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Philipose Vaidyar
A senior
friend from Kerala once joked to another in Hyderabad during a telephone call,
“This guy never stays anywhere.”
That comment was about me. It was 2006. I had moved from Kerala to Hyderabad…
and later, from Hyderabad to Chennai.
When I
heard it, I was disturbed. Not because he was wrong, but because he didn’t know
why I kept moving.
We were seeking an alternative learning environment for our son, bright, creative, and curious, yet unable to cope with the conventional school system. He didn’t
fit in. The school couldn’t contain him.
In that
waiting phase, a friend of mine, a librarian, showed me a magazine that had
just arrived at his library—The Forerunner. There was an ad by IMA,
looking for an Editor.
Editor?
Me?
All my schooling was in Malayalam. I had never formally studied English or
trained in literature.
I had a Master’s in Commerce, Theology, and Communication—but more on the
social side. I had barely used a dictionary in school or college. Yet, I
decided to apply.
They
called. We spoke over the phone. Then a personal interview.
And soon, I joined IMA, Hyderabad, as Manager for Research and
Communications.
We moved
as a family. Found a good school nearby that agreed to help our son—at least
for socialization, if not for academics. But after a year of searching and
trying, special educators suggested we consider Chennai.
That’s
how the next move began.
Interestingly,
that same friend—the one who had said I never stayed anywhere—later took leave
from his government job to work with an NGO. After a few back-and-forths, he
took voluntary retirement and joined that NGO’s leadership.
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They’ll critique your choices without ever spending a day in your shoes.
They won’t show up when you struggle. They won’t encourage you when you’re low.
It doesn’t matter.
If you
feel called to move, move—by faith, at the right time.
Here’s
something I’ve learned:
Don’t marry your organization. Marry your purpose.
Be
diligent, accountable, and responsible. But don’t stay late at the office just
to prove loyalty. Don’t confuse overwork with commitment.
Your family
matters more than your organization.
Your vision is greater than your position.
When we
moved to Chennai, I was appointed Associate Director for Communications and
Public Relations. My salary barely covered rent, school fees, and our son’s
learning center. Still, I built the organization’s website, produced a
corporate video, and designed brochures.
But PR
wasn’t clearly defined. Six months into the role, before my probation ended, I
knew it was time to move again—for my family’s sustenance and for defined goals
that aligned with my purpose.
If your
organization fits your vision, that’s a blessing.
If not, keep trusting the higher call.
Later, I
joined a national NGO as Senior Communication Manager. In 2011—long
before COVID—they decided to close the Chennai office and asked me to work from
home. I was given a dongle allowance and kept delivering quality work,
traveling occasionally.
A year
later, they wanted me to move to Delhi.
We discussed, negotiated… but there was no other option. So, I resigned.
We had come to Chennai for a reason—and that reason was not yet fulfilled.
I left in
faith, with my PF and settlement, about one lakh rupees after three years of
service.
To some,
that made me a “rolling stone” again.
But staying put in Chennai was my decision to stay faithful to my
purpose.
For many,
commitment means staying 35 years in one job, retiring from the organization even
if not from the same desk.
For me, commitment meant following where the calling led.
A place
only matters when you have a reason to be there.
To fulfill something. To serve someone.
Interestingly,
the same organization that I left later called me twice—for special
productions that took me to dozens of locations and villages.
And then
came a full year—365 days—without a job.
Financially tough, yes. But spiritually? One of the most exciting seasons of my
life.
Because the One who calls you is faithful.
He provides when you serve Him and seek His purpose.
“Seek
first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to
you as well.”
Not all the riches of the world, but everything you need to keep rolling.
Move when you must.
But know why you’re
moving.
When faith leads the way, every move finds meaning.
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