Rich in Friendships

Being rich is a very relative word I am finding. What does that mean? Having money? How much? A full life- what does that consist of? Having meaning to life or having a purpose to life? Food for thought....I find much of my richness comes from my friendships.

Some friends have made us “rich” materially these past 8 months in Canada. Oh OK! Maybe not rich but certainly well looked after. Food, clothes, houses, even money to make a special valentine escape.

Others have made us rich emotionally. A few younger folk have found us relevant and want to learn from our experience- I guess we all want to be needed and not feel like dinosaurs. We have been affirmed both privately and publicly. I think every soul needs that! Our son in law asked us to live with them for a few months- how rich is that!

And then we have been made richer spiritually. We just came from visiting friends where the wife is battling cancer. They lost their young son to cancer only 4 years ago. As we sat around the table and talked, their unshakable faith in a good God moved me to tears. They know God in ways I long to know Him. Their perspective of life is wider, deeper and higher than mine. Friends like this give me a more accurate picture of who God is.

Thank You God for the riches I have from these friendships!

What happened?

Wars and rumors of wars

Famine that ravages thousands

Cancer that is no respecter of race, gender or wealth

Typhoons that wipe out homes and livelihoods

Broken relationships

Abuse of children and the elderly

Torture of the mind, body and spirit

Loneliness that dries up the soul

Is this what God had planned?

When God made the Garden and all in it

It was for his pleasure and fellowship with his highest creation- mankind

He called it all GOOD.

There was relationship, love, abundance and peace.

So what happened?

Man has tried to live without God

Who needs a crutch? they say

We are our own destiny

We have all the power within us, we boast

And look where it has got us….

We are made in God’s image

To love, feel, think, reason and have a choice

God made a way for life to have hope again

He took on the form of mankind

And through his sacrificial death he appeased the wrath of God

He then rose again the third day-

Finished the task he was on earth to accomplish

Now he says,

I am the Way

The Truth

And the Life

No one comes to the Father but by me.

And he leaves the choice to follow with us.

Canada dressed in winter white

Richard and I have been on a trip across Canada these past two months. Winter may be harsh, bitter to the touch but oh so beautiful to the eye! I may feel the cold but can't complain when I see the beauty.


The Rockies in northern BC












The hoar frost on the Prairies


Winter at its best












The Rockies from the plane window

The trip home

A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

And then the storm broke . . .
The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning! lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

"Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and every- thing within her small world was calm and orderly.

"Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.

When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home." There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.

Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home.

The trip home

A pastor had been on a long flight between church conferences. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened."

As the pastor looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us."

And then the storm broke . . .
The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning! lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash.

The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm.

"Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and every- thing within her small world was calm and orderly.

"Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.

When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes.

It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid.

The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home." There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky.

Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home.

Full Net/Full Life

I was reading in John 21 for my devotions the other day and something struck me. You know the story. Jesus had died and rose again and appeared to the disciples already. The disciples were back to fishing. They had fished all night and caught nothing. Then Jesus called to them from the beach, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they replied not knowing it was Jesus speaking to them. Jesus then told them to throw their net on the other side of the boat. And viola- they could hardly haul in the huge net full of fish. Then the disciples realized it was their Lord who had called to them and Peter jumped into the water to get to him as fast as he could. The others rowed to shore and dragged the net onto the beach. There were 154 fish and the net wasn’t even torn! Jesus then calls them to a breakfast he had ready for them on the beach.

Many friends and family have warned us that we are too busy. Maybe they are right. But it seems that God has called us to throw our net on the other side of our boat right now and our net is full. But it is God who is filling it and because of that our net is not torn. We remain healthy, excited about the ministry God has given us and still have energy. What we need to be careful is that we don’t take this for granted and just go fill up our net again on our own. We need to listen when God calls us to “breakfast” with him on the beach. Pray we will respond to God’s calling in our lives at every turn.

A day in Tokyo

I just spent yesterday with a friend as a tourist in Tokyo. Half the day was spent at the Emerging Science Museum. We could have stayed all day and still not seen it all. Japan is really on the cutting edge of innovative technology. The walking, talking, responding robot didn't just fascinate the kids but kept us all rivet ted.

Walking through the space shuttle where the astronauts live and work for months on end was like walking through a movie set- but this was real.


The next stop was an Onsen (public Japanese bath). This one gave you a taste of what it was like in the rural traditional parts of Japan. We were given a kimono (known as yukata in Japan) to wear and suddenly we found ourselves blending in (sort of) as EVERYONE was wearing one and there were just 10 or so patterns to choose from!



The middle section was set up in the style of a village street full of vendors of wares and food and even side shows (a man playing a trombone).




There were many choices of massages from foot to back to a full body massage; a soak in 14 spring-fed hot pools, a lay on sand or pebbles for heat therapy and the rock studded foot bath as seen here. Sounds easy but it takes grace and poise to walk on the strewn rocks that are there to massage tired feet, while keeping your kimono up out of the water. Did I manage? Well......

One place we looked in, but didn't spend the money to go in, was a pool you sit beside with your feet dangling in the water and little fish nibble off the dead skin on your feet. Ummmm...

We came home late and tired but with lots of good memories and happy massaged feet!

Second Mile People

I love Isobel Khun’s book called Second Mile People. I am in Japan right now facilitating a two week workshop and finding my own second mile people.

I have been to Japan 8 times but still a friend met me at the airport. She had to come an hour train journey to meet me, yet did it gladly.

I arrived to a warm room with flowers and hand written welcome note on the desk from the Center managers.

One supper time I was thrilled to see a Japanese friend who was a volunteer helping serve the meal, even after a busy day at her office. I had met her once in Manila and then at this center 2 years ago. That time I had lost a contact and this new friend not only took me to the optical shop but actually paid for my new contact lens!

I have been here 8 times but rarely get out of the conference center to explore the sights of Japan. This Sunday one of the office secretaries is planning to take me to a special place for a Japanese traditional bath. Taking her day off to give a visitor a treat.

I thank God for my second mile people.

Christmas Giving

This Christmas I have heard the challenge over and over again to reconsider our gift giving. Do we REALLY need the gifts we get? Is the stress of finding the “perfect gift” worth it? Consider the majority of the world who would love the gift of three meals a day; a regular paying job to support his family; tuition money for their children for college; a cure for AIDS that is killing off their family one by one….I could go one and on.. so could you.

So this Christmas, my husband and I are sending our gift money to each other to help Filipinos who have lost their homes in a flood. The staff in our Manila based office pooled their exchange gift money and is giving it to a family with a blind girl who is also now diagnosed with epilepsy and has no medical insurance. One friend is giving his wife a goat that will live in India to bring some livelihood into a village family there ( and did it on line with a reputable organization). Others have already stuffed gift shoe boxes to send to poor children through the Samaritans Purse.

Christ gave us the ultimate gift- his life for the ransom of our sin and it was a sacrificial gift. He is our example. Life is richer when we give!

A story that moves me

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston , Texas . Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet."

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. Just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change.

I'll see you at church on Sunday."

When the preacher stepped off of the bus,
he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians and will put us to the test!

Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Empty Spaces

We all have empty spaces in our lives. Sometimes other people find them for us or in us, circumstances reveal them or we just feel something missing and we go looking for it, whatever it may be. It is when we crave for something or have a deep dissatisfaction deep down inside.

Sometimes we try to fill these empty spaces with things- like money, education, new car or even a new hair cut. Or we try to fill it with people- husband, children, best friend etc. I find I try to fill it sometimes with food- you have heard of comfort food right- entertainment, or other fun activities. God showed me this week that the only thing that fills the empty spaces is his unfailing love. It is like water that flows in and around the cracks and gaps in my life. Other things just make more spaces!

If you have discovered some empty spaces in yourself lately, let God fill you up with his unfailing and unconditional love. There is nothing more satisfying.

I am Canadian

As I was growing up in India my eyes watered and nose ran because I often had a cold- we lived 7,500 ft above sea level. In the Philippines my eyes watered and nose ran because of allergies- hay fever. In Canada my eyes water and my nose runs because of the COLD. My passport tells me I am Canadian so I am trying it on for size this year.

Richard and I went to our first hockey game where you actually pay to see them play. I was bundled in my sweater, coat, blanket and gloves and looked behind me. There was a couple in shirt sleeves- alright they were teenagers trying to impress each other. A little further up on the bleachers was a mom (or was it grandma- hard to tell these days) with a little one bundled in coat and blanket. As I cheered on our home town team , heard the scraping of flying skates across the ice, sang the Canadian anthem…I felt Canadian.

As I have said in other blogs, we are learning what a deal Tim Horton’s is for a lunch of homemade soup and sandwich. Richard and I find it the best place to grab a cup of coffee with old and new friends. We are learning to eat more meat as it is served to us- portion sizes I mean. We were taken out to breakfast the other day and shared a normal order and it was STILL to much for us. The other day we were served fruit soup- wow that was good- soup of peaches, cherries, apricots, strawberries and I don’t know what else. Top it with a little yogurt and mmmmm that is good!

The malls are SO small compared to what we have in Manila, but I guess it is refreshing to go to the till and only be number 2 in line and nobody behind you! We are a small town but still there seems to be great events to go to continuously. Concerts, hockey games, sleigh rides, hockey games, choir festival, hockey games, ladies teas, hockey games. Ok you may have guessed that our church family is pretty into hockey. It might be because our pastor is the chaplain of the team!

So in many ways it is easy slipping into Canadian life- it fits well. At least indoors!

I AM A CHRISTIAN

When I say ... "I am a Christian,"
I'm not shouting "I'm clean living."
I'm whispering "I was lost,
Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say ..."I am a Christian,"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble,
And need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say ... "I am a Christian,"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak,
And need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say ... "I am a Christian,"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed,
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say ... "I am a Christian,"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible,
But God believes I am worth it.

When I say ... "I am a Christian,"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches,
So I call upon His name.

When I say ... "I am a Christian,"
I'm not holier than thou.
I'm just a simple sinner
who received God's good grace somehow.

God’s Paintbrush

It is Fall in our little resort town of Salmon Arm. The hills that hug our streets and homes are full of the crisp autumn colors- vibrant orange, sunshine yellow, crunchy brown, velvety maroon, deep red, and shocking pink- red! The evergreens remain tall, stately and green. Richard has had the chance to walk the hills and woods and spotted a little fawn staring with big round brown eyes at him, sitting perfectly still as if posing for his portrait. Salmon Arm usually has sunshine and clear skies and when I look up I see God has brushed the clouds as wispy bits of cotton wool. Yesterday I noticed a small pink rose bud still tenaciously holding on for the last bit of life before the frost gets it. This morning the lawn, roofs, trees and roads are softly dusted with frost and the air is still as if waiting for something.

Wow, this is a breath takingly beautiful country! Richard and I are traveling the highways these days going between our parents and kids (4 hrs), and this gives time to say thank you to our Master Creator for his Fall Canadian painting!

My life is rich

Some things we keep

Here is something I just got from my sister in law. The truth of this is what helps make my life rich- hope it does yours too!

I grew up in the 40's/50's/60's with practical parents. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a Name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.

Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things. A curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it.... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.

This is true... For marriage.... And old cars.... And children with bad report cards..... Dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close!

New stuff here in Canada

It is fun to notice the new things Canada has come up with while we have been gone for three years. I walk in the huge ware house grocery store and find every chemical to remove stains from clothes, teeth, bathtubs and floors- without scrubbing! Just apply and wait to see it disappear. The Swifer- wet (with strip for hard to get off spots) and dry cleans all the floors. No need for a broom, mop and water bucket. Tide pens that you carry in your bag and apply the second you drip spaghetti sauce on your shirt. (Where was this when I was raising kids?)

We are finding a Tim Hortons on every corner. That is the store. We are finding Tim Hortons coffee cups in people’s hands EVERYWHERE: in church, walking the malls, sitting in the sunshine on a park bench, riding a bike or driving a car, even in their own kitchens! I guess Tim makes better coffee than mother does.

Basically you can find anything to make life faster, easier, more comfortable and cleaner. But does it make people happier? Less stressed? More content? I am not sure. I think of my Filipino friends, many who are still washing clothes by hand in a basin outside. Are they really “missing out” on all this stuff? What brings contentment to them?

Are we more content when life is easier and more comfortable? I wonder… I guess I find my contentment not in an easier life but when my relationships are in tack. When I can rely on the unconditional love of my husband. When my adults kids want me to be around. When people greet me with a long, hard hug and remember my name after not seeing them for 3 years. And when I am at peace with myself, knowing I am God’s child, unique and loved and accepted by him.

So while I am enjoying all the new stuff, I am trying not to get used to it and keep my life rich with relationships and not gadgets. How about you?

What a dose of sunshine can do

I just did something I haven’t allowed myself to do since I got back to Canada. I dropped everything, set up a camping chair in the back yard, put my feet up and soaked in some sunshine. There are two reasons why I haven’t done this till now. There wasn’t the opportunity and there wasn’t enough WARM sunshine! I am home today working at my computer for upcoming meetings. I hardly realized the sunshine was there and warming up till it started tickling my back from the window. The warmth made me smile, then I closed my eyes and let it massage my back. I finally gave in and went outside.

I settled down into the chair and my heart beat started slowing down. I looked out over the beautiful lawn and trees and realized that our Creator has used so many greens that no crayon box could duplicate. At first all I could hear was the traffic on the street below then I heard the birds. Warbling, chirping and cawing in dialogue, once in a while flying out to visit each other in the tops of the trees. The sun rays penetrated deep into my bones yet the occasional cool breeze kept me from getting too hot. I felt tingly and relaxed as I do after a good Thai massage! I closed my eyes and slept.

In the stressful, busy lives we live we often feel we can’t stop, like the little gerbil on the wheel that he runs on. He doesn’t realize it is only spinning because he is making it spin as he runs on it. I know this is simplifying things too much, but I do know that the last half hour break in the sun made my wheel stop for a short while and refreshed me.

Go ahead. Go outside and see what the sunshine can do for you!

Reconnecting to Canada

There is nothing like…

The warmth of a loved one’s embrace after a long absence

A belly laugh over good memories shared over a picnic supper

Talking face to face with friends rather than the impersonal e mail connection

The smell of newly mowed grass

The mighty power of the great Niagara Falls

Not standing out in a crowd because I don’t have honey colored skin and shiny black hair

Taking a deep, deep breath of clean fresh air

Watching commercials I have never seen before

The burst of familiar flavor eating a fresh strawberry

Sleeping under a snuggly comforter

Getting behind the wheel of my car as the driver after 3 years

For the next few months I am going to enjoy being back home in Canada!