Perfection is overrated

Monday, March 17, 2025

We walk, then have 2 online meetings after breakfast.

Many of our friends do puzzles but that's never captured my attention. W and I spotted a 3D puzzle of a bookshelf "room" on one of our trips last year. It's been sitting on the shelf for months.

Today I pull it out, punch out a few wooden pieces. At Step 4 (on page 3 of 25) I have no clue what they're talking about. W can help me figure it out, or not. Who cares if it's perfect?

I'm working on three red abstract canvases to hang in red frames. I made this a few weeks ago and think I'll leave the imperfect circles as they are.

This second one got white dots over the base.

I look at the messy background of the final canvas. Oh, oh, in the art box, I spot half-used jars of craft paints in red, yellow, blue, and white. There's also a 1" (2.5cm) hardware brush on the shelf behind me ... so why not? I haul out the last canvas. I tip globs of color and a bigger pool of white onto the plastic wrap that housed puzzle pieces.

After 10 minutes of play, maybe it's done, maybe not. I pack away the paints. The nice thing about abstract acrylics is that you can splash around a canvas as many times as you want to, layering on what you've done. It doesn't have to be perfect or "finished" when you set out with no aim beyond having fun. I let things sit for a few weeks before I decide.

I wash paint off my hands and toss out the leftover paint in its plastic skin. Kiddie craft paint is good for fooling around because it's non-toxic. (Classroom paint is usually safer than artist quality.) I can't resist touching and moving paint around with my fingers. I rarely remember to put on the finger "socks" that are made to protect kids or grownups like messy me.

After lunch, we visit a neighbor's house. One of my favorite things is the life-sized model of a zebra in the backyard.

Tuesday

Our walk is shorter than usual: I didn't sleep very long and have no energy.  A little plant sprouting at the mossy base of an enormous tree trunk inspires me. It reminds me that it doesn't matter how small you are now; grow where you're planted.

I bake a carrot cake and forget to add sugar. Tastes amazing with raw honey smeared on it ... but still.

The helpers transition the dining table from a pink-ish tablecloth 

to a green one that matches the rest of the room.

As I get down to work, I "shut the door" to my office, at least figuratively. Those who have been here a while know that when the curtain is drawn, my door is "closed" and I'm working. (Crude but usually effective.)

The side entry door and the passage to upstairs are at one side of my office. I'm constantly moving others' stuff out of my sightline, much to their irritation. (Why not stash their stuff in their own spaces?) A pretty sight today: the pot outside my window has erupted in magenta blossoms.

Judy and I chat over morning coffee at HomeGround. I walk her home before returning to the restaurant with W for a very spicy lunch. Yum. My lips may be burning but my stomach is happy.

Wednesday

The sun's coming up as we walk. We take this beautiful city for granted sometimes. "Aren't we lucky to live in a city with palm trees?" I ask W, pointing to the towering trees in front of the sunrise.

A grandpa is taking his 2 grandkids to school on his motorbike. Kids - babies included - quickly learn to balance in front of, behind, or atop the driver. Most youngsters drive motorcycles by their mid-teens. Many start even sooner, racing around the streets near their homes,, ferrying their friends, or just zooming by on a lark.

After meetings and wading through emails, I hop onto a company seminar about the value of AI. They do an interesting review of how AI develops with all available data and how to profit from the automation. A friend drops by to enjoy tea and carrot cake on the Porch.

A wild lovebird swoops under the cages to eat what our birds have scattered. I can't catch it - but what a beauty. It's a recent escapee from someone's cage, still in good condition.

I make a Western lunch for W and me. Oh look, there's color on the plate. Most local food is brown, tan, or beige. (That doesn't mean it's not delicious!)

We sort out appointments for this week and next, do some counseling, and swap out the grey living room rug for one with colors. As long as there's something creative in the day, it's a good one, no matter how heavy the workload.

Between it all, the groomers arrive to tidy up our 3 pooches. With a Ramadan bonus, their total bill is $22. (Cheaper than hiring security guards, that's for sure.)

The 2 poodles get washed, cut, and blown dry, while Gypsy has the knots in his fur clipped and combed out. Looking good! The dogs get some sausage and another walk with PakG as their reward for standing still. Tomorrow is a hike, which will take care of any show dog illusions they have.

Perfect for a day. But perfection is overrated.

They're always "Good Doggies!"

Read more:

*You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. Isaiah 62:2

* By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24

* So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Moravian Prayer: Gracious God, awaken our hearts to see the glorious beauty in this new day. Refresh our minds and renew our spirits, as we accept the gift of new beginnings. Give us courage to start over as we trust in your goodness and love. Thank you for the hope and promise of new life in Jesus Christ, our redeemer. Amen.

Back in the swing of things

Saturday, March 1, 2025

How can it be March?! 

My hair looks limp and straggly at the back. I roughly clip up the top two-thirds and pull a brush across the bottom third, where I cut an inch off. (No need to wet the hair.) The five-minute fix lifts the layers  and lets me avoid hours in a hair salon. I shave my neck and toss the razor back onto the shower shelf.

It's a day of odds and ends, picking up and putting down, and considering where to invest time and energy. In late afternoon, I squeeze acrylic paint onto the bottom of egg crates. I press those circles on a canvas that has a red background.

I swish the paint around with my fingers. It's oddly satisfying, not knowing if there's more to it or if it's done. Would a series of shapes on that kind of intense background be interesting? Maybe.

Speaking of fingers, Keelee sent a small prayer labyrinth along to Indonesia. I trail a finger forward as I speak the characteristics of God (loving, kind, patient, powerful, holy, wonderful ...) and trace the path backward as I present requests for others and myself.

Sunday

We're starting a new series at IES Bandung. I refresh the bulletin board with letters impulsively and crudely cut from yellow printer paper. (The person who offered to do the board is busy with other things.) Maybe an idea of what else to do with it will pop up this week. Got ideas, send 'em to me!

The tennis courts outside the hall are being hand-painted so the area is roped off today. We walk around.

Since not everyone can attend every week, we remind the Gathering that we are committed to serve as their pastors at most for another year. After, there's a team meeting and then we eat lunch at Maxi with Martin, Sayaka, and Harun.

Titik has made another beautiful flower arrangement.

Flowers from her bouquet last week are still blooming. I discard the wilted ones and put the leftovers in a blue vase.

The day is dark and perfect for resting. My notebook is full of tasks for next week but I take myself back to childhood, when Sunday afternoons were for napping and reading. Before bedtime, I write and send off 11 posts for Lent. Check ✓.

Monday

No walk today. I'm in early meetings and crunching through to-dos until lunchtime. With Muslims fasting, we combine errands with lunch out: Chinese noodles, a vegetable, and tea @$12 total. Someone paid to have "halal" (or Muslim-safe) put on the tissue pack. Is there a non-halal version of paper?

It's been many years since I stepped into a salon. DrW books us into the newly-opened spa down the hill. The draw is a half-off offer. I indulge in a relaxing 2-hour facial for $15 (incl tip). I must be over jet lag: instead of falling asleep, I relish every minute.

I might ask W for a second appointment as a birthday gift later this month. We never know what to give each other - this makes it easy. Besides, the shop gave me a good coupon for a return. (She smiles.) There are reflexology and other treatments on offer as well - it's nice and clean. I have no idea what all the machines are for and don't care.

Then it's back to work. I learn a new Indonesian word and clear up a few tasks before day's end. My computer is full of tiny ants. I spray the shelf where I stashed it and squish every ant that walks across my screen. (Next day, no ants.)

Tuesday

After a walk, I make crepes for breakfast - it's Shrove Tuesday or "pancake day" before Lent starts tomorrow.

Of all the online meetings, the most fun is a mid-morning call to grandkids. They've figured out how to make FaceTime explode with fireworks or give a thumbs up. They make me laugh.

There's a new kind of lily along the street, glowing pale pink against the dark hedges.

The vines are dripping color at #NaraPak and our favorite greeter waves as he is sweeping. 

I make tacos for lunch. We brought a kit of soft tacos, taco sauce, and seasoning from the USA. It just feels like today's the day to eat it. It's soul-satisfying to occasionally eat food from "before," especially when other traditions are being celebrated.

Read more:

*Samuel said to the people, “Serve the Lord with all your heart, and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless.” 1 Samuel 12:20-21

*There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,  hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Proverbs 6:16-19

*In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grade that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8

*So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17

Moravian Prayer: Loving Lord, our hearts are yours. You shower us with all that is good and comfort us in our sorrows. Help us to recognize your will as our own and to turn away from all that deters us from your service. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

Experimenting and exploring in Malaysia

Thursday, July 25, 2024

We finish work about noon. A long slab of wood in our room acts as a desk, catch-all surface, and shelf. I'll have to remember this one.

There's always a tangle of chargers on the desk.

I like the casual drag of white through the grey paint, making a unique mural on several walls. (This one is above the bed.)

W has vetted a hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurant. It costs $13 for both drinks and 3 dishes.

My favorite is a soup that tastes much like rawon - the fungus (mushroom) is especially delicious.

On the way, we stop into Art Gallery, a painters' compilation of original and printed art. I get some postcards. A4 prints are $5 each while a 4-postcard set is $4. Ok - that's affordable.

Look at the use of color in this print. Again, I'm taken by the cool reds and blues of Penang.

"That is the last print of [this well-known artist]," says the lady at the till when I ask if there are other works by him. Nope. In person, the brushwork and hues are stunning.

Friday

I'm hungry for good bread. We passed Rainforest Bakery on our walk last night. 

It's near the hotel (1/3 mile/1/2 km) so we walk over for breakfast. The cakes!

The breads!

The tastes ... I get scones for later. They even have kaya honey, which I last found in Singapore.

Penang is known for street art. There are paintings on the walls.

There are metal sculptures.

The original patina of the tropics is often imitated in industrial decor but never matched. I love the antique windows.

And the doors.

I guess they're entryways.

Many shops have the original tiles in front, defining their "sidewalk" from other's.

Many old houses have been converted to shops in the Little India district.

The paintwork is fresh and individual, sometimes matching and sometimes contrasting with the old tiles.

Most shops and restaurants open late in the day. Between the beauty that is Penang, people are sleeping in nooks and crannies along the streets. Are they are homeless or napping? Many are very thin. 

We pass young girls dolled up in hijabs and sent into the tourist areas to beg. There are also disabled elders who spend the day begging. It's hard to know what to do when people are sent out to panhandle. Is it better not to contribute to such practices? Or better to give them something to take to their handlers?

We pass these trays of food drying in the sun but we have no idea what the pizza-like substance is. It's not pizza!

In the afternoon and evening, we're with friends at Dobson's house. We're celebrating coworker Anna's birthday. It's a fun evening of conversation and good food. There's a big plate of desserts to share as well. We pray for each other around the table before saying goodnight and heading back to Georgetown and our hotel.

Saturday

We go back to the Rainforest Cafe for breakfast. Then we walk to a pen-and-journal shop where I buy a Traveler's Notebook.

I like the courtyard combination of brick and gravel, too.

Our next stop is a craft, food, and art market. It's part of Georgetown's Art Festival. We find a cute market sketch for the kitchen. A young woman has sketched it in charcoal plus watercolor and pastel. She offers us a bigger size and we support her efforts with $20. Surviving as an artist is hard work.

Lunch at Hameediyah is all the ratings give it - 5 star! We share a mutton biryani and a massive shrimp and drink tea. 

We skip the rose-flavored drink named for our town.

We walk past an old rickshaw.

We exclaim over the enormous jackfruit at a fruit wholesaler.

Durian, a love it or hate it fruit because of the sewage smell and pudding-like texture, is so fragrant that this seller holds his nose shut as he cleans his cart in preparation for the day.

At the hotel, we pack up with stomachs, heads, and spirits filled to the brim. We add a few treats to the suitcase; we'll try them when we get home.

The airport lounge has good laksa (spicy curry noodles.)

The flight, +2 hours from Penang to Jakarta, is smooth. However, the shuttle ride to Bandung is hair-raising. We leave our terminal, catch a shuttle that's leaving immediately (6:00pm), and don't get to Bandung until 10:00pm. 

The driver alternately drives the normal speed or slows to a bare crawl while freeway traffic zips past us. The highway has light traffic so what is going on? Of course he stays in the "fast" lane, often getting close to the concrete barriers. With cars, trucks, and busses passing us, my adrenaline works on high alert. I dread the danger of a bad shuttle driver more than any other part of travel. W sleeps through much of it. 

"Sir, are you falling asleep?" calls the passenger beside me in the back row. The driver perks up a bit and pours on the speed. Then it's back to 30-50km/hr (20-30mph). It's a relief when he pulls into the rest stop, though he takes nearly half an hour to come back, instead of the usual 15 minutes. After that, the pace is steadier though he's still not keeping up with the flow of traffic.

PakG picks us up from the shuttle terminal. When we get home about 10:30pm, I'm so drained that I leave the suitcases where they are until the next day. I take a sleeping pill to ward off the nightmare trip and sleep solidly until morning.

Read more:

*The Lord has sent me to comfort all who mourn. Isaiah 61:1,2

*Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

*So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

Moravian Prayer: Listening God, we place before you our cries for mercy and laments, wistful longings, and wavering faith. Though at the end of our rope, we still trust in your promises, opening our entire beings to receive you anew. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.