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Strength and Dignity are Her Clothing
I made my first overseas flight without my parents in my twenties. I had just finished graduate school, and stayed with them until I could afford my own place. My parents had left for India weeks prior, and I would soon join them. I had visited India twice as a child—oblivious to the cultural differences between India and the US. No worries. My mother prepared (translation: warned) me via written “what to pack” instructions she left on a note taped to the bathroom mirror. “Lots of long dresses. Nothing sleeveless. No short skirts.” (Meaning nothing that showed my knees). I sighed when I saw the…
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For One of the Least of These
Someone call Child Protective Services. Currently over 2000 abused children wait in detention centers at the U.S/Mexico border after separation from their parents who crossed the border illegally. Earlier this year the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) started dividing families caught crossing the border without papers based on a “zero tolerance” policy on immigration. Even breastfeeding infants got snatched from their mothers. As a pediatric healthcare worker I can attest to the fear and anxiety that wells up in a young child detached from a parent even for a few moments to obtain x-rays. The White House (after much uproar)…
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Imago
Cryptic, I blended with my surroundings in my own playful world. In my youth you neither heard me nor saw me. More warm and fuzzy back then—but just as hard-headed. Now a conspicuous flutterer, a travelling flower of sorts. I fly from Zinnia to Viola to Daisy all in a summer’s day hoping to quench my thirst. I worked hard to earn my wings and celebrate my grown-up freedom. For fun I land on your nose while you nap in the meadow, then fly away the moment you awake saying, “Catch me if you can.” But my wings easily fray so please don’t touch. Low on the food chain,…
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Spirit of the Rainforest: A Forty-Something Book Report
“We want people who will really care about us, like the man who came into my village and put his arm around me when I was covered with dirt, sweat, saliva, and mucous…He showed us something we knew nothing about—love.”–quoted from Spirit of the Rainforest Eight years ago my husband announced he would quit his corporate job to go to seminary full-time. I reminded him of his disdain for reading and writing. Not that I wanted to dissuade him, but I didn’t believe him for the aforementioned reasons. Years later I joined him and I took a fascinating class on Angelology. I expected the extensive…
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Ten Days Until Mother’s Day
My husband (who leads on our church’s preaching team) asked me to preach on Mothers’ Day months ago. And without hesitation I declined. He asked me again weeks later. Again I declined. I didn’t feel fit to stand in the pulpit on Mother’s Day. I didn’t even want to attend church that day. My Mother’s Day plan entailed sitting around in my bathrobe and slippers. I would not even brush my teeth. I would just eat baked ziti and chocolate truffles, and watch Wonder Woman—the movie, not the TV show. If you don’t know the difference, I’ll share an easy Wonder Woman reference guide: one had a male costume…
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The List
Fourteen years. In just a few days my husband and I will bask in springtime Pacific desert beauty as we celebrate our wedding anniversary. And on such an occasion as this, I remember “The List.” For if not for “The List,” our marriage could have ended in a legal battle over who gets to keep the Moroccan mosaic glass light fixtures. Over a decade ago, I read every book I could find on marriage. I would like to say I’ve got the whole wife thing down. I do OK on most days—all glory to “The List.” Allow me to rewind. I consider…
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God Will Join Together What Man Has Put Asunder
In India people get placed into rigid hereditary social distinctions. And no amount of education or hard work could get a person out of their designated caste. A person born high caste enjoys all societal privileges without having to prove herself worthy of said caste, and a person born low caste gets sentenced to a lifetime of cleaning urine and feces no matter how much she tries to prove herself worthy of a better life. This may seem too ridiculous to believe. But we’d be surprised what people believe just because their relatives say it’s true. In my opinion, all social…
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A Theology of Writing
The Hebrew word katab means to engrave or inscribe. In Exodus 31:18 God engraved the Ten Commandments onto stone tablets with His own finger. He created permanent records of His Words lest people forget what He said. Even after Moses broke the first set, God had Moses make new tablets so He could rewrite the same commandments. (Exod. 34:1). God values His words—so much that He wants them written on human hearts. (Prov. 7:1-3). The Greek word logos means word, spoken or written. John 1:1-3 refers to Jesus as "The Word," affirming His deity and oneness with the Father, along with His hand in…
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Silver Boxes with Bows on Top
The 18th Century preacher, John Wesley, dressed sharp in his day. One Sunday morning he wore a bow tie with long ribbons that hung down. After his sermon, a lady approached him and asked if he was open to some criticism. He said, “I guess so.” She said, "The ribbons on your tie are too long and inappropriate for a man of God." And she took out her scissors and cut them. A hush fell over the crowd. Then Wesley asked to borrow the scissors. As she handed him the scissors, he asked, "Ma’am, are you open to some criticism?" She answered, "Well, I suppose.” He said, "Good. Now stick…
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Convenient Christianity
I love Southwest Airlines. Must be the heart logo. And their employees seem to love their jobs. Which is a pleasantry in a world where many airlines seem to dip their employees in lemon juice. But Southwest imposes one inconvenience. Passengers must check in 24 hours beforehand to get their boarding assignments—really a race to see who can click their mice the fastest, lest one end up with the dreaded middle seat. This 24-hour check-in process works great if you face a computer all day. I don’t. Enter: early bird check-in. For $15 Southwest Airlines will check me in automatically, which precludes the setting of an alarm 24…
