A poem for 2017 penned in Malaysia

I recently spent time in Malaysia with my daughter and son-in-law and three grandsons. I penned this poem one morning as I sat and watched storm clouds gather and roll over the island mountains.

The gathering gray

   blowing in

   blanketing hills

   bringing rain

creeps across the landscape.

Wind whips and writhes,

   swishing, pouring water

   on roofs and windowpanes.

Puddles spring up

Rivers flow from concrete.

Thirsty palms, banana plants, bushes and flowers

   rustle and sway,

   imploring the rain:

   "Fall here; fall here."

Moving like the storm, constantly moving,

nothing stops people, commerce, traffic.

Rain coats on motorcycles,

Umbrellas at bus stops.

Like the earth, people are anxious for rain to fall,

   to clear the air

   to open space

   to freshen their steps

   to wash away sadness

   to heal their earth,

   "Fall here; fall here."

Twisted

    "You look tired," I said to a new acquaintance.
    "Oh, I am exhausted. I cannot sleep for thinking about everything that's going on."
    She began to pour out her story of moving her father and step-mother to different care facilities, trying to be present for her father in his depression, and getting ready for Christmas.
    "So, what are you doing for Christmas?" was my next logical question.
    "I'm cooking for 25 guests, will come get my dad and go get my step-mom... well, you can see. It's going to be a zoo."
    "Are your siblings helping?" She has several. "One of them volunteered to bring the rolls," she replied, shaking her head. I didn't even ask her about her Christmas shopping.
    I wonder if this is representative of many people at Christmas. A time we tout as JOYFUL has become a terrible chore for so many. Shopping,  decorating, baking, wrapping, hosting, cleaning...for a few hours of togetherness that might or might not meet expectations.
    I have spent more than one Christmas away from family. Some of those years were better than others.
    As I thought about it last week, I realized what a quiet, peaceful Christmas this is going to be for me. I have bought only a few small gifts, and did not even send out all my Christmas letters. But I want to simply spend an extended time with the Story and the Prince of Peace on the day we celebrate His birth.
    Well, I might make some commemorative cinnamon rolls. (Sharon and Phil know what those are.)

Helsel Law

    Some of you have heard of the above law, but many have forgotten. Here's how it came about.
    Years ago we had to renew our Thai visa annually. Marvin would say, "I'm going to go get our visas." This usually took up an entire day, riding city buses, waiting for officials to finish lunch or conversations or whatever! Inevitably, when it was his turn, the immigration official asked for other documents he had not brought. Once he needed his diploma; another time he needed our marriage license. He would return home very frustrated.
     After several years of these experiences, he made a decision. He said, "Today I'm going to see about getting our visas renewed. I may not be successful, but I might!" When he returned he sometimes had the visas and sometimes not. His mood, however, improved drastically.
     Marvin later named this "Helsel's Law of Minimal Expectations." It is still functional in this house! I used it this week when I was trying to do business in another state, and was frustrated at almost every turn. It suddenly occurred to me to just relax and remember the Law of Minimal Expectations. I might get the money wired today or I might not. It was not life or death. The world would continue turning, and all would work out.
     Maintaining our joy means we must continually be aware of perspective. What is IMPORTANT after all?

TCK Parent

     Recently I shared a post that appeared on my Facebook regarding the issues of Third Culture Kids (TCKs). After reading it, I spent a bit of time thinking about how our missionary career affected our children. But today I'm thinking about a TCK parent/grandparent---me. Now my TCK daughter is leaving again to return to Asia, and I'm staying in the U.S.
     Oh, I know we have SKYPE, cell phones, texting and many ways to stay connected that were not available in the 70s and 80s. But the goodbyes never get easier. I've already shed some tears, with plenty more to come.
     This time I have spent over two months with my two oldest grandsons. I am so thankful for them and the ways they have let me into their lives. Yesterday the middle grandson said, "I hate it when adults cry."
     This time---again---they are all leaving Grandpa Marvin, who is in late stages of Huntington's Disease. The pain of that is palpable.
     I will cope, recover, and survive this parting too, but I don't have to like it. I have learned to return to joy from these difficult feelings, and I'm thankful. But I experience the tough stuff even more deeply in the process. I guess TCK parents are human beings too!

Something MORE!

     I was raised in a church. I was taught to believe in God. I was read to from the Christian scriptures. I am thankful for my upbringing, but I have also had to search for something more. My Joy Search and Joy Journey has led me many places:
---forgiveness for people who didn't know what they were doing to themselves or to me
---understanding my own God-given emotions are also created in His image, so He understands me better than I understand myself
---listening to the truth and confronting the lies by which I have lived because of emotional pain
---becoming more connected to safe people
    When I went to counseling and conferences, I took what I received and then added God and His Word to my new knowledge. I had no idea what I was doing, but it helped me tremendously.
    With the Life Model Works and Joy Starts Here resources, I have understood that I needed some brain healing! Some of you knew that already...didn't you?
    I am so thankful as I continue to learn, practice, and experience the amazing presence and comfort of Jesus in my life. He is helping me understand the complicated ways I act and react, as well as knowing that He fully gets me and delights in being with me all the time. I haven't always felt that way in my life.
    I think it's possible to teach old dogs new tricks!

Back to Joy

     I have not written in my blog for some time...but I'm back. I'm not going to explain everything that's been happening, not even what happened this last week at an Annual Event for Life Model Works. But here's a snippet of a result of this event:
     I got to bed about 12:30 a.m. and awoke at 6:30 a.m. I laid in bed a bit and thought:
---I am soooo thankful for my bed.
---When I sleep in hotel beds for 3 nights, I usually have backaches, but this morning I have no such thing.
     A still small voice whispered to me:
---I am so glad you slept well.
---I am happy that you can have this bed.
---Isn't it great how My children share with each other when there is a need?
My bed was one of two hospital beds given to my parents when they went into assisted living---from a friend at their church. My mother passed away in 2006, and I have had hers ever since. I did not sleep in it much until I moved to Seattle.
     This conversation continued about several other things, and even though I caught a cold, I am so excited about this day in a way I have not been for awhile!

A Twist

     The story of the Red Rider BB gun was not the first Christmas Story. The New Testament has several versions:  Matthew's version tells the story of the birth of Jesus from the Joseph side of the story. It is the place we find Joseph struggling with a dilemma, and the angel of God assuring him of what he needed to do. Luke's version tells the story from Mary's experience, as well as the miracle for Zechariah and Elizabeth, who was Mary's cousin.
     Sometimes we think that's the whole story, but the disciple, John, gave us a unique viewpoint. He did not talk about Mary, Joseph, shepherds or wise men. John saw a bigger picture. (John 1:1-18)
     Here are some of the unique words and phrases John used:
LOGOS - the WORD...Jesus is the Word, the Creator, the Life-and Light-Giver, who shines in our darkness.
SARX - HUMAN...Jesus, the creator and sustainer of the universe, took on humanity, with it's limitations, trials, and testings. He made His home among us.
DOXA - GLORY...He is full of unfailing love and faithfulness, and we can see and share His GLORY.
     We could spend many hours/days/years studying these words and never get to the end of their deepest meanings.
     Then John drops these wonderful thoughts on us:
"From His abundance, we have all received one gracious blessing after another."
"The law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ."
"No one has ever seen God, but His one and only (unique) Son, who is Himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us."
     That's Christmas.