Sunday, August 3, 2014

Our Welcome To Vietnam, " Do You Like Nightlife ? "


The evening we arrived Saigon international airport, we were travel weary  and physically exhausted. We had Just arrived from Myannar after  2 weeks  of steady teaching, speaking and in general being available. 
 Maybe we were for all intent and purposes punchy  but here is where it got ridiculous. 
There would be someone to meet  us  at the airport. 
Shuffling through long lines of fellow beleaguereds  travellers, we exited the   Air conditioned   Building 
   into a blast of   hot sweltering Vietnamese night. 
Soon enough a young girl , looking about 10 years old in size and enthusiasm  greeted us. 
 
She was  the  Pastors daughter  and  was there with her father who recognized Jim.  

Little Miss, as I now refer to her directed  us into the taxi. I could tell immediately this little miss  was  a talker and a long string of indiscernible  words vaguely  sounding like English  went un responded to for a  few  long moments. 
Then  we heard it, loud and  clear.  
" Do you like nightlife.?"
By this tine  we had left far behind  bright lights of the airport and  found ourselves in dark   seedy business neighbourhoods ,  and we are needing a hotel soon. 
Again,  Little  Miss, not letting us off the hook   Asked again,  " do you like nightlife? 
Jim and I looked at each other quizzed and puzzled. That impish little  expression  and innocence had us . 

As we traveled on through ambiguity and dim lit streets , our minds were  as dull. 

 Hopelessly. Listening for clues, I couldn't  bear   her  to go without an answer. 
Jim  cautiously, managed something that could  be   neuter , but I spoke up  in volume 
" a little" .we like nightlife a little".
Moments later she pointed out a coffee cafe and shops open late, as we passed a dark corner where women of  the  evening  put on a fashion show in mini skirts and cigarette heels. 


          

2 weeks later ,  the  evening before leaving aug 3 we did enjoy nightlife at a beautiful romantic Ciao Bella . What an exquisite surprise my Beloved had made for us. 


                                  "  


Friday, August 1, 2014

A Meditation

                                                         FAR  FROM  THE  CIVILIZED    WORLD
     7/2014         
                                                                    M MEDITATIONS  
     
                                                          AS A CITIZEN  OF  HEAVEN   
               
   

present I struggle with two Spiritual realities. The one, is my nature to do for myself what I  please  as I please. I understand the power of free expression and that driving need  that seeks to make itself known, and to be understood  and know,  I know my ego needs and  ambitions.  They do not require translation into any foreign language, as this nature is shared by all  mankind . 
Every face nears it's own humanity with hope and disappointment , joys , triumphs and pain. The human condition. 
Of the struggle then is the reality we are spiritual and there is certainly the truisms  we submit too,  convinced    Or otherwise, So we have our human nature , then we have a spiritual nature enlivened by the Spirit of God  Who  is bringing light toour minds through the Bible. Consider, the Scripture  , "... Our foolish minds were darkened"
So where is the conflict?
I like it in the setting of a Theatre. As I see it, we act out and involve, and are persuaded of our engagements first by out minds, the mind  is us,  what  we think becomes who we are and what we do and react too, in essence what we 
Dwell upon". 
Let's not leave it  there. The struggle  is a collision with the  Will. 

We all have one.  Can we consider who rules who? 
Does the Mind rule the Will?
Does the Will  indeed rule the Mind?

It appears to me from study we must submit our Will to the reinforced and enlightened Mind changed and made alive to God by His Light , see  John 10 Jesus is THE light. 

If I have the wealth of this world or a modest representation of it, why  yet does conflict redid hamper  my why  with their shadows of discontent?
As I increase in learning, why yet does  the  insatiable desire for more  leave me wanton and beggarly?? 
I seek to know wisdom, but is spend countless hours on acquiring knowledge. 
In the summation of this  inquiry, 
I will submit to the reading of the bible  as an appropriate   Act of Wisdom and submission. 
For this moment of Time, the struggle of the Will becomes  quieted as a nursed child. 

Shonda Davis