thanks
It's almost my 3 month anniversary here. Inspired by the holiday just past, I've been collecting little moments that have warmed the heart and brought smiles to the face.
Just this morning, I was walking around the Jackie O reservoir in Central Park; warm breezes, a million sparkles on the water, the i-podded masses of runners, children wiping out on rollerblades and instantly back on their feet for more, the quintessential saxophonist offering up jazz standards under a wrought-iron bridge; almost enough to make you forget that there's a city out there too.
Though there's little doubt that they will turn me into a pretentious supermarket snob, the teeny tiny neighbourhood markets are really something: porcini mushroom infused olive oil, Republic of Tea peach and apple blossom tea, fresh challah, fresh mahi mahi and Lindt Intense Pear chocolate; all complemented by homey red brick walls and perfect lighting.
On the extremely rare occasion that my husband is off work before I am, enjoying his hot, home-cooked dinner which will inevitably include lap cheung on rice. Lap cheung, like shrimp chips, and gung zhai mein truly are, Asian foods of the gods.
Getting hand-written letters, cards and text messages from old friends who have been living in what feels like far-off countries for what feels like forever. Delightedly ringing up C&B customers who I discover are Canadian by their credit cards. Hello Montreal, Halifax and Calgary...no Toronto yet. And though the books are beginning to border on formulaic, laughing out loud at truly brilliant moments in the Lemony Snicket series.
***
Then...we sang this in church tonight:
"My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, nor even blessing but Himself, my God."
I confuse blessings for God. No good blessings, no good God, right? And writing up these moments reminds me of the many, many blessings for which I am thankful. But it's really time to work on not confusing God's goodness with blessings. As Tim Keller says, in life, all the things we find comfort in other than God, are gonna come crashing down. Build on God. Ungrit those teeth, un-grimace that face and get on with it.
Just this morning, I was walking around the Jackie O reservoir in Central Park; warm breezes, a million sparkles on the water, the i-podded masses of runners, children wiping out on rollerblades and instantly back on their feet for more, the quintessential saxophonist offering up jazz standards under a wrought-iron bridge; almost enough to make you forget that there's a city out there too.
Though there's little doubt that they will turn me into a pretentious supermarket snob, the teeny tiny neighbourhood markets are really something: porcini mushroom infused olive oil, Republic of Tea peach and apple blossom tea, fresh challah, fresh mahi mahi and Lindt Intense Pear chocolate; all complemented by homey red brick walls and perfect lighting.
On the extremely rare occasion that my husband is off work before I am, enjoying his hot, home-cooked dinner which will inevitably include lap cheung on rice. Lap cheung, like shrimp chips, and gung zhai mein truly are, Asian foods of the gods.
Getting hand-written letters, cards and text messages from old friends who have been living in what feels like far-off countries for what feels like forever. Delightedly ringing up C&B customers who I discover are Canadian by their credit cards. Hello Montreal, Halifax and Calgary...no Toronto yet. And though the books are beginning to border on formulaic, laughing out loud at truly brilliant moments in the Lemony Snicket series.
***
Then...we sang this in church tonight:
"My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace, nor even blessing but Himself, my God."
I confuse blessings for God. No good blessings, no good God, right? And writing up these moments reminds me of the many, many blessings for which I am thankful. But it's really time to work on not confusing God's goodness with blessings. As Tim Keller says, in life, all the things we find comfort in other than God, are gonna come crashing down. Build on God. Ungrit those teeth, un-grimace that face and get on with it.
posted by Duncan and Jen | 9:41 PM
2 Comments:
How come you like lap cheung so much? I never knew this about you.
"My goal is God himself, not joy nor peace..."
I didn't know it was actually a song; I found it in poem form on a website the summer before GSE and posted it behind my computer where I could read it every morning before starting work. Thanks for the wonderful reminder.
"At any cost, dear Lord, by any road..."
Lots of love from the city of dreaming spires
Post a Comment
<< Home