"No refills" on water and good company

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Dawn arrives shortly after 5:00 a.m. I'm finally well enough to get out the door for a walk. I find some delicate flowers in the garden, which go into a brass vase from Mom.

I can feel the creativity coming back after a break. I post the first food blogs in ages. FB and IG block the posts but no one can figure out why. Someone suggests it's because it's about dates and syrup in the same post. (= DIY date syrup) Maybe?

We're jet lagged but have the blessing of household help. They cook lunch and wash dishes, change our bedding and do laundry.

In previous generations, the household manager was the wife, whether one or both spouses had careers. The household chores and errands belonged to her. Now the chore-masters and managers may be either man or woman ... or both. In our case, W and I have multiple careers: teaching, leading, writing, and speaking. Our helpers free us to do that work. What a blessing they are!

The day is full of calls and meetings. It's a delight to see our team online. Between, I sort old family pictures. Mom and I were young once upon a time.

Our parents traveled to Africa and South America to do charitable work in their 40s.

 

I loved my little cousins. I send them the pictures Dad took 30-50 years ago of happy times as a big family. Here they're on an auntie's porch, probably at a family dinner.

This cousin was a special favorite, with a birthday 2 days after mine.

I was bridesmaid for my older brother way back when. I thank God for good memories as I flush old emails and photos.

After a final evening call, we relax and read. It's a good night of sleep: 7 hours. (Mind you, the hours are 7:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.)

Wednesday

Another walk, another day. My energy is back, though my lung aren't clear yet. There are fresh blooms in the dirt along the road.

This tiny yellow fruit hides under its vine.

I'm in the mood to cook. I bake a potato/oatmeal/vege something-something for breakfast. Not bad with sweet soy and spicy sauces. I make a pot of soup with the white beans I find in the freezer. I'm using up stored foods since we're back to movie night and other events that need freezer/fridge space.

A friend posts wise advice about not worrying about the future. What a good reminder for me. I've never been a worrier but I've also never liked waiting for the next season. Small steps of obedience, and we'll get there.

In the late afternoon we watch the incoming American election results. Since we don't live there, we felt we didn't have the right to vote. However, as we did for Indonesia's election last year, we've been praying over the people and the government.

W and I read through Sunday's talk and enjoy the mild weather on the Porch. Coming home to 64o/18o nights and 80o/27o days? Wonderful. I'm in long sleeves and trousers because the mornings are too cool. The sun doesn't break through for long so it stays mild and pleasant all day long.

At night, rainstorms sweep the mountains, clear the air, and wash the garden. The rain and sunshine make plants like this one (4'/1.3m tall) glow. I love the bright yellow of the recent leaves at the top with the black ones near the bottom, don't you?

Thursday

W and the dogs hike in the mountains without me. Melvi makes 5 table arrangements from Titik's big Sunday flowers.

There's enough for a bigger "messy" bouquet as well.

For supper, I add some coconut cream to yesterday's soup and call it good.

It's planned as a quiet day of catching up and resting. It's not quite as relaxing as we hoped but we appreciate the prayers and both sleep well. 

Friday

Ibu Siti rubs out the kinks from last week's homecoming, a marathon of travel. Then Judy and I have coffee. She's a treasure: we can be open, honest, and outspoken or watchful and prayerful together.

An odd thing happens at #karnivor.2. I order tea. I want black tea but they have only have fancy teas so I choose the least flavored option. The tea steeping gadget is cool and holds tea leaves and a cup of water. That quickly disappears and I'm ready for more. 

"No refills," says the server. Can I buy hot water for a second infusion? He reluctantly agrees and charges me $2 for a bottle of "mineral" water (plain water) that someone apparently heats up. The bar has a hot tap! and made tea that way the first time. Why not refill from that? 

But, "cannot do." There's no thinking outside the box of instructions that servers are given. We experience that over and over, not just today.

At noon, W and I head for Ethnic. I choose rice oncom while W has pepper steak - for about the same price as the mid-morning pastry and 1 portion of sushi earlier.

We enjoy time together. We're still feeling comatose by late afternoon and wide awake some nights. Another week and we'll be completely adjusted to our time zone.

Saturday

We walk 2 miles and remark on the 4-storey apartment that's being erected in our neighborhood. Before, this was a small one-storey house. 

WhatsApp's AI produces thumbs up and other emojis from gestures. We call the grandkids and they learn how to set off fireworks in their background. They're so much fun.

Later, Maddie drops by for a visit on the Porch.

Read more:

*David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:10-13

*Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

*There are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:6

Moravian Prayer: Great “I Am”, as humans, we too often bicker and debate over how to worship you. Our experiences and preferences can get in the way of our focus on you. Rid us of these distractions and focus our attention on your mission every moment of the day.

Lord Protector, you bring life from death. With wounds healed and tears dried, our faith in you endures. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Perfectly normal

I laughed when I saw this cartoon. So few of us would see other people's families as normal. Some of us even think our own tribes are a bit crazy. And many of us grew up in nuthouses, where the grown-ups refused to take responsibility for their character or actions.

My folks provided a stable environment. Dad left work at work, brought home a regular income, paid the bills. He also made us do Canadian Army calisthenics, built winter slides out of wood and water, and let us tunnel through the backyard when the snow drifts got deep. Mom stayed home, made sure our clothes were washed, our food was deliciously nutritious, weeded the yard and garden, and tucked us into quiet, clean beds at night. We had daily family devotions and went to church three or four times a week. We volunteered, took music lessons, and did our chores.

We had curfews, too. I was expected in by 11pm, while I was in high school. "Aw, Dad!"

"What's there to do after 11?" he countered. (He was right, as usual.)

My friend Penny shocked me when we were 18. "Your family has always been 'different,'" she said. We were sitting in the car, chatting after an evening out. "You just follow your father like sheep. My mom said, 'If those Daher kids heard their dad say, Jump, they'd ask, How high?' Your parents are control freaks."

My parents were controllers? That had never crossed my mind. Our respect for our folks was a bad thing? I was stunned. They looked out for us, loved us, and let us experience life in creative and fun ways, as well as instilling discipline and keeping an orderly household.

On the other hand, Penny didn't respect her much-older parents. She didn't mind them, either. They had a detached sort of relationship: she'd never think of discussing boyfriends, her feelings, or anything that was important to her.

In contrast, we laughed, shared our days, and argued nearly every topic of interest in our kitchen. We ate supper together every night, and we talked about whatever interested us, including what was going on in church, school, home, among friends and family. ... Of course we had our teen secrets, growing up, and trying to get away with whatever we could. We pushed the boundaries, tested our limits and the patience of our parents.

And we knew that if Dad forbade something, that was the end of it, at least if we didn't want to get punished. Or if we couldn't negotiate a better deal. The year I was 15/16,  I was grounded for parts of 4 months: for coming in 6 minutes after curfew, for sassing him or mom, and ? Can't remember what it was all about, but it was a simple, effective - well, sort-of-effective - discipline.

"Do you think this is working?" I asked Dad, the fourth time.

"Not taking away anything from me," he replied. "Working for me, I guess."

That made me chuckle, but it also made me think about my actions and their consequences. I liked going out, and missed the weekly swims, roller-skating, or other dates. I tried to mind better. Maybe it made Dad think, too. He never grounded me again.

God's family is strange too, let's face it. Viewed from inside or outside, we are dysfunctional, petty, stubborn, and hypocritical. We try to make ourselves look good by dressing up inside and out. But really - let's admit it - most of us have "issues," whether rooted in our characters, our backgrounds, or our experiences.

Around our Christian family table, it's best to be honest about life, loving, and serving, rather than coming with masks and defenses ready. We may be as nutty or individualistic as non-Christians, but we come together to be lavished with (and to extend) loving-kindness, gain knowledge of God our Father, and to comfort and care for each other. We may not always agree, but we trust God for insight and wisdom as a community - as the family of God.

I love to meet with believers who have integrity. They may not air all their grievances, dirty laundry, or wretched past with every bystander. But they speak Truth from their deeply broken humanity, in a community of faith. Forgiven, they forgive. Created, they are creative. Deeply loved, they love others the way they love God and themselves.

Oh, makes me want to go to Church, just thinking about it. Ready to join us?


Read more:
*But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:4-10 NIV

Thankful for ...well, everything!

I'm blessed beyond measure. When our families get together, we don't worry about drag 'em and knock 'em out fights, watching our words so no one gets offended, or second-guessing others' motives. W and I really like our kids (including those who married into the family), our aunts and uncles, and still get along with our parents. Oh yeah, we love each other, too.


Today was very special. While the kids and W went elsewhere to eat turkey, I stayed home to keep writing an article I have to defend as part of my doctoral process. At 5, I ate a can of sardines and heated up some frozen pasta. Yeah, it would have been great to have some turkey and other Thanksgiving fixings, but W and Jono brought home delicious pumpkin pie made by their hostess (thanks, Martha!) Accompanied by peppermint tea, it was a perfect finish to an indifferent repast.

If I counted my blessings and named them one by one, the list would go on into tomorrow. Instead, how about counting five or six blessings of your own, things for which you are grateful. Chalk up a few things that you deserve––as little as I deserve the wonderful blessings in my life.


I'd start my list with: a relationship with Jesus, friends, good family, health, shelter, food, love, education, the ability to read and write, paper and pen, an updated computer and working printer, vision, smell, taste, breath, hearing, touch, spiritual confidence in God's provisions, dogs who adore me. . .


and you... ?


Read more (thankful for you, Tillie!):
*Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
         Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
         It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
         We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
        
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
         And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
         For the LORD is good;
         His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100   NKJV