“Your ice will melt!” ~ Ferdinan
Yesterday during our conversation Ferdinan from Bali announced this when I said do I need to bring a sweater. “No!” came his enthusiastic response, “it is so hot your ice will melt.” I have packed accordingly. I am leaving for the airport momentarily.
Let the adventure begin!
Peace,
Suzanne
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Living Without Regrets
May you live each day
With no regret
Make the most of every chance you get
Let your eyes get wide
When you look at the stars
With the same sense of wonder as a child's heart
~ Addison Road, lyrics from This Little Light of Mine
I heard this song as I pulled up in front of the Blue Moon where I was about to meet a Balinese man who works there. As I prepare to depart for Singapore and Bali, I love that I am embracing this principle. I want to live each day without regret and make the most of every chance I get. I do hope that as I travel around I will let my eyes get wide with awe and breathe in the moon (which should be full at some point in the journey) and stars, and have a heart of a child.
Ferdinan did not disappoint. He was a lovely man who laughed happily when he met me. My friend who owns Blue Moon told me he was waiting all week to meet me. If all Balinese are so joyous, I will come back transformed by the sheer happiness of my time with these people. He gave me his brother’s phone number and mentioned he works in the tourist industry so can get me to wherever I want to go. He then proceeded to draw a map of Bali and plunk in the spots he thought I should go to and how I could group them so that I could see everything in two days and still have two days to hang out in Ubud. He suggested seeing a Fire Dance, which is like a Balinese musical theatre story of the equivalent of Romeo and Juliet. He suggested going to see that in the south of Bali where you can sit on the cliff and have the ocean as your back drop. First, though, I should go snorkeling and after the Dance, I should have a seafood supper on the beach. I love it when I do not even have to think!
The other day he thought I should climb the volcano, going shopping for crafts, check out the elephant park where I can ride one through the rice paddies and jungle, and even stop at the deaf school. While in this particular spot, he is suggesting that I go to an Indonesian buffet. Sounds like fun to me!!
I am so grateful for this opportunity. Stay tuned for my Asian Adventures beginning soon right here!
Peace,
Suzanne
With no regret
Make the most of every chance you get
Let your eyes get wide
When you look at the stars
With the same sense of wonder as a child's heart
~ Addison Road, lyrics from This Little Light of Mine
I heard this song as I pulled up in front of the Blue Moon where I was about to meet a Balinese man who works there. As I prepare to depart for Singapore and Bali, I love that I am embracing this principle. I want to live each day without regret and make the most of every chance I get. I do hope that as I travel around I will let my eyes get wide with awe and breathe in the moon (which should be full at some point in the journey) and stars, and have a heart of a child.
Ferdinan did not disappoint. He was a lovely man who laughed happily when he met me. My friend who owns Blue Moon told me he was waiting all week to meet me. If all Balinese are so joyous, I will come back transformed by the sheer happiness of my time with these people. He gave me his brother’s phone number and mentioned he works in the tourist industry so can get me to wherever I want to go. He then proceeded to draw a map of Bali and plunk in the spots he thought I should go to and how I could group them so that I could see everything in two days and still have two days to hang out in Ubud. He suggested seeing a Fire Dance, which is like a Balinese musical theatre story of the equivalent of Romeo and Juliet. He suggested going to see that in the south of Bali where you can sit on the cliff and have the ocean as your back drop. First, though, I should go snorkeling and after the Dance, I should have a seafood supper on the beach. I love it when I do not even have to think!
The other day he thought I should climb the volcano, going shopping for crafts, check out the elephant park where I can ride one through the rice paddies and jungle, and even stop at the deaf school. While in this particular spot, he is suggesting that I go to an Indonesian buffet. Sounds like fun to me!!
I am so grateful for this opportunity. Stay tuned for my Asian Adventures beginning soon right here!
Peace,
Suzanne
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
A Contrite Heart
“Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.” ~ Psalm 25
Yesterday’s readings were about having a contrite heart, forgiveness and mercy. As Lent proceeds and reconciliation services start, the contemplations held a hard truth for me. I have been struggling for some time with a situation where I have had incredible anger at a person. The reading from Henri Nouwen talked about accepting others and ourselves as broken as we are. In recognizing that everyone is broken, we can be freed from a burden and find our way back to the Light. The other commentary said that we withhold healing and power from the one who needs it when we refuse to forgive; yet if we grant it, we may still hold the power of being righteous or have moral superiority. That reading ended with this prayer: Lord, help me empty my heart of pride and fill it with mercy and generosity. Let it be so! None of us are free without the mercy and love of our great God.
Peace,
Suzanne
Yesterday’s readings were about having a contrite heart, forgiveness and mercy. As Lent proceeds and reconciliation services start, the contemplations held a hard truth for me. I have been struggling for some time with a situation where I have had incredible anger at a person. The reading from Henri Nouwen talked about accepting others and ourselves as broken as we are. In recognizing that everyone is broken, we can be freed from a burden and find our way back to the Light. The other commentary said that we withhold healing and power from the one who needs it when we refuse to forgive; yet if we grant it, we may still hold the power of being righteous or have moral superiority. That reading ended with this prayer: Lord, help me empty my heart of pride and fill it with mercy and generosity. Let it be so! None of us are free without the mercy and love of our great God.
Peace,
Suzanne
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Tick Tock!
"I'd have to say Bali's my favorite place that I've visited." ~ Christopher Meloni
Countdown is on! Three more sleeps until I leave on my vacation. First stop is Vancouver, then Hong Kong, on to Singapore and finally to Bali before reversing that journey to arrive home.
I have to admit that I did not know who Christopher Meloni was when I saw this quote but after checking it turns out he is the guy from Law and Order, is a month and a few days older than me, and has a cool crucified Jesus tattoo on his arm. I am hoping he is a bit of a prophet. A colleague today told me that I will LOVE Bali.
I am getting excited. I think all the details are falling into place even though there is lots to do between now and Friday’s departure. This will be my last 50th hurrah and an opportunity to check Visit Asia off my life list. I think I have also done everything I set out to do in this 50th year--except maybe fall in love. I am not looking for an Eat, Love, Pray experience in Bali but my friend Celeste in Singapore tells me I should have FUN in Bali which translates into the first two verbs. Smile.
Peace,
Suzanne
Countdown is on! Three more sleeps until I leave on my vacation. First stop is Vancouver, then Hong Kong, on to Singapore and finally to Bali before reversing that journey to arrive home.
I have to admit that I did not know who Christopher Meloni was when I saw this quote but after checking it turns out he is the guy from Law and Order, is a month and a few days older than me, and has a cool crucified Jesus tattoo on his arm. I am hoping he is a bit of a prophet. A colleague today told me that I will LOVE Bali.
I am getting excited. I think all the details are falling into place even though there is lots to do between now and Friday’s departure. This will be my last 50th hurrah and an opportunity to check Visit Asia off my life list. I think I have also done everything I set out to do in this 50th year--except maybe fall in love. I am not looking for an Eat, Love, Pray experience in Bali but my friend Celeste in Singapore tells me I should have FUN in Bali which translates into the first two verbs. Smile.
Peace,
Suzanne
Monday, March 12, 2012
Destination Nowhere
"And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised." ~
Hebrews 6:14-16
It has been a crazy weird day!! First of all, I woke up and was confused as to what day of the week it was. It felt like it should be Thursday. I had to double check that it was really Monday. I went to work and had a busy day. I got home and managed to call my dad for the results of his ultrasound and CAT scan. The good news/bad news scenario there is puzzling. The doctors still don’t know what the spot on his lungs or kidney are but it is not the C word. Dad for his part is frustrated because he continues to cough up blood and have to run to the bathroom often day and night. Sigh.
I went to the airport to catch a flight only to find out no flights had been flying most of the day. There was a backlog of four flights by the time I arrived. Freezing rain in March in the northern part of the province had wreaked havoc with the planes. After a three and a half hour wait, the flight was canceled. That still works out pretty good for me. I have enough over time booked from the wait that I can still have Thursday off hopefully to get a pedicure and do last minute trip things AND I have tomorrow night here at home to finish doing things. Win-win for me. Not so much though for the people anxious to get home tonight. I felt bad for them. I do feel like after waiting patiently, I still received a promise from God that all would be well—and for me it is. After a few moment of panic about needing to work on Thursday, I am pretty sure it will all work out. I will see what my boss says tomorrow.
Now I am home and I think I am just going to head to bed. It has been a crazy day.
Peace,
Suzanne
Hebrews 6:14-16
It has been a crazy weird day!! First of all, I woke up and was confused as to what day of the week it was. It felt like it should be Thursday. I had to double check that it was really Monday. I went to work and had a busy day. I got home and managed to call my dad for the results of his ultrasound and CAT scan. The good news/bad news scenario there is puzzling. The doctors still don’t know what the spot on his lungs or kidney are but it is not the C word. Dad for his part is frustrated because he continues to cough up blood and have to run to the bathroom often day and night. Sigh.
I went to the airport to catch a flight only to find out no flights had been flying most of the day. There was a backlog of four flights by the time I arrived. Freezing rain in March in the northern part of the province had wreaked havoc with the planes. After a three and a half hour wait, the flight was canceled. That still works out pretty good for me. I have enough over time booked from the wait that I can still have Thursday off hopefully to get a pedicure and do last minute trip things AND I have tomorrow night here at home to finish doing things. Win-win for me. Not so much though for the people anxious to get home tonight. I felt bad for them. I do feel like after waiting patiently, I still received a promise from God that all would be well—and for me it is. After a few moment of panic about needing to work on Thursday, I am pretty sure it will all work out. I will see what my boss says tomorrow.
Now I am home and I think I am just going to head to bed. It has been a crazy day.
Peace,
Suzanne
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Thirsty
“Give me this water…” ~ Gospel of John
Today’s alternate gospel is the story of the Samaritan women at the well. In the heat of the day, she crept to the well because her personal shame kept her from joining others. Her “sinful” past caused her to be an outcast. Jesus met her where she did not want to be met, as we learned in the mission this past week.
He managed to go immediately to the heart of the matter and astound her with what he knew about her. She did not try to play games with him but admitted that what he said was true. Once she encountered Jesus, she was not the same. She told everyone about their encounter. Can you imagine the conversations that occurred? What exactly did she go home to the man with whom she was living and say to him? To the people who looked down their noses at her, how did she find the courage to tell of the marvelous man she had met? When we meet Jesus, everything can change. We become thirsty for the living water and so substitutes will do.
What has changed in your life because of Jesus?
Peace,
Suzanne
Today’s alternate gospel is the story of the Samaritan women at the well. In the heat of the day, she crept to the well because her personal shame kept her from joining others. Her “sinful” past caused her to be an outcast. Jesus met her where she did not want to be met, as we learned in the mission this past week.
He managed to go immediately to the heart of the matter and astound her with what he knew about her. She did not try to play games with him but admitted that what he said was true. Once she encountered Jesus, she was not the same. She told everyone about their encounter. Can you imagine the conversations that occurred? What exactly did she go home to the man with whom she was living and say to him? To the people who looked down their noses at her, how did she find the courage to tell of the marvelous man she had met? When we meet Jesus, everything can change. We become thirsty for the living water and so substitutes will do.
What has changed in your life because of Jesus?
Peace,
Suzanne
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Jesus Tweeted Me
Jesus called me on my cell phone
No roaming charges were incurred
He told me that I should go out in the world
And spread His glorious word
~from The Calling, Altar Boyz
Friends and I went to the delightfully fun production of the Altar Boyz tonight. A unique spin on boy bands, these Catholic (and one Jewish) young men sing and dance their way through an hour and a half of songs and turmoil. Poking fun at how Catholics stand, sit and kneel through a mass or coming out as a Catholic who had been beaten by Episcopalian thugs were songs that had people chuckling.
Sexual innuendos spice up the play, including a song about abstinence. As in any musical theater paying attention to lyrics is important in order to understand the story line. In this play, you will find yourselves amused at the words.
Fun evening! Good friends, laughter, and a reminder to go out there and spread God’s word.
Peace,
Suzanne
No roaming charges were incurred
He told me that I should go out in the world
And spread His glorious word
~from The Calling, Altar Boyz
Friends and I went to the delightfully fun production of the Altar Boyz tonight. A unique spin on boy bands, these Catholic (and one Jewish) young men sing and dance their way through an hour and a half of songs and turmoil. Poking fun at how Catholics stand, sit and kneel through a mass or coming out as a Catholic who had been beaten by Episcopalian thugs were songs that had people chuckling.
Sexual innuendos spice up the play, including a song about abstinence. As in any musical theater paying attention to lyrics is important in order to understand the story line. In this play, you will find yourselves amused at the words.
Fun evening! Good friends, laughter, and a reminder to go out there and spread God’s word.
Peace,
Suzanne
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