My new adventure today was rock climbing!! Suddenly we were up on the wall and it was dizzying, fun, elegant, counter-intuitive. Sue and I had emailed about me ending my US days on a high note, and THIS is literally it!
I must say that halfway up that colourful indoor wall, all I wanted to do was stop. But I'd signed up cos I'm magnetized by new experiences and it was time to conquer my fear of heights. Plus my instructor was giving great pointers from below. Like most Americans, she has an exemplary can-do spirit. And Sandra, who instigated all this fun, was a superb natural even as a beginner.
I'm still dreaming of that artifice of a rock wall, and remembering all those free-spirited outdoorsy images of expert rock climbers in the remotest terrain. Rock climbing involves an awakening of many senses, new body movements in a different realm, easy camaraderie, some danger, travel, beauty, freedom -- reminds me of those scuba-diving days.
Amid the intensity of my relocation, it's perfect to be able to mix in a few hours of escape like today and mini-projects... still trying to grow Jack Pine bonsai that I'd have to leave behind.
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Monday, July 09, 2007
Over-Partying God
My friend Gaby cut so many immense hydrangeas from her garden for me. I was telling her that hydrangeas suggest extravagant generosity -- like their grower Gaby!
She's also radiating one amazing aspect of God -- a Father who greatly rejoices over His children, presents us with a fuller than full life... and even over-parties!!
Really? Always original, PD recently described God as over-partying over lost sheep.
Luke 15: 3-6: Then Jesus told them a story. He said, "Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won't he leave the 99 in the open country? Won't he go and look for the one lost sheep until he finds it?When he finds it, he will joyfully put it on his shoulders and go home. Then he will call his friends and neighbors together. He will say, 'Be joyful with me. I have found my lost sheep.'
Now, doesn't that sound excessive, even a little embarassing? But it's true, all Heaven rejoices! Maybe our minds just haven't adjusted to a huge liberating truth like that.
Reminds me of what Joyce Meyer said. When we go to Heaven, we'll find piles and piles of beautiful unopened gifts. They were God's gifts to us on earth, she said, but we never even opened them!
She's also radiating one amazing aspect of God -- a Father who greatly rejoices over His children, presents us with a fuller than full life... and even over-parties!!
Really? Always original, PD recently described God as over-partying over lost sheep.
Luke 15: 3-6: Then Jesus told them a story. He said, "Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won't he leave the 99 in the open country? Won't he go and look for the one lost sheep until he finds it?When he finds it, he will joyfully put it on his shoulders and go home. Then he will call his friends and neighbors together. He will say, 'Be joyful with me. I have found my lost sheep.'
Now, doesn't that sound excessive, even a little embarassing? But it's true, all Heaven rejoices! Maybe our minds just haven't adjusted to a huge liberating truth like that.
Reminds me of what Joyce Meyer said. When we go to Heaven, we'll find piles and piles of beautiful unopened gifts. They were God's gifts to us on earth, she said, but we never even opened them!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Answered Prayer!
Lori and I were in my car on 355 when a motorist behind us tooted his horn. "Ignore him," Lori said.
I stepped on the gas a little but the driver accelerated to be level with us, gesturing for us to wind down the window. Then he yelled: "Your left rear tyre looks flat!"
Wow! We thanked him, impressed with his persistence and kindness on 355 in morning-peak traffic.
I wasn't expecting it but Lori called Dustin later. He fixed the flat and inflated all four tyres. The offending tyre had only FOUR pounds of pressure out of the prescribed 44!
The next day, I liked how my car felt so comfortable, stable and safe. I try to take good care of my car but, living alone, I've to be much more independent and responsible for everything.
There's more! The best thing is that Lori told me later that every morning before she goes to work, Dustin prays about her drive and the car's mileage, gas, tyres, everything!
We KNOW it was because Dustin prayed that the driver noticed and felt the urgency to let me know. It's wonderful that Dustin, our pastor, is totally serious about prayer. Every morning, he wakes up at 6 am to pray for all of us.
This slice of life displays all over again God's tenderest love and goodness.
It's been fun to spend time with Lori. I should keep this next part more covert, but I guess it's part of the story. Lori's pregnancy (she's due July 4) has caused carpel tunnel syndrome in her wrists and it's excruciating for her to drive though she's the original trooper and never whines. I volunteered to drive her to and from work, and one week of not driving has improved matters for her.
God is tremendously faithful and there's no way to outgive the giver of all good things and the lover of our souls.
I stepped on the gas a little but the driver accelerated to be level with us, gesturing for us to wind down the window. Then he yelled: "Your left rear tyre looks flat!"
Wow! We thanked him, impressed with his persistence and kindness on 355 in morning-peak traffic.
I wasn't expecting it but Lori called Dustin later. He fixed the flat and inflated all four tyres. The offending tyre had only FOUR pounds of pressure out of the prescribed 44!
The next day, I liked how my car felt so comfortable, stable and safe. I try to take good care of my car but, living alone, I've to be much more independent and responsible for everything.
There's more! The best thing is that Lori told me later that every morning before she goes to work, Dustin prays about her drive and the car's mileage, gas, tyres, everything!
We KNOW it was because Dustin prayed that the driver noticed and felt the urgency to let me know. It's wonderful that Dustin, our pastor, is totally serious about prayer. Every morning, he wakes up at 6 am to pray for all of us.
This slice of life displays all over again God's tenderest love and goodness.
It's been fun to spend time with Lori. I should keep this next part more covert, but I guess it's part of the story. Lori's pregnancy (she's due July 4) has caused carpel tunnel syndrome in her wrists and it's excruciating for her to drive though she's the original trooper and never whines. I volunteered to drive her to and from work, and one week of not driving has improved matters for her.
God is tremendously faithful and there's no way to outgive the giver of all good things and the lover of our souls.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Lebanese Baptism
My Lebanese colleague Nada asked me to be her godmother at her baptism! I'd prayed for her since we met in 2004 so it's such a joy to see bright-spirited Nada begin a divine journey... even if she doesn't fully realize it's a new road.
She was baptized today at the light-filled Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church in Washington. The baptismal bowl was egg-shaped and it was set in an "eggshell" baptistery -- symbols of new life.
The priest decided I couldn't be a godmother after all as I'm not Catholic, but I could be a witness along with Nada's fiance and a Sicilian friend (a doctor who helped tend to the pope when he was shot). The priest was kind and thoughtful in demystifying and personalizing some of the ancient rituals, which must be so different for Nada, who grew up as a Druze.
Washington is an international city. It's a big highlight of my life here to be friends with people from all nations, and sometimes to worship with them... Including many Chinese, Thais, Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese and other Asians, Ghanans and other Africans, Latinos, Europeans especially from the former Eastern bloc, Americans...
It's a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. And certainly it's Heaven on earth just because eternity begins on this side!
Revelation 7:9: After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb...
She was baptized today at the light-filled Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church in Washington. The baptismal bowl was egg-shaped and it was set in an "eggshell" baptistery -- symbols of new life.
The priest decided I couldn't be a godmother after all as I'm not Catholic, but I could be a witness along with Nada's fiance and a Sicilian friend (a doctor who helped tend to the pope when he was shot). The priest was kind and thoughtful in demystifying and personalizing some of the ancient rituals, which must be so different for Nada, who grew up as a Druze.
Washington is an international city. It's a big highlight of my life here to be friends with people from all nations, and sometimes to worship with them... Including many Chinese, Thais, Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese and other Asians, Ghanans and other Africans, Latinos, Europeans especially from the former Eastern bloc, Americans...
It's a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. And certainly it's Heaven on earth just because eternity begins on this side!
Revelation 7:9: After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)