Bronze birds, a rice trough, and a stone wall

 Friday, January 20, 2023

Over 1700 blog posts. That's what's sitting in this blogspot repository. That's a lot of writing, whether anyone reads it or not. I went back to read some posts from 2012 and 2013, ten years ago. 

I sit on the porch, inhaling the scent of the gardenias by a fish pond (recycled from an enormous cracked flower pot.) Dozens of fish swim to the surface when I toss in fish food.

We walked this morning, admiring the red palm that flourishes at the neighbor's.

We looked in wonder at the wall being built stone by stone in the last few months.

First, workers cleared the plants from the edge of the street and put in a kind of sidewalk. Behind it is a pretty steep yard.

Then they dug a long trench in the ground, filled it with foundation rocks, and began to build a stonemason's art.

It was fascinating to see it start to grow. The base is thick! (at least a meter / 3' wide.)

I popped my head inside the gate to admire the flat front surface and the wall sloping toward it.

Quite astonishing at 3-meters (9+ feet) high. And beautiful, don't you think?

Now they've dug another trench for the side wall. I like construction and the hopefulness of something new emerging.

The beautiful gazebo in the neighborhood park has rotted away - consumed by termites and ants. It seems the neighbors have given up: they placed logs for seating in the space. When it's sunny (most of the day), it's too hot to use so the park is empty.

Saturday

We walk and make some calls. W heads to town, taking Wolter, Fennelien, and baby down the hill for a walk along the river.

There are endless paved paths between houses, along with dirt trails. (The condition depends on how much the neighborhood council skims from allocated funds.) Once you explore and lose yourself a few times, you get the gist of where you are.

The canary and lovebirds chirp on the porch as I review language and work towards Lent. Pak G sprays the birds with the garden hose, giving them an instant shower. They preen and sing.

For relief from words, I pull a commemorative trophy from a speaking engagement out of its glass box. I replace it with a bronze bird and Bali driftwood. (The glass bowl on the wood shattered in transit but the wood remains.) It's a mix of nature and industrial: wood, metal, and glass. That's just enough creativity to get me back to language review.

In the afternoon, PakG and his friend with the little pickup truck get the Sundanese lesung (antique rice trough) from a house on the next hill. It caught our eyes during a walk last year. It's in good condition for its age. The bull's head was cleanly broken off at some point but nailed back on.

It's HEAVY hardwood, 3 meters long (9'). "No need to use soap or oil to clean it," says PakG. "What it needs is brushing many times and then the wood will shine again." I tell him to start on it when he has time.

"More stuff for an eventual garage sale," sighs W.

"It will be amazing," I promise him. We will line it against water before we add plants and set it near the entry.

The groomers make the dogs beautiful again @$15 for 2 poodle coats. I'll have to trim off the back of Bailey's "helmet cut" to round his head but that's a small price to pay.

Sunday - Happy Chinese New Year ("Gong Xi Fa Cai!" to our Chinese friends)

W and I speak together at IES for the first time in a few weeks. It's easy. Conversational. We're talking about how God brings his light into our darkness, with 2 stories from scripture. Listen here if you want (20:00)

I spotted the top of a palm tree in someone's garden compost on Friday's walk and slung it over my shoulder. I throw it into the kitchen sink to soak until time to use it.

Sure enough, it fits perfectly in the 28" (72 cm) vase. A 5' stem of "bird of paradise," left over from our forest walk 10 days ago, is still red, It slides between the palm fronds. The red pussy willows were wrapped up 4 years ago after a Chinese New Year bouquet faded. Together, it becomes a simple tall bouquet of red and green.

At Community Table, we chat with several new arrivals to Bandung. Groups of people sit around and chat. Watching people making friends, discussing their lives, and praying for each other gives us great hope for the family of God. He is at work among us, from every tribe and nation.

Some join us for lunch at #NaraPark, enjoying Indonesian soup, mushroom pizza, a burger, and Japanese bento boxes. It's all good - and the blackberry cheesecake dessert pizza finishes it off nicely. Since there are many restaurants here, you can order whatever you have an appetite for. The conversation is useful and warm.

When we get home, the Hangout group is on The Porch, enjoying lunch and games together.

Read more:

*When you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not cheat one another. Leviticus 25:14

*God looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28:24

*It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. Matthew 18:14

*We intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others. 2 Corinthians 8:21

Moravian Prayer: Lord, you watch over us, and that is no small thing. Help us to remember this when we are feeling alone and lost. Remind us to keep our eyes open for others who may also be feeling lost.

God of justice, give us the wisdom and strength to act with honesty and integrity. Remind us of our responsibility to both you and our communities to hold ourselves to the highest standards of your grace. Amen.