A birthday during Passion Week

So this is what it feels like to be 65. You may cross a bridge with the same courage but you'll probably have less confidence than you did at 40. (Read more about that washed-out bridge below.)

Sunday

We start with a walk after 6:00. It's cool and fresh after downpours most of the night. Many people are strolling outside.

The dogs, including our new little poodle, frolic in a big gated yard near our place.

Friends send many birthday greetings, spiced up by the delivery of delicious foods. We start with a taste of Germany - absolutely wonderful leftovers from Friday's feast in Jakarta.

I'm not fasting this weekend, that's for sure. Dr Hanna and Alice send over smokey noodles, a traditional birthday food "for long life." They're so good that I eat the whole serving, while W stashes half of his.

But later, the Japanese rice dish Sayaka makes is yummy, too! Sitora has baked her traditional rolls so we enjoy those. And to make sure we celebrate properly, Rut and Melvina have chosen 3 desserts, which we split between us.

Ruth surprises me with 60 long-stemmed roses. They unfold day by day.

The 3 tall bouquets last all week.

I give myself two big presents for my 65th birthday. This year, I've officially become a senior according to my Canadian heritage. The first indulgence arrived 3 weeks ago, the little "white shadow" who snoozes under my desk or right beside my chair on the balcony when I'm working.

The second gift is a vibrant modern rug, traditionally woven by families in one of the -stan countries. I still remember it from when we saw it in Bali in October. "Do you need more things for the house?" W asks.

Need is a relative word. He updates tech constantly, which he finds important. On the other hand, I am nourished by keeping our house updated. A complementary pair, the two of us.

Monday

We spend hours this week sending WhatsApp Easter greetings and prayers to friends and the BIC community. I'm tired at the end of each day; I don't think I've talked this much since the pandemic hit!

Even after 2 weeks, the flowers and leaves Sumi popped into a vase for the back hall look cheerful.

I've been eyeing the living room since February but haven't mustered the energy to change from Winter-Valentine's Day red slipcovers to cream. I changed the pillows a month ago so it's time. The new rug's colors will boost the energy.

Thursday

On our mountain walk, we get to a washed-out bridge. It's been raining every day so the creek's banks have eroded. The 8'-wide concrete pad has fallen partially into the gushing stream. The water rushes by 7-8' (+2 meters) below the top lip. The cement looks well-wedged to me though there's a narrow tree sticking up near the other side. That branch might be a hassle to traverse, but the rest of 12" ledge looks doable.

I'm inclined to try it. So what if we fall in? Someone else can haul us up the steep bank on the other side. Worst comes to worst, we'd be wet and maybe a bit bruised. The slab keeps us from getting swept downstream. (Below is "Side One." We have to get to the other side ...)

We've already hiked through the pruned tea fields, avoiding puddles and inches-deep mud by walking beside the lane on the rocks or in the grass.

We've come on overgrown paths through the shrubbery someone has chopped down to 8-12"-tall sticks. For a while, there's just a narrow untrimmed path. At the end of rainy season, the paths are a mess that needs beating back into drive-able and walk-able passages.

Our small poodle is on his first hike. Do his eyes clear the sticks protruding from the ground? He's good. He runs ahead, comes back, and trails me again. For every kilometer I walk, he does 2 or 3.

The 3 big dogs easily trek through the leaves and shrubbery, clearing out spiders and snakes. Alice, who leads through the trees, has to wave her walking stick to make sure there are no webs overhead. The spiders can be 10", leg- to leg-tips. Ugh.

The glowering sky holds its rain until we're almost back to the cars. The air is cool. Clouds cover the sun: perfect weather for hiking.

When we get to the broken bridge, we decide to find a path around it. After some ups and downs, we are in fields of hot peppers, trellised with bamboo teepees. Hundreds of short yellow peppers are ripening into red heat.

Well, the people sorting peppers beside the trail tell us there is no way past them. We'd have to cross the river in 2 places and we'd end up nowhere anyway. We must go back the way we came. We never know who is telling the truth or who is just sending us away. Since we are 5 km (3 miles) in already, we decide to give the bridge a try.

It still looks the same. Our two dogs run across the top, though Cocoa makes a few leaps to the other bank when she starts to slide down the slab. Angie and I scoot across and she pulls her golden retriever over by the harness. Getting across is more of a challenge for those who dislike heights.

On the far side, I find a long piece of bamboo. We slot it into the branch lying across the slab. That provides footing - and makes the scoot-on-your-bottom crossing much easier and safer. We help everyone across. W puts the smallest dog on his lap and that's how we get to the other side.

No one was in danger of serious harm and it's the kind of adventure that names our walks in the future. What should this one be called? The "Broken Bridge" walk? Maybe the "Slithering Slab?" Hopefully the bridge will be repaired next time we come this way.

GOOD FRIDAY

Our BIC kids have done a special reading and answered the question: "What does it mean to you that Jesus died on the cross?" They send in the videos for the media team to compile and post for everyone to enjoy.

Indonesia considers Good Friday a holiday but not the Sunday of Resurrection Day. The USA does not take Good Friday off but makes a big deal of Easter, though it's devolved into bunnies, spring flowers, and eggs to divert attention from the world-changing event that Christians celebrate.

Growing up in Canada, the whole thing - Friday to Sunday - was a long weekend before an Easter Break. With political pressure from non-Christians, the governments have changed the name to Spring Break. The date moves around so families can't travel for long trips during Easter time. Anything to downplay the uniqueness of God's Son living among us, dying for us, and being raised to life by the power  of God. Anything.

After all, God-with-us changes everything for those who believe the Good News is true.

After a morning walk, I read most of the day and do some quiet research. W is restless by mid-morning. He puts a few miles on his shoes while I stay home. I'm not much for walking at noon: it's just too hot if the sun comes out. There are a lot of hills and valleys to his errands.

One helper is working her second day this week, instead of the usual 5. We're being cautious. The driver, who returned yesterday after 2 weeks away with COVID, also takes the red-letter day off today. That's his right and he gets paid the same. It would have been nice to get out, but maybe we can do that tomorrow when he's back.

Saturday

W walked a long way yesterday so he doesn't want to walk this morning. Since it's raining, I skip as well. But we catch a ride to eat brunch at Down 2 Earth. The beef wraps are delicious. #D2E And my mango juice is excellent.

Tomorrow is Easter. This day of remembrance thrills my soul every year. Who would let themselves be tortured and killed to pay off the debt of another person?

And yet, God has done this for us. I am grateful. I cannot comprehend God's love and compassion for me, who could not save myself or reconcile with Him on my own. "He has done it!" Hallelujah.

Read more:

*The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. Psalm 14:1-5

*For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16

*[Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time:] Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matthew 20:17-19

*[Hanging on the cross,] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Moravian Prayer: Dear Jesus, like those who crucified you, we often sin, not knowing what we are doing. Forgive us when we have sinned against you, when we have hurt and rejected you out of ignorance and carelessness.

God of word and action, help us to perceive your message. It can be easy to ignore you in the moment, only to realize your presence in hindsight. Help us to recognize you in our lives today. Amen.