Harikeerthan, Communication Scientist Department of Infectious Diseases, CMC
It takes a special kind of vision to see a tree, with branches on which birds can nest, in the tiny seed from a mustard plant. In my writing course, my teachers called this sort of imagination “magical realism.” This picture of an oak- or banyan-like mammoth burgeoning slowly and steadily out of the lowly mustard is the metaphor Jesus used to describe the kingdom of God. Such a tree does not come into being through human effort. It requires supernatural transformation.
I think this is the potential that God saw in Aunt Ida when He put it in her heart to start a medical college for women in the obscure South Indian town of Vellore She must have glimpsed God’s vision too; for when asked, she clarified, that she was building “not a medical college, but the Kingdom of God ”
The idea of catching a glimpse of God’s glorious vision was brought into focus at the Consultation Conclave 2025. This conference is a once-in-a-decade endeavor that aims to help the people invested in CMC to reflect on how the institution has been doing and to dream together about where she might go in the next ten years.
At the conference, I found myself asking two questions: “Is CMC staying true to her vision?” and “Do we still carry within us the Spirit who inspired Aunt Ida?” I came away convinced that the answer to both questions was “yes,” because there are people at CMC today who still see the tree in the seed of a mustard plant
DEVOTIONAL - 1
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES, CMC, AND MISSION HOSPITALS: A LEGACY OF PARTNERSHIP - 3
Paul stands in Athens surrounded by people searching for meaning. Temples, statues, ideas everywhere, and yet something is missing. So he begins with a simple observation: “I see how spiritual you are ” And then he points them to what they’ve been longing for all along: a God who is not far off but near closer than they think Paul shows them that the connection they seek with God is already there if they learn to notice it.
The truth is we all need to find connection because it’s what we’re made for. Not just information about God, but relationship with God, and through this a deeper connection with one another The challenge is that life often pulls us in the opposite direction We can be busy, distracted, even sitting in church surrounded by people, and still feel disconnected.
So how do we reconnect?
Practice noticing: Pause and pay attention to where God is already present Practice presence: Be fully with others and listen more than you speak Practice remembering: You are never alone God is already here… closer than you think.
Father whose life is within me and whose love is ever about me, Grant that Thy life may be maintained in my life today and every day, that with gladness of heart, without haste or confusion of thought,
I may go about my daily tasks, conscious of my ability to meet every rightful demand, seeing the larger meaning of little things and finding beauty and love everywhere
In the sense of Thy Presence may I walk through the hours breathing the atmosphere of love rather than anxious striving.
down the line, Dr. George met me with contagious excitement. A research project he had proposed had secured funding, and he had just the job for me!
I joined his team as a Communication Scientist, a position that has not existed in CMC before this. Working together, we are still discovering all the ways in which writing and medicine converge. And I am grateful that Dr. George was able to see something more than I could see myself.
This is not an isolated story in CMC. Everyone can name someone who saw a possibility, a tree in the seed, the kingdompotential in a person. Neither is it surprising that CMC is expanding on so many fronts. Because there are people here who perceive the Kingdom of God where others spot but a hospital and college.
These people imagine what is beyond the usual and the ordinary because the Spirit that moved Aunt Ida is alive in them today, planting ideas, nurturing dreams, granting glimpses of divine vision, and inviting people to walk the untraveled path. Following Him into what He pictures for us to make it a reality requires a special kind of imagination.
Banyan Tree
Dr. Ann Harikeerthan
INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES, CMC, AND MISSION HOSPITALS: A LEGACY OF PARTNERSHIP
JOIN THE POWER OF THREE CAMPAIGN — TRIPLE YOUR IMPACT FOR CHILDREN IN NEED
The Vellore CMC Foundation invites you to be part of a transformational moment in pediatric care at Christian Medical College and Hospital
Through the Power of 3 Campaign, every gift is matched 2:1, tripling your impact for children and families who rely on CMC for lifesaving care
$1,000 becomes $3,000 in impact
$3,000 becomes $9,000 in impact
Gifts of $2,500+ will be recognized on a commemorative plaque at the new Pediatric Specialty Center
Your support will help equip CMC’s new Pediatric Specialty Center advancing care in Pediatric Oncology, Endocrinology, Emergency Medicine, and more ensuring that every child receives compassionate, world-class treatment
Give today to help build a haven of healing, hope, and renewal for the next generation.
Donate today: Donate - Vellore Christian Medical College Foundation
Each year, CMC serves more than 140,000 pediatric outpatients and oversees the care of over 12,000 newborns. Well baby clinics offer immunizations and growth monitoring for over 75,000 infants and children every year. Even before CMC recognized an urgent need for expansion and specialized children’s services, God’s plan was already in the making.
Through the extraordinary generosity of Ajit Isaac, Founder and Chairman of Quess Corp Limited, and Prem Watsa, CEO of Fairfax Financial, the vision for a world-class Pediatric Specialty Center began to take shape. A center accountable to the advancement of healthcare and remaining at the forefront of quality patient services, while serving a greater number of patients with excellence.
Partnership of Shared Vision
Teak wood plaques engraved with Noah’s Ark animals and birds will decorate the corridors of CMC’s Pediatric Super Specialty Center These images provide a child friendly environment but are also a reminder that the facility serves as a sanctuary for complete healing akin to the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark A true story symbolic of partnership and mutual reliance
CMC is not only about building infrastructure but more importantly about loving the people they serve It is a Christ-centered love that covers every project in prayer and extends compassionate care for the least of these We are grateful for your faithful partnership as you join us in this mission of love Please envision and hope with us, as together we create a haven of wellness with advanced comprehensive medical services - a hope that nurtures and empowers children as a vital part of and core contributors to society!
For additional information or any questions about this campaign and how you can get involved, please contact Deepika Srivastava at deepika@vellorecmc org
