I have never known the exact right thing to do when I meet the poor and destitute.
Is it just about giving them money to meet their immediate needs?
What if they aren't for real?
Suppose they're druggies or cheats or criminals?
But really what's been keeping me from being generous is a wrong perspective. I am just not used to seeing people who aren't as presentable/well-adjusted/respectable as most people you and I know, and I don't know if I'm supposed to feel sorry, do something for them, or to turn away and pretend I didn't see them just so I can get on with my day.
Back home, I had just graduated from complete nonchalance to actually paying attention to the old ladies and blind folk who sometimes go from table to table at food centres selling 3 packets of tissue for $1.
Tonight, the Lord challenged me again. We were at Hungry Jack's in Werribee town centre, enjoying our burgers and fries, when a young lady in a red shawl stopped by our table to ask,"Have you any change?"
My instant reaction was "No."
She went on to the next table, where a man sat eating his burger.
"Have you any change?" And she sat down in front of him.
I saw him open his wallet and give her something.
Hubby and I had a quick discussion. What if she were Jesus in disguise? Oughtn't we to give her something? Hubby fished out a $2 coin. I remembered I actually had lots of small change on me (and was in fact balking that afternoon about how heavy it made my wallet, the shame!) and dug out my wallet. I counted out $3 in change and waited for the lady to come our way again. She did.
"Have you any change?" she asked as she turned around and headed back our way.
I gave her the coins. She said thank you, then paused and looked at me. I asked if it was enough. She said she wanted to get a meal, not just a burger, but a Value Meal. She evidently wasn't sure if she had enough. I got up and offered to go with her to the counter while she placed her order. I said if she didn't have enough, I would top up the rest for her.
Why didn't I just buy her a meal with my own money and let her keep the change she'd managed to collect? How was she supposed to manage tomorrow and the day after? I don't know. It was partly out of wanting to respect her dignity, I think. So I let her place her order and lay out her change (while wondering to myself if perhaps I'd gotten the definition of "dignity" wrong). She had no idea how much the meal cost, but she was very definite that she wanted the Chicken Burger meal.
The waitress patiently counted the coins, then said she was 70 cts short. I paid the shortfall. The young lady thanked me. While we waited for her food to be ready, I asked where she came from and how she was going to get home. I couldn't help wondering about her dirt-streaked face and hands and what looked like dried blood on her nose. What was her story? In reply, she mumbled something I couldn't understand. As we walked to the tables, I asked if she wanted to join us. She said no, she couldn't, and sat one table behind, where she tried to make eye contact with Beth and chat her up, but Beth was terrified and hid behind her Daddy.
As we drove back to our comfortable guesthouse that night, hubby and I talked over the incident. I remarked that it really changed my view of things when I saw my money as not actually belonging to me but to God; hubby agreed. I wondered where the young lady would put up tonight. It had been windy the whole afternoon and evening, and was now starting to drizzle. Where would a homeless person go to find shelter? And how would she find food tomorrow? Eating out in Oz is expensive. More importantly, how did she come to be in this state, and what was the best way for her to achieve a sustainable source of help and income?
The questions are endless.
What would Jesus have us do? What would He have done?
Would He have stopped at giving her money? Probably not.
Would He have sat down to listen to her story? Probably.
Would He have invited her home so she could have a warm bed for the night? Perhaps.
Would He have helped her find a job, a home, a support network, invited her to church?
If these thoughts are occurring to me, surely God is able and willing to do much more?
What would Jesus have me do??
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
God Takes Care Of....A Missing Passport
This afternoon, we were at the Medicare office in Greensborough to ask how to register with Medicare so that I can start booking a hospital for my gynae appointments and delivery.
The Indian customer service officer initially told us we had to come back on 20 Sep because our data hadn't come through from DIMA yet. However, after I mentioned my pregnancy, she tried all ways to help us expedite the process, including verifying our PR status from our passports. After a few mins, she came back looking extremely concerned, and said she couldn't locate my PR visa in my current pp. I explained that the visa was affixed in my expired pp, which I didn't have on me.
It was then that I started to get nervous. I suddenly couldn't remember where I'd left my expired passport, or whether I'd even brought it with me to Oz! My sense of personal failure was really acute then. How could I be so careless?
The officer was very kind and offered several options: (1) try and look for it, (2) get someone in Sg to find it and send it over, or (3) get the DIMA officer in charge of our case to reissue our PR approval letter with his/her signature on it.
I texted my BIL in Sg (who's the attorney for our flat) to ask him if he remembered coming across my old pp while clearing the master b/rm. He said he couldn't remember, but wld check for us this weekend.
Then tonight, while Beth was rummaging thru one of the luggages, she came across the travel agent's envelope which contained our ticket confirmation for our flight to Oz, and in the envelope was my expired pp!! I tell you, there is no greater joy than when something thought lost is found. This ranks pretty much on par with the parable of the woman and the lost coin. I fell on Beth and gave her a huge hug, and so did hubby.
Thank you Lord. Now we can get back to Medicare on 20 Sep and complete our registration and collect our Medicare cards. Another challenge met with the Lord's provision. He is our Jehovah Jireh!
The Indian customer service officer initially told us we had to come back on 20 Sep because our data hadn't come through from DIMA yet. However, after I mentioned my pregnancy, she tried all ways to help us expedite the process, including verifying our PR status from our passports. After a few mins, she came back looking extremely concerned, and said she couldn't locate my PR visa in my current pp. I explained that the visa was affixed in my expired pp, which I didn't have on me.
It was then that I started to get nervous. I suddenly couldn't remember where I'd left my expired passport, or whether I'd even brought it with me to Oz! My sense of personal failure was really acute then. How could I be so careless?
The officer was very kind and offered several options: (1) try and look for it, (2) get someone in Sg to find it and send it over, or (3) get the DIMA officer in charge of our case to reissue our PR approval letter with his/her signature on it.
I texted my BIL in Sg (who's the attorney for our flat) to ask him if he remembered coming across my old pp while clearing the master b/rm. He said he couldn't remember, but wld check for us this weekend.
Then tonight, while Beth was rummaging thru one of the luggages, she came across the travel agent's envelope which contained our ticket confirmation for our flight to Oz, and in the envelope was my expired pp!! I tell you, there is no greater joy than when something thought lost is found. This ranks pretty much on par with the parable of the woman and the lost coin. I fell on Beth and gave her a huge hug, and so did hubby.
Thank you Lord. Now we can get back to Medicare on 20 Sep and complete our registration and collect our Medicare cards. Another challenge met with the Lord's provision. He is our Jehovah Jireh!
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Staying Focussed in the Eye of the Storm
In the midst of resettling in Melbourne, a new challenge has arisen. This is in addition to the other niggling house-related issues that came up after we left Sg.
The biggest headache is HDB. After my BIL submitted the Application to Sublet the whole flat, we were told that the supporting doc we attached (a letter explaining that we were going to be away for 2 years for work) doesn't carry any weight. We still need to have a letter from an Oz employer.
Now, we knew this before we left, and that was why we initially thought of leaving the flat vacant till hubby had secured a job in Oz. However, the HDB officer who received our Power of Attorney assured us that a simple letter from us would do, and on the strength of his word, we went ahead and arranged to show our flat through our real estate agent, found tenants, and entered into a tenancy agreement.
Am quite disheartened at the inconsistent stand taken by different civil servants (altho' I really should know better, as an ex-CS myself) and how it is working to our disadvantage. Am praying that God will show us how to resolve this in the best possible way: either hubby gets a job offer real soon, or HDB relents and allows our application to go thru. Those are just the limits of our human understanding and wisdom. Perhaps God has something far better in mind, and why shouldn't He? After all, He can do more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5,6
The biggest headache is HDB. After my BIL submitted the Application to Sublet the whole flat, we were told that the supporting doc we attached (a letter explaining that we were going to be away for 2 years for work) doesn't carry any weight. We still need to have a letter from an Oz employer.
Now, we knew this before we left, and that was why we initially thought of leaving the flat vacant till hubby had secured a job in Oz. However, the HDB officer who received our Power of Attorney assured us that a simple letter from us would do, and on the strength of his word, we went ahead and arranged to show our flat through our real estate agent, found tenants, and entered into a tenancy agreement.
Am quite disheartened at the inconsistent stand taken by different civil servants (altho' I really should know better, as an ex-CS myself) and how it is working to our disadvantage. Am praying that God will show us how to resolve this in the best possible way: either hubby gets a job offer real soon, or HDB relents and allows our application to go thru. Those are just the limits of our human understanding and wisdom. Perhaps God has something far better in mind, and why shouldn't He? After all, He can do more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5,6
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Love The Opportunity
Somebody said you have to love what you do, but that's not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success and fortune. Knocking on someone's door or making that extra call may not be something you love to do, but you love the opportunity of what might be behind that door or call.
For example, a guy says, "I'm digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?" The answer is, "No, you don't have to love digging ditches, but if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you say, 'I'm glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches and I'm going to do it so well, I won't be here long.'"
You can be inspired by having found something; even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven't learned before. You don't have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate where you live, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news; that found you. Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, "Hey, if I can do it, you can do it."
If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world. Every person you meet - what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It's big time stuff. And sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don't always see how big it is.
So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it's sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.
To Your Success,Jim Rohn
www.jimrohn.com
For example, a guy says, "I'm digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?" The answer is, "No, you don't have to love digging ditches, but if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you say, 'I'm glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches and I'm going to do it so well, I won't be here long.'"
You can be inspired by having found something; even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven't learned before. You don't have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate where you live, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news; that found you. Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, "Hey, if I can do it, you can do it."
If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world. Every person you meet - what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It's big time stuff. And sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don't always see how big it is.
So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it's sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.
To Your Success,Jim Rohn
www.jimrohn.com
Sunday, September 03, 2006
What Would My Obituary Look Like?
Not that it would matter to me when the time comes, but if I could leave a message of hope, faith and love for those I leave behind, why not?
Instead of the usual Psalm 23, I would choose Job 1:21:
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
That verse has inspired and sustained me through difficult times. It was the verse God gave me in my gynae's office in Aug 2005 when I was facing a threatened miscarriage (which in the event turned out to be a real miscarriage).
Instead of the usual recitation of family names, I would do like the brother in an obituary I read in today's ST. He must have written it himself, because it read like a personal tribute to his loved ones. E.g. xx - good friend and the mother of my children. yy - my prayer partner. zz - my trusted partner and a person pure in heart.
What a wonderful way to affirm the people you love, and to encourage them to continue doing what is good and right. That kind of legacy is worth more than any physical riches.
Instead of the usual Psalm 23, I would choose Job 1:21:
The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
That verse has inspired and sustained me through difficult times. It was the verse God gave me in my gynae's office in Aug 2005 when I was facing a threatened miscarriage (which in the event turned out to be a real miscarriage).
Instead of the usual recitation of family names, I would do like the brother in an obituary I read in today's ST. He must have written it himself, because it read like a personal tribute to his loved ones. E.g. xx - good friend and the mother of my children. yy - my prayer partner. zz - my trusted partner and a person pure in heart.
What a wonderful way to affirm the people you love, and to encourage them to continue doing what is good and right. That kind of legacy is worth more than any physical riches.
A Place Called Surrender
What does it mean to surrender to God?
The idea can be a frightening one for those of us used to being in full control of our circumstances and destinies (or at least, we would like to think we're in control). It's usually when we run into a brick wall through illness, death or loss that we are forced to consider that there are some things that are beyond our human abilities to comprehend or resolve. Even then, we do not automatically run to God; sometimes, we run away.
A Place Called Surrender is the story of Pastor Dan Roelofs, who through his battle with cancer learnt the meaning of surrendering everything to God. He died in 2003 at the age of 33. I first came across his website www.danroelofs.com when I was reading Larry Julian's book God Is My Success, which I've reviewed in an earlier post. It is an online journal of how he struggled with very real human issues and questions that plague all of us, and how he finally found peace by resting in God's bigger plans for his life rather than asking whether God would heal him. The website has since been regularly updated by his wife Tammy, who shares how she and their sons have coped since Dan's passing.
I recommend the site to all who share Dan's struggle, which is really our struggle too.
The idea can be a frightening one for those of us used to being in full control of our circumstances and destinies (or at least, we would like to think we're in control). It's usually when we run into a brick wall through illness, death or loss that we are forced to consider that there are some things that are beyond our human abilities to comprehend or resolve. Even then, we do not automatically run to God; sometimes, we run away.
A Place Called Surrender is the story of Pastor Dan Roelofs, who through his battle with cancer learnt the meaning of surrendering everything to God. He died in 2003 at the age of 33. I first came across his website www.danroelofs.com when I was reading Larry Julian's book God Is My Success, which I've reviewed in an earlier post. It is an online journal of how he struggled with very real human issues and questions that plague all of us, and how he finally found peace by resting in God's bigger plans for his life rather than asking whether God would heal him. The website has since been regularly updated by his wife Tammy, who shares how she and their sons have coped since Dan's passing.
I recommend the site to all who share Dan's struggle, which is really our struggle too.
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