Wrong Way

What was I thinking when I decided to drive so soon after arriving? My head was still muddled from the trip and although I tried to remember to stay on the proper side of the road...I ended up turning into the wrong lane. It wasn't until I saw a car heading straight for me that I realized my horrible mistake.

In my attempt to put the car into reverse, my hand accidentally hit the horn. The fellow in front of me must have thought I was blowing the horn at him and it made him mad. As I reversed, he sped up and drove nose to nose with my car. Thankfully I've always done well at backing up, so I was able to swing into a side street. The man stopped his car and stared at me as if I purposely wanted to drive down the wrong side of the road. After what he must have thought was an appropriate amount of staring at me, he revved his engine and sped off.

The whole incident shook me up. How could I have turned into the wrong lane when I kept reminding myself to keep to the proper lane? My brain has gotten used to driving in the US and so although I told myself to switch sides, my brain automatically went to the side it was used to. 

As the day progressed and I drove hither and yon, I realized I no longer needed to think of which lane to be in. It became easier and easier to turn into the correct lane. How fast my brain adjusted to the new rules. 

I pondered on the need for adjustment to new rules. Often we are so programmed with a thought or idea, we simply just keep going down the same groove. Even when a new way or truth is shown to us we insist on going the old way. Often it takes a head on collision to wake us up and make us realize we are heading down the wrong path. When we do figure out the correct direction and continue in it- our thinking changes. 

We have to think about the changes but it is not enough to just think of them. We have to actually start doing things differently. The more we do the right thing our thinking solidifies with the new process. 

Narita- March 15 2011

The normal hustle and bustle of the Narita airport was conspicuously missing. It might have been the lull before the storm. I've read in today's paper that the Narita airport is crowded with people attempting to leave due to the last eruption at a power plant. I must have flown through just as things were dying down from the earthquake and right before they went crazy with the mass exodus.

Now I sit safely in Singapore. How safe is safe? Can we ever be truly assured we are going to stay safe? I watch as people spend money like it is growing on trees. I over hear conversations of ideas for getting more money. I see a bubble ready to burst as it has in so many other countries. Unfortunately, no one will ever believe it can burst until it finally does. Once it has burst there will be those who sit around saying, "I can't believe that just happened." 

Whether it is a financial earthquake or a physical earthquake...a mental hurricane or a physical hurricane...an emotional tsunami or a physical tsunami...they will strike one day....when you least expect. The key is to be prepared. The key is to have back up plans and back up plans for those back up plans...and then parachutes on top of those. However, with all those plans and preparations, there is still no guarantee of survival. The only real hope is found in God. He doesn't promise we won't go through the difficulties, but He does promise to be there with us and never leave us nor forsake us. He alone is our hope!

8.9

The news hit and sent me reeling, an 8.9 earthquake shook Japan. The aftermath of a tsunami is unbelievable. So many people who woke up one day thinking their life would be the same as it was the day before, and with one big shake and one big wave things changed. 

My heart goes out to everyone who has lost loved ones. All my friends in Japan are now struggling with a lack of gas, electricity and even running low on water. How helpless I feel being so far away. I keep praying...and praying...and praying. 

The Japanese are a resilient people. I know they will get through this tragedy; however, my heart breaks for the devastation and the loss they have endured. I will continue to pray.

Kailynn Josephine Ong's first Birthday Poem

When my children were growing up, I attempted to write poems for them occasionally- at birthdays, at graduations, at special occasions. They were sporadically written- not very eloquent- but they held my love for them. Now I have a granddaughter....and I hope I have more grandchildren to follow...I want to make it a tradition that I write each of them a poem on their birthdays.

 So now it begins, with Baby Kailynn turning ONE!!! WOW! Where did the time go??

One day, God decided to make

A special little girl

He tossed in some red hair

Added a little curl

God mixed together some laughter

Gave her a cute little nose,

Adorable fingers and

Adorably, sweet toes

God sprinkled smiles on her

Dusting her with love

He wrapped her tightly

Delivering her from above

God gave her a special mom and dad

They hugged her oh so tight

They rocked her to sleep

Each and every night

God, thank you for baby, Kailynn

Now, this is what I pray

Keep your eyes on her

Every single day

Marching forward

The clock keeps ticking...the seasons keep changing...life keeps going on. Sadness comes wafting past, brushing my shoulder, I keep going forward. Uncertainty threatens to trip me up and yet my feet continue to march onward.

Hurdles stand, one by one, in an attempt to slow me down. Death, sickness, grief, burdens, and troubles loom ahead. I approach them with a steady stride. One leg thrust forward, I am able to leap over each hurdle. If not over, I can always squeeze under or if worse comes to worse I will just push the hurdle down. Nothing must stop me from marching forward.

It is not how I started this race, but how I will finish it which counts. Lord, I want to lay aside every encumbrance which would so easily keep me from finishing the course. I run not for myself, but for You. I leap, not with my own strength, but with Your strength! I will finish this race because You are the author and the finisher of my faith. I will march onward.

Memoirs

My favorite books are biographies or autobiographies. There is much to learn by reading of another person's life. I am often challenged to do more after I finish reading a book about someone's accomplishments. I'm sometimes reminded to be careful of my failings, when I read of someone's failings. Whether good or bad, I am able to learn something.

Yesterday, Millie Redding handed me the manuscript of her memoirs. It will be published soon and she wanted me to read over it in case there might be any suggestions. With appointments looming ahead of me, I figured I would not get to the manuscript for days. 

In the evening, my final appointment was rescheduled and I sat back in my chair feeling the excitement of having two extra hours free. My eye caught sight of the manuscript and I knew what I would be doing for the next couple hours. The words on the pages transported me to countries around the world. 

This was a story which inspired me to want to do more. It was a story which encouraged me to never give up. It was a magnificent story.

I wish more people would record their life's journey.

Snores and more

Snores drift across the room and I feel at peace. My world is back to 'normal' or as normal as it can get. Hubby is nestled in his side of the bed and I sit here getting ready to head to my side of the bed.

Both my sisters are gone. My friend from Japan and her husband and daughter and son are gone. The house is unusually quiet...except for the snores. 

The calendar in front of me taunts me with its little boxes.  Each date calls out, "We are filling up fast with all sorts of appointments and schedules and things to do" 
"Hurry, carve out some time or else there will be none left for you" "August and October will be here before you know it and both your darling daughters will be married"
I simply sigh. My foot bumps the box at my feet. I will not open it tonight. It is stuffed full of the 'nitty gritty' things I have pushed aside while my sisters were here. I will attend to those things tomorrow, in between all the scribbled appointments on my calendar.  It is too much to think of tonight.


For now I will listen to the snores and mumbled what dear Scarlett said. "I can't think about that right now. If I do, I'll go crazy. I'll think about that tomorrow."