Made for my Pleasure

A few weeks ago, a friend invited me to participate in an "open mic night". It was an opportunity for all of us to share something we had created, such as music, a poem or art and receive feedback and affirmation from the group. It got me thinking how so much of what God has created is still yet to be known or appreciated - thousands of undescribed species, breathtaking beauty in isolated corners of the world and under the ocean which we have yet to behold. 

I was reminded of the truth of Gen 1:31: "And God looked at everything he had made and he was very pleased." This poem was inspired by that truth and by the many moths I have been discovering and enjoying lately. 

While you sleep, my art is on display

Obscured by the darkness, yet not to me

I behold my handiwork

As a painter admires his masterpiece

Tatargina Picta, Maetang, Thailand

My creation, my delight

Eyes that pierce

Perfect symmetry

Made for my pleasure.

Corymica immaculata, Doi Pui, Thailand (ID Roger Kendrick)

On the forest floor, I see them
Hidden in the leaf bed, yet not from me
Some made to blend in, some to shine
All unique by my design

Auzeinae, Doi Suthep, Thailand (ID Shen-Horn Yen), edited

My creation, my delight
Regal elegance
Subtle lines
Made for my pleasure.

Clara's Swallowtailed Moth (Ourapteryx clara), Doi Pui, Thailand

In the moonlight, colours are subdued
Their glory is dimmed, yet not from me
I see their shades in the darkness
My brush knows those stains

Comostola laesaria, Doi Suthep, Thailand

My creation, my delight
Shimmering glory
Hues of heaven
Made for my pleasure.

Milionia basalis, Doi Suthep, Thailand

Infinite designs of extraordinary invention
Strange and alien-like, yet not to me
There is no end to my ideas or imagination
For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Green rippled hawkmoth (Eupanacra busiris), Doi Pui, Thailand (ID James Holden)

My creation, my delight
Blended colours
Contorted shapes
Made for my pleasure.

Terastia egialealis, Doi Pui, Thailand (ID Yasunori Kishida)

In the morning, dawn will find them
For a brief moment, they will be yours to see
The sun will meet their mirrored wings
And I will share my creatures with you

Westermannia elliptica, Doi Pui, Thailand (ID Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang)

My creation, my delight
Fragile grace
Reflecting my glory
Made for my pleasure
And perhaps for yours too if you will only stop and see . . . . .
 

Pycnarmon c.f. aeriferalis, Doi Pui, Thailand

Consider the nymphs

I have been inspired a lot by nature recently. Those of you who use facebook may have seen some of my bug pictures! The truth is, I find God often brings insights to me through observing the ways of the natural world. There is so much truth to be gleaned from his creation about his ways, his character and his purposes and often I really need the help of a physical metaphor to help me understand.

This has happened recently with regard to some hard things one of our kids has been going through. It's not been easy for them and not easy for me to watch either. But God has been reminding me of his purposes through observing the lives of the insect nymphs I've been finding in the bushes. 

Grasshopper nymph in our back garden, Chiangmai

Did you know that grasshoppers typically molt about 5 times in their growth from nymph to adulthood? Each transformation involves the shedding of their protective exoskeleton and a temporary vulnerability as the new skin grows and hardens around them. The same is true for dragonflies (and many other insects) who molt up to 12 times and only grow their glorious wings after their very last molting.

Molted grasshopper exoskeleton, Doi Suthep

It has greatly encouraged me to reflect on these creatures as a picture for my kids and for myself. I like the idea that the exposed uncomfortable stage gives room for further growth. I see wisdom in how sometimes old skin just needs to be shed completely so that the new skin can be put on freely without the influence of the old lines and curves.

“You were taught . .  to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Eph 4: 22-24

I’m not sure whether insects feel fear and emotion as we do, but I can imagine that molting isn’t a particularly fun experience! No doubt, instinct tells the nymphs to hide and find a safe place as they lose the protection and security of their outer skin. I read recently that many insects don’t eat and have faltered breathing during their molting which usually takes between 8 and 10 hours. There’s nothing I can think of that is more vulnerable than losing your whole outer layer but in His wisdom, God ordained that this would be their path to maturity and finally the freedom of fully formed wings!

Spotted Grasshopper nymph with wings still not fully formed, Doi Suthep

I’m grateful for the lessons from the nymphs in this season of parenting and life. I wait in hope for the growth and transformation that comes through the hard and vulnerable times. It helps to reflect on God’s bigger purposes as I watch the struggles in my kids and I’m reminded that my job is not to intervene and stop the process but just to provide a safe place where the new skin can form and harden.

I am also aware that in this parable, we are all still juvenile nymphs struggling through seasons of uncomfortable change. My kids will not be free of exposed vulnerable times when they hit adulthood and I am not there yet either. I can look back and recognize seasons of intense upheaval, confusion and vulnerability in my own life and with the gift of hindsight, I can see some of the new skin that I put on in those times. There will no doubt be more to come too and I hope that then I will remember the nymphs and be able to hold on for the ride. Ultimately our final new skin is coming one day, and the "wings" will be even more glorious than the grasshopper's or the dragonfly's!

Scarlet skimmer dragonfly, wings in the sun, Sri Lanna National Park

Iceberg

We watched "Titanic" as a family last weekend. I wasn't prepared for how uncannily similar it would feel to what we are living right now and what I see being played out in vulnerable communities in Thailand, India and around the world. It inspired me to write this poem/prayer for increased awareness in these crazy times. 

This is not to belittle the challenges of self-isolation or the terrible sickness and loss in each one's own land. Or to make any of us feel guilty for having a stocked fridge and comfortable home as we sit out the social isolation. Rather, it is to help us gain perspective and grow in compassion and action as we see how this terrible iceberg impacts our brothers and sisters in our global community. 

Iceberg:

Here we sit in our lifeboats

A haven of safety on arctic seas

The iceberg hit and our plans were dashed

Fear overwhelms us for the future

Who knows for how long we will float?

Who knows for how long we will wait for rescue?

We huddle

We pray

We wait

We check our provisions

We encourage each other in the waiting

We sing to keep our spirits up

How long O Lord?

But have we seen those bobbing in the icy seas?

Their cries vanish in the vastness of the ocean

Our system was inadequate

There were not enough boats

Who knows how many will survive?

Who knows if rescue will come in time?

They cry out

They thrash

They cling to scraps of wood

They lose hope

Their strength is fading

Some have already gone under

How long O Lord?

O send our lifeboats back, O Lord

Extend your hand through us before it’s too late

Help us to see them

Through the mist of our own fear and anxiety

And forgive us O Lord

For building a cruise ship with not enough lifeboats

For the arrogance of thinking that our ship would not sink

For disregarding the plight of those in lower decks

Forgive us and make us whole again

Have mercy, O Lord.

It is not too late to turn around
Unlike the Titanic, our lifeboat will not tip if we go back in
We hear the cry and will not stay silent
We see the suffering and will not sit back
Use us O Lord
To reach out in love and compassion
To pull them from the icy seas
To cover them with our blankets
And to build from the wreckage a new ship
Where justice and compassion reign
And where there are enough boats for all.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.

Christmas newsletter 2019

So it's been 5 months since my last post! I normally prefer to write meaningful stories on here but since I appear to have succumbed to the writer's disease of starting off strong and then dropping off, I think I will unashamedly make this post a Christmas newsletter for 2019.

There have been quite a lot of changes since I last wrote. The biggest was probably taking Sam out of school in August to homeschool him this year and also getting a rescue dog, Theo. Both have been really positive changes for our family. 

Below is one of my favourite pictures from the beginning of this fall semester. We do lots of work honestly, but the slower schedule allows time for window gazing too. Organizing Sam's work has been a bit of an adjustment for me with my Thai Village work schedule but we are figuring out a rhythm that works for us. Sam also gets to participate in a homeschool co-op one week a month which has been a great fit for him. We are so grateful for the flexibility to be able to adjust to what works best for our kids.

Tyler, Rhiana and Liam continue at school and benefit from the diverse community there, the new renovated campus this year and all the many wonderful activities, friends and colleagues.

In the summer, we got to make our first trip to the US in four years. The hardest thing about a life overseas is time away from family and dear friends but it makes it all the more precious when you get to be together. The kids had a blast with cousins and grandparents in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Cape May, New Jersey and I also got to reconnect with dear friends during short trips to Chico, California and Nashville, Tennessee. We ate as many fresh berries as we could, overdosed on burgers and crammed in classic American experiences including amusement parks, 4th July fireworks, a day at the ball game, fishing and camping, Maryland crabs and even a quick trip to New York.

Boys' first baseball game at Camden Yards

Fishing with cousins in the creek just outside Sykesville, MD

All the goofy cousins with Grandad

If you're interested in a crazy travel story, ask me some time about how our flight from Chiangmai to Baltimore took us 72 hours via Guangzhou, China. It was our most epic travel delay yet and we hope not to repeat it any time soon.

It has been a good year for family connections as we've also had visits from almost all my family in the UK. My Mum was here in February and then my sister Debbie and family in October, followed by my sister, Janet here in December. So amazing . . . . and we never take these visits for granted. 

With Janet at Wat Umong

With Debbie's family in our driveway

Grandma celebrating with Rhiana in Singapore after she was invited to the regional competitions there for National History Day

After all these visits, there was only one sister Ele who I hadn't seen, and thankfully I got to remedy that during my annual Thai Village trip to the UK in November. Well, I say annual as I hope it will be, but this has only been my second year so far. Many stories to tell from this trip and a post will be coming about that soon. Thank you to all those who hosted me and helped us provide a growing market for Thai Village products, building longterm sustainability for struggling families here. Job creation is such a powerful tool in the fight against poverty and I continue to feel passionate about serving in this field.

Some of our Thai Village artisans on a home visit with one of our woodworkers

On the family and kids front, we are grateful for health and life and opportunities to pursue our passions which I will refrain from listing here! We have seen God's hand of provision in big ways this year and in many daily answers to prayer. We are trusting Him for the pieces yet to be fulfilled and grateful for all the ways that we see Him in the daily grind and in the world and people around us.

In lieu of Christmas cards this year, we want to wish all our family and friends a very Happy Christmas and exciting adventures in the new decade! We would love to hear from you too and welcome any Christmas news or emails at cherylstinchcomb@gmail.com or quick messages in response to this post.

Thank you for reading and Happy Christmas from the Stinchcombs!

Happy New Year 2020!