13 Hours of Rain

I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. Pslam 62:1-2 (NLT) The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV) I sit here, contemplating what I should write to commemorate 2016 and mark the advent of 2017. My mind is blank. So I will do what I often do in such a moment. Just write. This year has been like no other since we moved to prairie southwest. My children transitioned to be in school everyday and I began to fill my "spare time" with other pursuits. The biggest challenge was leading a Family Support Team for a Syrian refugee family. If you have kept up with my sparse entries this year, then you would have noticed that Refugee Sponsorship  has been my prime focus. Interspersed  among my refugee-themed entries where glimpses into my Dad's he...

A year ago, I signed on to assist a refugee family. A year later, our refugee family is here, integrating into Canadian society. As I reflect on the journey thus far, I would like to comment on my community. I am pleasantly surprised and proud of how our community has come together to welcome our family. Honestly, I doubted this a year ago, since our city has a "red-neck" reputation. And most individuals in our constituency do not appreciate our Liberal Prime Minister, the one who strongly advocated for refugees. Yet, our community has rallied behind this family with their generosity and love. People of various Christian denominations, in addition to people of different religious (and non-religious) backgrounds, have come together to serve. It is truly beautiful and inspirational. On a personal note, this experience has been incredibly exhausting and rewarding. Most of our committee members feel the same way. We all wonder if we could ever do this again because of how all...

We attend a typical mainstream evangelical church in a politically conservative part of our province. While our church celebrates women in positions of leadership such as elders, deacons, ministry team leaders, worship leaders, Sunday School teachers, and Bible readers, we rarely open the pulpit to allow women to offer a sermon. It does occur on occasion, when a female missionary is visiting or the moderator of our church leadership team is a woman. However, when it comes to systematically selecting speakers to teach Biblical truths during a thirty minute, one-way exhortation, it is almost always a man. And the probability of our lead pastor being a woman is practically nil. Now I am not writing this to criticize my church. However, I am writing this to open our eyes to this extremely common practice in our province, especially in churches who are similar to us in denomination.  Women have come a long way since Biblical times, in their access to education and equal opportun...

A cup of tea. Honestly, if I had to give up tea for Lent, it would be a challenge. I cherish the moments with I can curl up on the couch with a hot cup of tea between my chilly hands and gaze through our front window. Life slows down in that moment. It is so, so good. Flock of birds taking flight. There is something magical about a flock of birds lifting off and joining the blue expanse. Birds are a marvel of creation. They have inspired air travel and formation flying. Snowflakes. Its unique, one-of-a-kind crystalline structure is awe-inspiring. Its ability to cover a dull landscape and brighten the world during short winter days is refreshing. Real conversations with a friend. I can only take shallow conversations with people for so long. Therefore, real conversations with a friend (or a family member for that matter) where we both can share our hearts is truly a gift from God. Balancing our cheque book. Weird, I know. But I find beautiful satisfaction in crunching numbers...

“BE STILL IN MY PRESENCE, even though countless tasks clamor for your attention. Nothing is as important as spending time with Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do My best work within you: transforming you by the renewing of your mind. If you skimp on this time with Me, you may plunge headlong into the wrong activities, missing the richness of what I have planned for you. Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you. Remember that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you. Though I delight in blessing My children, I am deeply grieved when My blessings become idols in their hearts. Anything can be an idol if it distracts you from Me as your First Love. When I am the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry. As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of Glory! Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be ...

I am not sure what to write about these days. My intellect is weary of analyzing much, thus I lean towards the visceral in this post. There are days I am exhausted in the roles I've embraced. The supportive wife and mother, who has shelved career aspirations to build a family life in semi-urban southwest. The responsible eldest daughter, who is viewed as a steady rock to lean on during difficult and uncertain times. The leader in committee work, who is entrusted to "get things done", while being attuned to the morale of the group. Sometimes, I just want to be selfish, like a typical two-year old, who proclaims "Mine!" at the top of her lungs while spouting tears of fury when things don't go her way. But I am not two. I am forty years older. Why is it that I struggle with the urge to run away from life for a while and do whatever I want, whenever I want? Why do I let comparison assault joy? Why do I despair in my soul when by all outside standards, my...

I am in a state of disconnect. We are now plunging into the latter half of 2016 and I know that I am seriously out of touch with the social circles I thought I was part of. This year has been the year of intense service. First, I was part of planning for -- and now settling -- our refugee family. Second, I experienced stress dealing with Dad's health crisis coupled with all the details accompanied with reducing his workload. Third, I poured myself into teaching Gr. 12 mathematics for two intense months. Then I provided care for my intellectually disabled sister in July. And yes, while we have returned from a great holiday with you two kids and your Daddy, I come to this moment utterly spent. Recently, your Dad and I purchased new smart phones. I'd like to say we were forced into the decision, as we received a letter from our service provider informing us that our archaic flip phone's network would not be supported any longer. But I think the real reason is that more and...

“If you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.”  ―  C.S. Lewis ,  The Horse and His Boy Our refugee family as arrived. And they are immensely grateful. I do not know about the atrocities they witnessed or the terror they fled. All I know is the visible signs of thankfulness on their faces as they have left their old home to come to their new home. We are reading "The Horse and His Boy" as a family. It is the story of Shasta, a young boy who is running away from his cruel life in the country of Calormen to the hope in beautiful Narnia. Our family calls this land "Beautiful Canada". :) There are days I get frustrated over my day-to-day life. There are so many things I wish to accomplish. Like learning how to write Hindi, which I never seem to find time for. Or being that amazingly creative Mom with you kids, who has planned all these fantastic summer activities. Or writing Chapter Two of my so-not-pub...

Dear Graduate of 2016, Just because you graduated with a North American high school diploma doesn't mean the world will be presented to you on a silver platter. I know you have heard the motivational speeches out there. "Just believe" or "You are special" or "Failure is not an option". I hate to break it to you kid, the oh-so-young adult that you are. No ounce of believing will make you what you were destined NOT to be. While you have God-given worth, you are no more special that the other 7 billion on this planet. And -- guess what! -- you will fail. Your world tends to revolve around the latest smart phone technology. I don't blame you, as the adults in your life are no better in so many ways. But please remember, you don't have the right to technology. No matter what popular culture will tell you, it is NOT a NEED in your life. It's a WANT. It is true that it is becoming more and more difficult to live without one, as it is even an a...

I'm now a every weekday working Mom. I've taken on a part-time temporary position as a Senior Mathematics Teacher at the local high school. I teach Gr. 11 & 12 students, some mathematically gifted, others not so much. For the most part, I am enjoying the experience.  I think. This whole experience of teaching has taught me, once again, how I struggle with contentment. As a substitute teacher, I ached for the opportunity to teach while I grit my teeth over supervising another exam or "babysitting" another work period. Now that I teach a new mathematical concept almost every day, I long for the periods when I can rest my voice and brain and just proctor an exam. Contentment. A very difficult concept to grasp. One I still have not mastered. Earlier, I had the opportunity to sit down with a Mom of one your KG friends, as you two boys played with great enthusiasm. This lady was quite wise, as she reflected on the state of society. Even though she hesitat...

Son, you build creations with little interlocking blocks, Usually intricate ships for your super heroes to fly. You zoom around the house, fighting battles Between good and evil. Good wins. Daughter, you create music on black & white keys, Persevering through difficult pieces with tears. You appear to quit as you run off to your room. Yet, you return and play Beautifully. There are days I am afraid of the future. Our population as a species continues to rise exponentially. However, our Earth's size remains the same. It is becoming more and more challenging to produce food for our world. And the more people we jam pack together, the more we live in disunity. Crazy diseases emerge, threatening to be the next pandemic. Human-produced garbage continues to rise while the rest of the biotic elements of our ecosystem suffer. I feel sick thinking about all of this. Yet your examples, as you battle the next villain or try to master "Singing Donkey" with ...

You've become pet owners. Well, stuffy pet owners. Son, yours is Brown Bear, a small bear whom you treat as a dog. You've had Brown Bear every since you were an infant. Daughter, yours is Bob, a big cream coloured dog who is apparently Uncle Toot's son (Uncle Toot, the very large stuffed dog, lives in Grandma & Grandpa's apartment). You both take care of your pets as if they are real. Brown Bear is especially real. He peed in his bed last night and the blanket just HAD to be changed! As a mother, I am delighted to witness a more compassionate side to both of you. I know you'd LOVE a real dog to enter our family, but alas, our regular trips to visit our extended family make pet ownership difficult. We won't get a cat, so don't get your hopes up about that alternative. Both your Daddy and I are not fans of cats. We have met "friendly" cats in other people's home, and enjoyed them. But we've never been compelled to own one for ourselve...

"Please pray for me," your Nana asked mid-afternoon. "I have a terrible flu." "I will Daddy," I responded while saying a quick prayer in my head. It's the flu. It will pass. How serious could it be? Then I received word late evening. Your Nani was in panic. Your Nana's condition had gone critical. He was struggling to breathe. His lungs were filling up with fluid. He was literally drowning. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.  I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. (Psalm 69: 1 - 3) The ambulance was called. A faithful friend accompanied Nani to the emergency. Another friend stayed with your frightened Mausi as we live three hours way. An hour past. I sent out frantic e-mails for prayer. Good news arrived. Nana's condition was stabilizing. All seemed well? 24 hou...

"Laggard: In the diffusion of innovation theory, the minority group (roughly 16 percent) of population, which is the last group to try or adopt a new project. It consists largely of seniors, and those with low socioeconomic status. Laggards use friends and neighbors as information sources, dislike change, and accept new things only when forced to." (Source: BusinessDictionary.com) "As technology has played a bigger role in our lives, our skills in critical thinking and analysis have declined, while our visual skills have improved... Learners have changed as a result of their exposure to technology... Reading for pleasure, which has declined among young people in recent decades, enhances thinking and engages the imagination in a way that visual media such as video games and television do not..." (Source: Is technology producing a decline in critical thinking and analysis? ) "The real world of technology seems to involve an inherent trust in machines and devi...

Another year has come and gone. It is time to take stock, to ascertain the inventory, so to speak. How far have I come in achieving my decade goals? 1.  Learn to play the piano.  I am in Primer B, along with my daughter. :) We purchased a good quality used piano about a year ago. It cost more to move it than buy it!!!! Both mother and daughter are enjoying the learning experience of reading black notes on staff and translating them to music with fingers. Thankfully, my daughter's teacher allows me to sit in on her lessons. Two-for-one deal? 2.  Learn to read and write either Hindi or Urdu . Okay, okay, this is pathetic. I've moved from knowing 13 Hindi letters to 22 Hindi letters. I still have 14 more to go. I am lacking motivation, I must admit. Maybe I will know them all by next year??? 3.  Travel the world with you two kids and your Daddy.  This is still a "one day" goal. Sorry kids, there will be no trip to Disneyland in this family. Or some Mexican all-in...

We haven't received an arrival date for our refugee family. But we've been asked to get our house ready by March 1, 2016*. Oh boy. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you feel you are clearly over your head in your ability to lead and equip others to lead? There are days I do feel like an imposter and wonder why in the world the Ministerial affirmed me to be the Volunteer Coordinator for supporting our refugee family. Are you sure? Me? Okay then... Yet, have you ever had a "such a time as this" moment? Dear kids, you are familiar with the story of Queen Esther. She was beautiful. She was made Queen for a foreign King. She found out that one of the King's viziers, that is Haman, had hatched a plot to kill the Jews. Esther was a Jew. Esther had to make a choice. Speak up and face the possibility of death by approaching the King without his permission or watch her family be killed (and probably be killed herself anyway). Mordecai, Esther's...

I almost ditched creating to our annual Christmas letter last year, the one we e-mail to a contact list comprised of family and friends. Why? Partly because nothing “news worthy” occurred in 2015. And partly because I get easily discouraged by the lack of responses to all the work we put in to creating the document. Yet I persevered, more for you kids, so we can intentionally document your beautiful lives and the non-material gifts God lavished on us last year. Plus I’ve come to accept (through the wise counsel of trusted others) that the social media world has resulted in more non-responders than responders. Truthfully, people just don’t have time to provide feedback to everything they read out there in the virtual world! Even I find it difficult to keep in touch with everyone on a meaningful level (and I consider myself an above average corresponder). Once I got over myself and embraced creating our Christmas letter again, I took a personal risk in my section of the update. ...