living in america

"Football combines the two worst features of America--violence interspersed with committee meetings." 

~George Will (quoted in First Things, "Gridiron Nation" by Jeffrey Marlett)

Fellow Canadians, I ask you: did we ever throw or attend any Stanley Cup Playoff Parties? Because I KNOW FOR SURE we never threw or attended any CFL parties. (CFL? Yes, my American friends, there is an actual Canadian Football League.)

Today I asked my brothers and dad whether they had any Superbowl Party plans.  They seemed almost offended by the question--Superbowl Party??!  What are you, American now? 

It's no secret: I'm in it entirely for the wings, ribs and company--and the ability to kinda participate in the post-game debriefs that will take up a good part of Monday morning. 

It's funny. I didn't expect this aspect of American culture to grow on me so much. 

the breakfast room

"What I am after is the first impression--I want to show all one sees on first entering the room--what my eye takes in at first glance." ~Pierre Bonnard

We went to see an exhibit of Bonnard interiors today at the Met. It was packed. For many years, I've enjoyed his renderings of haphazardly set breakfast tables. And maybe not for any deeper reason than that breakfast is my favorite meal of the day!

Chinese New Year nostalgia

In the last 8 years, I have been home (in Toronto) for Chinese New Year exactly once.

And maybe it's because I'm looking at things from a (safe) distance away, or maybe I'm just getting old, but I miss the raucousness of multi-generation gatherings of Chinese people. 

I miss the elaborate mishmash of things to eat at the potluck dinners (lasagna and fried rice with 'lap cheung' and store-bought barbeque pork and those multi-layer things of jello that were so in vogue up to the late 90s). 

I miss the ritual theatrics of parents fighting for the bill after dinner in some private room at a big Chinese restaurant in Markham or North York. This was usually after the more flamboyant uncles (never aunties), had karaoke-d their hearts out with passionate renditions of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" or anything by Elvis Presley. 

I even miss reciting the 4 syllable New Year's blessings only to receive a chocolate coin in the red envelope (instead of the five bucks you were hoping for). 

I know. If I were back in Toronto now and found myself in the midst of one of these celebrations, I would very likely be rolling my eyes and mortified that my dad was trying to sing Elvis again. But inside, I would be happy. 

aim higher

"If the highest aim of a captain
were to preserve his ship,
he would keep it in port forever."
~St. Thomas Aquinas

all about my husband

Let me tell you a few fun facts about my husband.

His favorite pizza is cheese pizza.
He is a big fan of butter and cheese and yummy meaty things (which I often feel bad ordering myself but will end up eating half of. His portion that is.)

He enjoys college ball games (less "showboating"), running the Central Park Loop (he finds it unfathomable that I often run at the gym instead of the Park), and anything to do with Yao Ming and Shanghai. Like so many other native northern Californians, he is never really 100% happy to live anywhere other than northern California.

Sometimes he'll present patients in his sleep with arm gestures and everything.
And even in the darkest, toughest days and nights of residency, he couldn't help being 'doctor'ish.
Maybe it's his "ISFJ"ness.

Happy 30th Birthday!

simple gifts

Not that this very moving day is at all about me, but please imagine my delight when I heard the first hints of "Simple Gifts" being played by Anthony McGill on the clarinet at Obama's inauguration this morning.

It's just that I happened to walk down the aisle about 2.5 years ago to "Simple Gifts". Naturally, the piece lives in a special place in my heart.

While watching the ceremony from the Redeemer conference room among some watery-eyed colleagues, I could not help but feel something that could only be called pride, awe and yes, even hope.

My friend MR noted with wonder that a black family is sleeping in the White House tonight.

When I left the office, the Empire State building was lit up red, white and blue.

"When true simplicity is gained,
to bow and to bend we will not be ashamed,
to turn, turn will be our delight,
til by turning, turning we come round right."
~Simple Gifts, Shaker "hymn"

almond blossom

"It is absolutely certain that I shall never do important things". ~Van Gogh

('He was then 37 years old, had been painting for less than ten years and had sold next to nothing.' Paul Trachtman, Smithsonian, January 2009)

Africa insight: An unlikely cheerleader

Even though I've seen it posted all over Facebook already, and know it is old news to some, I had to share.

It's definitely not every day you read an article like this, in a major publication, applauding the efforts of Christian missionaries in Africa (!!). And by a person claiming to be an atheist no less:

"Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good...

Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the know how that accompanies what we call development will make the change. A whole belief system must first be supplanted." ~ Matthew Parris

For the full article: As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

new year

I am the kind of person that likes making New Year's resolutions. But nothing original came to mind around the passing of 2008 so I couldn't make a big deal about it.

Then again, our scheduled move to Tanzania has potential to inspire a fresh burst of discipline and so here is one little resolution to consider:

Giving more than 10%: I am always pierced by reports of how little Western Christians actually give and how easily we convince ourselves that because we "work hard", we are entitled to spend our money however we like, no questions asked. I am increasingly disturbed by how even among close friends, personal spending patterns and any talk about money and materialism and greed are rarely discussed.

So, economic downturn or not, one goal is to increase our giving and decrease spending on ourselves and to find a few people to do this with.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


"I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year,
'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'
And he replied,
'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.' "

~Minnie Louise Harkins 1875-1957

listening

Just got back from a work weekend in Ocean Grove, NJ.

My head is spinning with TO-DOs and questions.

Emails. Upcoming deadlines. Catching up with family. Friends to pray for. Africa. Wanting to go back to school. Cleaning up the apartment. Need 5 years for school at least. What about children? When? How?

A gentle reminder from Henri:

"...it is clear that we are usually surrounded by so much outer noise that it is hard to truly hear our God when he is speaking to us. We have often become deaf, unable to know when God calls us and unable to understand in which direction he calls us. Thus our lives have become absurd. In the word absurd we find the Latin word surdus which means "deaf". A spiritual life requres discipline because we need to learn to listen to God who constantly speaks but whom we seldom hear.

When we learn to listen, our lives become obedient lives. The word obedient comes from the Latin word audire which means "listening". A spiritual discpline is necessary in order to move slowly from an absurd life to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where can listen to God and follow..."

~Henri Nouwen

epcot take one

30/70: The chances that a random stranger asked to take a photo for you will consider the composition of that photo. I guess it's a lot to ask. =)

bits of news news

I don't know where to begin so it's just all gonna come out in bits and pieces:

1. It's official: My mother-in-law confirmed that her side of the family has a non-Chinese ancestor. Hungarian, to be exact. Something about one of her great great great to the nth 'great' grandfathers going to defend China from invading armies and bringing back a foreign wife. Or something. I am so excited about this. I knew it all along.

2. We are going to Mwanza, Tanzania in August 09. It's right on the shores of Lake Victoria. Crazy, I know. I've been reading some Isak Dinesen to 'prepare' myself to live in East Africa. Everyone should come on safari! Two hours to the Serengeti!



3. We had a fun time on vacation with very good, very old friends and family. One highlight was a Christmas choir service hosted by Steven Curtis Chapman +fireworks! But we probably don't need to go back to Disney for another 10-15 years.

4. Children are germ factories and made us both sick for over a week now. It totally sucks.

Alright. I will try to write in full paragraphs next time. Happy New Year to all!