From Another Class

So we recently had the opportunity to eat at a really ritzy restaurant... the type where for the equivalent cost per person, I can eat for a whole month at the food court and still get change. So, my very first conversation with our server for the evening: (thoughts are in parenthesis)

Server: "Would you like to start with some 'Stillor' Sparkling water?"
Me: (hmmm, never had that kind of water before) "Yes, please."
Server: "Which would you like?"
Me: (a bit confused because didn't he just offer me the 'Stillor' brand?) "Um, what do you have?"
Server: (a little smile on his face) " 'Stillor' Sparkling water."
Me: (pause... pause... pause... why is he still just offering one choice... no Perrier, no San Pellagrino... DOH!!! HE MEANS WOULD I LIKE SOME STILL OR SPARKLING WATER!!!" as in plain water or bubbly water! Why didn't he say that in the first place?!?") "Er, sparkling, please" (embarassed... embarassed... embarassed)

I Wonder What You See

Sometimes you look at me while I'm talking to you. Other times, you look out to the corner... and continuing to listen to every word. Still other times, you look like you're not interested at all... but I know you're listening.

Sometimes you come right up and smile and greet me. Then, 10 seconds later, you walk past me as if I'm not there. Even when I call out your name... loudly. I wonder where you are.

Although you don't let on, you see. You see what is going on around you. You know exactly what is going on around you. You don't always know how to tell us that you see. But you do.

Your loud "NO!" is your way of showing frustration... or fear. I know that. I'm there to help you get through both. I wonder if you know that.

One moment you are smiling at something. The next you cry. I wonder what you see. Oh that I could enter your world just once... to see what you see.

The Little Things

The little things we forget...
like water that runs clear from the tap... not yellow
like skies that are blue... not smoggy
like traffic rules that are usually followed
like clean hair
like jobs and job safety
like space... to move, to breath
like line ups
like non-rusty handrails
like opportunities
like real flowers
like toilet paper
The little things we forget... to be thankful for

100 Yen Stores

I found out there are "100 Yen Stores" all over Japan.
100 Yen - that's about $1.
They have Dollar Stores all over Japan!
How awesome is that?!?!
I can hardly wait to set foot in one of them...

Grandma Sun

As her children, they remember waking up every morning to find her reading her Bible. She has read through the Bible over 20 times... and when she could not longer on her own, she got her helper to read to her. God's word was alive. It was not boring. God spoke. I bet God spoke each and every time she opened her Bible. Because she probably expected Him to speak... not a wishful thinking, but a lifetime of knowing. And she prayed. And she was brave and strong. And she was smart and resourceful. Her children... grandchildren... great-grandchildre... they love her. Until the end, she pointed the way to God. She was ready to go Home. She is Home. And she has left for us here on earth, a legacy... and hope.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

Still Amazed

God answers prayers. Sometimes when I haven't even asked for something directly, but He knows... I find those answered prayers to be the most amazing of all. Still learning.

Conference Comparing

Just finished three days at the National Inner City Conference...

So dear sister of mine goes to a Drug Rep Conference and comes back with a truckload of freebies... some really, really nice freebies... people at the conference line up, at times even run to collect these freebies.

Me? 1 conference bag, 1 lanyard from the Dairy Farmers Association, and a pamphlet from Dempsters bread talking about their whole-grain, heart-healthy bread. After 8:30 a.m., we didn't even get free coffee/tea!

Brings a nice chuckle to me. But hey, who's comparing?

Bitter-Sweet

Po-Po was buried the day before Good Friday. It was absolutely freezing cold. It was windy. It was snowy. It was icy. As I sat there at the service, thinking about the internment ceremony at the cemetery and picturing how horrendously cold we would be standing on top of the hill with all that wind, snow and ice beating all over us, I suddenly realized that Po-Po would not feel any of that bitterness. Only we would. She, in fact, would be resting in peace, oblivious to the pain that would whip across our face and stir our hair wild. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Accumulations

I’d been helping my parents do some packing recently. Actually, my goal was to help them get rid of stuff at their home because they were moving.

So as I’m going through their piles and piles of clothes, I become painfully conscious of just how much we have here in North America – "having" to extreme excess. It’s like being “overweight” in possessions. As I pulled out sweater after sweater, in myriads of colours and sizes, the only thing I could think about was the need to go simple.

And it made me think of my home and my “things”… and how I need to cut down on all these “things”.

Nope, “overweight possessions” is not a pretty sight to look at. It’s not right. Strange. Never expected to be changed by a packing session.

There’s Something About a Smile

There’s something about a smile. It makes people smile back. It lifts a weary soul. It says to the world that not all is dreary. It makes friends out of strangers.

There’s something about a smile. It’s like sunshine. It’s like brightness. It’s like warm-fuzzies. It’s like prettiness.

There’s something about a smile. Children light up. Eyes open up a bit wider. It’s silent, but speaks volumes. It often leads to laughter.

There’s something about a smile. It reminds you that you are satisfied. It reminds you that “It is good”. It reminds you that God is love. It reminds you that God smiles.

There’s something about a smile. I smiled a lot tonight. And I am satisfied. And I am smiling on.