FGHart

The trip was relatively uneventful. I hope to see some sights this weekend, but I came early to make sure I’m well rested for a busy week. When I get back home, I am going to be very busy as well. Part of that busyness is stemming from:

I hope we’re past the last of the freezes, although history says “probably not.” The pond is under re-construction, I’m putting new beds for my grandmother’s irises, something needs to be done to bolster the elephant ears…and I’m halfway around the world! Spring Break is still 3 weeks away.

Live from Taipei, it’s Friday night.

My flight left Austin at ~10:30 a.m. Thursday. Back home, it’s 10:30am Friday. It’s 12:30 a.m. Saturday here now.
This image is a backwards view down the long corridor of the international terminal in San Francisco. There was very different feeling coming down this hallway. It was less crowded, and the shops are all hi-end. No bustling fast food restaurants, no book stores.

I did find the Gucci ad a little disturbing.

While in San Francisco’s airport, I received a txt msg from the eldest (22YO). Nothing going on, she was just checking in. Very nice. I also logged in to my laptop and discovered a facebook “friend” invitation from daughter #3 (18YO). Will wonders never cease? To my chagrin, I neglected to send a text msg to my youngest. 🙁

Daughter #2 (20YO) spent last night (which was Wednesday night even though I’m now living in Saturday) at our house so she could get a good night’s sleep. Apparently our precious grandson has been keeping her up at night. PG-s was with us until sometime after 10 when my son-in-law came by (courtesy of a ride from his Mom) to pick up the little guy and take him back to the 1 bedroom apartment they are sharing. While visiting, D#2 went through my jewelry box looking for rings because her wedding band broke. There is a long story behind wedding rings, and this is a bit of a sore subject for me. She wasn’t able to find my rings and I’m not planning on giving her a ring. There was certainly presumption (and gumption) in going through my jewelry as a precursor for what? Asking for one of my rings? She also asked to borrow the car Saturday so they could go on a family outing.

Is it wrong for me to be kind but firm in my refusal to support them? We’ll babysit occasionally, yes certainly. We’ll pick her up and drop her off when joins us at church (and oh, by the way, she’s helping out – and getting paid – at the church’s nursery). But. I have long ago realized that the children will abuse our generosity. I’ve sworn off playing the game of “Mom and Dad pay the consequences for the children’s choices.”

Hubby wants to give D#2 a cell phone on our plan so she at least has a way to communicate with us. As it stands, she has no phone, no key to the apartment, no car and not much income. It is such a struggle to not help (sounds weird, I’m sure) but I know in my heart they have the ability to get their act together. It would be better if they weren’t looking to us to solve their problems for them. I’m willing to offer counsel. I am willing to pray for the best counsel, the counsel of the Spirit. I continue to pray for all 4 of my children.

Thanks to all for your warm wishes and prayers for safe travel. I’m alive and well tho maybe jet-lag groggy and cranky. I’d love your input on D#2: all comments and suggestions are taken deeply to heart.

Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. “

(Proverbs 8:1-11)

I am on my way to Taipei for a week-long business trip. May I be blessed in this adventure.

We need to show patience for people going through (or growing through) things that we have survived. We shouldn’t judge them for how they are handling a given situation, but raise them up and encourage them. Tell them our own stories. Give them hope.

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:1-5)

There is power in sharing. Strength is given and received in the telling of history. Especially a painful history. The stories that are being shared on this new site tell of strength and courage and hope. One in four women has experience domestic violence. It is up to us all to make their voices heard. To unsilence their silence so we can know their stories.

God, these women are stepping out in faith, sharing their stories of endurance and offering encouragement for others. Bless them and this movement to increase awareness of the prevalence of this tragic crime. Help us support them. Help us be sensitive to the nature of this problem and reach out to anyone around us in need of this connection. By your grace we are strong.

Amen.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve made this trip. The first trip was in ’99. While on that remarkable trip I made a lot of life changing decisions. One was to upgrade my commuter vehicle from our ’88 Nova (purchased new in ’88) to a ’99 Mustang Convertible. I’ll save that story for another post. The trip was also memorable because I didn’t keep food down until my last day in Taiwan. This problem has plagued me for most of my trips to Asia. With each trip, I pick up new tricks for keeping on my feet.

For this next trip I’m breaking out of habits – that seems to be the theme of my life these days. I’ve always flown American. I’ve always stayed at the Hyatt. I know what to expect. I know my way around that part of Taipei. I have comfort and confidence in the known, even though I’m surrounded by the unknown. I’ve been studying Mandarin but “I am not Chinese” and “I don’t understand a word you are saying” are my most useful expressions.

Thursday I will fly to LA, then experience my first trip on EVA air. I’m flying “economy” which is the expectation in today’s economy. I’m staying at a hotel close to my new employer’s headquarters. I’m not familiar with this part of Taipei so I don’t know where I’ll find corn soup or buy Pringles when/if my tummy gives me trouble. I’ve learned lots of tips for traveling sans barfing – hopefully all will carry me through this new adventure.

I spent a few hours late this afternoon (as the sun set) preparing a new flower bed. This bed will become the home for heritage irises. These iris bulbs originally came from my grandmother’s garden in Baton Rouge. I dug the bulbs up from our rental property (our old homestead) and I need to get them into the ground. I think they’ll be happy in this particular corner of the yard. It’s a low spot – it gets plenty of moisture. But the soil is not very rich.

First, I had to clear the spot of grass. The Bermuda grass in our yard is being overtaken by the St. Augustine from the neighbors yard. These competing ground covers challenge me with their interwoven roots and runners. I used a combination of tools to loosen the soil – relying heavily on forks and cultivators to break up the sod and free the roots.

Realistically I have to accept the fact that despite my best efforts I was unable to clear all of the tenacious grass from the new bed. Also, since the bed is surrounded by healthy lawn, there will be perpetual encroaching on all sides. It is unreasonable to presume that the new bed will miraculously submit to my intentions and foster only irises, rejecting grass and weeds. I can expect to spend more time in the future continuing the battle against persistent but unwanted intruders.

I have been preparing my mind for understanding the Word. I have tried to clear out the entangled thoughts that crowd my brain. As an adult, we tend to be busy with all of life’s activities. Work, meals, children, bills, housekeeping, relationships….everything that needs a piece of our attention can take peace away from us. And even when we’ve put a stake in the ground and declared territory (morning prayer, evening devotionals) busyness encroaches and threatens our peace, like persistent grass roots that lurk in the deepest parts of our inner self.

First we must prepare the soil -clear all that is currently choking the ground, consuming space needed for the Word. Then we must receive the seed. If the soil is not fertile and ready, the seed will wither and die. Then we must nurture the seed so that it grows. Water and nutrients are our thoughtful consideration. This leads to understanding. The crop we produce is multiplied beyond measure.

Do not feel selfish when you defend your quiet time, your time for prayer, your time for meditation and introspection. This is not something you are doing for your own sake but for the sake of all who will benefit from the fruit you bear. You are obliged to prepare the soil and tend your inner garden.

Put it on your list of things to do today. “Prepare the soil.”

Father, let us take the time to clear our minds of all that distracts us from You and Your Word. Help us turn away from life’s demands, knowing that we can trust You to tend to those things while we put our focus on You. Prepare our minds, opening us up to the richness that you share. Free us from entanglements that choke out your seeds. Plant your seeds in the best parts of us and let us make tending Your Word part of our routine. Your Word will grow in us by our faith, and will multiply bearing fruit for many. Help us to be fruitful and spread Your Word according to Your will.

Amen.