Friday, December 27, 2013

Reflections on 2013

January
Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. 
William Henry Davies

February
Three postures towards God
"Thanksgiving is response to God's actions, praise is response to His character, worship is response to His presence." - Kris Vallotton

March
Thanksgiving
I'm thankful to God for a few things today - a nice lunch that was too short, an e-mail that informed me that I was no longer needed in someone else's life, roadside flowers that greeted me in the morning, a lovely dinner that included eating preserved titbits with Yakun coffee with shoe repair on the side, and finally time for myself before I sleep around midnight. I'm also very happy for a dear friend who is being called to the bar tomorrow and will be returning to be with her husband in the US soon.

April
On craftsmanship
Since the only test of truth is length of life, and since words survive the chops and changes of time longer than any other substance, therefore they are the truest. Buildings fall; even the earth perishes. What was yesterday a cornfield is to-day a bungalow. But words, if properly used, seem able to live for ever.

Our business is to see what we can do with the English language as it is. How can we combine the old words in new orders so that they survive, so that they create beauty, so that they tell the truth? That is the question.  

And the person who could answer that question would deserve whatever crown of glory the world has to offer. Think what it would mean if you could teach, if you could learn, the art of writing. Why, every book, every newspaper would tell the truth, would create beauty.

- Virginia Woolf

May
A beautiful day
What constitutes a beautiful day for me: The skies opened. An interesting lunch + learn session. Some big reports were sent off. An impromptu dinner suggestion. The Market Grill with two of the usual suspects. A sublime bleu cheese burger. A cab heading towards the taxi stand. Eight new movie DVDs waiting for me at home. One communication workbook to read. And lastly, 1.5 hours of free time before bedtime.

June
The fruit of the spirit
How does the Spirit of God manifest itself through us? Often we think that to witness means to speak up in defense of God. This idea can make us very self-conscious. We wonder where and how we can make God the topic of our conversations and how to convince our families, friends, neighbors, and colleagues of God's presence in their lives. But this explicit missionary endeavour often comes from an insecure heart and, therefore, easily creates divisions. The way God's Spirit manifests itself most convincingly is through its fruits: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22). These fruits speak for themselves. It is therefore always better to raise the question "How can I grow in the Spirit?" than the question "How can I make others believe in the Spirit?"- Henri Nouwen

July
Malachi 1:11
For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

August
The ties that bind
I committed to writing a reflective note about my birthday. As I thought about what I wanted to write, it became clear that I wanted to write about myself but more than that, I wanted this note to be about other people. No man, or indeed woman, is an island. As much as I crave for solitude, I need to constantly remind myself that life is all about people and connections.

Some people come into my life and I know they will be there till I die. Others appear at certain times and make an impression so deep and lasting that even when they fade out, I am no longer the same. And there are others, who have not been in contact with me for many years. But I know that as and when we do meet up, there is no barrier. We will be transported back to that time when we were young and foolish and so full of dreams, and we will behave as we did then. Yet others leave, and some of them leave graciously. I hope that when I meet them again sometime, somewhere, we can look at one another and smile, and pick up from where we left off.

September
Our Deepest Fear
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."- Marianne Williamson (Our Deepest Fear)

October
An anchor holds within the veil
I rest on His unchanging graceIn every high and stormy galeMy anchor holds within the veilMy anchor holds within the veil

Cornerstone - Hillsong

November
Thank you Jesus
I am so thankful for the following:
+ Forgiving hearts
+ Discerning friends
+ Listening ears
+ Open minds
+ Giving hands
+ Tasty treats
+ Healing touch
+ Humbled self
+ The Holy Spirit
+ God's leading

December
Finally home
To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.- Nelson Mandela

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Finally home

To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
- Nelson Mandela