On being single

Today is my friend's wedding.  She is also my neighbor, coworker, former supervisor, and sister in Christ.  Nearly a year ago she came to tell me that Pablo asked if he could court her, and I remain as delighted for her today as I was then.  Everyone here at the home is doing what they can to help - some with floral arrangements, others with special presentations with the children, others with meals, etc.

It seemed to fall to me to do something along the lines of the bachelorette category.  So, I gathered all the women here at the mission together for an evening with the bride to be.  I also took her out for a night on the town - i.e. a night of rest and relaxation.  I hope that today is a blessed time for her and her groom and the many guests who have arrived for this special occasion.

One family on staff provided breakfast for the home and guests this morning.

I think because marriage is on the mind, my roommate told me with concern the other day that she's beginning to think God doesn't want her to get married.  A few weeks ago I heard that another single woman said in distress that she felt like God was playing with her.  And one morning in devotions last week a group member shared with us that he's pretty sure marriage is God's greatest gift to us on this earth...

I am not married and have never been, so maybe my point of view is biased, but I don't agree with the man who said marriage is God's greatest gift.  I do think that the church in both the U.S. and Mexico rarely deal healthily with the subject of being single. So, though this is a day when I will be celebrating a wedding with great joy, I would like to share with you a few words I have to say about being single.

First is my response to my roommate's distress over God "not wanting her to get married."  It may seem a little harsh, but I told her I don't think God cared a whole lot about whether we are married or not.  What I mean is that I think He wants us to love Him and love others - whether we're single or married.  I don't believe there is only one path God has set before us in life, I think there are many paths, and what matters is that we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength along the way.

Second is a conversation I had in Walmart recently.  An old friend spotted me, and he was very happy to hear that our friend is getting married.  He also was happy to find out that she and her groom would be staying on staff at the children's home, because sometimes getting married pulls people away from their ministry.  He said that he himself experienced something similar.  He was single well into his adult years, and has found that where he was once able to dedicate himself fully to ministry, he now must think of his young family first.  Whether one is in ministry or not, there can be a blessing of more freedom that comes from being single.

Third is what was said after my friend excitedly said to me after sharing with me her news nearly a year ago.  She told me, "Now we'll pray for God to bring you someone!"   I said thanks, but no thanks.  I reminded her of the repeated warnings in Song of Solomon about not awakening love until it so desires.  It was like a dream haze cleared from her eyes and she said, "You're right, I'm sorry."

She recalled how long it took her to finally trust God enough to give him the control over her marital future, and realized that's what she truly wanted for me as well.  Single or married, to trust in God's timing and not obsess over something He has not brought into my life.

As a friend of mine recently posted on Facebook, "Friends, please stop asking people why they are still single. All the question does is say something is wrong with that person and hurts anyone single within ear shot. Being single is not waiting for marriage and failing if you don't get there. Singleness is just a different life stage - one with just as many joys if you live it fully!"  I agree. :)

33

My birthday!  Though, it doesn't really feel different than any other day.  I think it's always been that way... though maybe it's more so now that I am not with my family or maybe it's just a symptom of growing older.  But there are plans to go out to lunch with friends today, that's very thoughtful of them.

I am 33 today.  I am happily single, but still hooked on romantic movies and novels.  I have been the administrator of this children's home for a month now, but it still feels surreal.  I've had a stress twitch in my arm for a solid year from all the responsibilities - and yet my soul feels light and free.

I am thankful for more things than I could ever write down, but this morning I am feeling particularly thankful for my family and that God has shown me through another year of life.  All glory to His Name.

A crepe restaurant downtown with friends. It was a lovely birthday :)

Peace on earth?

I don't talk politics.  It's something that I informally established in college to keep peace between my roommate and myself.  We were (and still are) great friends, but when conversation would take a turn in the political direction, things would become prickly.  She was skilled in defending her views, while I was just stuck in mine and unable to put together words in the heat of the moment to make anything resembling a convincing argument.

I continue to be hesitant to put in my two-cents worth in any crowd, as I watch people knocking others to the ground in a verbal attacks that, in my estimation, don't win over anyone.  It seems that even among Christians these days we do the opposite of what James suggested in his letter to the tribes of Israel.  Instead, we are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry...

During these divisive times, I've watched Facebook friends from both sides of issues post their points of view.   I don't think any of my friends are aware of how many of their articles I've read.  I tend to not "like" or comment on things, but I follow along and try to gain an understanding of the various views and consider them in light of my experience of this world.

And even when I heartily disagree with some people, I still keep them in my newsfeed.  I am not blind to how Facebook caters to people's likes and dislikes, putting us in bubbles of unawareness as to how the other side lives and thinks.  And right now, both sides are quite extreme, and believing terrible things of one another.

But I read something the other day in my devotional book that I wanted to share with people.  It had to do with the poor, and suffering, and Jesus.  I wasn't sure if anyone would even notice it, but it meant a lot to me, so I put it out there.

"Jesus comes from Nazareth, a town from which folks said nothing good could come. He knew suffering from the moment he entered the world as a baby refugee born in the middle of a genocide. Jesus knew poverty and pain until he was tortured and executed on a Roman cross. This is the Jesus we are called to follow. With his coming we learn that the most dangerous place for Christians to be is in comfort and safety, detached from the suffering of others. Places that are physically safe can be spiritually deadly." ~ Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

To me this was a reminder and a challenge for Christ-followers today, that we need to truly act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with our God. And a very interesting thing happened.  Friends from both political extremes liked and even shared the post.  This I did not expect.  But it made me glad.  Glad that despite political differences, we can still agree on something in Christ.

I wish the church didn't look so much like this world when we disagree politically.  I wish we could somehow truly love our enemies (which is sadly what it seems brothers and sisters in Christ have become to each other in some cases).  I wish we would stand out from this world as people who are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, marked by the love of Christ.

There is a Christmas song that says, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."  I think this is where we need to start.  So often when we talk of what is wrong with the world, we think of how others are failing.  We forget to consider ourselves.  At the risk of sounding corny, I think we must first "be the change we want to see in the world."

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.  Not easy, but necessary.

Christmas cards some kids at school are making in my elective class.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, 

since as members of one body you were called to peace. 

And be thankful. 

~ Colossians 3:15 ~

Double the Photos, Double the Fun

It would seem I have entered into busy times again.  Thankfully my phone keeps complaining that I need to make more space, so I have more snapshots of life to share here.  On previous posts I've tried to limit myself to 10, but this time I went with 20 plus one. Hope you enjoy!

One day I had extra time and decided to check out an alternate route to the airport, in case of blockades.  As it turned out, this practice run fell on a day when there was an actual blockade and I seemed to be one of the very few vehicles that made it to the airport.  I don't know if you can tell, but there are people walking up the road with their suitcases.

Payday line in front of the ATMs, a very common sight at the end of each month.

As we approached the highway, my friend and I tried to figure out what we were seeing go by.  It turned out to be hundreds of motorcycles that were traveling down this stretch of the intercontinental highway.  Thankfully we didn't have to follow them the whole way home, as they turned off early head to one of the villages.  Never found out who they were or what they were doing...

This was a special treat on a beautiful evening.  Elote (pronounced "eh-low-tay) - which is corn on the cob with mayonnaise and crumbled cheese.  It also usually has red sauce and chili powder on it, but I get mine "sin picante" (pronounced "seen pee-kahn-tay") - without anything spicy. :)

Furniture shopping here can mean driving around town and hoping that you spot what you need on the side of the road.  We needed bases for two double mattresses I bought recently.  I drove around on Friday, and nothing.  I looked on Saturday, still nothing.  Thankfully on my final run Sunday there were several options set up in the street for me to choose from.

And there's my purchase resting in the bed of the truck I brought with me.  I expected the cost to be around $1,000 pesos, so when the guy said it was $500, I said "oh, ok..." and pretended to carefully consider it, when I was really thinking "Great! Put it in the truck!"  Prices already go up when people see Americans - I don't think I need to appear too eager ;)

Watching the final historic game of Cubs the World Series with my omelet and orange juice dinner.  Though it was the stuff of Hollywood underdog movies, I just couldn't make myself stay up for the extra inning and rain delay.  But it was definitely fun to watch from Oaxaca.

Oops, there goes the engine light.  Thankfully I can call our mechanic and get his immediate opinion and help.  In this case we later figured out that the pressure in the gas tank wasn't right - if I understand car mechanics Spanish well enough...

Excited to find Snapple, Apple Butter, and A&W, I decided to splurge on my grocery purchases and made this a "treat yourself" day. It's the little things. :)

I was walking with a little girl when she cried out, "Moose!" I thought surely she had said the wrong word, until I looked up to where she was pointing and sure enough, there was a moose! - stuck atop the laundry.

One day, a certain frustration became the straw that broke this camel's back.  Needing to get away, I caught a bus into town and went to a coffee shop where I quietly cried out my issues and calmed down enough to gain perspective and see clearly again. 

This may look like my private jet, but it is not. :)  The United flights from Houston to Oaxaca are on a pretty small airplane - so small that you can make awkward eye-contact with your pilots before boarding the plane. ;)

I'm not sure what condiments McDonald's serves in other countries, but here the ketchup is accompanied with jalapeno sauce :).

Sunday School class.  The kids and I are really enjoying our journey through the parables.  Sometimes the lesson they learn from the parable isn't the answer I would've given, but I suppose that makes it even more special.

These kids can be pretty adorable - here an older little boy helps our youngest boy as he learns how to ride a bike.  They're cute when they're cute ;).

I was amazed at how high the dollar exchange rate was that day, however it turned out that the rate has continued to stay high since November.  From my limited understanding of economics, I'd say this is good for the U.S. and not so good for Mexico.

Evidence of an army of ants working hard overnight to move leaves.  While I don't love ants, I find these little trails pretty precious.  I'm not sure why they just abandon their work in the morning, but I guess when the whistle blows, they're outta there.

In Mexico, unhealthy things tend to be accompanied with a healthy message.  For example a commercial about beer has a subscript suggesting that you live with moderation.  This vending machine at the gas station would like you to exercise. :) 

Anyone else see PacMan in that cloud? 

Prayer walk with the staff around the border of the property.  We try to do this once a month.

I was delighted to find poinsettias growing outside our office in late October.  In Spanish the name for poinsettias is Noche Buena - which also happen to be the same words used to say Christmas Eve :)