I am feeling enormous mountain of sadness. My younger sister, R passed away few days ago. I was thinking of my grandchildren and children.
Then, out of the blue, my beautiful daughter called, “Mom what are you doing? Are you free? Can the kids come over?” Of course, I said, for some strange reason, I drove myself home, right away such that when she called, I was already home.
Gosh, the Universe is with me and suddenly, white and apple green butterflies flew in my backyard. Thanks, Mom and Dad for comforting me. I am immensely grateful.
A new way of eating. Vegetables in the am with breakfast oatmeal with chocolate and blueberries, and an omelette using the leftover veggies with olive bread toast for dinner. A more relaxed way of eating, giving ourselves more time for rest and relaxation, just like the Kiwis do.
Their lives are not rushed, they are patient, sweet, and kind. They have well trimmed, well maintained sheep and cow farms and even by their roads – trees are well trimmed and roads are constantly maintained to keep them in good repair.
In grocery stores, there’s no use of plastic and trash everywhere is recycled if bottles, cans, cardboard boxes; plant and fruit peelings are composted, and hardly any for trash unless in their airports that look like a food court, a shopping corridor, rest areas with couches and play areas for children. Would LAX ever be like this – determined to keep passengers fed, rested and relaxed before on-time departure?
New Zealand is family-oriented, and families walk in their uncrowded, clean, unlittered beaches and where wrinkled, old, gray, white-haired folks are vigorously walking in their shorts and men love to wear colored scarves and flower designed shirts. They are easy going, relaxed, serious in facial demeanor yet approachable, friendly, open and no one with two faces – so so genuine! I love it here, my soul is at peace. But for my family, relatives, friends and neighbors, I would love to live here. Their television daily shows are funny, with game shows like jeopardy.
No wonder the Robertsons split their time annually between New York and New Zealand and donated 15 of their art pieces to NZ’s art museum by artists like Monet, Van Gogh.
NZ’s City Council valued the gift at $167 million, and art gallery is funded by City Council with hourly docent tours. “The sturdiest pillars of European Modernism are present in the gift – Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali, Fernand Léger, André Derain, Pierre Bonnard and Piet Mondrian.”
It is challenging not to share about my sadness, my grief, and how death seems to be a shadow for now: a family member, a human rights advocate/inspiring pilgrim, and the irreversible chance of not being there to convey my parting words.
Of late, I told a friend to write to her relative all her feelings and to put that letter next to a statue. I was actually getting advanced instruction for my heart and soul. I am glad my hubby, children and grandchildren are comforting me. Still, my tears have to flow…
It turns out that weird night when I felt so so so cold and a fleeting shadow passed by that compelled me to get up and check on the three brothers. There was no causative source for that shadow, yet I briefly saw it. May you rest in peace!
Still, I respect your wishes not to write about you, so I am writing about my feelings – how you stood up twice for me, how you lectured me on the concepts of self love, self care, and self worth.
Looking at the past family gatherings, I am grateful for your support, your quiet elegance in showing me you care about my success – back then, I measured it with a leadership award from an industry group – how shallow that feels now as I look back.
Somehow, I feel comforted that you are no longer in pain. What I am grateful for is that I earnestly offered masses for your healing while on a pilgrimage for Our Lady of Guadalupe a year ago and for each church altar photo that I shared, you texted me with so much affection, love and warmth. It felt like we were part of a prayer group.
You even connected the tilma that I gave you with a prior gift you got. Know that if I had the powers to lift your pain, I would have. But, I don’t have those powers, only the diligence to pray. For now, I am certain you are up there – guide me to do what is right all the time, and to only give love, as I serve others. I am glad we were able to say I love you many times on texts and on the phone.
There’s a sweetness even with nature. Though dreary, gray, these clouds stay for just a bit of the morning. Sun appears and stays with blue clouds until late afternoon.
In our travels, we saw rainbows early in am, twice and another in the afternoon. This is what my thank you message to my beloved family here, somewhat edited.
Beehive is my metaphor for your sweetness! Each pore is sweet and authentic, no person is of two faces!!
Thank you so much for your kiwi brand of hospitality – so overwhelmed by your sweetness, generosity, and time investment for both of us – feeling like royalty!!
There are so many places I loved: Goat Island Marine Reserve, Taupo, Rotorua’s Agrodome, Living Maori Village, Skyline Luge, Beehive Parliament, Picton, and my ultimate paradise – Orewa and Oliver’s and Canton Flavor and Pullman Hotel Airport’s 9th floor restaurant dinner, and the open, loving house cooking of Kaukapakapa with its chicharon, mussels, in Picton and ChristChurch – Bert’s sotanghon and lamb chops, and of course the vibrant, passionate story telling triggered by Dollie’s excavating question:”How did you meet?”
After an hour and a half of sharing about the kilusan it was still left unanswered – how sad that it cannot be remembered.
Thank you for being my family here! Pursue your dreams and reach for your potentials – tomorrows are never promised.
I enjoyed every second, even the fatigued moments, and the challenge of moving from airbnb to another. If we were so economically endowed, we could have a jet taking us places but we would miss observing the three lucky brothers’ driving competence and decision making prowess. How lucky they got to spend every bonding opportunity to be with each other!
I love you all and I look forward to the wedding of Sophie and John in Bali in two years or sooner.
Can it get even more beautiful than this, to be greeted by the rainbow and light rain? Washing off the dust and grime just before walking? Gosh, if I can just transport all the lovely people in my life here, this would be my desired place to live in. Folks here are happy. Go to mass and thousands are praying fervently, singing their best voices. What a great place!
Most Holy Trinity by Fr. Ranjit Ekka at Hibiscus Coast Parish
His homily:”Doctrine of Trinity there’s one God, three persons, one God in perfect unity. It has 3 sides, one triangle, indivisible. Father is not son, Son is not Hoky Spirit, they existed with each other. They share the same divine essence, in perfect love and unity. Each person is fully God. It doesn’t divide God into three parts. Divine essence is in each person, we are all to live in unity and with one another. We are empowered to live in unity and love with each other, through the Holy Spirit that guides us.
Unity in substance and equality in majesty!”
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Excerpts of their prayers for family, schools, neighbors and government. They act on their prayers.
“7 PRAYERS FOR NEIGHBORHOODS
Jesus calls us to love our neighbors and at FCS, we have many programs focused on partnering with neighbors to create a flourishing community. Many of our staff live in the neighborhood where we serve and have opportunities to love in simple, tangible ways all the time. But another valuable way we can love our neighbors is by praying for them.
We often get so caught up in the busyness of our days or meeting the needs and engaging neighbors in our path that it can be easy to forget to pray for them and the neighborhood in which we live. There are endless opportunities to pray for your community. Here are seven prayers to get you started:
1. Pray for families. Families are a crucial social unit, and they can weather some significant challenges. Pray for the parents, aunts, grandparents, uncles, cousins, siblings, and children in your neighborhood.
Heavenly Father, we ask for your presence in families in our neighborhood. We pray for strength and understanding between the marriages in our neighborhood. We ask for loving, strong bonds between the children, teenagers, adults, and grandparents. We pray that each branch of the family would demonstrate love for one another.
2. Pray for relationships between neighbors. Healthy relationships between neighbors create a loving and compassionate community, Pray that neighbors would learn from each other’s differences and find common ground in their community.
God Almighty, we ask for healthy, thriving relationships between neighbors. We pray different cultures will be able to understand and care for one another in our neighborhood. We pray that the diversity of your people will be celebrated by all neighbors, just as you affirm and love each one of us.
3. Pray for schools. Pray that schools would be a place of positive influence for students in the neighborhood. We hope to see schools that contribute to the social fabric of a community and equip our children to achieve and thrive.
Father, we pray for the teachers and local principals who devote their days to shepherding our students. Please be present as district and state leaders make impactful decisions. We ask for guidance and patience for the parent volunteers as they serve our neighborhood schools. We pray that our schools will be a safe, positive community for our students.
4. Pray for local churches. Neighborhood churches are too often disconnected from the communities in which the physical building resides. We hope to see congregations committed to serving the residents and representing the hands and feet of Jesus.
Lord God, we pray for guidance for our local pastors as they nurture Your congregation and seek to serve those around them. We pray congregations would welcome neighbors with open arms. We hope for residents to find a place to experience community with the body of Christ as they grow spiritually.
5. Pray for safety and peace. A neighborhood where all residents feel welcomed and safe is one we strive to create. Pray God would allow your neighbors to find safety in their living situation.
God, our Prince of Peace, we ask for your presence in the streets and homes of our community. We pray for local law enforcement, for their safety and wisdom and compassion in all circumstances. We pray your comfort for those who have experienced violence, and we ask your protection for all our neighbors.
6. Pray for local politicians and leaders. Many neighborhoods experience marginalization when important decisions are being made. Pray for community voices to be heard in matters that impact them at the local, city, and state levels.
Father, we ask you to give our state and local leaders wisdom make decisions affecting our neighborhood. We pray they will be thoughtful in their decisions and listen to the voices of the community. We pray for courage to stand up for our community and to live with grace and dignity in our city.
7. Pray for residents. Pray for each neighbor by their name. Pray that your neighbors and residents of the neighborhood will know Jesus more deeply in their lives and have the opportunity to flourish as a community.
God, we ask for a flourishing community, where neighbors learn to love each other and come to know Jesus. We pray that we can be good stewards of Your love to each one of our neighbors. We ask that You help us to learn from our community, and it may be a place where all are welcomed.”
