Waves

This location is the Gold Coast, one hour south of Brisbane, the city I lived in. 

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures.  I took this in 2001, while studying abroad in Australia.  The two "kids" were some friends I met in my travels.  I was like a big brother to them. I guess I'm a big brother to many people.

 

Waves have meant a lot to me, especially in the past few years.  They represent something to me - something about God's plan for me and my place in the world.  It's too sacred to speak of here... only in person can I speak of it, and even then, only in whispers by a crackling fire.

But I want to post something that I saw on a friend's site.  It is actually an excerpt from a letter that my friend received from a friend.  I found it to be particularly encouraging, in light of my wave connection.

Amen.  It is a blessed reminder that God doesn't just work through the big guys, with the big names, but He desires and loves to work through the little people, the absolutely ordinary people, simple people just like me.  I am grateful for the time I have been given.  Amen.

It wasn't really that pink

 
but it was a nice day

 

I am exhausted... I can't believe it's not Friday....what a week it has been.  Good, but tiring.

 

Impactful excerpts from No Man is an Island, by Thomas Merton.

"Unselfish love
that is poured out on a selfish object does not bring perfect
happiness: not because love requires a return or a reward for loving,
but because it rests in the happiness of the beloved."

I have found this to be true, unfortunately, by experience. 
There have been Adrogynous Nics whom I have loved and invested in, but
it was like pouring a glass of water into the Grand Canyon.  There
is a hole so large and so void in our hearts that it simply cannot be
filled except by the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Sure, that
glass of water that I bring to the Canyon might be a momentary
distraction.  It might even seem like it's enough to get someone
through the day, but come tomorrow, that canyon will be dry as a bone
again.  What I bring is just not enough.  What any person
brings, no matter who they are, cannot fill that void.  Until that
void is filled, the person will never be happy...which is just stating
the obvious.  Here's another obvious statement; the void can only
be filled by Jesus.

The love of Jesus is like 1000 Niagra Falls on 1000 planets in 1000
star systems.  Unquenchable, unending, everlasting.  It makes
the Grand Canyon look like a thimble trying to swallow the Hoover
Dam.  There is no limit to that love.  When a person goes to receive
the love of Christ, this hole is filled until it is overflowing with
abundance.  That's it.  It doesn't get much more complicated
than that.  But that reception of love must happen first, before
anything else... and it must happen daily.  If we at any time stop
going to Him to receive that love and look for it in another, it will
be vanity.  Nothing will come of it.  The Grand Canyon will
return and that hole will be as dry as dust.

Jesus wants to love you.... you need to receive
it.  Once that has happened, the little glass of water that I or
anyone else brings will be the providential whip cream and a cherry on
top.

This hole in my heart that goes all the way to China
You gotta fill it up with love before I fall inside

Another preview

Mutton Briyani served on Banana leaf.  (Not shown, mutton steak and mutton soup) Tekka Centre, Little India, Singapore

Impactful excerpts from No Man is an Island, by Thomas Merton.

"There is no end to the sharing of love, and therefore, the potential of happiness of such love is without limit."

I think more than intelligence, or talent, or creativity, or any other gift that I have been blessed with from the Lord, I value the capacity to love far, far above and beyond the rest.  Although intelligence or talent may give me opportunity to boast, the capacity to love has given me opportunities for joy. 

There is truly something special and amazing about sharing love with
someone, solely to bless them and to seek their good.  It is a
priviledge.  I only wish I could put into words how much it means
to me.  Everything else, food, games, movies, whatever... they are
only temporary.  They are distractions at the least, and fleeting
at best.  But love shared is forever.  It leaves an
impression.  It has the power to shape our hearts and guide us
towards beauty and ultimately, towards God. 

I have not forgotten the love that has been shown to me. 
Indeed, some acts of love have been so impactful that I would, and
have, travelled around the world simply to share some of the love with
those who have so graciously shared with me. 

I have been telling people that I went to Singapore to attend two
friends' wedding, but that was just the short answer.  The real
answer is that these two friends of mine taught me by example how to
love, and how to bring someone into community.  They were a living
model of grace and love and I have been forever changed by the
experience.  The passion of building community and caring for my
neighbor came from these two friends of mine in Singapore, and seeing
them again has only fueled that flame to burn even brighter, ever
stronger.  I went to Singapore to thank them, to honor them, and
to encourage them by telling them of the impact they have had on my
life and, vicariously, the lives of so many others whom I have loved
and cared for simply because of their example.  I think they were
amazed and greatly encouraged to see the fruit of their labor extend so
far.  I was blessed just to make them smile.

I also went to serve them, helping them with wedding preparations
and moving furniture and other little things.  Truthfully, these
small acts of love were just as enjoyable, if not better, than eating
all the exotic foods and seeing all the exciting sights.  I was
filled with joy to love these friends of mine in this way.  It was
an experience to remember.

Apparently, it was not only memorable for me, but for the bride's
parents as well.  They were quite impressed that I would come for
their daughter's wedding and were quite taken with me.  I tried to
explain to them that it was only the love of Jesus that could affect me
so, that I would be compelled to travel for 37 hours just to get there,
and another 30 just to get back.  I hope that they received the
message and that the seeds were well planted.  I would love
nothing more than to have played a small part to help her parents come
to know Jesus.  And the circle of love goes round and round....

What a joy it is to love, I say.

And as Merton states here, there is no end to the sharing of
love.  There is no limit to it.  And thusly, there is no
limit to the joy that comes from a good and pure love.

Shipping not included

Me: ...Yeah so, I can't really spend as much money anymore because I've decided to double my savings rate.
Catechufem: Oh.  Is that because you have to make up for the cost of going to Singapore?

Me: No.  It's so I can save up to buy a wife.
Catechufem(surprised):  What?

Me:  Yeah, I think after about ten years of saving, I should be
able to afford one.  You think that sounds about right?  Or
do you think I might be able to get one sooner?
Catechufem(sarcastically):  Well, I guess that all depends on where you get her from.  Do you have to pay for shipping?

Me: hahaha... I mean, I gotta save up for the ring, the car, the house... and all that stuff. 
(thinks for a moment)
Gosh... wives are so expensive!
Catechufem:  You know, when FreakyJesusMusic and I got married, I told
him not to buy me a ring.  I threatened him, "If you buy me a
ring, I'll sell it and buy a bunch of books."

Me (shocked):  Wow... are you serious?
Catechufem:  Yeah, totally.  FreakyJesusMusic didn't get us any rings.  I ended up
buying ourselves some inexpensive wedding bands recently
for $40.

Me: Man, you sevenuppies (code for feminazis) are pretty crazy.
Catechufem (laughing):  Yup. We're a cheap date, but we'll make you pay for for the rest of your lives.

A preview of things to come

Satay BBQ, at the newly opened Hawker's Market in the CBD, Singapore

Impactful excerpts from No Man is an Island, by Thomas Merton.

"We will see that we are human, like everyone else, that we all
have weaknessess and deficiencies, and that these limitations of ours
play a most important part in all our lives.  It is because of
them that we need others and others need us.  We are not all weak
in the same spots, and so we supplement and complete one another, each
one making up in himself for the lack in another."

 

"My successes are not my own.  The way to them was prepared
by others.  The fruit of my labors is not my own:  for I am
preparing the way for the achievements of another.  Nor are my
failures my own.  They may spring from the failure of another, but
they are also compensated for by anothers achievement."

 

"Therefore the meaning of my life is not to be looked for merely
in the sum total of my achievements.  It is seen only in the
complete integration of my achievements and failures with the
achievements and failures of my own generation, and society, and
time.  It is seen, above all, in my integration in the mystery of
Christ."

 

No man is an island, entire of itself;
Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.
       - John Donne

It's a fine country

I am walking in a crowded mall with a group of friends, thinking happily to myself
Me: You know, I'm having a lot of fun.  I'm so happy, I think I could start dancing.
<Several friends shoot nervous looks at each other>
Me <starts kicking and flailing arms in the air>: ha!
Friend 1 <screaming in slow motion>: NOOOOOOOOOOOooooOOOOO!!!
<Friends 1, 2 and 3 suddenly grab my arms and restrain me>
Friend 1: You can't dance in Singapore! You'll get fined!
Me: What? Are you serious?
Friend 1: Yes!  Serious.  Remember yesterday we were walking around Chinatown and we saw the signs for "no dancing?"
Me: Yeah... but I thought it was a joke...
Friend 1: No lah! Not a joke!

 

I guess gum chewing isn't the only thing that's banned in Singapore.

 

No, I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.