~Life in a Building X or Y~

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

John 14:18

A large building with many windows and a grand playground in the back has for many years faced a small kindergarten across the street. Apart from their size, these two buildings had something far greater separating them. Behind the windows of the larger building wide eyes full of sadness, despair, and disappointment were peeking out. On the other side, spectators in the little building, out of their sheer curiosity, playfulness and laughter, would look outside just to check if the sun was setting down.

Although these two structures were sitting on the same street, they were two totally separate worlds. But both of those worlds held little kids, who played the same games, laughed at the same jokes, loved chocolate with the same spark in their eyes and made the same faces at “eat your green vegetables.” Most importantly there was a game, there was a joyous clamor. Didn’t you know that all the kids in this world are alike?

The structure with the view of kindergarten looks like a school. Only in this building kids are not taught math, history or geography, but to be their own parent. I think you already got the clue that the facility I'm talking about is an orphanage. This building holds kids who posses clothes, toys and rooms that are not their own. These things are not all that important, for what they miss to call their own is a parent and nothing more. And as you know orphans must share everything among themselves like brothers and sisters. So they share rooms, TVs, toys and food. Yet to share a care giver is the toughest one of all.
Children noticed there was some strange ritual - parents would come to the kindergarten, leave the little ones there and come again to take them back. But at the building across the street, “parents” would leave their kids and unfortunately forget they left them there. Although, these “parents” would not come back, orphans would have a great hope that mommy and daddy would remember to pick them up eventually. Well, their “parents” in comparison to other ones were just a little forgetful. Really, it was very confusing to remember in which building they left their kids - kindergarten or orphanage. Perhaps they are looking for their kids across the street right now and can't find them. So this is how “forgetful parents” lost their kids, only because they could not remember to look for them in the right building. Therefore, forgotten kids would look out the window at kindergarten, when the wall clock showed the little hand on four and the big hand on twelve, because that was the time when all the parents would come to find their kids.

So one lovely afternoon, while kids stood at the window waiting to see if someone was coming to get them, a blue eyed girl with tiny freckles on her nose and sunset color hair, exclaimed: "There's my mommy!" Then she sadly asked: "But why is my mommy holding that little girl? … Maybe she thinks it's me?" She looked outside for awhile, and then cried out: "Mommy, I'm here!"

But the little girl could not really know how her mom looked because she came to the orphanage when she was six months old. Still, she ran to her care giver jumping up and down, shouting: "I got a sister! I got a sister!”

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

James 1:27

A Sweet Tooth for Onions

“The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!" Numbers 11:4-6

I’ve never tasted the food of angels known as manna, though I wonder if angels eat onions. Often times when I’m upset or tired I find myself craving for good food and I feel like one of those Israelites who had undergone the exodus from Egypt. When hunger knocks at my belly I just don’t want to talk to people until I have that bite. Moreover there is only one thing that puts me at ease better than any other. Before I continue, I am sorry if I offended any of you who personally or professionally know me. Truth can’t be buried forever, even walls have ears (or nose). Thus dear reader, I have to make a confession: I am an addict. Admitting it is the first step, they say. I call my habit “appetitus bulbus”*, or some sort of addiction to crunching sweet onions. Not chips, but raw onions! How can I resist onions, when they have such a firm texture with layers of spicy nectar that opens up my appetite and can accompany almost any dish? Besides onions are low in pesticides, they are a good source of vitamin B and C, and are known for their health benefits (lowering bad cholesterol, preventing cancer and inflammatory reactions). Onion a day keeps the doctor away (and not just the doctor). I must admit I love garlic too, but I learned that my husband suffers from insomnia whenever I eat that. This is how I earned the nickname “Lukic”** whose author is none other but my own husband. A great deal of chewing gum, mouth wash and toothpaste could not erase this begotten name. Now I am stuck with it until death do us part. There is one thing that concerns me: when I get to heaven I hope they serve manna with onions.

“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?” John 3:12

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*My own pun derived from Latin words: bulbus -i m. [an onion], and appetitus -us m. [longing , appetite]
**Bosnian word “lukic” means “little onion”.

Storms Don't Last

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
       and he brought them out of their distress.

He stilled the storm to a whisper;

       the waves of the sea were hushed.

 They were glad when it grew calm,
       and he guided them to their desired haven.

 Psalm 107:28-30

Today storms moved through northern Illinois. Everyone knew about the storm coming up, because the National Weather service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 7 p.m. for all of the Chicago area.
At first the skies were dark, then wind came sweeping down, and at the end heavy rain lingered awhile. It lasted only for approximately 5-10 minutes, and moved on to other areas.
Storms come up suddenly and usually don't last long. 

Some neighborhoods are out of power due to severe storm, and our home belongs to one of them.
It is Friday so our fridge has little food left. I am glad we have only shrimps and chicken to throw away.

When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2-3

<< nOt sO cOmPLicAteD >>

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." Exodus 20:20

I have friends with all kinds of problems. Mostly they are dealing with family or relationship issues. Sometimes I don't understand what is the purpose of inflicting pain on others and yourself, and why one continues to do so even after the lesson is learned. When my friends come to me with their stories I give them a peaceful look and a listening ear. But I wonder if they can see outside their consuming situation that's placing them into uncomfortable bondage. And bondage is exactly what they feel. Notice the hidden meaning of this word! Two words are synthesized into one: Bond + Age. It means that one develops a certain bond throughout a certain time, and in the outcome one creates strong attachment towards someone/thing in years that have gone by, and develops good or bad bondage in the years to come. If one is in a bad bondage he seeks solution. Fortunately, to every hurtful situation there is a solution. First I need to point out that the solution is not so complicated compared to the messed up situation. Actually, the solution is always simple and never complicated. So, what is the cure to our broken hearts? Why do we feel the way we do? How do we hold our sanity in place? Who do we call for help? How did we get into this mess? Why does no one understand me? 
Questions are piling up. 

The closest solution to a messy situation is an inner voice.  During our life quest this voice tells us not to go to a bizarre places and simply stay away from unusual friends. Different people call it different names, but this "little voice" I call the fear of God. I believe everybody has one, and even if one denounces God it's hard to denounce your own creation. My experience proved countless times that if I obey this voice I have peace. If for some reason I have no peace I become either agitated, anxious or restless. But when I listen to the fear of God, then I have peace. This peace and the fear of God go hand in hand. One without another cannot coexist. You cannot have a true peace without the fear of God. If peace is only achieved when intoxicated, then the fear of God is silent too. So next time you feel funky about making a new move, please don't panic and rush things up. Instead stay calm and listen to your inner voice. You just might hear more than your inner voice.

"All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done." Psalm 64:9

May I HaveThis Dance?

     

Then maidens will dance and be glad,

       young men and old as well.
       I will turn their mourning into gladness;
       I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. 

Jeremiah 31:13

 Dancing is like an inside-out of inward freedom. Sometimes I feel dancing is not from this world, because of its divine radiance and trance, complete absorption of self, and oneness in time and space. I love to watch people dance. 

Few days ago I met one charming couple who attend a local dancing class. I expressed my wish to see them in action, and right away they asked if I could look up a song Oye Como Va by Santana online. As I watched them dance I felt a feather-like tenderness was passing over my face. It was such a delight to watch them sway in an accord with the music and move as if they were one. I was amazed they were willing to dance just for me and share their exhausting moves (plus we just met). It was the best gift anyone gave me that day.

When in a public place most have an excuse not to dance -- usually men have an excuse or two. If men only knew that dancing is the most beautiful gift, they would certainly do it over buying flowers and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.
 Remember how fun it was to spin around when you were a kid! Adults would clap and praise your little dance, because your wobbly moves were so adorable. Your dance was a gift to them.

Next time when someone asks you: "May I have this dance?"
Recall that dancing is...

•  expression of love and joy
• excellent exercise and stress relief
•  fun that keeps you young
• leap into transcendent
• work of art and a gift to the loved one/One

...and please say: "YES!"

****

      I will build you up again

       and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.
       Again you will take up your tambourines
       and go out to dance with the joyful.

Jeremiah 31:4

~Memorial Day -- Pray for Bosnia~

Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—

and they have no comforter;

power was on the side of their oppressors—

and they have no comforter.

And I declared that the dead,

who had already died,

are happier than the living,

who are still alive.

But better than both

is he who has not yet been,
who has not seen the evil

that is done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

~To Steer Clear of Potholes~

"Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before." Mark 2:21

“Watch for the potholes” my husband instructs me. Well, I seem pretty good at not missing any. Maybe I don’t follow instructions so well, because our little road trip is enhanced by the weather: temperature of 84F and 70% humidity in the air. Not having air-conditioning in the car means that we need constant movement on the road in order to benefit from the open windows. But there is road construction ahead of us and quite a few signs in our neighborhood warning us to expect delays. Wouldn’t you know this is the time of the year when road constructions take place in Chicagoland?

Every time I see a pothole I think of Mark 2:21. Road cracks and gaps have to be patched, but how can the new material work along with the old one? Every year road construction takes place around same time across many major roads, because old potholes plus new ones appear on the surface of roadways after winter has taken its toll on the pavement. Construction workers, interrupted by the flow of traffic, labor in the heat while wearing boots and heavy garments, for what they really deserve some credit. However, it is my conviction that patching potholes might be the quickest but not always the cheapest solution. The problem is merely covered up -- not solved. Patching potholes until they "shrink and rip away" once again leaves the road no different than its original state.
The only permanent solution is to entirely remove the old roads and start the new ones using a material that can sustain continuous change of weather and weight of vehicles.

My analogy here is to show that life for Christ is like a new road with a foundation that endures. Basically one needs to be "born again" without going down the old road. Completeness instead of patches, resolution instead of scraps! Take the example of Jesus. He was insulted, flogged, crowned with thorns, and spat upon, stripped of his clothes, nailed to a cross, and "refreshed" with vinegar. Those would be merely "patches" of Jesus life, if that was a "dead end" right there. What separates Jesus from any other god is His death and resurrection in newness of life. Jesus finished our road for us, so we don't have to die but have an everlasting life with Him. The amazing thing about everlasting life is that it will be with Him. Now, what Jesus wants from me is not "a patched up life" but a whole new creation, so at His table I can be clothed with righteousness and not some rags.

***

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it." Isaiah 35:8

John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' John 1:23