Food for Thought

A few months ago, I was describing to some friends what tamales are. I described its texture, color, consistency, and appearance. That was fairly easy but when it got to taste, I asked myself how do you describe a dish to someone who’s never even heard of it?

This dilemma is not a one-time thing. As a Filipino who grew up in the Philippines (side note: Philippine tamales are different), a lot of dishes I eat and make are unheard of by colleagues and friends. Describing them – especially the most exotic ones – can be a brain drain moment for me.

The situation with the tamales (for anyone who does not know, I Googled it and discovered it originated from Guatemala. I learn something new every day!) made me think about how much of our conversations are spent on describing and sharing experiences on food, clothes, education, and everyday things.

I learned two spiritual lessons:

1: As Christian, how much of our conversations revolve around God’s love? How much time do we actually spend on sharing about His love and concern for us? If you are anything like me, probably not as much as I spend talking (much less thinking) about food. Hmm!

2: How do we go about describing God? I believe God solved this one for us when he sent His son in the form of a man who felt hunger, pain and exhaustion just like we do.

I will Sing of my Redeemer

Have you ever heard someone sing so bad you wanted to look at them and shoot daggers from your eyes? Well I have. It happened this weekend - at church.

As we started congregational singing, a lady sang with such gusto several people turned to look where the racket was coming from. I was appalled at first. I was embarrassed for her as well as sorry for my eardrums… but then I realized it was probably the best sounds I have heard in a long time.

Here was a woman who sang from her heart. I don’t think any of us can do much better. We may be worship leaders, choir members, soloists or even professional artists but without love, we are a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1) making empty sounds.

We should always do everything to the best of our abilities. Our songs should make melodious sounds to the Lord but we shouldn’t stop singing just because we are tone-deaf. After all, the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

I am glad that He finds the most melodious of songs in the broken cords of a woman’s heartfelt singing.

Life is Too Short for regrets

February 8, 2011

Yesterday, I found out that a friend's friend had passed away.

It may seem strange that I am writing about the death of someone I had never met but please humor me and take a few moments to think as you read this note.

I met Lydia through an online group called Homeschool Alumni. As most of you know, I was homeschooled up till college. HSA has been a place to meet, greet and share with other kids who had similar experiences.

Lydia met Ben or "Ben.36" on HSA. I will let Lydia tell you about him in her own words:

"I never met Ben. He's one of the many online acquaintances I've formed on HSA. But he's one of the few whose blog I follow (a sewerrat's tale). He was an ex-ALERT man from Texas. It was through him that I learned about state of the churches in Spain and the extreme worldliness they have to fight. He got me praying for them and for his little cousins, that they wouldn't succumb to the pressure of the world. Last month he was beginning to talk to the Navy about joining. He was an expert with guns.... Ben died a few days ago. His gun went off when he was cleaning it and shot him in the heart right in front of his brother. He was with the Lord instantly, after twenty-four years on this earth."

Lydia goes on to say that Ben always made a point to let his friends know how much he appreciated them. He would even send a note asking friends how they were doing.

This made me realize, how often do I tell my family and friends that I love them and appreciate their presence in my life?

If (God forbid) I die today or next week, would I have left a t ask unfinished, a letter unwritten, an apology not said?

Ben was taken at the young age of 24. With death there is no one too young or too old. You can't cheat death and you can never be too safe. Who am I to say "it's not going to happen to me" or think that my family and friends would always be there? Am I waiting for the situation to be too late?

In her blog entry on Ben, Lydia said "Recently, I've been seeing him online a lot. I kind of wondered how he was doing, and almost said hi. I wish I had."

I don't want anyone to have that thought and so I want to encourage you all to take this journey with me: to get past whatever is holding us back from saying or doing what we have to.

Death will claim us all at some point. We can't run or hide from it. The only thing we can do is to live right while we are able. No regrets.

Thank you for taking the time to read this note and know that you are a friend that is very much appreciated.

<3

Danielle

"Ben was certainly not perfect, but he knew where he belonged: not in Texas, or in Spain, or in the Navy, but in heaven. And the Lord knew, too."

(Please check out Lydia's blog: http://www.eternalgloryseeker.blogspot.com/)