Learning to rejoice

My mum sent me an email after reading my previous post:

Hey I just read your blog (my writing again). Why does your heart ache? Are u still haunted by the hurts in the past? You got to rejoice!!! Honestly I rejoice seeing my children growing up. You may not be here but thanks to technology that you can still be part of us in the celebration. It’s new year- put on the new man & be renewed in your mind & rejoice for what God has done.
Can u put up a video recording wishing  all the kong2 & po2s & perhaps uncles & aunties whom u r going to receive Ang pau from?  I m sure they will be exhilarated.
Make the best of technologies & be part of us. Hey wear your new clothes!!
Love u & happy CNY!!!!!

Indeed, rejoicing is not a habit I have cultivated.

It’s almost as if I prefer meditating on loss and pain, and if not then being anxious and goal-driven!

I mourn over not going home to Malaysia after graduation—something I badly wanted to do, bitter at what people are thinking yet refusing to acknowledge the open door I have here. I have not walked boldly and in faith.

But I want to learn to sing and rejoice, and to rest in God’s sovereignty. So help me, Jesus…

to celebrate good friends, especially those who give me flowers!

to give thanks that ALL my needs are met in You.

to lean upon You: Your direction, provision, and strength.

not to doubt and waver, not to be paralysed by fear.

to grasp Your purpose and to walk in security and joy!

And I will, because your power is made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

Flag theory: identity, not racism

I grew up with a strong sense of patriotism, very much identifying with the notion of nationhood. My brother and I used to wave Malaysian flags and jump up and down in front of the television watching our athletes compete in the Olympic games. Whenever a Malaysian won the rare medal, we would go on cloud nine. I swelled with pride to see them on a world stage!

We did not need great intellect or theological understanding to resonate with the soaring grandness of nationhood. It was part of our human makeup.

As Australia celebrates Australia Day, I am gently reminded of similar feelings of pride. Knowing that half of Adelaide’s taxi fleet will be flying the flag awakens something in me. It reminds me of a childhood game, how my brother and I used to count the number of cars sporting Malaysian flags each National Day. Some cars sported more than six flags. What a sense of exuberance!

Today, I don’t need to be a citizen to rejoice with the nation that now hosts me, and to celebrate all that is good in this blessed land. I don’t need to be white. It saddens me that people equate flying the flag to racism on an occasion like that—and worse, that the media perpetuates it!

Amid all the Aussie Day conversation taking place—some pleasant and others not so, I hope people focus on the meaning of the Australian flag and the celebration of nationhood.

If people have used the flag as a symbol of “race hate” or a “weapon”—to borrow the words of an Islamic leader—then clearly, they have missed the point of the flag. I am happy for my Aussie friends who fly their flag with pride. Maybe I’ll fly an Aussie flag too.

Flags indicate distinctive nationhood – an invention of God. (Deuteronomy 32:8). My prayer is that Australia will prosper as a nation as it pursues righteousness (Proverbs 14:34).

A few Australia Day links I enjoyed:

• Thinking about who we are and the significance of nations by Mark Tronson
• Flying the Australian flag by FamilyVoice SA State Officer David d’Lima
• Flying the flag for lazy gotcha polling by Daniel Piotrowski
• Reflections on Charlie Teo’s speech by David Pentherby on The Punch.
• Fly your flag respectfully!

Light people

There are light people in this world.

They turn on the lights on a greyish day.

They make magic appear on the street corners.

They give you a moment to feel wonder.

How can Adelaide—or life—be boring like that?

Yarn-bombed bikes. Mango mayhem. Knitted cities. Teacups of love.

People are so creative…have you ever wondered who we take after?

JNV Beauty

Last year I had the privilege of getting a facial from my friend Vivian of JNV Beauty. What a treat!

I’ve been wanting to give Vivs a little plug for ages but haven’t been able to, so here is the long-overdue post…

Vivian doesn’t sing many praises of herself or of her services- which have expanded from bridal makeup to floral arrangements to beauty treatments over the years. She has a great partnership with her photographer/architect husband, Joe Chong of JNV Photography, too (JNV= Joe and Vivian).

I really enjoyed my time at Vivian’s home-based service centre. It’s tastefully set-up, comfy and cosy – and you can see testaments of Vivian’s hospitality: a fridge and a coffee machine.

As we all know the personality of the service provider makes a crucial difference in the service industry. Vivian has a special way with people – she is gentle, sweet, sincere…A few months ago she threw a colourful high tea party with dainty cupcakes and spray carnations! You can just tell she loves all-things-beautiful.

Vivs gave me a dermabrasion and a most relaxing face and head massage. She also extracted some of my blackheads – I’ve to say it was the most painless experience I’ve had out of all the facials I’ve been to.

If you ever need a pamper and are looking for a personal and homely facial treatment, I highly recommend Vivs!

(She was voted 3rd best bridal makeup artist in Adelaide last year, and is wonderful at that too!)