

Drawing healthy boundaries protects us, and maybe even the other person.

 

Boundaries also help us keep our good circle in and the toxic ones out, not because we hate or fear them, but to protect our peace, and it even helps others by limiting their toxic trespassing, like how Max and Zoe lessen their nightly exploits after sensing our displeasure.

 

Scripture also refers to a person with no self-control as being like a 'broken wall,' defenceless and shameful. (Proverbs 25: 28). 

And about 'guarding' our hearts, because it will affect everything we do (Proverbs 4:23).

These two concepts of a broken wall and guarding ourselves set the tone towards creating healthy boundaries.

When I was studying in Europe, I thought the West was so ‘free’ and liberal: there are no walls, no rules, everything is permissible, and no one judges. But then, over the years, I slowly realised that every action has consequences, and the Bible tells us that ‘not everything is permissible.'

Paul warns us about this and says

"‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say, but not everything is permissible. ‘I have the right to do anything’, but not everything is constructive." (1 Corinthians 10:23).

 

In Stella Gibbons's “The Walled Garden”, the story follows the protagonist who moves to a quiet village, married to a nice doctor, with a child, and surrounded by a ‘walled’ garden. She often pines for her past life in the city and the bohemian circle she once knew, and only after her old friends visit and bring their chaos into her peaceful world is she reminded how grateful she is for the present. 'Inside the wall, everything is safe, so the fruits and flowers can grow, without damage and attacks from outside forces.’

 

This morning, even as I sit on the veranda, sipping my chai, on the clean white tile floors, I am thankful for the walled iron grills and the boundaries they have set. 

 

I pray this will set a precedent for me (and maybe help whoever is reading this) that it’s not about isolating ourselves, but knowing when to say no and having godly discernment in setting up not just healthy, but holy boundaries.

 

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17

 

37 Years Later : Prohibition or Regulation?

After nearly four decades, it is time to ask an honest question:

Has the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act achieved its intended purpose?

 

If the measure of success is the elimination of alcohol consumption and its associated social harms, the evidence suggests otherwise.

 

History offers an important lesson. In the United States, the Eighteenth Amendment (1920) introduced nationwide Prohibition with the hope of creating a more moral and orderly society. Instead, it produced the opposite effect. Illegal alcohol trafficking flourished, organised crime expanded under notorious gangsters such as Al Capone, corruption spread among public officials, and millions of ordinary citizens routinely broke the law. Rather than eliminating alcohol, Prohibition created a vast underground black market that the government struggled to control. 

The election of Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) in 1932 marked a turning point. Roosevelt argued that Prohibition had failed to achieve its objectives while worsening crime, encouraging corruption, and depriving the government of much-needed tax revenue during the Great Depression. Under his administration, Congress proposed the Twenty-first Amendment on 20 February 1933, and on 5 December 1933, after ratification through specially elected state conventions, the United States officially repealed national Prohibition. The decision was not an endorsement of alcohol but a recognition that regulation was more effective than prohibition.

 

Nagaland today faces many of the same realities.

 

First, rather than eliminating alcohol, prohibition has boosted smuggling and created an extensive bootlegging network beyond government oversight.

 

Second, the widespread sale of adulterated alcohol has exposed consumers to serious health risks, where many have lost their lives to alcohol related deaths, while drunk driving and alcohol-related fatalities continue to occur despite the law.  Our state currently does not have the facilities for breath analysers or to check drunk driving.  (DUI)

 

Third, because alcohol officially "does not exist" under the law, there are virtually no enforceable safeguards against underage drinking, no licensed vendors required to verify age, and no meaningful quality control over what is sold. The concept of checking ID cards and alcohol sold to minors doesn’t exist in Nagaland!

 

Fourth, the NLTP Act has also transformed many otherwise law-abiding citizens into offenders simply for purchasing or consuming alcohol that remains readily available.

 Fifth, economically, the state has lost millions of rupees in potential excise revenue, employment, and investment, while the neighbouring state of Assam continues to benefit from substantial tax revenue generated through a regulated alcohol industry. 

Prohibition has therefore not eliminated the market; it has merely surrendered it to illegal operators.

 

The social and political landscape has also changed. The Baptist churches alone can no longer claim to represent the entire Christian voice in Nagaland. The Catholic Association of Nagaland's withdrawal of support from the NLTP Act reflects the growing diversity of opinion among Christians on this issue. Furthermore, India is a constitutional democracy founded upon the principle of the separation of religion and state. Churches have every right to provide moral teaching and pastoral guidance to their members, but public policy must ultimately serve all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation.

 

From a biblical perspective, the case for total prohibition is not straightforward. Scripture consistently condemns drunkenness, not the mere consumption of alcohol. Jesus' first recorded miracle was turning water into wine at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11), and wine formed part of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:27–29). Likewise, passages such as Ephesians 5:18 warn believers, "Do not get drunk on wine," while 1 Timothy 5:23 even advises the moderate use of wine for medicinal purposes. The biblical concern is therefore the abuse of alcohol rather than alcohol itself. Christian ethics calls believers to self-control, wisdom, and responsible living, not necessarily to state-enforced prohibition.

 

After thirty-seven years, the evidence suggests that the NLTP Act has failed to accomplish its original objectives. Instead of reducing alcohol-related harm, it has encouraged bootlegging, strengthened illegal markets, removed regulatory oversight, and deprived the state of valuable public revenue. The American experience demonstrates that repealing prohibition is not an endorsement of alcohol; rather, it is an acknowledgement that a failed policy should be replaced with a more effective one.

Nagaland should therefore move from an ineffective system of prohibition to one of legalisation, regulation, and responsible control. A regulated framework would allow the state to license vendors, enforce age restrictions, monitor product quality, prosecute impaired driving more effectively, and generate revenue for healthcare, addiction treatment, rehabilitation, public education, and law enforcement. 

The question is no longer whether alcohol exists in Nagaland; it clearly does. 

The real question is whether it should remain in the hands of bootleggers and illegal networks, or be brought under responsible public regulation for the overall benefit of society.

Can Anything Good Come From Nagaland?

Nazareth, by Guido Borelli, 2018.

Lately, I’ve been writing about heartbreak, pain, and the frustrations we face with our system, and a part of me feels like, ok, we can’t hide our heads in the sand… and my research is basically an internal critique on Nagaland...

And so, like the Hebrew Prophets, my writings are a mix of lament, venting and critique (both self- and society). I am like the 'weeping Prophet' at times, and no wonder that Nevi or Nevi'im (נְבִיאִים)  basically means 'prophets' in Hebrew. Writing for me is a 'bell jar' mode that gets activated. It is sour, it's bitter, it's pain and angst mixed together. 

Why should we play the fiddle while Rome burns?

 

But this time, a glimmer of hope arose, which came in the form of a YT update.

It made me realise that even in our land of barbed wire, AK-47s, potholes, and government jobs filled through backdoor deals, there might still be some 'good.'

It reminded me of the verse from John’s Gospel, ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’(John 1:46)

 

In our state, as we say in Nagamese, ‘heights of corruption hoishay.’ 

Corruption has become a way of life (Wouters, 2018) and a social norm (Odyou, 2022). If we talk to any lay Naga, we will hear that almost every problem, jobs, roads, electricity, water, or even extortion, traces back to corruption. Even things like auto parking fees are affected by poor administration stemming from a lack of governance, which, in turn, is rooted in corruption. I often meet young entrepreneurs here in my hometown of Dimapur, and our conversations always range from the weather, roads, to...corruption. There is no end to it; it’s like a default system imprinted in our society.

This time, even as the local news about the gun robbery and auto-parking fees was unfolding, I could not help but notice, in the comment sections, the usual rant circling back to corruption. (“Beneath the Safe Surface: Naga Woman Robbed at Gunpoint by Masked Man at Aokong Colony, DMP,” YouTube video, posted by Global Window, accessed April 23, 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDrxyDMZTDE). 

And, (“DMP: DAN Official Responds; Auto Parking Near Town Hall, Supermarket Under Scanner,” YouTube video, posted by Nagaland News Network, accessed April 23, 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD1nAv04LGw). 

Both incidents again had the same usual comments from local Nagas, lamenting about ‘corruption’ in our society. 

 

Still, before I get lost in the rabbit hole of this topic, I want to focus on the good that exists here.

Can anything good come from Nagaland? 

 

There are a few good men and women, and today I want to talk about them. I realised this when I saw local news about Dr Mhasiseno T. Belho’s new project in Dimapur and the  IVF centre. ( “1st of Its Kind: Dr Belho’s Clinic & Children’s Hosp. Partners with Nova IVF for IVF & IUI Treatment,” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlUvCf1EcBo.)

 

We often travel to cities like Delhi or Guwahati for treatment, a common practice among many Nagas seeking medical care. Our state lacks the infrastructure for an effective healthcare system, often due to corruption. But people like Dr Mhasiseno have made a difference; their efforts have brought real benefits. It’s not just about the IVF centre; people like her, who have had access to good education, have come back here, opened a hospital, created jobs, and set up a system that works.

 

This made me think of others who have done the same. 

Those could have chosen a comfortable life, travelling the world and enjoying luxury, but instead, they returned to their hometowns to start businesses, cafes, bookshops, hotels, or music schools, and in this way, they create jobs and help our hometowns grow. 

I personally know at least eight people who have done this. Those who studied in the UK, Australia, Bangalore, Delhi, and have chosen to come back to Nagaland, opened their centres of clothing wear, cafes, schools etc; and it’s like a small yet well-oiled machine that works, and it’s a win-win, there are no losers here.  

One of the largest issues plaguing our Naga society (againnnnn stemming from corruption) is what we infamously call ‘educated unemployment.’ (Lakhs of educated college goers, with a University degree, and no jobs, educated, over-qualified and unemployed!) 

But the faithful few, the remnant, have somehow done their part, and in turn it benefits not only them, but the society, so kudos to these 'good' ones!

 

These examples prove that good things can come out of Nagaland. It’s an initiative that endures. These are the ones who see hope even in tough times, who perhaps face threats and endless extortion letters, who face endless government bureaucracy, in a state where there are endless bad roads and electricity failures are the daily lament of an ordinary Naga, but they are the ones who keep going against the tide.

 

I always say, if you can make it in Dimapur, a town that sometimes feels like Gotham City, you can make it anywhere!

 

There’s no better place to test us, and no better place to inspire us to do good, be good, and work for the common good.

 

Kevi u uya.

All Eyes On Jesus

                                                                   David Garibaldi, 2008, Jesus Christ. 

When I was a little girl, growing up in India, we used to hear a common saying, 'unity in diversity,' because India is so diverse, in terms of language, race, religion, food, culture, etc. 

However, the world we live in today is growing more divisive and polarised than ever, with little hope of embracing diversity, let alone differences. 

Us vs. Them seems to be the only way.

From the mess of geopolitics to radical ideologies shoved on our faces to voices being silenced, everything feels fractured. I remember a couple of decades ago when the internet was divided over the colour of a dress, whether it was grey or blue. 

And now we’re divided over the worth of human lives, hateful over race, and confused over gender! 

Back in the ’80s, when pop culture and rock and roll were at their peak, artists like David Bowie, Prince, and Annie Lennox proudly embraced androgynous styles. Rock bands had long hair, wore spandex, makeup, and earrings—and it was considered manly, edgy, and cool. Today, if a popular celebrity dressed that way, they’d be immediately put in a box, likely labelled with certain pronouns, and shoved into a category even without their knowledge or consent. Ah the irony.  

It almost feels like the more advanced we become technologically, the narrower our mindset grows.

When it comes to politics, things hit even closer to home. Since October 7, I’ve lost friends/peers/classmates.

 I’ve grown reluctant to speak openly, especially about my political stance, out of fear of being shunned, branded or labelled a radical. 

This divisive, polarised spirit isn’t confined to the internet anymore; it’s crept into friend groups, families, acquaintances, and even church communities. 

I have been mocked openly, and someone even laughed and said, "Oh, she prays to Trump." 

(not aware that I am a strong critic of Christian Nationalism.)  

You see, it appears we're either on this side of the fence or the other, with no middle ground!

Why is it not possible to be conservative in our doctrinal values and liberal in our political opinions? Why are there no grey areas? Where has the middle ground gone? 

For example, I care about the environment and LGBTQ+ rights, but I disagree on trans men competing in women's sports. Or I think gay people should be legally allowed to get married, in a court of law, so they have access to legal rights, but please don't force Christians to bake you a wedding cake with dildos hanging out..! 

And as an international student who lived, studied abroad much of my life, I think the way immigrants are treated in the West is appalling and sinful, but entering a country the legal way is the correct way. (I spend a huge chunk of money and endless paperwork every year just to enter Europe for 2 weeks), And I exit on time.

Moreover, when it comes to gender roles, I think women can be great world leaders and Pastors, and at the same time, I think raising a family and being a mother is one of the greatest achievements a woman can have. 

However, our world does not see it that way!

The internet sorts us into boxes, like the Sorting Hat at Hogwarts, and, sadly, over time, we find comfort among those who agree with us or think like us. We make our way into our little comfort groups. 

Ah, they’re just like us, the sane ones. Thank goodness for the faithful remnant. And I’m pretty sure the “other side” thinks the exact same thing.

I’ve received death threats from strangers online. I’ve been mocked and slandered by acquaintances and relatives because of my political views, views on ethics, corruption, etc.  Friendships have been severed because of where I choose to stand, politically. 

I won’t pretend to be a saint. I’ve often viewed those who differ from my religious or political opinions as somehow less than me. Like, are they abnormal? Why so hateful? Why so shallow? Why lack common sense!!!

Why can’t they see what I see?
Why can’t they think like we do?
Wouldn’t the world be better if everyone just stood on one side—together, uniform, aligned?

As I wrestle with liberal and conservative views, gender ideologies, race, and doctrinal differences, getting annoyed, irritated, shunned, mocked, embraced, and included in this chaotic potpourri of polarisation, I’m reminded of the reels trending on Instagram:

“All Eyes on Rafah.” “All Eyes on Iran.”

These slogans emerged to highlight the suffering of those caught in the crossfire of oppression.

And it made me pause.

In the midst of this overwhelming noise, so many ideologies, voices, and opinions, what if I turned my eyes to Jesus?

All Eyes on Jesus.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

He didn’t come to make us conform to uniformity, but to unite us in love.

Jesus said the world would recognise His followers not by perfect agreement, but by love:
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

 

He taught us to deny ourselves (Luke 9:23), to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39), to walk the extra mile (Matthew 5:41), to forgive not seven times but seventy-seven (Matthew 18:22).

Not just to love those who love us, but to love those who hate us.” (Matthew 5:44).

And He didn’t just preach this. He lived it.

He sat and ate with those who differed from Him ethically, spiritually, racially, and socially. 

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking” with sinners and outcasts (Matthew 11:19). 

He embraced corrupt tax collectors, men like Zacchaeus, bringing salvation into their homes (Luke 19:1–10).

He healed the servant of a Roman centurion, an enemy occupier, marvelling at his faith (Matthew 8:5-13).

He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, crossing racial, moral, and gender boundaries (John 4).

He welcomed children when others tried to send them away (Matthew 19:14).

He touched lepers, the untouchable, the excluded, and made them whole (Mark 1:40-42).

 

Again and again, Jesus embodied this truth, in love and in inclusion. Despite the overwhelming wall of differences (sin) separating him from humanity, he didn't build walls; he built bridges. In fact, he is the bridge! (Romans 5:8).

And so, even as our hyper-advanced world continues to grow cluttered and divisive with a billion issues for us to debate and argue, may we fix our eyes on Jesus. 

A man who stood firmly on truth and grace (John 1:14), 

who refused to compromise His convictions, yet never withheld compassion.

Perhaps that is the only way to survive in our world today, and perhaps this has always been the way (John 14:6).

All Eyes On Jesus.

“I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside

I wanna reach out and touch the flame

Where the streets have no name.

I wanna feel sunlight on my face

I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace

I wanna take shelter from the poison rain

Where the streets have no name

We're still building then burning down love

Burning down love

And when I go there, I go there with you

It's all I can do

The city's a flood

And our love turns to rust

We're beaten and blown by the wind

Trampled in dust

I'll show you a place

High on the desert plain, yeah

Where the streets have no name.” U2.

ps:

This is a personal reflection/rant, and not an academic article :)