The Call

On 28 Jan, I received a phone call.

The kind you read about in newspaper articles in relation to a tragedy.

The kind of phone call you hope never to receive.

How the caller is feeling now I cannot begin to imagine.

Even praying for the caller and her family doesn't feel like doing much.

It's too unreal.

Like something that happens only to 'others'. (I know how selfish that sounds.)

Loss has come too close this time. It has broken through into my inner circle of relationships, and it feels like life will never be the same again.

To those closest to the maelstrom, I imagine life will assume a different hue from now on: 'before 28 Jan' and 'after 28 Jan'.

It is not a good feeling, and I pray this never happens to you.

"God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform."

May His love, grace and peace be sufficient in this sad time.

Party pooper

Have just been invited to a friend's surprise birthday party.

If only party just meant bring a plate and a present.

This one, because it's organized by said friend's creative and party-loving partner, is a Fancy Dress Party.

I dislike parties.

Intensely.

Maybe it's because I was never allowed to go to any when I was in school.

And also because I was singularly drab - like Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films.

No sense of fashion.

No talent for beautifying myself.

No access to gorgeous accessories and cosmetics.

No self-confidence.

So I've developed a self-defence mechanism called Avoid Parties At All Cost.

And I've found I can live quite happily without them.

Unfortunately, this particular party invite is inescapable because we're friends with this couple, and I don't want to offend.

She has given strict instructions for ALL guests to turn up in fancy dress. Anyone who doesn't will not be allowed into the house (what a great excuse to escape the party!).

So, I'll have to dig through my very meagre wardrobe and find something that can pass as fancy dress.

I am not terribly optimistic...

What have I stored up in my heart?

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.
People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:43-45

Was reflecting on this passage and several thoughts struck me.

• The quality of fruit is consistent with its source/parent. Good tree = Good fruit. Good fruit = Good tree. My actions will either bless or betray me. And others.
• Good and evil are stored up in the heart. They don't leak or deplete. They keep filling up till the container is full and overflows. For good or bad. Imagine a full petrol tank, a bank account will lots of zeroes (in the right places), a water tank after a rainy spell.
• Our speech reflects what's been quietly building up in our hearts. Sometimes, one remark is all it takes to reveal what's really important to us. Thoughtless words that hurt and demean could be traced back to negative thinking, wrong attitudes, a self-centred lifestyle, stimulation that entertains us but does not improve us. Trashy books, movies and TV shows. Acquaintances who pursue materialism, instant gratification of the senses and the attitude that you have only one life and you may as well enjoy it to the full, who cares about others and what they think. In contrast, words that help and heal and point someone to the straight and narrow path may well be the fruit of years of right thinking, right action, wholesome sources of stimulation, time spent reflecting on what is good and pure, a desire to be holy, a consistent walk with God.
  

Let us be mindful of what we say, because our words reveal the true us beneath our masks of politeness and convention.

I'm finally getting something right...I think!

FB post from my keyboard student today:

week 6 and i can already write a simple chord song! Thankyou Jesus! and Serena Low for your time, patience and incredible support!! =D

This is my third attempt at teaching someone music and I feel like I've finally met a student who "gets" my style and whom I can actually help.

K is our local missionary who works with AIDS orphans in S Africa. She's back for a few months before returning to SA to further her work with the kids she has come to adore. She also happens to be a gifted worship singer and lyricist. Her dream is to be able to accompany herself on the keyboard when she leads worship, and to write songs (not just words).

While she was still in SA, we corresponded by email and she asked if I could give her lessons when she came back.

And that's how we got started.

I was pretty apprehensive about saying yes because I feel as if I ought to have a teaching qualification or be a professional pianist to be good enough to teach someone else.

Plus, I've had a couple of teaching experiences that feel like failures.

A couple of years ago, I was referred to a lady at church who wanted some piano lessons and had a set budget. I went to her place once a week, 45 min each time, for ten sessions.

But I never felt like we communicated very well (my fault I'm sure), and from her responses, I could never tell if she was really enjoying herself or if she was just being polite while privately cursing this waste of her time and money. Even now when we pass the peace at church, I daren't ask how she's going with her practising.

Then another church friend asked me to give her two young sons lessons, and I did.

By then I had learned that the market practice was 30 min for a lesson, so I reduced my lesson time accordingly.

The boys had so much going on in their lives: schoolwork, sport, social activities, and probably didn't have much motivation or time for music practice.

So their progress was probably not as quick or visible as they would have liked.

After a while, their mum tactfully suggested that we take a break until her boys were willing to be serious about their music.

My current student is my third, and so far, most ideal match in terms of motivation, commitment and willingness to learn. She knows why she's here and what she wants to get out of it.

It also helps that I'm letting God lead rather than trying to find all the answers myself. I am more willing to let the serious info take a back seat to gentle nudges and unusual suggestions from above.

And perhaps that has made all the difference.

It's beautiful to see her get excited as she works out chords and scales and begins work this week on her very first Chord Song.

In fact, the phrase Chord Song came to me only hours before our lesson, and I didn't even know what it meant or what I was supposed to do with it.

Then at some point in the lesson, my student asked: "So what's my homework this week?"

And it grew from there. I suggested she play around with the primary chords (I, IV, V) with a root of C, and see what came out of it. I even improvised to show her what she might possibly achieve, and what she could do with her LH to get a fuller sound.

Next week, she'll show me what she's come up with.

And that's the story behind the FB post.

Thank you Jesus.

Definitely.

The Grapevine Story

Reproduced from the latest newsletter sent out to subscribers of my website:

Vines have been on my mind a lot lately.

Just outside my kitchen window is a sprawling grapevine planted by the people that used to live in our house.

The grapevine has spread all across the underside of the pergola, forming a lovely cool canopy in summer. Tendrils twirl around the washing line. When random vines intertwine, they form a bond so strong it can only be severed by a pair of secateurs.

The funny thing about the vines is: the more I prune them, the faster they seem to grow. They practically beg to be trimmed, leaning down into my face so that I walk right into them and have to notice their presence.

Nature has a lesson for us here.

As we go through life, there are times of reaping and harvest, when everything goes smoothly and it feels like life can't get more wonderful than this.

Then there are times of setbacks and challenges, the valley times, when every step is pain and struggle and loneliness.

When bad things happen, some people react as if they have been punished.

"Why is this happening?"

"Why me?"

"What have I done to deserve this?"

How Pruning Leads To New Growth

I prefer to think of hard times as a time of Pruning.

According to How To Grow Grapes: Choosing Varieties, Vines, Pruning, Trellis

by Linette Gerlach, there are two very good reasons for regularly pruning your grapevine.

One: Pruning allows maximum airflow and sunshine to reach the fruit. If you do not prune, you will have less fruit, and the fruit you do get will be smaller in size.

Two: If you do not prune, your grapevine will become unruly and harvest time will be tough.

I believe the same applies to how we live our lives. You and I are the vine, and our families, relationships, careers - all the things to which we daily apply our energy and creativity - are the fruits.

If we do not regularly perform a self-check to weed out the things that impede our personal growth - bad habits, false beliefs, an unhealthy lifestyle, poor relationships - we will find at the end of the journey that the fruits we produce are less powerful, less lasting, less sweet, and fewer than they might have been.

Every day is a good day to pause and check what needs to be pruned from our lives, so that we can grow Stronger, Bigger, Better.

Why not make a start today?

See you next month.

---

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without,
the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.

Horace Bushnell

Seeds of faith are always within us;
sometimes it takes a crisis to nourish and encourage their growth.

Susan Taylor

Lessons from the Vine

Have received some interesting responses to my grapevine story, which was the main article in my Jan 2011 newsletter.

Here's one:

Thank you so much today. I left feeling refreshed and filled. Your grapevine story was so uplifting.

And another:

As always, I look forward to read "The Happy Worker' articles:)

Yes, I will check on what needs to be pruned and grow stronger, bigger, better.

I can't wait to fulfil God's purpose. I pray that HE will help me discover the gifts HE placed within me so that I can use them for HIS glory.

I am still thinking about your grapevine story. It motivates me :)

When did we last listen intently?

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennasaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen who were washing their nets.

Luke 5:1

The part that captured my attention straight away was the phrase "the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God".

It suggests eagerness.

The people who were listening to Jesus couldn't get enough of his teaching.

They wanted more.

They wanted to know what was going on.

They wanted to know all about it.

Today, if there are crowds of people around an individual, listening avidly to what he/she is saying, my first thought would be that he/she is:

• a popular political leader
  
• a popular religious leader
• a celebrity

There are two layers to think about here.

On the macro level, the things that captivate us: are they of the world or of God?

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1 John 2:16

On the micro level, when we discuss the things of God, do we give a fair go to all who come bearing the good news?

Or do we reserve our deepest adulation and financial offerings for those who present well, speak the words we want to hear (e.g. similar doctrinal beliefs, same religious denomination), and look like how we aspire to look (e.g. fit, healthy, prosperous, attractive)...and give the rest one-ear-in, one-ear-out attention?

If Jesus came to earth today, would I be one of the crowd pressing in eagerly to hear what the Son of God has to say?

Or would I be someplace else busy with my own interests?

The 41st year

This year's motto is to be Stronger, Faster, More Flexible.

Or maybe it should just be Strong, Fast, Flexible, since I'm really lousy in all areas of physical achievement.

My private ambition - frequently nonplussed by a reluctance to get sweaty or look foolish - is to be one of those cool angmoh mums who run, do yoga, and most important of all, can play sporty games with the kids without looking like a dufus (running out of breath, not knowing the rules of the game...).

Already, a double-storey house is out of the question because the stairs...the stairs!...are a huge no-no. Thank goodness we've already enjoyed 9 years of the maisonette lifestyle in SG. Coming down the stairs, I find myself walking like my 70+ yo uncle: not straight down but at an angle - one step at a time.

Mortification.

As if it's not bad enough that I don't (know how to) swim or cycle.

I think I need private tutoring so I can "face" society (esp here in sporty Aus) and really be one of the locals.