Thoughts on Life and Living
I woke up this morning to the reality that this is my twelfth Thanksgiving spent in Asia. My 12th!
There is obviously no recognized holiday over here for this day, but generally folks allow foreigners to take off on their specific holidays. Today is such a day for us ex-patriot Americans here in Asia.
I know it is a little cliché, but I could think of nothing better this morning than to simply type out some of the things I am thankful for on this day. [Read more…]
Maybe it is the rapid pace I have kept the past few months.
Maybe it is the culmination of various stresses and pains which seem to be swimming around me.
Maybe it’s just life and this is the way it is. [Read more…]
As I sit here in this Asian coffee house very far from home on this July 4th week, memories and thoughts on this holiday are flooding over me. [Read more…]
This journey of writing about singleness continues. . .
When is the last time you read something with a title like, “The blessings and joy of singleness”?!?!?!
Much has been written about the pains and problems of being single. It’s everywhere in the media. Many TV shows, if you think about it, have either primary or secondary themes of singles on the never ending pursuit of finding their purpose and meaning in life, i.e. their spouse. Singleness is portrayed as a necessary evil, a holding pattern, until life FINALLY begins at the marriage alter (or at least at the “happily committed in a stable relationship” stage). You find your partner, ride off into the sunset of contented, relational bliss, and. . . roll the credits.
However, there are great aspects of being single. There really are! I promise. For those of us who are Christians, the Bible is clear that there is great purpose, and even in some cases preference, in remaining single.
The main text in the Bible on this subject is 1 Corinthians 7:32-34.
The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
Paul talks clearly here about the advantages of being single. His main point is that in not having “divided interests” we are free to simply think about Christ and the values of His kingdom. I know this is a difficult perspective to maintain in the midst of the trials of singleness, but it is true.
Along these lines, here are some of the reasons I am content in, and even grateful for, my singleness.
Living overseas, it’s easy to focus on what you are missing during Christmas, particularly not being at home with family and friends. However, here are a few things I am THANKFUL for here in Asia during this most significant of all holidays.
This is by no means comprehensive, but it is a good start!
I’m thankful that I miss family and friends during Christmas – Weird way to start out, I know, but this really is something for which I am thankful. I love the fact that I have family and friends I sincerely miss. Family and friends that mean too much to simply blow off and not think about during this time. There are orphans out there. Even more so, there are people with such miserable family lives that they don’t want to be “home for the holidays”. Yes, I do miss my family during this season especially, but I am thankful beyond words for this reality!
I’m thankful for SOME Christmas cheer in the air – My first Christmas in Asia was 1999. There was virtually nothing discernible with Christmas Day from any other day. It was depressing. Our study group of six actually went Christmas caroling in front of the dorms on campus and got some of the strangest looks I had ever received . . . and it was 1999 in Asia where they NEVER saw foreigners. It was beyond comprehension.
Christmas 2012, while not exactly teeming with Christmas cheer, there are signs of the season in a few places. My apartment actually has decorations up. Though Michael Gregory says, “it looks like Christmas threw up in your place”, I am still proud of it. The coffee shop I am [Read more…]