Quaint Town Wanderings

She worked calmly, placing each fragile piece in its place. Each chocolate covered piece was a work of art. Something in my soul could have watched that process for hours and reflect on how chocolate crafting could apply to real life.


There is some sense and order to even the broke shards and finely crushed sprinkles scattered on top.
There is something sweet that comes through being melted and processed.
There is beauty that arises to meet our eyes as we behold the finished product.
There is an intimate connection between the creator and the created.


Hurry isn't part of the process.
Soft, gentle caressing and time are key elements that lead to success.


There are some similarities between chocolate and people, aren't there?
Most of us don't cope well with Mount Saint Helen's speed of change.
Most of us respond well to gentle soul steering and lots of patience.
There is something intimate about being under the hand of a shaping God.
We hope there is some sense and use for the broken shards, the ugly pieces.


Another thread wove itself into my mind as I reflected on the surroundings of the shop. The exquisite offerings, the extravagant collections, the expensive price tags juxtaposed themselves against the recent conversations about Poverty, Malnourishment, Aids, and other forms of brokenness. Tears welled up as I remember those who aren't fortunate enough to have a Master chef with a chocolate buffet in their region. They are too poor to even know about such delicacies, much less afford them. A wide range of feelings rose up as I contemplated the other people who were milling around in the store. A sense of pity rises that they haven't had the chances to see cast-off lepers under a bridge, refugees whose dreams and wishes have been washed away, little children living in a garbage dump, or experienced playing soccer with the street children. A wave of anger rises as I realize some of them don't care.


You can walk away... until the broken have a name, and have captivated your heart.
You can smile, buy another coffee, and chatter away politely and pretend this disparity doesn't impact you deeply.
Or you can smile through tears as you recognize and embrace this clashing story line of life. 


This conflicting reality of life stirs deeply. As we reflect on it, we journey {struggle, wrestle, plod, grapple} through the facts. Conflict is a good thing when we can see it as a catalyst to change. Iron sharpens iron. Without intense pain, diamonds and so much beauty wouldn't exist.


God has such an amazing way of bringing redemption by conflict. Sometimes it sets the stage for His amazing gift of grace. Sometimes it heals right in the middle of the wounding. Sometimes the struggle just brings a sense of knowing He is with us. Regardless of how it happens, we are shown more of His glory.

Devotion

They've always said 'You should have your devotions...' Others say you need to read the Book through every year {implying you're never going to reach their level of holiness till you do}


Well folks, after a lot of wrestlings and [rebellings], all the while knowing there was SOMETHING ESSENTIAL in all this daily reading and prayer, I've come to some new conclusions. (I did keep reading through all this, in case you're wondering)


I've always missed the underlying message about how much power there is in daily connection when Discipline in doing it every day was overemphasized. When I spend time in His presence there is something that empowers, that refreshes, that transforms even my countenance--- sometimes to the point that a Buddhist monk asked if I have a boyfriend! :) I have something to offer after this, instead of running on empty. While I knew those transformational moments were impacting, I never made the connection that the focus is more on this than on the discipline. Am I the only one who missed it?


Devotion in its full meaning of loving someone enough to spend time with them is often forgotten when we talk about having daily devotions. It changes what that time looks like, when it's more about being with Someone we love.


In all those wrestling moments previously mentioned, I also came into close proximity with my own depravity. My own needy, broken, ugly ways of coping weren't cutting it. And they weren't pretty to look at. But it brought me to the realization of how much I need Him. If I'm going to do more then survive in this broken world, my thriving is dependent on Jesus alone. There is a connection between how much time I spend with God and how I relate to life. This is the all-essential reason we meet with God daily.


When we consistently have those empowering moments, we can connect with others and give in extraordinary ways. As we allow God to make us aware of our own heart and renews it, we can help create a safe place for others to share their heart. We can stimulate them toward their own personal renewal as we share together about our spiritual journeys.


Keep wrestling!

Fix it shops

It's been a while since I've blogged... maybe partly because I'm moving across time zones after a little while, and it's taken my blogging in a different direction as well as I prepare for the move.


Back when I lived in Mae Sot, I had a flat tire. Common occurrence for cyclists living in Asia. But this particular time, I had to push it a mile to a repair shop. I realized it was something I could do, after I had to.


Over the last 6 months or so, I've been on a journey. I've been processing a lot of personal and cultural things, like how Mennonites do different stuff. I've started noticing a few trends... we tend to like our lives under control, in fine condition {How are you? I'm fine.} and enjoy the feeling of having arrived. I've had some good input to help me come to my conclusions, which you may or may not agree with.


You see, I think we sorta like fix it shops... repair shops, cycle tire shop, you call it out for what it is.. we gravitate to conferences, conventions and meetings where we get a quick fix for ourselves to get the feeling of having arrived at our destination. We'll even push our 'bike' a mile if that is what it takes to learn how to renounce a lie, or pray just the right prayer or deal with our pain just the right way. I've been there, done that... and the tire just sort of gets a screw instead of nail so we have to find a new shop to repair it so the tire lasts a little longer. They talk about reinventing the wheel... umm, yeah, that too.


The last while, I've been reading my Bible a little differently. The story of the Bible isn't about repairs, it's about relationships. God heals, God restores and redeems, but it's always to continued relationships. The focus isn't on the tools, on the method or on the issue, it's on God.


We weren't born with anything in our hand when we came to the world, and we don't die with anything tangible to take with us. Yet so often we live like the tools, the method and the way we handle everything decides whether we are ok or not. It gets exhausting after a while to find the right fix to meet everyone's expectations, qualifications and commendation. Too often we've forgotten that relationship with God and what He says is what matters.


I'm all for learning, studying and developing, don't get me wrong. But examining our motives shows who we're doing it for.


Problems are a window through which we find God. We don't have to run from the window because the boogey man is staring in, or grab our toolbox. God has it under much better control then we could ever have.
We can be confident that He who hath begun a good work in you, will perform it according to Philippians 1:6


Our journey doesn't achieve 'arrival' status till we get to Heaven. Jesus said He would be with us always. He also said, "Come unto me all ye who are weary, and I will give you rest" and "Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."


In Peter, it talks about casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you. All the bags that life has given you come by because of sin, but Someone is willing to help carry and sort through those things.
You don't have to push that bike to the repair shop, He can come and meet you right where you are. And He may just give you a new tire, instead of a patch.


He told the Samaritan woman that if she drank His water, she wouldn't thirst again. We can come up with our patches, our fixes that are temporary, or we can come to Him.


You might bring up one of the stories of the people who had a problem so that God could be gloried, or how Paul had a thorn that wasn't taken away. That might be His providential answer in your best interest, but if so, you can count on His sufficient grace.


There are no formulas, no special tricks, just a daily walk with God. (and a few other brave hearted individuals)