13 Hours of Rain

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...