Success God's Way

Strangely, the one single skilled that I used most often here in Taiwan is how to have a difficult conversation.  This skill doesn't come naturally to any of us.  It's a learned skill but a very necessary one indeed.  It is part of a healthy relationship.  Asian culture especially doesn't like confront, so it caused many problems because a difficult conversation is needed but not done.  

Some people make it look so easy on stage, but public speaking is still a number one fear for most people, next to death.  If I could have my way, I would hide in the back somewhere doing things no one sees.  My Dad liked the spotlight, but my mom hided in the back.  I have my mom's personality.  I don't like the stage or people's attention or have grown people look at me. For some reason, I don't mind kids that much.  But recently, I am having many opportunities to speak in front of grown-ups. So I have to force myself to learn.

I have been so happy lately.  Busy, but happy.  There are so many plastic surgery clinics here in Taiwan, and women are keeping those clinics in business.  But I believe in the transformation of the heart from Jesus.  That's what I have inside, and the joy comes out from me. I often got comments about looking younger than my age.  Honestly, I use the cheapest face cream possible unless it's a gift.  Many of you know that I am in a program called Celebrate Recovery and still attend after 13 years.  It's a program that helped me work through all my hurts and helped me to forgive.  I was asked to give a short testimony next week, so here I wanted to share it with you. 

If there are two people who have the exact same jobs, one works 7 days a week and the other works 5 days and spends the other two days in recreational activities away from the job location, who do you think is more effective and better at his job?  The second one, because he has better balance between work and play.  He can do his job better because he is rested and fully charged.

You can be by yourself or married or in a crowd and feel lonely.  I had gone through a time when I felt extremely lonely no matter where I went.  It was something I expected to uproot myself and move to another country.  But it is still much more difficult that I expected.  Sadly, there are people around me that live here all their lives and they have not one close friend.

Elizabeth Gilbert defined Creative Living as "having the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you."  (I stumbled upon an interesting book by her called "Big Magic).   Of course, many of us don't live this way because of fear.  We are born with fear in order to keep us alive, so we cannot get rid of fear altogether.   What that means is that we need to make room for fear but not let it control our lives.  Strive to have a healthy relationship with FEAR.

Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  We often think of losing someone we love when we think of grief.  Sure, that's when grief is most intense.  But there are also different types of grief, losing a job, an opportunity, a business deal, friends, things, familiar surroundings, a dream, an expected outcome, pets....etc.  A healthy person grieves regularly like Jesus, acquainted with grief.  Why is this important?  Because it is much like decluttering, grief makes room for new good things in our hearts. 

How do miracles happen?  We often think of candles, praying of the saints, some fainted on the ground, the statue of Jesus, perhaps zapping from heaven.   Something grand, something that everyone can see.  But often times, that's not how miracles happen.  Miracles happen in the everyday small things, very easily missed by most.  Miracles happens in not giving up and persist to do something God made you to do daily. Then suddenly, quietly, one day, miracle comes.  Miracles happen when you use what God gives you, your health, your good brain, your resourcefulness, your supportive friends.

2024 is my first year in Taiwan.  I don't normally do this, but I decided to reflect on this special year.  "We do not learn from an experience...we learn from reflecting on an experience."  ~John Dewey.  Moving to Taiwan feels like the story of a country mouse moving to the big city, plus so many more challenges such as language and culture.... etc. 

The week before Christmas, I went on a personal Jesus Retreat.  Taiwan is highly populated so there are people everywhere.  I love the people but sometimes I feel the need to get away.  Solitude gives me much time to reflect and for long ignored thoughts and feelings to emerge.  It also helps me hear God better without the noise of constant activities and demands.  This retreat wasn't in my plans at first, but I felt the need to schedule it one early morning. I guess God is reminding me, it's time to do this.  Once I did, I think I am going to make this my new Christmas tradition here in Taiwan.  What a concept!  Spending quality time with Jesus to celebrate His birthday.

This year 2024 is my first holiday experience in Taiwan.  Honestly, I was shocked how disappointed I feel.  Over the last 40 years in the U.S., I have developed some basic "must-have expectations" during the holidays.  Thanksgiving I had expectations of a family gathering, with turkey and pumpkin pie/whipped cream, and maybe a pumpkin placed at the front porch.  Christmas I also expected some lights outside the house, a tree with ornaments and presents under the tree, dinner get-together, Ham, mash potatoes, baking cookies, hot chocolate...etc. These are not high expectations because most people I knew had those same expectations during the holidays, some more elaborate than others.

I am suddenly interested in the character Joseph in the Christmas story.  Although the Bible had little recorded about him, he is quite an important person.  He was a young boy at the start of Christmas story because people marry young during those times.  When he first appeared in the Bible, I wonder what he was planning for his life?  He was a young carpenter about to marry this girl Mary whom he probably knew as a family friend.  I am sure he may want to build his house, and establish a small family with Mary, perhaps start his own carpenter business.  He wouldn't be making lots of money but probably would be able to support his family.  He planned to live quietly and contently.