Contentment again

I just listened to another sermon on contentment. It was very "American". I really hate it when people say, "Look at what you have. You are blessed." Yes, we have food, clothing and a place to live. I know I am blessed. But it is not the things that I have that let me know I am blessed, it is knowing that God loves me and cares for me.

Anyway, I understand that the preacher is trying to help people to be thankful for what they have so that they will quit coveting what others have. Like I said before, I don't find myself coveting things, but I do covet what other people have. Like their position, their importance, their life. And that is why I want to learn about contentment. So I look at what I have and realize that I have a good life. That doesn't stop me from coveting. But when I can see God in what I have and see my life through His eyes, then I'm content.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.

Sometimes I want to flatten a tire

Yesterday we went to our friends' house to celebrate Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful meal together with another couple too. Your regular Thanksgiving food. We had parked close to their apartment since we had a lot of things to carry. I had wondered if our parking wasn't the best, but it looked like people could still get around. Apparently, I was wrong. Steve went outside to skateboard with the kids and some of the neighbors gave him a hard time for his parking job. So he moved the car.

We left our friends' house around 9PM to make the drive home. But as we walked up to the car I noticed that we had a flat tire. Then I noticed a note on the windshield. The note was complaining about the parking job and they used some bad words to let us know what they thought about it. So we immediately suspected that the same person probably let the air out of our tire. It was completely flat. Too bad. Steve had to change the tire while Micah and I went back in to wait at our friends' place.

I told our friend what happened and he went out to talk to the guard. Not that it will do any good, but I guess that is what you are suppose to do.

It is funny how when something like this happens that I get the urge for revenge. If I knew which car was the bad guy's car I would have been tempted to let the air out of their tire. Or scratch it with my keys. I wonder if it would really make me feel better. I wonder if the person who did it feels any better after writing the hate note.

In the end, we went home in bad moods. Why do we let things like this get to us? We had a great time with friends and had spent many hours with them that day, so why is it that it can all get ruined with a note and a flat tire.

Eid Mubarak

What is Eid al-Adha

At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In 2009, Eid al-Adha will begin on approximately November 27th, and will last for three days.

What does Eid al-Adha commemorate?

During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham. The Qur'an describes Abraham as follows:

"Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121)

One of Abraham's main trials was to face the command of Allah to kill his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's will. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superceded all others, that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God.

Why do Muslims sacrifice an animal on this day?

During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.

Allah has given us power over animals and allowed us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life. Muslims slaughter animals in the same way throughout the year. By saying the name of Allah at the time of slaughter, we are reminded that life is sacred.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations: "It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him." (Qur'an 22:37)

The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who submits his or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to follow Allah's commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us.

What else do Muslims do to celebrate the holiday?

On the first morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends, and the exchange of greetings and gifts. At some point, members of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal. The meat is distributed during the days of the holiday or shortly thereafter.

Avoiding the Blues

I just finished listening to a great sermon on contentment called, "Avoiding the Blues". I have a goal to learn to be content. One of the ways I hope to achieve that goal is to learn more about contentment through studying scripture and listening to sermons. This sermon was mostly about being content with what we have, but it also touched on some of my issues of trusting that God's plan is best.

http://www.sermoncloud.com/sermons-about-contentment/?page=1

As I listened to the sermon I knitted a stocking cap. I am back to making hats as a winter hobby. This one turned out real nice.

One of the issues that comes up often at Christmas time at church is the whole Advent Conspiracy. The way I understand it is that we are suppose to give less to ourselves and our loved ones and give more to those in need. In theory this is a great idea and I would fully support it. But in practice, I think it is lame. What "we" end up doing is buying some toys for kids who come from a poor family. We give clothes and food too. But basically, how I see it, is that we are giving and teaching them to expect the kind of Christmas that we are learning to give up. All about the things. I understand that it is nice to give toys to kids. But seriously, have you seen how many toys even poor kids in America have? And then what really gets me is that next year, if they don't get chosen as a recipient of our kindness, their parents will give them what they can afford and their Christmas will be a disappointment because the one before they got some cool toys.

So in this sermon the pastor ends with talking about different opportunities to give. One is the shoebox ministry with Samaritans Purse that gives kids a shoebox full of useful items and a little book about the Gospel. I am a little more open to this idea, but even this is hard for me. In a poor society, each child does not need a box of crayons. One box is used for lots of kids. We don't need to be sending over a bunch of crap we get at the Dollar Store that will break in a week either. Again we are teaching them to want material possessions. Which reminds me of the movie "The God's Must Be Crazy". I am more than happy to give money to buy food for people or to help meet their other needs.

Then I started thinking about churches. This has really made me critical in the last few years, but when churches need to raise a bunch of money for their new building projects it goes totally against the teaching on contentment. Sure, there needs to be nice places for "seekers" to go that would attract them to church, but really, how important is the place we meet? Or like at my church, we have pastries and coffee provided after the service. Who needs those anyway? If you can't go without eating for a few hours then pack a snack. Think of all the money we use at church to make it comfortable. Wouldn't it be better to use that money to buy food for someone truly in need? And isn't that what God tells us to do anyway, to take care of widows and orphans?

So back to the sermon. I appreciated the pastor's teaching and it really made me think. I hope it also will teach me to learn contentment.

Disappointing Shower

I hadn't taken a shower for two days, so this morning after aerobics, I was really looking forward to getting clean. Our shower is a little different than American showers. We have a hot water heater in the bathroom that comes out of one tap. Then there is water that comes from the kitchen hot water heater that comes out of another tap. And a third tap has the city water, which is cold. The city water is not usually very strong. And usually the kitchen water heater is not on so it is cold. So usually I use the bathroom hot water, mixed with the kitchen cold water. It makes good water pressure that can rinse the shampoo out of my hair quite well.

I'm sure you can guess where this story is going, but here it is anyway. Today the bathroom hot water was very hot because we had the hot water heater on. Now when I say "very hot" I mean VERY HOT. It will burn you and not just on the sensitive areas. You HAVE TO have cold water to mix with it. Unfortunately the kitchen hot water heater was on for the dishes being washed. But it takes a few minutes for the water to get through the pipes, so at first it was cold. That lasted long enough for me to get shampoo in my hair. When I was going to rinse my hair, the water quickly turned to boiling, red hot water. So I quickly turned the water off. I tried to turn some cold, city water on, but it only was a trickle. There was no mixing possible. So instead I had to choose between third degree burns on my head or the trickle. I chose the trickle and rinsed my hair as best I could.

I'm thankful for hot water. For instance, last night we needed to fill a hot water bottle and we didn't even need to boil water to get it hot. Actually, I guess that is the only time that I can think of when the boiling hot tap water has come in handy. But I am thankful for water and the ability to heat it for my shower.

Beggars and me

In Delhi there are a lot of beggars and very poor people. The other day, two ladies came to the door to ask for money because someone was getting married. I said "no." They then asked for clothes and food. I still said "no." And yesterday there was a man outside on the street who was wailing loudly as a way to show he was in need. I didn't go out.

I posted a comment on Facebook about the guy outside crying and wasn't surprised to get a response about how I should go out and help him. I ask myself that. I play the scenarios through in my head. Whatever I give isn't enough. He will still continue to beg and have barely enough to live on. Beggars and the poor are all around me. Whenever we drive the streets of Delhi we see them on the street or side of the road. Skinny women and children holding small babies with an empty bottle, asking for money for milk. But they aren't buying milk. It is just a tactic to get money. Or a father holding a small, sickly child with a prescription from a doctor. He is asking for money to buy medicine for the child, so he says.

God hasn't given me the power to heal anyone yet. I would love it if he would. I give clothes to people, sometimes food and money too. But it is never enough. There are always more people and more needs. It is overwhelming. Sometimes I have to turn the other way. Sometimes I have a smile to give and nothing else. But what does that do?

I know I have a lot of material possessions and money. I have never gone hungry more than one meal. But am I blessed more than them?

Bathroom cleaning

Bathrooms are cleaned differently here than I cleaned them in the US. I just used our bathroom after our house help lady cleaned it. The toilet seat was splashed with water. That reminded me how things are done here. Or at least how she does it.

To clean the bathroom, first she splashed the blue cleaner all around the walls and in the toilet. I don't think any scrubbing is done on the shower, but the toilet bowl will be brushed. I know she doesn't take any rags or brushes besides the toilet brush in with her. Hmmmm, so what is she washing the sink with? Anyway, then the hose on the wall is used to spray it all down. Ta da! All done.

When I was into cleaning my own home, I would bring a rag or scrub brush into the bathroom with me. I would wipe the cleaner around and use the brush to wash the tub and sink. I would use a rag to wash the toilet seat and around the edges.

Now that I think about it all, I sure don't want to drop my toothbrush in the sink.

Matron

I had the honor of being the matron of honor in a wedding this weekend. Jessica and Cyril got married on Saturday. I spent the day with Jessica and her mom. We had our nails and hair done. I also had my eyebrows threaded, which today a lady told me that they were done wrong. We then went flower shopping and found some beautiful pink flowers.

On the way to the wedding we had extra time, so Jessica wanted to stop at India Gate for some pictures. We rushed over to the monument and took some pictures. A crowd quickly gathered and she probably had 20 strangers take her picture. Then we went to the wedding.

The wedding was outside, under a tent. It was perfect weather for a wedding in India. The tent was pink so it went great with the flowers. And the cake was lovely. Jessica and Cyril looked so precious. I got to see Cyril's expression when she walked down the aisle. I heard him say, "Wow!"

The only bad part of the wedding was when the matron of honor had to give a speech. It sounded so stupid. But I doubt anyone will remember that when they think of the wedding. Here are some pictures to enjoy.