Saturday, February 25, 2023
Little Things
It was a simple gift of a trip to the zoo,
Seven children,
mostly from homes that are far from ideal.
Seven excited children,
"We don't need to take the tram they said,"
"We can walk the 5K loop."
Less than 1/2 kilometer passed under their feet
little Koi Kung—
THAT Koi Kung—
who flits here and there like a restless butterfly
that can't decide whose nectar is sweetest—
Slows down with one foot bare—her sandal's unglued.
The strap is broken—what can we do?
A couple of bandaids will hold for a while.
The gracious woman selling food for the birds
saw what was happening and spoke words of hope,
"you can find new ones, just up ahead."
Koi Kung dashed off on the bandaged footwear—
So much to see and do, birds everywhere.
A little bit further, as promised, a store—
and things for the feet, though mostly too huge.
Was it pride?
Was it grengjai?
(that hard to describe cultural norm that causes one to refuse things)
Was it fear?
(she could not repay for the expensive shoe—
Three dollars—they're only 1.50 at home!)
We coaxed and cajoled till her fears were erased
and with new black and white flip-flops she was off for the chase.
Even though she's the smallest, she kept ahead of the rest.
A lot of bang for the buck, not much to invest.
A little thing. A big thing.
The sun beat down as half a dozen plus one
plodded into the food court—I think they were done.
"What should they eat?" they thought to themselves,
the change in their pockets wouldn't fetch much—
perhaps some "meat"balls grilled on a stick—
More ball than meat, but the price was right.
And then was the news, "order what you like,
don't think of the cost."
Fourteen eyes lit up—real food could be had!
There's chicken and pork and other good things.
And rice, lots of rice, it's not food without rice.
It's not much. It's a lot.
A dollar and change can revive a life.
A little thing. A big thing.
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Beauty in Suffering
It's not what they're supposed to look like. In fact they look very unhealthy. I had caught a glimpse of some leaves to the side of the forest road in Kamalasai and noticed the sickly leaves. "But", I thought, "they are very pretty".
The leaves appear to have some sort of disease that turned the edges white, but left a green pattern near the veins. There is beauty in the leaves that was brought about by the affliction. This got me thinking, what I am like when I am not well or when things are not going well? Do I get more beautiful? Or do I just turn withered and brown? Do I suffer gracefully? Or do I gripe and complain?
I always marvel at those who are inflicted with some kind of disability, but who seem to be consistently joyful. I'm not sure I could pull that off. There is a scripture related to this that I find particularly challenging. James writes, "My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials." (James 1:2 - NET) Paul writes in a similar vein, "in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NET)
In everything, really?! In good times AND bad?
When I read these verses, I'm tempted to answer, "No! I don't want to." For me to respond any other way definitely requires the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and I don't always pull that off successfully.
It's interesting that the Bible's most famous book on the topic of suffering addresses this very point. When Satan was going to test Job, he said to God, "But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!” (Job 1:11 NET). Job's response to the temptation was, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!” (Job 1:21) And the writer adds this commentary to it: "In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety." (Job 1:22)
From this we see that the non-sinful response to trials is to respond with grace. The implication is that to respond in another fashion could be sinful.
God, by Your Holy Spirit enable me to go through trials with grace. May may life become more beautiful in the face of challenges, like these leaves I saw in the forest.
The leaves appear to have some sort of disease that turned the edges white, but left a green pattern near the veins. There is beauty in the leaves that was brought about by the affliction. This got me thinking, what I am like when I am not well or when things are not going well? Do I get more beautiful? Or do I just turn withered and brown? Do I suffer gracefully? Or do I gripe and complain?
I always marvel at those who are inflicted with some kind of disability, but who seem to be consistently joyful. I'm not sure I could pull that off. There is a scripture related to this that I find particularly challenging. James writes, "My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials." (James 1:2 - NET) Paul writes in a similar vein, "in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NET)
In everything, really?! In good times AND bad?
When I read these verses, I'm tempted to answer, "No! I don't want to." For me to respond any other way definitely requires the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and I don't always pull that off successfully.
It's interesting that the Bible's most famous book on the topic of suffering addresses this very point. When Satan was going to test Job, he said to God, "But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!” (Job 1:11 NET). Job's response to the temptation was, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!” (Job 1:21) And the writer adds this commentary to it: "In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety." (Job 1:22)
From this we see that the non-sinful response to trials is to respond with grace. The implication is that to respond in another fashion could be sinful.
God, by Your Holy Spirit enable me to go through trials with grace. May may life become more beautiful in the face of challenges, like these leaves I saw in the forest.
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