sandhyarjha

A pastor’s lament: 60 years later, and we still don’t give a s*** about each other

Last night as we waited for the Darren Wilson verdict to return, I went to the right place: I went downtown, where faith leaders and anarchists and socialists and nonviolent youth movement leaders and queer activists of all races had convened because we needed to be a public witness but more than that, we neededContinue reading “A pastor’s lament: 60 years later, and we still don’t give a s*** about each other”

About and not with: the big failing of the immigration debate

When my father went through his interview for US citizenship, he talked so much about Jamestown and Williamsburg (where we had gone on vacation) that eventually the INS interviewer threw up his hands and said, “OK! ENOUGH!” At least that’s the way my mother tells the story. I remember the naturalization ceremony in downtown Akron whenContinue reading “About and not with: the big failing of the immigration debate”

The spiritual journey to a secular job

I’ve got one thing on my mind, baby, and that one thing is…fundraising. Sexy, right? The Oakland Peace Center is hosting our very first fundraising campaign ever, and it is all I can think about right now. I sent a couple of appeal emails to people I know through church, and it got me thinkingContinue reading “The spiritual journey to a secular job”

Singleness Day 60 — Extending Singleness

I love the series Sex and the City more than is healthy. I mean, I love it enough that at regional church women gatherings, I might covertly whisper to a church woman, “I know I shouldn’t watch it, but there’s an episode of Sex and the City,” and the woman would respond, “You know youContinue reading “Singleness Day 60 — Extending Singleness”

My friend’s installation and my own journey in ministry

Don’t get weary. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t get played. Do you. That was the charge given to my friend the Rev. Jacqueline Duhart as she was installed as Associate Minister for Faith In Action at First Unitarian Church of Oakland on October 5. It was a good Sunday, and a deeply self-reflective one forContinue reading “My friend’s installation and my own journey in ministry”

Being Single On Purpose Day 36 – Accepting Loneliness and Being Willing to Trade Away a Lifetime of Good Sex for a Really Good Online Fundraising Genius

So in September I chose to take on a season of singleness (3 months, although I’m thinking I’ll make it four and see out 2014 without another bad date). I did it mostly to figure out how to overcome the loneliness that has been haunting this usually single extrovert on and off for the betterContinue reading “Being Single On Purpose Day 36 – Accepting Loneliness and Being Willing to Trade Away a Lifetime of Good Sex for a Really Good Online Fundraising Genius”

Two White moms and a mixed race baby — one Hapa’s perspective (STOP MAKING IT NOT COMPLEX)

Several years ago, my friend Rita saw a play written by Asian adoptees raised in America. She told me about one vignette in particular that started out with this statement: “It takes exceptional parents to raise a child of a different race. [beat] My parents were not exceptional.” I keep thinking about that statement asContinue reading “Two White moms and a mixed race baby — one Hapa’s perspective (STOP MAKING IT NOT COMPLEX)”

Oakland, you’re the hot chick now:

Stop letting your boyfriends treat you like you’re lucky to be with them! Please forgive the heteronormative nature of the following piece. If you read my blog posts regularly, you know a few things about me: I’ve been the fat chick and I’ve been the hot chick. I’ve been with guys who treat me wellContinue reading “Oakland, you’re the hot chick now:”

বিনম্র শ্রদ্ধা — Remembering Sushil Kumar Jha

My uncle has always had somewhat legendary status in my nuclear family. He’s the reason my father came west. When our family in India needed some financial assistance, my uncle took a job with a mining company and used every spare penny to send my father to Scotland so my father could get a westernContinue reading “বিনম্র শ্রদ্ধা — Remembering Sushil Kumar Jha”

Forgiving God and coming to terms with singleness…day 10

“Taking a hiatus from dating, actually.” He wasn’t my type, but he was unquestionably cute. So I was glad I had a good excuse in my back pocket when he asked if I was single this afternoon. People trying to avoid the wrong kind of attention — BEST. LINE. EVER. With the added bonus ofContinue reading “Forgiving God and coming to terms with singleness…day 10”