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

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.

The in-between-ness of Advent

This year, the hope of Advent is holding particular meaning for me because I am waiting for something, aching for something for one of our children. It has been intense and really hard at times. But thanks to the wonderful Jesus community here, I have had lots of people point me towards hope and encourage me in the waiting. I wrote this poem recently and thought I would share it with you all.

There is a dawning between the darkness and the light

and that is where I am

Sometimes falling back into the dark

Sometimes leaning towards the light

But in the dawnlight nevertheless

It is dim but it is coming

I see it and I know

I will not be consumed by the darkness.

Photo credit Ned McNair, Hilton Head, North Carolina

There is a sprouting between the dry ground and the verdant pasture

and that is where I am

Small shoots, vulnerable and fragile

but a sprouting nevertheless

Tender unfurling of new growth

Becoming, emerging

 I feel it and I know

We are not yet what we will be.

Tropical ferns unfurling, Chiangmai, Thailand

There is an in-pouring between the emptiness and the fullness

and that is where I am

A slow drip, sometimes hardly noticeable

But a pouring in nevertheless

A puddle is made from tiny drops

An ocean is made from tiny puddles

I hear the raindrops and I know. 

Streams will flow in this desert. 

Rainy season droplets, Chiangmai, Thailand

There is a restoring between the brokenness and the wholeness

and that is where I am

Not overnight, not on my timeline perhaps

but a restoring nevertheless

I cling to the dream of shalom, 
peace, wholeness, harmony

And then I glimpse it when I least expect it

It surprises me but I should know by now

My brokenness is where he works best.

It's messy here in the in-between

Things are not yet as they will be

We wait, we hope, we groan with creation

How long, O Lord?

But we are not consumed

Beauty is coming from these ashes

Dawn is coming

He is coming

He is making all things new.

I pray this will be an encouragement to any of you who are also hoping for something this advent.

"But hope that is seen is no hope at all.

Who hopes for what they already have?

But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently."

Romans 8:24-25

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

Upside-down Values

Our family has faced a few challenging situations recently - personally, professionally and socially. They were minor issues in the big picture of things but they caused a fair amount of turmoil and soul-searching. I won't go into details here but it has left me reflecting on the values by which we judge ourselves, and if we're honest, by which we judge others too.

Back in India, during a season of similar struggles, I wrote the following poem/prayer for our home church fellowship there. I have come back to it often as I have wrestled to see myself and my family according to God's values and not those of the world around me. 

I share it here because I know I'm not the only one wrestling. I share it because there are too many voices saying the opposite. And I share it because sometimes it is important to name the lie in order to more fully grasp the truth.

The Upside-down Kingdom

The world says, "Blessed are the strong and powerful, for they can get what they want."
Jesus says, "Blessed are the weak for my power is made perfect in weakness."  (2 Cor 12:9-10)

The world says, "Blessed are you when life is easy and you have everything you need, for that is where happiness is to be found."
Jesus says, "Blessed are you when you suffer, for suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Rom 5:3-4, 2 Cor 4:16-18)

Sumitra, weaver, JOYN India

The world says, "Blessed are you, when people speak highly of you, for everyone will know of your good reputation." 
Jesus says, "Blessed are you when you are insulted, misunderstood and persecuted, for great will be your reward in heaven."  (Matt 5:11-12)

The world says, "Blessed are the knowledgeable and educated for they will go far in this life."
Jesus says, "Blessed are those who qualify in kingdom wisdom, for God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise." (I Cor 1:27-29; 1 Cor 2:6-16)

Kids' club, Casa Victoria, Ecuador

The world says, "Blessed are those who live a good life, for God will use them."
Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have messed up and know his grace, for he who has been forgiven much, loves much."  (1 Tim 1:15-16; Luke 7:44-48)

The world says, "Blessed are the healthy and strong, for they can win races and achieve success."
Jesus says, "Blessed are the feeble and weak-kneed, for God has chosen them to show his all-surpassing power and glory."  (2 Cor 4:1-12)

Mr. Sudkaet, wood carver, Thai Village

We live in a world that craves power and riches.
Father forgive us when we conform more to the ways of this world and help us to choose your path of humility and service. (Phil 2:1-11, Matt 20:28)

We live in a world that sees only the visible and judges on the outside.
Father forgive us when we see only with our physical eyes
and help us to see the invisible work of your kingdom around us.  (2 Cor 4:18)

We live in a world that is temporary and will wither and die.
Father forgive us when we are so ingrained in this world that we live as if this is all there is and help us to invest in your Kingdom that will last forever.  (Matt 6:19-21)

Amen

(Thanks to Casa Victoria, Ecuador, JOYN LLC, India, and Thai Village Inc., Thailand for the pictures in this post and for many inspiring examples of these truths.)