“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,…

“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’
as Isaiah the prophet said.”

As student of class 9 , I was playing the role of the prophet Isaiah yelling in the dessert with a white beard and gown and stole over my shoulder and a stick in hand I walked onto stage yelling verses I mugged up and for the first time in my life until then, I blanked out on stage… so I did the next best thing , banged my stick on the stage for effect and repeated the same line again for emphasis — I could see my teachers eyes widen in horror as she realized I had panicked or skipped it but my memory came through and the rest went smooth!!!

When life doesn’t go the way we planned it — we improvise it ! we take what we have at hand and move on. But we thank the Lord for what we have and make way for His plans to emerge in our lives! As I reflect on the last year – I am over whelmed with gratitude for everything and everyone that walked in and out of my life!

Work drama, health scares and family time made me realise how much I want to be close to my people – my family , my friends and my own home town working for them and serving them with my new knowledge ! It makes me realise how much I should be thankful for my family esp my parents and all of you readers for all the love and prayers that bless me on a daily / weekly basis. I confess I have typed these reflections at past mid night while I was dozing off at the computer or between work in our in patient wards when I had the time.

I did some day think maybe I should not be the one giving reflections on the Bible when Im sinning all over the place with my thoughts , words and deeds !!! Maybe John the Baptist felt the same imposter syndrome but he stuck to his mission and made way for Jesus as was assigned to him and I will too stick on to my mission of being a gynecological oncological surgeon – working harder and with the blessings of all my patients and for their benefit !!

I need to be faithful to my work and my mission in this new year and ensure that I don’t stray away from my calling due to some people doubting me or my self doubt or worse! my procrastination!

I encourage all of you as readers to find a mission of faith in 2025 – can be as small as discussing about your faith with someone new or maybe befriending someone in the church group.

Let us use our talents or mere faith to reveal Christ through our work and mission in teh new year and spread the light of Jesus – be our own John the Baptist ! Let us focus on finding this and if nothing we can just start on our own mission of faith !! #missionoffaith2025

AMEN.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025! a year to look forward too!

About the Author

Hello! I’m Dr Analise Maria D’ Mello, (MBBS, MS obgyn, DNB) from the beautiful state of Goa in India. I was born and raised in a Roman Catholic family, learning my prayers, catechism and Catholic values from my parents and grandmothers. I am currently practicing as an obstetrician and gynecologist for 3 years since my residency.

I often speak on anti-abortion to college students and married couples, and counsel distressed pregnant women with appropriate medical advice. I am part of the St Luke’s Medical Guild of Catholic Doctors in my state providing services in prisons, and Lenten and advent retreats for medical professionals and their families.