Advent, Week 3. This week focuses on many promises being fulfilled and the great joy that comes with it. Wednesday covers the third 'role' of Jesus, as Priest. It's a little weak this year. I was a little rushed to get it out. Next year I'll revise and strengthen it.
JOY – FULFILLMENT
Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010 – Mary and Elizabeth Rejoice
Luke 1:39-56
Monday, Dec. 13, 2010 – The Birth of John the Baptist
Luke 2:57-66
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 – The Promises Fulfilled
Isaiah 52:7-12
Luke 1:67-79
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010 – A Priest
Hebrews 4:15-5:10
Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010 – The Birth of Jesus the Christ
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:24-25
Luke 2:1-7
Friday, Dec. 17, 2010 – The Word Became Flesh
John 1:1-18
1 John 4:7-19
1 John 5:20
Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 – Rejoice!
Psalm 98
Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Exams and Memorizing
In the spirit of the season (end of the semester finals season) I will have a final exam in my Chinese Philosophy class. Part of the exam is 11 passages I have to be able to recite from memory. I just started last week, thinking I was ahead of the game, since final exams are not until mid-January.
Last night I received a text message from a classmate. The reciting part of the exam will be next Thursday. Now, in the spirit of last-minute cramming, here's 10 of the 11 passages. We can work on them together...
洪犯
无偏无陂，遵王之义；无有作好，遵王之道；无有作恶，尊王之路。无偏无党，王道荡荡；无党无偏，王道平平；无反无侧，王道正直。会其有极，归其有极。
乾卦经传 1
君子以成德为行，日可见之行也。潜之为言也，隐而未见，行而未成，是以君子弗用也。君子学以聚之，问以辩之，宽以居之，仁以行之。《易》曰“见龙在田，利见大人”，君德也。九三重刚而不中，上不在天，下不在田，故乾乾因其时而惕，虽危无咎矣。九四重刚而不中，上不在天，下不在田，中不在人，故或之。或之者，疑之也，故无咎。
乾卦经传 2
夫大人者，与天地合其德，与日月合其明，与四时合其序，与鬼神合其吉凶。先天下而天弗违，后天而奉天时。天且弗违，而况于人乎？况于鬼神乎？亢之为言也，知进而不知退，知存而不知亡，知得而不知丧。其唯圣人乎！知进退存亡，而不失其正者，其唯圣人乎！
论语 学而第一
有子曰：其为人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鲜矣；不好犯上，而好作乱者，未之有也。君子务本，本立而道生。孝弟也者，其为仁之本与？”
论语 里仁第四
子曰：富与贵是人之所欲也，不以其道得之，不处也；贫与贱是人之所恶也，不以其道得之，不去也。君子去仁，恶乎成名？君子无终食之间违仁，造次必于是，颠沛必于是。”
孟子 公孙丑上
曰：“难言也。其为气也，至大至刚，以直养而无害，则塞于天地之间。其为气也，配义与道；无是，馁也。是集义所生者，非义袭而取之也。行有不慊于心，则馁矣。
孟子 卷十三 尽心上 一
孟子曰：“尽其心者，知其性也。知其性，则知天矣。存其心，养其性，所以事天也。夭寿不贰，修身以俟之，所以立命也。”
大学
大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。知止而后有定，定而后能静，静而后能安，安而后能虑，虑而后能得。物有本末，事有终始。知所先后，则近道矣。
中庸 1
天命之谓性，率性之谓道，修道之谓教。道也者，不可须臾离也，可离非道也。是故君子戒慎乎其所不睹，恐惧乎其所不闻。莫见乎隐，莫显乎微，故君子慎其独也。
喜怒哀乐之未发，谓之中；发而皆中节，谓之和。中也者，天下之大本也；和也者，天下之达道也。致中和，天地位焉，万物育焉。
中庸 2
自诚明谓之性，自明诚谓之教。诚则明矣，明则诚矣。唯天下至诚，为能尽其性。能尽其性，则能尽人之性。能尽人之性，则能尽物之性。能尽物之性，则可以赞天地之化育。可以赞天地之化育，则可以与天地参矣。
Last night I received a text message from a classmate. The reciting part of the exam will be next Thursday. Now, in the spirit of last-minute cramming, here's 10 of the 11 passages. We can work on them together...
洪犯
无偏无陂，遵王之义；无有作好，遵王之道；无有作恶，尊王之路。无偏无党，王道荡荡；无党无偏，王道平平；无反无侧，王道正直。会其有极，归其有极。
乾卦经传 1
君子以成德为行，日可见之行也。潜之为言也，隐而未见，行而未成，是以君子弗用也。君子学以聚之，问以辩之，宽以居之，仁以行之。《易》曰“见龙在田，利见大人”，君德也。九三重刚而不中，上不在天，下不在田，故乾乾因其时而惕，虽危无咎矣。九四重刚而不中，上不在天，下不在田，中不在人，故或之。或之者，疑之也，故无咎。
乾卦经传 2
夫大人者，与天地合其德，与日月合其明，与四时合其序，与鬼神合其吉凶。先天下而天弗违，后天而奉天时。天且弗违，而况于人乎？况于鬼神乎？亢之为言也，知进而不知退，知存而不知亡，知得而不知丧。其唯圣人乎！知进退存亡，而不失其正者，其唯圣人乎！
论语 学而第一
有子曰：其为人也孝弟，而好犯上者，鲜矣；不好犯上，而好作乱者，未之有也。君子务本，本立而道生。孝弟也者，其为仁之本与？”
论语 里仁第四
子曰：富与贵是人之所欲也，不以其道得之，不处也；贫与贱是人之所恶也，不以其道得之，不去也。君子去仁，恶乎成名？君子无终食之间违仁，造次必于是，颠沛必于是。”
孟子 公孙丑上
曰：“难言也。其为气也，至大至刚，以直养而无害，则塞于天地之间。其为气也，配义与道；无是，馁也。是集义所生者，非义袭而取之也。行有不慊于心，则馁矣。
孟子 卷十三 尽心上 一
孟子曰：“尽其心者，知其性也。知其性，则知天矣。存其心，养其性，所以事天也。夭寿不贰，修身以俟之，所以立命也。”
大学
大学之道，在明明德，在亲民，在止于至善。知止而后有定，定而后能静，静而后能安，安而后能虑，虑而后能得。物有本末，事有终始。知所先后，则近道矣。
中庸 1
天命之谓性，率性之谓道，修道之谓教。道也者，不可须臾离也，可离非道也。是故君子戒慎乎其所不睹，恐惧乎其所不闻。莫见乎隐，莫显乎微，故君子慎其独也。
喜怒哀乐之未发，谓之中；发而皆中节，谓之和。中也者，天下之大本也；和也者，天下之达道也。致中和，天地位焉，万物育焉。
中庸 2
自诚明谓之性，自明诚谓之教。诚则明矣，明则诚矣。唯天下至诚，为能尽其性。能尽其性，则能尽人之性。能尽人之性，则能尽物之性。能尽物之性，则可以赞天地之化育。可以赞天地之化育，则可以与天地参矣。
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Mostly on Modesty
Does it bother you when you can see a woman's bra through her blouse? Or a dude's underwear or 'crack' when he bends over (or when he's just standing there)?
Language can be a funny thing, especially when translating something from one language and culture to another. Just one of the many idiosyncrasies between Chinese and English is the word Modesty.
In English one of the first things I think of when I hear modesty is physical appearance in relation to clothing (and, I would add, more often in relation to women's clothing). It can certainly take the form of behavior or attitude as well (as a synonym for humble). For example:
"Is this dress modest?"
"What about this swim suit?"
"That guy is really immodest, he's always talking about how great he is."
However, when speaking with Chinese students about modesty (in English) the first thing they usually think of is humble/not humble. The root word 谦 (qian) is translated 'modest', but the basic meaning is humble. Here's a few examples drawn from my little iPod Pleco dictionary:
谦卑 - qianbei: humble, modest
谦虚 - qianxu: modest, self-effacing; make modest remarks
谦逊 - qianxun: modest, unassuming
And not one of the 36 entries for 'modest' had any connotation to physical appearance. It makes me wonder what word(s) my Chinese friends would use to describe 'humble attire'.
Fashion can be a big deal among college students in China. This is encouraged by the proliferation of fake goods that give an impression of wealth and status (not to mention that popular brands often make attractive clothing). Traditional Chinese culture is usually recognized as being modest, both in the unassuming sense and the 'not flaunting of physical features' sense. However, students have begun to experiment with fashion since China began to open up to external influences in the 80s.
Today it is not unusual to find students, particularly girls, wearing some really racy things, and usually below the waist. It is less common to see chest-skin, and I have heard others note that this is more typical in Asia generally. But that doesn't stop the issue altogether. Very thin, light colored sweaters or shirts over off-color or dark bras is very common. Skirts that work better as belts (maybe that's a slight exaggeration), tights worn as pants.
Once, five years ago, I was walking with a friend to the soccer field to kick the ball around and we were dumbfounded to see a girl standing at a phone booth (yes, they still have them in China) wearing a skirt made of that netting normally worn under a dress to make it more poofy. It was like wearing a saran-wrap skirt!
Add to that, there's an extreme issue of not knowing how to wear a skirt, long or short. You can regularly see girls and old ladies squatting down in a skirt, giving full view to everyone what color underwear she's wearing. Once, in class I was trapped in the far corner of the room while teaching because a girl was sitting in a skirt with her legs spread apart. I was so embarrassed, but I couldn't say anything or she would have been mortified.
However, I will stand up for many young girls in China. Many of them still dress with healthy modesty. And, I would argue that many of them really don't know the difference between modest and not, because they've never been taught. Their mother's never wore anything like what's offered in the stores today, and their fathers probably don't care as long as they get married off before they're 30. (There's a saying in China, particularly in rural areas, that girls are like spilt water. I'll blog about that some other day)
This morning I was reading a blog by Michael Hyatt, the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing House, and he was talking about his surprise at the lack of modesty on TV, the MTV VMA awards in particular. He gave four guidelines that I hope can be proliferated among the young, in America and China.
What about you? What does modesty mean to you?
Language can be a funny thing, especially when translating something from one language and culture to another. Just one of the many idiosyncrasies between Chinese and English is the word Modesty.
In English one of the first things I think of when I hear modesty is physical appearance in relation to clothing (and, I would add, more often in relation to women's clothing). It can certainly take the form of behavior or attitude as well (as a synonym for humble). For example:
"Is this dress modest?"
"What about this swim suit?"
"That guy is really immodest, he's always talking about how great he is."
However, when speaking with Chinese students about modesty (in English) the first thing they usually think of is humble/not humble. The root word 谦 (qian) is translated 'modest', but the basic meaning is humble. Here's a few examples drawn from my little iPod Pleco dictionary:
谦卑 - qianbei: humble, modest
谦虚 - qianxu: modest, self-effacing; make modest remarks
谦逊 - qianxun: modest, unassuming
And not one of the 36 entries for 'modest' had any connotation to physical appearance. It makes me wonder what word(s) my Chinese friends would use to describe 'humble attire'.
Fashion can be a big deal among college students in China. This is encouraged by the proliferation of fake goods that give an impression of wealth and status (not to mention that popular brands often make attractive clothing). Traditional Chinese culture is usually recognized as being modest, both in the unassuming sense and the 'not flaunting of physical features' sense. However, students have begun to experiment with fashion since China began to open up to external influences in the 80s.
Today it is not unusual to find students, particularly girls, wearing some really racy things, and usually below the waist. It is less common to see chest-skin, and I have heard others note that this is more typical in Asia generally. But that doesn't stop the issue altogether. Very thin, light colored sweaters or shirts over off-color or dark bras is very common. Skirts that work better as belts (maybe that's a slight exaggeration), tights worn as pants.
Once, five years ago, I was walking with a friend to the soccer field to kick the ball around and we were dumbfounded to see a girl standing at a phone booth (yes, they still have them in China) wearing a skirt made of that netting normally worn under a dress to make it more poofy. It was like wearing a saran-wrap skirt!
Add to that, there's an extreme issue of not knowing how to wear a skirt, long or short. You can regularly see girls and old ladies squatting down in a skirt, giving full view to everyone what color underwear she's wearing. Once, in class I was trapped in the far corner of the room while teaching because a girl was sitting in a skirt with her legs spread apart. I was so embarrassed, but I couldn't say anything or she would have been mortified.
However, I will stand up for many young girls in China. Many of them still dress with healthy modesty. And, I would argue that many of them really don't know the difference between modest and not, because they've never been taught. Their mother's never wore anything like what's offered in the stores today, and their fathers probably don't care as long as they get married off before they're 30. (There's a saying in China, particularly in rural areas, that girls are like spilt water. I'll blog about that some other day)
This morning I was reading a blog by Michael Hyatt, the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing House, and he was talking about his surprise at the lack of modesty on TV, the MTV VMA awards in particular. He gave four guidelines that I hope can be proliferated among the young, in America and China.
Not rules, but good guidelines. Thanks Michael.Here they are: “Four Guidelines for Modesty”:
- If you have trouble getting into it or out of it, it is probably not modest.
- If you have to be careful when you sit down or bend over, it is probably not modest.
- If people look at any part of your body before looking at your face, it is probably not modest.
- If you can see your most private body parts or an outline of those parts under the fabric, it is probably not modest.
What about you? What does modesty mean to you?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
From the Classroom: Lying
Here's my latest translation, less commentary - more comments below.
他和她是在一个晚会上认识的。那时的她又年轻又美丽，有很多的追求者，而他却是一个穷大学生。可是他却一下子爱上了她，尽管他明明知道自己配不上她。晚会结束的时候，他勇敢的邀请她一块去喝咖啡，她呢，尽管很吃惊，然而出于礼貌，还是答应了。
They met at a party. At that time she was young and beautiful, and she had many pursuers. But he was a poor college student. But after a short while he fell in love with her, even though he clearly knew he was not a good match for her. As the party came to an end he bravely asked her to go with him to a coffee shop. She, although surprised, was very polite, and accepted.
[Good start to a story. Boy, girl, meet at a party, and he's a stud! Although he knows he's only a 3 on the scale and she's a 9, he goes for it...]
坐在咖啡馆里，两人之间的气氛分明很不自然，没有什么话题，咖啡还没上来，她就希望快点二结束。
Sitting in the coffee shop, the atmosphere between them was unnatural, with nothing to talk about and the coffee had not yet come. She desperately hoped that the time would end.
[Things look a little grim for our poor, homely college student...*dramatic rise in music*]
正在这时，服务小姐把咖啡端上来了，他结结巴巴的对服务小姐说：“麻﹑麻，麻烦您那点儿盐过来。”她和那位服务小姐一样大吃一惊，别的客人的目光也一下子集中到了他的身上，他的脸一下子红了，小声说：“我﹑我喝咖啡习惯放点儿盐。”小姐把盐拿过来，他在咖啡里放了点儿盐，慢慢的喝着。她很好奇地问：“你为什么要放盐呢？”他沉默了一会儿，然后红着脸结结巴巴的说：“小﹑小时候，我家住在海边，我老是在海里泡着，海浪打过来，海水进到嘴里，又苦又咸。我已经很久没回家了，真怀念那里的一切，包括那又苦又咸的海水。之所以喜欢在咖啡里放盐，可能是因为想家吧。
Right at that time, the waitress came carrying the coffee, and he stammeringly said to her, "puh-puh-please bring me some salt." The girl and the waitress were quite surprised, and everyone else in the coffee shop turned their gaze to him. His face turned red, and he quietly explained, "I, I, it's my habit to drink coffee with salt." The waitress brought the salt, and he put some in his coffee, drinking it slowly. She was very curious and asked, "Why do you put salt in your coffee?" He sat silent for a while, then stammering, and with a red face said, "When, when I was small, I lived by the sea, and I would always walk along the shore, and when waves would come the spray would get on my mouth, it was so bitter and salty. I haven't been home in a very long time, I really miss it, including the bitter and salty sea water. So when I put salt in my coffee, it's because I miss my home."
[The story reaches a climax. He's bungled his way through things so far, and just at this moment it seems all hope is lost.]
太令人感动了，因为这是她第一次听到男人在她面前说自己想家。她认为想家的男人肯定是爱家的男人，爱家的男人一定是有责任心的男人。她忽然觉得两个人的距离一下子拉近了。于是她也跟他说起了远方的故乡......两个人聊了很久很久，越聊越高兴，不知不觉到了咖啡馆关门的时间。当他提出送她回家时，她竟然没有拒绝。
She was so moved, because this was the first time she had ever witnessed a guy saying he missed his home. She believed that a guy who misses his home is a guy who loves his home, and a guy who loves his home is a responsible man. She suddenly thought these two distant people could be pulled close together. Then she told him a story from a distant place......Two people talked for a long long time, and the more they talked the happier they were. Without hardly noticing, closing time for the cafe arrived. He proposed they return to his apartment, and she unexpectedly did not refuse.
[But somehow he pulls it off and she falls for him! Unfortunately, the story seems to take a disappointing turn, as she follows him like a lamb to the slaughter, to his apartment. And if he's a college student it's his dorm room. Doubly lame.]
从那以后，两个人频繁的约会，她发现他真的是一个很好的男人，大度﹑细心﹑体贴，有很多优点。她暗暗的想：幸亏当时的礼貌，才没有和他错过。后来他们去过了城里的许多咖啡馆，每次她都对服务员说：“请拿点儿盐来好吗？我的朋友喜欢在咖啡里放盐。”
From then on these two frequently met together. She discovered that he really was a very good guy, magnanimous, careful and attentive, and considerate, with many 'advantages.' She secretly thought to herself, 'Thanks to my politeness at that first meeting I didn't miss out meeting him. They went to a great many coffee shops in the city, every time she would ask the waitress, "Please bring some salt. My friend likes salt in his coffee."
[We see that things seem to turn out well for these two.]
再后来，就像童话书里写的一样，“王子和公主结了婚，从此过着幸福的生活。”他们确实过得很幸福，而且幸福地过了四十多年。尽管四十多年中发生了很多变化，但是他们之间的爱从来没有变过，不管是富有还是贫穷，始终相爱，一直到他得病去世。
After that things went just like in the story books, "The prince and princess were married, and lived happily ever after." They were truly happy, and happy for more than 40 years. Although through the 40 years many things changed, the love between them never changed, whether they were rich or poor, from beginning to end, until the day he got sick and died.
[And, the story book ending...or middle part. And, like so many Chinese movies it has a very strange ending. Things seem SO good--and then he dies! What!?]
故事似乎应该结束了，如果没有那封信的话。
It would seem that the story should end there, but that would leave out what the letter said.
[But! It doesn't end there. He wrote a letter from his death bed.]
那封信是他写给她的遗言：“亲爱的，原惊我欺骗了你四十多年。还记得第一次请你喝咖啡吗？当时我太紧张了，不知为什么，竟然对小姐说拿些盐来，其实我喝咖啡从来不放盐。当时既然说出来了，就只好把盐放进去，没想到竟然引起了你的好奇心。这一来，让我喝了半辈子加盐的咖啡。好多次我都想告诉你，可是我怕你不原谅我说谎。我必须用一生去实践这个谎言，不然你可能会离开我，但是我不能没有你。可是，我现在不怕了，因为我就要死了，死人总是很容易被人原谅的，对不对？今生得到你是我最大的幸福，如果有来生，我还希望娶到你，即使再喝几十年加盐的咖啡，也没关系。不过说实话，咖啡放盐简直太难喝了。咖啡里放盐，当时我是怎么想出来的呢？”
The letter he gave her were his last words: "My dear Love, forgive me for deceiving you more than 40 years ago. Do you remember the first time we met? I was so nervous then! I don't know why, but I even surprised myself when I asked the waitress to bring salt. I actually have never liked salt in my coffee. At that time I would never have imagined it would lead to your curiosity. I only drank half the cup. Many times I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you would not forgive my lie. My whole life I have had to perpetuate this lie, otherwise you would leave me, but I can't live without you! However, now I am not afraid, because I will soon die, and dying people are easy to forgive, right? In this life you have been my greatest blessing, and when I enter the next life, I hope marry you. And even if I have to drink salty coffee for another 40 years, it doesn't matter. To tell you the truth, salty coffee is really hard to drink! Salty coffee, how could I think of something like that?!
[It reads...blah blah blah. "I'm a liar, have been my whole life. And I didn't trust you enough to share my deepest longings and fears. But now that I'm dying I can spill everything. It might leave you miserable, but at least I'll feel good about myself, having spilled it all. Then I can die and leave you." (this is my sarcastic voice, can you hear it?) "And I'm an idiot for drinking salty coffee for more than 40 years."]
信的内容令她大吃一惊，她多想流着泪告诉他：“她是世界上最幸福的人，因为有人为了她，能够用一辈子去实践一个谎言。”
The contents of the letter really surprised her, and she cried very much, telling him: "'She' is the most blessed woman in the whole world, because for her sake a man would perpetuate a lie for his whole life."
[This is the part that got me the most. She was the most blessed person in the whole world because he was so insecure that he would perpetuate a stupid lie for his whole life. Are you kidding me? How is that a good thing?]
The end.
Comments. I was annoyed when I read this story. When I was teaching English, every year I would prepare at least one lesson on lying. It's epidemic here. It goes hand in hand with cheating and plagiarism. And it seems only a few people bat an eye at it. Many times students would say, "what's wrong with a little white lie?"
One of the more interesting 'white lies' that continues to circulate is the melamine in milk issue. The initial 'outbreak' was years ago. But it continue to crop up. How is that possible?
At the same time, I am constantly reminding myself that this is not isolated to China. Just read the news from Capitol Hill, or watch a sitcom, or (I dare you) look at your own life. How often do we just cover up our goofs with our bluffs. It's part of American culture too. It would be all too easy to read this story and my past experiences, and start pointing fingers at 'them'. But that would be a lie.
The only antidote is an encounter with the Truth, the Light that brings all things out in the open.
他和她是在一个晚会上认识的。那时的她又年轻又美丽，有很多的追求者，而他却是一个穷大学生。可是他却一下子爱上了她，尽管他明明知道自己配不上她。晚会结束的时候，他勇敢的邀请她一块去喝咖啡，她呢，尽管很吃惊，然而出于礼貌，还是答应了。
They met at a party. At that time she was young and beautiful, and she had many pursuers. But he was a poor college student. But after a short while he fell in love with her, even though he clearly knew he was not a good match for her. As the party came to an end he bravely asked her to go with him to a coffee shop. She, although surprised, was very polite, and accepted.
[Good start to a story. Boy, girl, meet at a party, and he's a stud! Although he knows he's only a 3 on the scale and she's a 9, he goes for it...]
坐在咖啡馆里，两人之间的气氛分明很不自然，没有什么话题，咖啡还没上来，她就希望快点二结束。
Sitting in the coffee shop, the atmosphere between them was unnatural, with nothing to talk about and the coffee had not yet come. She desperately hoped that the time would end.
[Things look a little grim for our poor, homely college student...*dramatic rise in music*]
正在这时，服务小姐把咖啡端上来了，他结结巴巴的对服务小姐说：“麻﹑麻，麻烦您那点儿盐过来。”她和那位服务小姐一样大吃一惊，别的客人的目光也一下子集中到了他的身上，他的脸一下子红了，小声说：“我﹑我喝咖啡习惯放点儿盐。”小姐把盐拿过来，他在咖啡里放了点儿盐，慢慢的喝着。她很好奇地问：“你为什么要放盐呢？”他沉默了一会儿，然后红着脸结结巴巴的说：“小﹑小时候，我家住在海边，我老是在海里泡着，海浪打过来，海水进到嘴里，又苦又咸。我已经很久没回家了，真怀念那里的一切，包括那又苦又咸的海水。之所以喜欢在咖啡里放盐，可能是因为想家吧。
Right at that time, the waitress came carrying the coffee, and he stammeringly said to her, "puh-puh-please bring me some salt." The girl and the waitress were quite surprised, and everyone else in the coffee shop turned their gaze to him. His face turned red, and he quietly explained, "I, I, it's my habit to drink coffee with salt." The waitress brought the salt, and he put some in his coffee, drinking it slowly. She was very curious and asked, "Why do you put salt in your coffee?" He sat silent for a while, then stammering, and with a red face said, "When, when I was small, I lived by the sea, and I would always walk along the shore, and when waves would come the spray would get on my mouth, it was so bitter and salty. I haven't been home in a very long time, I really miss it, including the bitter and salty sea water. So when I put salt in my coffee, it's because I miss my home."
[The story reaches a climax. He's bungled his way through things so far, and just at this moment it seems all hope is lost.]
太令人感动了，因为这是她第一次听到男人在她面前说自己想家。她认为想家的男人肯定是爱家的男人，爱家的男人一定是有责任心的男人。她忽然觉得两个人的距离一下子拉近了。于是她也跟他说起了远方的故乡......两个人聊了很久很久，越聊越高兴，不知不觉到了咖啡馆关门的时间。当他提出送她回家时，她竟然没有拒绝。
She was so moved, because this was the first time she had ever witnessed a guy saying he missed his home. She believed that a guy who misses his home is a guy who loves his home, and a guy who loves his home is a responsible man. She suddenly thought these two distant people could be pulled close together. Then she told him a story from a distant place......Two people talked for a long long time, and the more they talked the happier they were. Without hardly noticing, closing time for the cafe arrived. He proposed they return to his apartment, and she unexpectedly did not refuse.
[But somehow he pulls it off and she falls for him! Unfortunately, the story seems to take a disappointing turn, as she follows him like a lamb to the slaughter, to his apartment. And if he's a college student it's his dorm room. Doubly lame.]
从那以后，两个人频繁的约会，她发现他真的是一个很好的男人，大度﹑细心﹑体贴，有很多优点。她暗暗的想：幸亏当时的礼貌，才没有和他错过。后来他们去过了城里的许多咖啡馆，每次她都对服务员说：“请拿点儿盐来好吗？我的朋友喜欢在咖啡里放盐。”
From then on these two frequently met together. She discovered that he really was a very good guy, magnanimous, careful and attentive, and considerate, with many 'advantages.' She secretly thought to herself, 'Thanks to my politeness at that first meeting I didn't miss out meeting him. They went to a great many coffee shops in the city, every time she would ask the waitress, "Please bring some salt. My friend likes salt in his coffee."
[We see that things seem to turn out well for these two.]
再后来，就像童话书里写的一样，“王子和公主结了婚，从此过着幸福的生活。”他们确实过得很幸福，而且幸福地过了四十多年。尽管四十多年中发生了很多变化，但是他们之间的爱从来没有变过，不管是富有还是贫穷，始终相爱，一直到他得病去世。
After that things went just like in the story books, "The prince and princess were married, and lived happily ever after." They were truly happy, and happy for more than 40 years. Although through the 40 years many things changed, the love between them never changed, whether they were rich or poor, from beginning to end, until the day he got sick and died.
[And, the story book ending...or middle part. And, like so many Chinese movies it has a very strange ending. Things seem SO good--and then he dies! What!?]
故事似乎应该结束了，如果没有那封信的话。
It would seem that the story should end there, but that would leave out what the letter said.
[But! It doesn't end there. He wrote a letter from his death bed.]
那封信是他写给她的遗言：“亲爱的，原惊我欺骗了你四十多年。还记得第一次请你喝咖啡吗？当时我太紧张了，不知为什么，竟然对小姐说拿些盐来，其实我喝咖啡从来不放盐。当时既然说出来了，就只好把盐放进去，没想到竟然引起了你的好奇心。这一来，让我喝了半辈子加盐的咖啡。好多次我都想告诉你，可是我怕你不原谅我说谎。我必须用一生去实践这个谎言，不然你可能会离开我，但是我不能没有你。可是，我现在不怕了，因为我就要死了，死人总是很容易被人原谅的，对不对？今生得到你是我最大的幸福，如果有来生，我还希望娶到你，即使再喝几十年加盐的咖啡，也没关系。不过说实话，咖啡放盐简直太难喝了。咖啡里放盐，当时我是怎么想出来的呢？”
The letter he gave her were his last words: "My dear Love, forgive me for deceiving you more than 40 years ago. Do you remember the first time we met? I was so nervous then! I don't know why, but I even surprised myself when I asked the waitress to bring salt. I actually have never liked salt in my coffee. At that time I would never have imagined it would lead to your curiosity. I only drank half the cup. Many times I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you would not forgive my lie. My whole life I have had to perpetuate this lie, otherwise you would leave me, but I can't live without you! However, now I am not afraid, because I will soon die, and dying people are easy to forgive, right? In this life you have been my greatest blessing, and when I enter the next life, I hope marry you. And even if I have to drink salty coffee for another 40 years, it doesn't matter. To tell you the truth, salty coffee is really hard to drink! Salty coffee, how could I think of something like that?!
[It reads...blah blah blah. "I'm a liar, have been my whole life. And I didn't trust you enough to share my deepest longings and fears. But now that I'm dying I can spill everything. It might leave you miserable, but at least I'll feel good about myself, having spilled it all. Then I can die and leave you." (this is my sarcastic voice, can you hear it?) "And I'm an idiot for drinking salty coffee for more than 40 years."]
信的内容令她大吃一惊，她多想流着泪告诉他：“她是世界上最幸福的人，因为有人为了她，能够用一辈子去实践一个谎言。”
The contents of the letter really surprised her, and she cried very much, telling him: "'She' is the most blessed woman in the whole world, because for her sake a man would perpetuate a lie for his whole life."
[This is the part that got me the most. She was the most blessed person in the whole world because he was so insecure that he would perpetuate a stupid lie for his whole life. Are you kidding me? How is that a good thing?]
The end.
Comments. I was annoyed when I read this story. When I was teaching English, every year I would prepare at least one lesson on lying. It's epidemic here. It goes hand in hand with cheating and plagiarism. And it seems only a few people bat an eye at it. Many times students would say, "what's wrong with a little white lie?"
One of the more interesting 'white lies' that continues to circulate is the melamine in milk issue. The initial 'outbreak' was years ago. But it continue to crop up. How is that possible?
At the same time, I am constantly reminding myself that this is not isolated to China. Just read the news from Capitol Hill, or watch a sitcom, or (I dare you) look at your own life. How often do we just cover up our goofs with our bluffs. It's part of American culture too. It would be all too easy to read this story and my past experiences, and start pointing fingers at 'them'. But that would be a lie.
The only antidote is an encounter with the Truth, the Light that brings all things out in the open.
Monday, December 6, 2010
More from the Brown Martyr
I stumbled across this again while reading a friend's blog. The original map and article dates back to late September this year. If you zoom in on China, we live in the small, dark red dot amidst all the swirliness smack in the middle of the 'red zones'.
I'm thinking about moving to Australia, anyone with me?
I'm thinking about moving to Australia, anyone with me?
A Different Kind of Martyrdom
Wikipedia says: A martyr (Greek: μάρτυς, mártys, "witness"; stem μάρτυρ-, mártyr-) is somebody who suffers persecution and death for the people, a country or an organization, or refusing to renounce a belief, usually religious, political or rights.
I once heard about Celtic Christianity's definition of martyrdom from one of the adjunct professors at Wheaton. They recognized three different kinds of martyrdom, organized by color:
Green: Staying home and living one's life in total subjection to Christ (not a bad way to 'go', eh?). This often took the form of joining a monastic group, with strict observances.
Red: Dying for your faith. This could take various forms, but the color makes it obvious.
White (and according to some, the 'highest' martyrdom): leaving home and country through love of Christ and others.
If you look carefully you'll notice that only one of the three involves leaving the earth 'unnaturally'. The implications of that are pretty profound. YOU could be a martyr. Today. Tomorrow. It's basically the choice to live a Romans 12:1-2 life right where you are, to BE a living sacrifice. What a great tension in those two words. Think about it. LIVING - - SACRIFICE.
I'm only one small sliver Scotch-Irish, but I'd like to add one more to the Celts list:
Brown: Continually receiving in your body the Sufferings of Christ due to location and unnatural environmental factors. This is a sloow slooooooow sloooooooooow death, and may even appear 'natural'.
Whether through ignorance, willful neglect or malice the environment (both natural and man-made products) is a serious serious problem in China. We hear in the news about algae blooms that threaten beautiful lakes and rivers, melamine tainted milk, dust storms in the NE caused by desertification which, in turn, is caused by the unchecked felling of whole forests, the utter unsuitability of the water in the last 1/3 of the Yellow River before it reaches the Beihai Sea--if it makes it there at all, air pollution in every major city, and the list could go on.
To add to the already known issues is the whole host of unaccounted for and unreported issues. Things like the smell of burning plastic in your apartment in the morning, the ever-present dust that builds up in large quantities within days, garbage dumping in pretty much ALL rural areas, industrial waste that is secretly (or not) disposed of, and on and on.
You may ask, "Why would anyone chose that?" It's for the sake of His name. There's certainly nothing glorious about it. You definitely won't be anointed a 'saint' by the Holy See in Rome, and Michelangelo won't be enshrining you in oil on the plaster ceiling of a very cool building. But that's not the reward. There are far greater rewards than that.
For example, hearing "Well done, good and faithful (if not a bit dirty) servant. Gabriel, get that guy a clean robe. Come, enjoy your Master's happiness."
Or, the 'crowns' that await that great Day, and the joy of casting them at His feet (see Philippians 4:1 for more details).
Cheers to Brown Martyrs.
I once heard about Celtic Christianity's definition of martyrdom from one of the adjunct professors at Wheaton. They recognized three different kinds of martyrdom, organized by color:
Green: Staying home and living one's life in total subjection to Christ (not a bad way to 'go', eh?). This often took the form of joining a monastic group, with strict observances.
Red: Dying for your faith. This could take various forms, but the color makes it obvious.
White (and according to some, the 'highest' martyrdom): leaving home and country through love of Christ and others.
If you look carefully you'll notice that only one of the three involves leaving the earth 'unnaturally'. The implications of that are pretty profound. YOU could be a martyr. Today. Tomorrow. It's basically the choice to live a Romans 12:1-2 life right where you are, to BE a living sacrifice. What a great tension in those two words. Think about it. LIVING - - SACRIFICE.
I'm only one small sliver Scotch-Irish, but I'd like to add one more to the Celts list:
Brown: Continually receiving in your body the Sufferings of Christ due to location and unnatural environmental factors. This is a sloow slooooooow sloooooooooow death, and may even appear 'natural'.
Whether through ignorance, willful neglect or malice the environment (both natural and man-made products) is a serious serious problem in China. We hear in the news about algae blooms that threaten beautiful lakes and rivers, melamine tainted milk, dust storms in the NE caused by desertification which, in turn, is caused by the unchecked felling of whole forests, the utter unsuitability of the water in the last 1/3 of the Yellow River before it reaches the Beihai Sea--if it makes it there at all, air pollution in every major city, and the list could go on.
To add to the already known issues is the whole host of unaccounted for and unreported issues. Things like the smell of burning plastic in your apartment in the morning, the ever-present dust that builds up in large quantities within days, garbage dumping in pretty much ALL rural areas, industrial waste that is secretly (or not) disposed of, and on and on.
You may ask, "Why would anyone chose that?" It's for the sake of His name. There's certainly nothing glorious about it. You definitely won't be anointed a 'saint' by the Holy See in Rome, and Michelangelo won't be enshrining you in oil on the plaster ceiling of a very cool building. But that's not the reward. There are far greater rewards than that.
For example, hearing "Well done, good and faithful (if not a bit dirty) servant. Gabriel, get that guy a clean robe. Come, enjoy your Master's happiness."
Or, the 'crowns' that await that great Day, and the joy of casting them at His feet (see Philippians 4:1 for more details).
Cheers to Brown Martyrs.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Advent, Week 2
Here's the selections for Advent, Week 2. I titled this week, Announcements, trying to pick up themes that heighten expectation, of what is to come.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 – The Fullness of Time and the Spirit
Ezekiel 11:16-20
Galatians 4:4-7
Ephesians 1:9-14
Hebrews 10:23
Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 – Comfort Announced
Isaiah 40:1-9
Isaiah 52:7-10
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 – One to Prepare the Way
Isaiah 40:3-5
Micah 3:1-4
Luke 1:67-80
John 1:6-8
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 – He will be a King
Numbers 24:15-19
Daniel 7:13-14
Micah 5:2-5
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 – A Different Kind of Announcement
Matthew 2:1-2
Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 – Elizabeth’s Reproach Removed
Luke 1:5-25
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 – The Birth of Jesus Foretold
Matthew 1:18-23
Luke 1:26-38
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 – The Fullness of Time and the Spirit
Ezekiel 11:16-20
Galatians 4:4-7
Ephesians 1:9-14
Hebrews 10:23
Monday, Dec. 6, 2010 – Comfort Announced
Isaiah 40:1-9
Isaiah 52:7-10
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010 – One to Prepare the Way
Isaiah 40:3-5
Micah 3:1-4
Luke 1:67-80
John 1:6-8
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010 – He will be a King
Numbers 24:15-19
Daniel 7:13-14
Micah 5:2-5
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010 – A Different Kind of Announcement
Matthew 2:1-2
Friday, Dec. 10, 2010 – Elizabeth’s Reproach Removed
Luke 1:5-25
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010 – The Birth of Jesus Foretold
Matthew 1:18-23
Luke 1:26-38
Thursday, December 2, 2010
My Friend from the northern half of Korea
Yesterday I got my writing midterm exam back. In it we had to write a short note and an email based on things we'd studied, and a longer description of a friend, also based on earlier examples. I chose to write "to" and about my friend from North Korea, and he chose to write "to" and about me.
Yup. How many of you can claim a N. Korean friend? Or, how many of you can claim you've ever met a N. Korean? (shameless little plug for YOU to come study in China)
Things transpired rather naturally. The first days of class everyone is kind of finding their own 'rhythm' and place in the class, choosing seats that will become later habit. For the first couple of weeks the three N. Korean's in our class took turns sitting next to me. Not that it was that obvious, but they just 'happened' to sit next to me. At first I didn't make any overt attempts to be friendly. I didn't want to scare them off. But we made small talk, about the lesson, homework, etc. We settled into a routine, and one of the guys in particular has been sitting with me ever since. Not at every class. I think that would be too 'obvious'. But we seem to have developed a rhythm, and in certain classes on certain days we sit together.
We don't talk about too much, though we've shared about some family things, what we're studying, and some cultural things. Once in a while the course text will talk about something in America, and he'll ask me, "is it really like that?" And usually I have to smile and say, "well, not really, but it makes a nice story, huh?" I'd say we've reached a pretty good comfort level. Here's a little introduction, that I wrote for my exam (with the teachers corrections):
在中级班，我有一个很好朋友。他的中文名字是-- -- --。他来中国三个月了，而这是他第一次来中国。他到中国之前，学汉语五个月。他的汉语水平比我高。
In my class I have a good friend. His Chinese name is (I left it out, you can never really know who's reading). He has been in China for three months, and this is his first time to come. Before he came to China he studied Chinese for five months. His Chinese is better than mine.
他比我大四岁，也比我高一点儿。他有一个妻子，很漂亮。我希望有天跟她见面。他有一个女孩，六岁，很可爱。
He is four years older than me, and a little bit taller. He has one wife who is very beautiful. I hope to meet her one day. He has a daughter who is six years old, and very adorable.
他来武汉学习生物学，读博士。今年他只是学汉语，明年开始学专业。
He came to Wuhan to study for a PhD in biology. This year he is only studying Chinese, next year he will begin studying his major.
虽然他从朝鲜，我从美国来，我们的国家有差别，但这并不妨碍我们成为好朋友。
Although he comes from N. Korea, and I come from the U.S., and our countries have their differences, that does not hinder us from becoming good friends.
他是我很好的朋友。
He is my good friend.
I barely squeaked an A. :)
I'll admit that the test was not too hard. But I'm glad for that. Chinese writing (characters from memory) can be tough. When we got our tests back, he and I traded and read what the other had written. He laughed when he read that he had only one wife, and joked that he's not an emperor like in ancient China. We both laughed.
When he read the end, about our countries having differences but that doesn't hinder us from being friends, he said something to the effect of, "yes, that's true." And we smiled.
I've been trying to think of something profound to say, about stepping beyond our boundaries, reaching out in strange contexts, and the rewards it brings, but nothing comes to mind. I will say, I'm afraid for America's future, because most people in our beloved country don't do that, don't step out of the cushy comfort we think is ours by 'right', and we don't care to (heck, we've earned it, right?). And that's a sure sign of 'heart failure', which only leads to death.
We'll see where our friendship goes in the future. I hope it can last through dark nights, long years, and after we part ways, we meet up again one day in the future, and perhaps walk and talk and share life together, forever.
Yup. How many of you can claim a N. Korean friend? Or, how many of you can claim you've ever met a N. Korean? (shameless little plug for YOU to come study in China)
Things transpired rather naturally. The first days of class everyone is kind of finding their own 'rhythm' and place in the class, choosing seats that will become later habit. For the first couple of weeks the three N. Korean's in our class took turns sitting next to me. Not that it was that obvious, but they just 'happened' to sit next to me. At first I didn't make any overt attempts to be friendly. I didn't want to scare them off. But we made small talk, about the lesson, homework, etc. We settled into a routine, and one of the guys in particular has been sitting with me ever since. Not at every class. I think that would be too 'obvious'. But we seem to have developed a rhythm, and in certain classes on certain days we sit together.
We don't talk about too much, though we've shared about some family things, what we're studying, and some cultural things. Once in a while the course text will talk about something in America, and he'll ask me, "is it really like that?" And usually I have to smile and say, "well, not really, but it makes a nice story, huh?" I'd say we've reached a pretty good comfort level. Here's a little introduction, that I wrote for my exam (with the teachers corrections):
在中级班，我有一个很好朋友。他的中文名字是-- -- --。他来中国三个月了，而这是他第一次来中国。他到中国之前，学汉语五个月。他的汉语水平比我高。
In my class I have a good friend. His Chinese name is (I left it out, you can never really know who's reading). He has been in China for three months, and this is his first time to come. Before he came to China he studied Chinese for five months. His Chinese is better than mine.
他比我大四岁，也比我高一点儿。他有一个妻子，很漂亮。我希望有天跟她见面。他有一个女孩，六岁，很可爱。
He is four years older than me, and a little bit taller. He has one wife who is very beautiful. I hope to meet her one day. He has a daughter who is six years old, and very adorable.
他来武汉学习生物学，读博士。今年他只是学汉语，明年开始学专业。
He came to Wuhan to study for a PhD in biology. This year he is only studying Chinese, next year he will begin studying his major.
虽然他从朝鲜，我从美国来，我们的国家有差别，但这并不妨碍我们成为好朋友。
Although he comes from N. Korea, and I come from the U.S., and our countries have their differences, that does not hinder us from becoming good friends.
他是我很好的朋友。
He is my good friend.
I barely squeaked an A. :)
I'll admit that the test was not too hard. But I'm glad for that. Chinese writing (characters from memory) can be tough. When we got our tests back, he and I traded and read what the other had written. He laughed when he read that he had only one wife, and joked that he's not an emperor like in ancient China. We both laughed.
When he read the end, about our countries having differences but that doesn't hinder us from being friends, he said something to the effect of, "yes, that's true." And we smiled.
I've been trying to think of something profound to say, about stepping beyond our boundaries, reaching out in strange contexts, and the rewards it brings, but nothing comes to mind. I will say, I'm afraid for America's future, because most people in our beloved country don't do that, don't step out of the cushy comfort we think is ours by 'right', and we don't care to (heck, we've earned it, right?). And that's a sure sign of 'heart failure', which only leads to death.
We'll see where our friendship goes in the future. I hope it can last through dark nights, long years, and after we part ways, we meet up again one day in the future, and perhaps walk and talk and share life together, forever.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Advent Season is Upon Us
I was hoping to post this on Sunday, but I came down with a very nice 24 hr flu and was laid up until today. I'm back to my usual scrumming, classes, Chinese characters, philosophy (I'm in the middle of my first paper in Chinese!!!), and just being.
Advent is here! i.e. - advent is advent! since advent means arrival. If you're not familiar with the Advent Season it is a very old Church tradition that anticipates the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
[Yeah, yeah; I know there are a few scrooges and Grinches who want to ruin the holiday by saying it was originally a pagan holiday to celebrate the birth of Saturn, etc. But those kill-Joys are forgetting the beauty of the cross-cultural process of Christian history, and how holidays once used to worship demons and other created things can be turned to the worship of God. You would be hard-pressed to find a person worshiping Saturn today. But many worship Christ, and it has become tradition to celebrate His birth on December 25.]
In the last few weeks I have been working on an Advent calendar that my family (right now just Emily and I) will be using in the coming years to celebrate Emmanuel. For the next couple of years it will probably be a work in progress, adding discussion questions for kids and adults, and a list of songs to sing or play that fit with the themes.
Some Advent calendars have elements for every day, some only for the four Sundays preceding Christmas day (usually used in church services because they usually meet weekly). Each week has a theme (and they vary from tradition to tradition): Week 1: Prophecy/Expectation/Hope; Week 2: Announcements; Week 3: Joy/Fulfillment; Week 4: Proclamation/Invitation. This year is particularly special because Christmas is on Saturday, meaning this year we have the longest possible Advent calendar, and more time to CELEBRATE! For the first three weeks, every Wednesday, you'll also notice that there is an 'inner theme', of Jesus' Three Offices - Prophet, Priest, and King. On years when we have fewer days to celebrate those days can be dropped without losing as much of the basic story and significant points.
Obviously some of the readings might be a little long for smaller kids, but there's no law keeping you from making this work for your family.
Here's the first week's readings, and I'll follow these up each Sunday with the next weeks. Sorry it's already Wednesday. That means you'll have some catching up to do. Curse the Curse, and my flu! Praise Jesus for coming to heal all things!
PROPHECY – EXPECTATION – HOPE
Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 – The predicament and a veiled solution, the Seed to come
Genesis 3:8-19
Genesis 15:1-6
Genesis 22:1-14
Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 – Brokenness and Healing
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Jeremiah 33:6-9
Daniel 9:24
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 – The Shoot from the Stump of Jesse, the Branch
1 Samuel 16:1, 11-13
Isaiah 11:1-11
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Zechariah 3:8-10
Zechariah 6:12-13
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 – He will be a Prophet
Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Hebrews 3:1-6
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010 – A Great Light
Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah 42:6-8
Isaiah 60:1-3, 19-22
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 – Our Hope of Salvation, a Rock for All People
Psalm 62:5-6
Isaiah 12
Isaiah 26:1-4
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010 – The Shepherd and His Sheep
Ezekiel 34:11-24
John 10:1-18
Psalm 95:6-7
Isaiah 40:10-11
Jeremiah 23:1-4
Advent is here! i.e. - advent is advent! since advent means arrival. If you're not familiar with the Advent Season it is a very old Church tradition that anticipates the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
[Yeah, yeah; I know there are a few scrooges and Grinches who want to ruin the holiday by saying it was originally a pagan holiday to celebrate the birth of Saturn, etc. But those kill-Joys are forgetting the beauty of the cross-cultural process of Christian history, and how holidays once used to worship demons and other created things can be turned to the worship of God. You would be hard-pressed to find a person worshiping Saturn today. But many worship Christ, and it has become tradition to celebrate His birth on December 25.]
In the last few weeks I have been working on an Advent calendar that my family (right now just Emily and I) will be using in the coming years to celebrate Emmanuel. For the next couple of years it will probably be a work in progress, adding discussion questions for kids and adults, and a list of songs to sing or play that fit with the themes.
Some Advent calendars have elements for every day, some only for the four Sundays preceding Christmas day (usually used in church services because they usually meet weekly). Each week has a theme (and they vary from tradition to tradition): Week 1: Prophecy/Expectation/Hope; Week 2: Announcements; Week 3: Joy/Fulfillment; Week 4: Proclamation/Invitation. This year is particularly special because Christmas is on Saturday, meaning this year we have the longest possible Advent calendar, and more time to CELEBRATE! For the first three weeks, every Wednesday, you'll also notice that there is an 'inner theme', of Jesus' Three Offices - Prophet, Priest, and King. On years when we have fewer days to celebrate those days can be dropped without losing as much of the basic story and significant points.
Obviously some of the readings might be a little long for smaller kids, but there's no law keeping you from making this work for your family.
Here's the first week's readings, and I'll follow these up each Sunday with the next weeks. Sorry it's already Wednesday. That means you'll have some catching up to do. Curse the Curse, and my flu! Praise Jesus for coming to heal all things!
PROPHECY – EXPECTATION – HOPE
Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 – The predicament and a veiled solution, the Seed to come
Genesis 3:8-19
Genesis 15:1-6
Genesis 22:1-14
Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 – Brokenness and Healing
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Jeremiah 33:6-9
Daniel 9:24
Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 – The Shoot from the Stump of Jesse, the Branch
1 Samuel 16:1, 11-13
Isaiah 11:1-11
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Jeremiah 33:14-16
Zechariah 3:8-10
Zechariah 6:12-13
Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 – He will be a Prophet
Deuteronomy 18:15-19
Hebrews 3:1-6
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010 – A Great Light
Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah 42:6-8
Isaiah 60:1-3, 19-22
Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 – Our Hope of Salvation, a Rock for All People
Psalm 62:5-6
Isaiah 12
Isaiah 26:1-4
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010 – The Shepherd and His Sheep
Ezekiel 34:11-24
John 10:1-18
Psalm 95:6-7
Isaiah 40:10-11
Jeremiah 23:1-4
Friday, November 26, 2010
Lost and Not Found
It's always comforting to hear things like this, especially years after the initial 'outbreak'.
I'm also comforted by the thought that I'm lactose intolerant (as of my college years), so I rarely drink milk...
No Melamine-tainted yoghurt found in Hubei
Authorities in Hubei said that they have not found any corn-flavored yoghurt, produced by a company in Hunan, that reportedly contains excessive amount of melamine, the Beijing News said Monday.
Melamine killed six babies and sickened nearly 300,000 others in 2008, after the chemical had been added to powdered milk to make its protein content seem higher.
The Hubei provincial industry and commercial bureau said on Sunday that the Yuanshan dairy company had produced yoghurt containing 4.8 milligram of melamine in every kilogram - far above the legal limit.
The company had apparently bought milk powder as a raw material from a supplier - without knowing that it was tainted with melamine, according to AFP.
Wang Qunzhang, a spokesman for the Xiangfan city's industry and commercial bureau in Hubei, was quoted in Chinese media as saying that the authorities had feared that 50 packages of the yoghurt had entered the Xiangfan market.
click here to read more of the article
My favorite quote from the article comes later in the article, so I'll quote it here:
Haha. It was probably drunk by consumers. Oh well. A little doesn't hurt that much, right?He also said the yoghurt was produced in June this year, and the company has recalled part of it. Some more was recalled by the quality supervision bureau after they learned of the allegations.
"The rest has probably been drunk by consumers", said Li, "and there should be no such yoghurt on the market now".
I'm also comforted by the thought that I'm lactose intolerant (as of my college years), so I rarely drink milk...
Friday, November 19, 2010
Reminders to Myself
If you're "into" China, and would like some helpful articles to read, the Global China Center has some great stuff, book reviews, articles on pertinent topics, etc. Here's the intro to a review that was a good reminder to myself of that Path Emily and I have chosen. It can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task with no end in sight and seemingly little progress made. But, we are making forward progress and trusting in the Lord. He has led us this far and won't fail us.
One of the biggest lies I've heard from many a Christian (and even pastors!) that comes right out of our culture is, "God just wants me to be happy". And this is used to justify pretty much any action, as long as it makes you happy. The catch is, there's some truth to that! God DOES want you to be happy. He didn't create you for misery. But the source of that happiness is not always what YOU think it is. He has made it plain in his Word that our "Best Life Now" (if you've heard of Joel O's best seller...) is found, not in Health and Wealth (like Joel says), but in obedience to His Word. That doesn't guarantee that health or wealth will come your way. But you will be walking closely with the Author of Life itself, and JOY is found in His presence (Psalm 16:11), not in His presents.
Hoping you find Joy in His presence today.
Anyone who wants to understand Chinese Christianity today must have some knowledge of its religious milieu. In other words, to see the tree clearly, we must study the forest; to appreciate the flower, we must survey the entire garden. Why? Many reasons, including these:Numbers four and five were particularly encouraging to me regarding our direction. That's where we are, and where we hope to be in the future. Two and three are the biggest challenges for believers here (and everywhere else, I think; just look at our own American Church and it's excesses). Those mixed ideas and images (whether religious or not) tend to confuse us as to how we're really supposed to live, and what's "natural and right" is not always how God wants us to live. This looks different in each culture, because each culture lines up with God's word in different places. But the overall issue is the same.
- The Bible employs vocabulary that existed in Chinese before the Christians arrived. Key words (such as dao, rebirth, love) carry denotations and connotations from other faiths that must be distinguished from their biblical uses.
- Chinese who investigate the Christian faith bring a mixed repertory of religious ideas and images that inevitably color their understanding of the Gospel.
- Even after conversion to Christ, they will be heavily influenced by notions that seem natural and right to them simply because they are so familiar and taken for granted, even if these ideas conflict with biblical teaching.
- For Christianity to penetrate and redemptively transform Chinese culture, it must engage in meaningful dialogue with the best representatives of other faiths.
- Love of neighbor has to include respectful listening, with the goal of understanding, before any attempt at persuasion.
- To make sense of the relationship between Christianity and the government, one must go back several millennia for patterns and paradigms that prevail even now.
One of the biggest lies I've heard from many a Christian (and even pastors!) that comes right out of our culture is, "God just wants me to be happy". And this is used to justify pretty much any action, as long as it makes you happy. The catch is, there's some truth to that! God DOES want you to be happy. He didn't create you for misery. But the source of that happiness is not always what YOU think it is. He has made it plain in his Word that our "Best Life Now" (if you've heard of Joel O's best seller...) is found, not in Health and Wealth (like Joel says), but in obedience to His Word. That doesn't guarantee that health or wealth will come your way. But you will be walking closely with the Author of Life itself, and JOY is found in His presence (Psalm 16:11), not in His presents.
Hoping you find Joy in His presence today.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Lest You Forget
-- WARNING: DON'T VIEW BEFORE DINNER, OR JUST AFTER --
Emily roasted a chicken for dinner tonight. First time for us to get a chicken with head and feet attached. It was a helpful reminder that we often 'sanitize' things in the States. When you buy chickens in the market they come with heads and feet attached. Only...not in America. So, by way of reminder how the rest of the world does things:
Emily roasted a chicken for dinner tonight. First time for us to get a chicken with head and feet attached. It was a helpful reminder that we often 'sanitize' things in the States. When you buy chickens in the market they come with heads and feet attached. Only...not in America. So, by way of reminder how the rest of the world does things:
Life Direction, Advent and Tutoring
I have a Chinese tutor. I named him Louie (his surname is Lu, so it seemed to fit well, and he liked it).
He has been a good source of encouragement to me these past days. A week or more ago he was first to our room that we've been meeting in and when I walked in he asked how I was doing. I said good, the weather was warm and sunny, I was feeling good about studying at the time. Then I asked how he was doing. He said, eh, just ok. I asked why and that launched us into a lengthy discussion about life and big decisions, etc. He spent all of last year in Pittsburgh at a Confucian Institute, teaching Chinese to "foreigners" (I like to keep the label, even though he was the foreigner at the time). I was excited for him to return. He'll graduate this coming July with an M.A. in Teaching Chinese, so he's got mad skilz, always comes prepared, and he's just enjoyable to hang with.
He was troubled on this particular day, wrestling with considerations of a PhD, getting a job after he graduates, etc. He asked me how I made and make my decisions regarding these things since I'm in China now, doing an M.A., with plans for a PhD, having somewhat recently gotten married, etc. This opened the door to a really great conversation about following my Lord, how He cares for us, how I talk with Him and hear His voice. He asked some fairly perceptive questions, like "wow, that's great, would he do the same for me?" Another cool part of the story is that it was all done in Chinese! I would say it was my first really significant conversation in Chinese (beyond, where are you from, how old are you, how much money do you make, are you married, how long have you been in China...wow! Your Chinese is really good!).
Then, yesterday he came to the apartment to tutor me. I was working on an Advent Reading Calendar for the family, a tradition we tried last year and wanted to do more of this year. By the way, if you'd like a copy I should have it done by middle-ish of next week, and I can email it out to anyone who wants it. I'll let you know when it's prepared.
He came in and asked what I was up to, and I said I was working on and Advent Calendar. He had never heard of it, so I brought him over to the computer and showed him what I had done. I tried to explain how each reading is significant, and we looked at one. The second day I titled: Brokenness and Healing. I read Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and explained how it refers to the future events in the life of Jesus, and what impact that has on our life. (side note: this time it was done in English...) He was impressed. He said, "I think I need to get [this book] and read it myself." I said, "that's a great idea! How about I bring you one next week?" He said, "Yeah, that's cool."
We'll see what comes of this. More later...
He has been a good source of encouragement to me these past days. A week or more ago he was first to our room that we've been meeting in and when I walked in he asked how I was doing. I said good, the weather was warm and sunny, I was feeling good about studying at the time. Then I asked how he was doing. He said, eh, just ok. I asked why and that launched us into a lengthy discussion about life and big decisions, etc. He spent all of last year in Pittsburgh at a Confucian Institute, teaching Chinese to "foreigners" (I like to keep the label, even though he was the foreigner at the time). I was excited for him to return. He'll graduate this coming July with an M.A. in Teaching Chinese, so he's got mad skilz, always comes prepared, and he's just enjoyable to hang with.
He was troubled on this particular day, wrestling with considerations of a PhD, getting a job after he graduates, etc. He asked me how I made and make my decisions regarding these things since I'm in China now, doing an M.A., with plans for a PhD, having somewhat recently gotten married, etc. This opened the door to a really great conversation about following my Lord, how He cares for us, how I talk with Him and hear His voice. He asked some fairly perceptive questions, like "wow, that's great, would he do the same for me?" Another cool part of the story is that it was all done in Chinese! I would say it was my first really significant conversation in Chinese (beyond, where are you from, how old are you, how much money do you make, are you married, how long have you been in China...wow! Your Chinese is really good!).
Then, yesterday he came to the apartment to tutor me. I was working on an Advent Reading Calendar for the family, a tradition we tried last year and wanted to do more of this year. By the way, if you'd like a copy I should have it done by middle-ish of next week, and I can email it out to anyone who wants it. I'll let you know when it's prepared.
He came in and asked what I was up to, and I said I was working on and Advent Calendar. He had never heard of it, so I brought him over to the computer and showed him what I had done. I tried to explain how each reading is significant, and we looked at one. The second day I titled: Brokenness and Healing. I read Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and explained how it refers to the future events in the life of Jesus, and what impact that has on our life. (side note: this time it was done in English...) He was impressed. He said, "I think I need to get [this book] and read it myself." I said, "that's a great idea! How about I bring you one next week?" He said, "Yeah, that's cool."
We'll see what comes of this. More later...
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Mysteries
When you live cross-culturally you discover many mysteries. Some remain so, others are eventually uncovered, sometimes only partially so. Yesterday my wife had one of those mysterious conversations that made us laugh, sort of. I'll try to uncover it for you as much as I can.
A teacher at Emily's school working in the Kindergarten very recently had her baby. Emily saw the head teacher yesterday in the hallway and asked how this woman and the baby were doing and how the birth went. The head teacher replied (something like this, I'm relaying third hand here), "oh, it went very well, though her water broke so they had to do a C-section."
Uh....really? Because her water broke?.....
Emily I are discussing the possibility of having a baby next year, and up to this point we're thinking we'll have it in China, and we're doing groundwork and research to understand the situation here a little bit better before jumping in. We know of some of the potential 'issues' with this. One is the extremely high rate of C-sections. Of course we're aware that it is necessary sometimes. But we've heard numbers as high as 50% in China. Even if you don't know ANYTHING about birthing, I'm sure you can deduce that 50% is just a little bit high.
You may be surprised to hear such a high number, but we've heard some explanations for it. One, that also occurs in the States, is that doctors get paid a hefty amount for doing one, and not as much if they don't. That's a strong incentive to do them. And in China there's much less 'common' knowledge about things, so when a doctor says so you just do it.
Two, it is also not uncommon, because of the so-called "One Child Policy", that the doctors will also tie the woman's tubes while they have her open - sometimes upon request, sometimes without knowledge of it. We're not at all afraid this would happen to us, it only applies to Chinese. But, it partially accounts for the higher rate.
But, back to the story. We've answered the question as to C-sections in general. But why was it the solution to her water breaking. This is a greater (cultural) mystery. Here are a few options. Unless you really dig you may never really know the real reason. And digging can sometimes be painful. You never know what you may dig up.
Option 1: She didn't want to go through all the work of pushing the baby out, so she opted for a C-section. This is possible, though in my opinion less likely. And her telling everyone that her water broke so she needed a C-section might be her way of avoiding telling people she just didn't want to do it and losing Face.
Option 2: She couldn't push the baby out, so the doctor said she needed a C-section. Perhaps more likely than Option 1. And her "my water broke" reason is a way of saving Face and not having to tell people she couldn't do it.
Option 3: The doctor wanted more money, so he told her that because her water broke she needed a C-section. Emily said that she has heard of some people who believe that if your water breaks there's more potential for infection. I suppose there's some truth to that, like if you never ever push the baby out you just might have problems. But the doctor giving such advice is more likely because he/she wanted the cash that comes from the cut. But, you might say, wouldn't she know that the water must break if the baby is going to come out? Maybe. Though I wouldn't be surprised to find many women (and men) who don't know a thing about birthing here. Medicine is a very very interesting thing in China. Medical questions can be responded to with numerous answers, some that near making sense and some, like this one, that are wildly ridiculous. Which leads to our final option (though we're certainly not limited to this selection. There may be a huge, complicated story that we'll never know. And that's the mystery).
Option 4: There is much to the story we will never know. But, we know she had the baby and they're both healthy, and we know she had a C-section. That's the important material to the story. Why is 'not relevant'.
Conclusion: Here's my final thought on this situation. There are some fishy things in the story. The fact that her water broke does not mean she needed a C-section. The doctor wanting the money is likely. There's possibly more medical issues that we, and perhaps the mother, don't know, and it was merely the doctor's way of avoiding the explanation, and worrying the mom might feel. Very, very likely there's some Face-saving going on. You can't underestimate the importance of Face in China. America has Face too, it just looks a lot different in context, and its based on different factors.
Small digression on Face. For example. One day, several years ago when I was teaching English, I saw several guys shooting a couple basketballs on a court. I watched as I walked and noticed that no one was making any shots. I decided to stop and watch a little longer. For several minutes. NO ONE made ONE shot. For several minutes!! For an American, MAJOR Face loss. If we're not good at something we usually avoid doing it to avoid embarrassment (which amounts to loss of Face). In China, they value doing something together, rather than the skill with which you do it. So, they were all buddies, shooting the ball. THAT was the point, not making baskets.
So, for this woman who had the baby, she saved Face by not telling us why she had a C-section. She might not even know the real reason. And Emily, in good Chinese cultural form, didn't ask. She didn't need to. Option 4. Good Office Politics, Emily. Way to go!
A teacher at Emily's school working in the Kindergarten very recently had her baby. Emily saw the head teacher yesterday in the hallway and asked how this woman and the baby were doing and how the birth went. The head teacher replied (something like this, I'm relaying third hand here), "oh, it went very well, though her water broke so they had to do a C-section."
Uh....really? Because her water broke?.....
Emily I are discussing the possibility of having a baby next year, and up to this point we're thinking we'll have it in China, and we're doing groundwork and research to understand the situation here a little bit better before jumping in. We know of some of the potential 'issues' with this. One is the extremely high rate of C-sections. Of course we're aware that it is necessary sometimes. But we've heard numbers as high as 50% in China. Even if you don't know ANYTHING about birthing, I'm sure you can deduce that 50% is just a little bit high.
You may be surprised to hear such a high number, but we've heard some explanations for it. One, that also occurs in the States, is that doctors get paid a hefty amount for doing one, and not as much if they don't. That's a strong incentive to do them. And in China there's much less 'common' knowledge about things, so when a doctor says so you just do it.
Two, it is also not uncommon, because of the so-called "One Child Policy", that the doctors will also tie the woman's tubes while they have her open - sometimes upon request, sometimes without knowledge of it. We're not at all afraid this would happen to us, it only applies to Chinese. But, it partially accounts for the higher rate.
But, back to the story. We've answered the question as to C-sections in general. But why was it the solution to her water breaking. This is a greater (cultural) mystery. Here are a few options. Unless you really dig you may never really know the real reason. And digging can sometimes be painful. You never know what you may dig up.
Option 1: She didn't want to go through all the work of pushing the baby out, so she opted for a C-section. This is possible, though in my opinion less likely. And her telling everyone that her water broke so she needed a C-section might be her way of avoiding telling people she just didn't want to do it and losing Face.
Option 2: She couldn't push the baby out, so the doctor said she needed a C-section. Perhaps more likely than Option 1. And her "my water broke" reason is a way of saving Face and not having to tell people she couldn't do it.
Option 3: The doctor wanted more money, so he told her that because her water broke she needed a C-section. Emily said that she has heard of some people who believe that if your water breaks there's more potential for infection. I suppose there's some truth to that, like if you never ever push the baby out you just might have problems. But the doctor giving such advice is more likely because he/she wanted the cash that comes from the cut. But, you might say, wouldn't she know that the water must break if the baby is going to come out? Maybe. Though I wouldn't be surprised to find many women (and men) who don't know a thing about birthing here. Medicine is a very very interesting thing in China. Medical questions can be responded to with numerous answers, some that near making sense and some, like this one, that are wildly ridiculous. Which leads to our final option (though we're certainly not limited to this selection. There may be a huge, complicated story that we'll never know. And that's the mystery).
Option 4: There is much to the story we will never know. But, we know she had the baby and they're both healthy, and we know she had a C-section. That's the important material to the story. Why is 'not relevant'.
Conclusion: Here's my final thought on this situation. There are some fishy things in the story. The fact that her water broke does not mean she needed a C-section. The doctor wanting the money is likely. There's possibly more medical issues that we, and perhaps the mother, don't know, and it was merely the doctor's way of avoiding the explanation, and worrying the mom might feel. Very, very likely there's some Face-saving going on. You can't underestimate the importance of Face in China. America has Face too, it just looks a lot different in context, and its based on different factors.
Small digression on Face. For example. One day, several years ago when I was teaching English, I saw several guys shooting a couple basketballs on a court. I watched as I walked and noticed that no one was making any shots. I decided to stop and watch a little longer. For several minutes. NO ONE made ONE shot. For several minutes!! For an American, MAJOR Face loss. If we're not good at something we usually avoid doing it to avoid embarrassment (which amounts to loss of Face). In China, they value doing something together, rather than the skill with which you do it. So, they were all buddies, shooting the ball. THAT was the point, not making baskets.
So, for this woman who had the baby, she saved Face by not telling us why she had a C-section. She might not even know the real reason. And Emily, in good Chinese cultural form, didn't ask. She didn't need to. Option 4. Good Office Politics, Emily. Way to go!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Ups and Downs
Wow! It's hard to put into words the ups and downs you can feel in language study, and living cross-culturally in general. Here's a snippet.
Monday and yesterday I was feeling pretty bummed about my Chinese. Really, quite DOWN. It's not uncommon on days like those to think, "Am I just wasting my time here? What if I completely stop remembering characters, and I fail all my classes? I'll return to the States with my tail between my legs and go to flipping burgers or something..." I felt like my Chinese is just so-so after more than a year studying (Chinese has a great word-phrase for so-so: mamahuhu 马马虎虎, which, when translated literally, comes out horse-horse-tiger-tiger).
Here's how the day went. I had Comprehensive for two periods (a period being 45 min), then Oral for two periods; and my morning is spent. Comprehensive went well enough, just kind of went through it. Oral, we had a kind of mock midterm exam. We were supposed to have previewed two texts by reading and listening to an audio of them, and have done all the practice work for chapter seven so that we can speak the chapter problems and texts very fluidly. I listened to the first text a few times and read along, and listened a few more times on my way to class early this morning. No fluidity happening here.
In Oral class the teacher took attendance on the media projector, and then proceeded to have students read parts of either one of the two texts or the practice problems. He would then write the score he thought the student should have, based on their speaking. Some students whom I think generally better than me scored 60s. I was...a little bit nervous. He came to me and asked me to read from the second text (which I had not even glanced at). Thankfully it was not full of a whole bunch of new words. I, along with my North Korean neighbor (I'll definitely blog about him another time, so stay tuned), and the only other American in the class all read from the second text, and we all scored 95s. That felt very good. Very very good. [the text that I HAD studied was one of the more funny and interesting ones; I'll be posting it with my translation and commentary as soon as I can get it done]
The weather being INCREDIBLY beautiful today, my tutor and I walked around campus, attempting to work out a couple of things-a library card for me, and a question for a friend-and we sat on the grass in the warm sun and just talked for over an hour. Nearly all in Chinese. That felt good too.
As I said before, I had my first midterm today, in writing class. I hardly prepared, but I reviewed a few characters that I knew would be important. Three parts: writing a note, an email, and an introduction of a friend I am familiar with. I chose my N. Korean neighbor, and he chose me. It worked out well, and I feel good about it.
Then I walked home to a blazing orange sunset. I walked along a paved path through a large grassy area (there are not really very many of these in China, so its exceptionally enjoyable); people sitting on benches, roller bladers, little babies in split-pants, and four old men flying kites. There are almost always old men flying kites in the Quad (so-called because it's somewhat of rectangular area). These old men had their kites waaaaay waaaaaay out there--little specks in the distance--I would guess a half-mile away, maybe even more. And as I walked in the sun, with awesome blue sky above (also somewhat rare), I looked at one of the old men with his kite way off in the distance, and he looked at me. He wasn't smiling, not grumpy, not sad, just kind of a blank stare. I busted out my biggest grin for him, and he smiled back! And my heart was warmed.
And even once more, after I crossed the heinous intersection at the main gate of our school and on past all the various construction projects that are going on right now, I smiled at a worker pushing a wheelbarrow of sand, and he gave me a nice big smile too.
And...I'm up again.
Monday and yesterday I was feeling pretty bummed about my Chinese. Really, quite DOWN. It's not uncommon on days like those to think, "Am I just wasting my time here? What if I completely stop remembering characters, and I fail all my classes? I'll return to the States with my tail between my legs and go to flipping burgers or something..." I felt like my Chinese is just so-so after more than a year studying (Chinese has a great word-phrase for so-so: mamahuhu 马马虎虎, which, when translated literally, comes out horse-horse-tiger-tiger).
Here's how the day went. I had Comprehensive for two periods (a period being 45 min), then Oral for two periods; and my morning is spent. Comprehensive went well enough, just kind of went through it. Oral, we had a kind of mock midterm exam. We were supposed to have previewed two texts by reading and listening to an audio of them, and have done all the practice work for chapter seven so that we can speak the chapter problems and texts very fluidly. I listened to the first text a few times and read along, and listened a few more times on my way to class early this morning. No fluidity happening here.
In Oral class the teacher took attendance on the media projector, and then proceeded to have students read parts of either one of the two texts or the practice problems. He would then write the score he thought the student should have, based on their speaking. Some students whom I think generally better than me scored 60s. I was...a little bit nervous. He came to me and asked me to read from the second text (which I had not even glanced at). Thankfully it was not full of a whole bunch of new words. I, along with my North Korean neighbor (I'll definitely blog about him another time, so stay tuned), and the only other American in the class all read from the second text, and we all scored 95s. That felt very good. Very very good. [the text that I HAD studied was one of the more funny and interesting ones; I'll be posting it with my translation and commentary as soon as I can get it done]
The weather being INCREDIBLY beautiful today, my tutor and I walked around campus, attempting to work out a couple of things-a library card for me, and a question for a friend-and we sat on the grass in the warm sun and just talked for over an hour. Nearly all in Chinese. That felt good too.
As I said before, I had my first midterm today, in writing class. I hardly prepared, but I reviewed a few characters that I knew would be important. Three parts: writing a note, an email, and an introduction of a friend I am familiar with. I chose my N. Korean neighbor, and he chose me. It worked out well, and I feel good about it.
Then I walked home to a blazing orange sunset. I walked along a paved path through a large grassy area (there are not really very many of these in China, so its exceptionally enjoyable); people sitting on benches, roller bladers, little babies in split-pants, and four old men flying kites. There are almost always old men flying kites in the Quad (so-called because it's somewhat of rectangular area). These old men had their kites waaaaay waaaaaay out there--little specks in the distance--I would guess a half-mile away, maybe even more. And as I walked in the sun, with awesome blue sky above (also somewhat rare), I looked at one of the old men with his kite way off in the distance, and he looked at me. He wasn't smiling, not grumpy, not sad, just kind of a blank stare. I busted out my biggest grin for him, and he smiled back! And my heart was warmed.
And even once more, after I crossed the heinous intersection at the main gate of our school and on past all the various construction projects that are going on right now, I smiled at a worker pushing a wheelbarrow of sand, and he gave me a nice big smile too.
And...I'm up again.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A Taste of Chinese Class
Here’s a little taste of Chinese class for your enjoyment. You can really learn a lot about a culture by studying it’s language textbooks. What do you gather from this?.....
[and I have commentary in brackets like these]
[and I have commentary in brackets like these]
小林：爸爸，有朋友请我参加平安夜舞会，今天晚上我就不回家了。
Little Lin [pronounced: Leen]: Baba, my friend invited me to celebrate a Christmas Eve Ball, so tonight I won't becoming home.
[Christmas Eve in China is a KAY-RAZY time. Imagine a carnival on steroids, all up and down the streets. All kinds of street food, balloons, flowers, and one BILLION of your closest friends all jammed together on the streets and sidewalks.]
爸爸：什么？一晚上不回家？这些洋节有什么好？我真是不明白你们这些年轻人。
Baba [means Dad; but I like the 'flavor' of Baba better]: What?! You won't come home tonight? What is good about these foreign holidays? I really don't understand you young people.
[in China the age-gap between generations is enormous. I've heard that every five years is considered a new generation, especially among the younger crowds. Students who graduated five years ago can hardly make sense of college students today, their worldviews and experiences are so far apart.]
小林：我也说不清楚，只要是节我就过，反正就是高兴，可以乘机放松放松。
LL: I'm not too clear about it either, only I like to celebrate these holidays, they're really fun, and I want to seize the chance to relax a little bit!
爸爸：放松？那为什么过春节，中秋节没见你这么高兴？传统节日不也挺热闹吗？
BB: Relax?! Why doesn't celebrating Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival make you happy? Traditional holidays aren't lively enough?
[Spring Festival, usually in February and based on a lunar calendar, and Mid-Autumn Festival, also lunar, are traditional Chinese holidays.]
小林：传统节日也不错，不过，传统节日净讲究“团圆”，全家人在一起不是吃饭就是看电视，没什么意思。
LL: Traditional holidays aren't bad, but, traditional holidays merely focus on "family reunion", getting the whole family together to eat food or watch T.V.
[This is really quite true. When my wife and I visited a friends home for Spring Festival pretty much all we did was eat food and watch T.V. For Spring Festival there is the obligatory house cleaning and a few other small things, but not much else.]
爸爸：什么节你不也一样玩吗？再说，一家人团圆有什么不好？
BB: Are there any holidays that are not equally as fun? Besides, what's so bad about family reunions?
[Family is huge in China. It can be a huge insult to dislike family reunions, not to mention a turning from literally thousands of years of history]
小林：可能洋节更接近年轻人的性格吧，向干什么就干什么，什么规矩都没有，什么情人节，圣诞节，万圣节，都浪漫，都刺激啊！
LL: Maybe foreign holidays are more close to young people's disposition? If we want to do something, we do it, and there's no rules. Valentines Day, Christmas, Halloween, they're all romantic and stimulating!
[Word choice here was a little tricky, the last word in particular. It really literally "stimulating", but I think the idea conveyed is exciting. And, there's a very strong "foreign/Chinese" aspect at play through the whole dialogue, as in Chinese culture in general. The older people defending the traditions and the younger people accepting...well, pretty much anything, and often without much consideration. As he says, if we want to do something, we do it, and there's no rules! I've never heard of a holiday anywhere that had NO rules. Ridiculous!]
爸爸：这倒也是，洋节的过法和传统节日的过法还真不一样，连商场的气氛都不一样。
BB: I see your point. Foreign holiday celebrations and traditional holiday celebrations are very different, even the atmosphere in the markets is different.
[Here Baba is conceding a point, that there is something to those foreign holidays.]
小林：是啊，您在看看报纸，电视，广播，能不吸引人吗？
LL: Yeah! When you read the paper, watch T.V. and listen to radio broadcasts, you can't help but be influenced, can you?
[It is interesting to note that, although the Little Lin is incredibly rebellious throughout the dialogue, he continues to address Baba with the more respectful term, nin 您, rather than the casual ni 你.]
爸爸：热闹是热闹，不过，你知道这些洋节是怎么来的吗？
BB: Excitement is excitement, however, do you know where these foreign holidays come from?
[A little Chinese grammar: the first five characters are an admission of something, agreeing that it's true, but indicating that you have some reservation. You can see it's followed by 'however'... The more direct translation comes out a little wooden, but I thought you might enjoy a little 'Chinese flavor'.]
小林：不知道，我也不想知道，我就想好好玩儿玩儿，还有情人节，母亲节什么的，大家都过，我也凑凑热闹。就好像没有情人也可以过情人节一样，我管它是情人节还是愚人节呢，过节就是给自己找一个快乐的理由。
LL: I don't know. And I don't wanna know! I just want to have fun, and Valentines Day, Mother's Day, etc., I celebrate them all, and join in all the fun! Even if I don't have a girlfriend I can still celebrate Valentines Day. Whether it's Valentines Day, April Fools Day, they all give me a reason to look for happiness!
[Here our little friend shows a little more color. Not only does he not know where the holidays come from, he doesn't care. And we see again, nothing matters but having fun.]
爸爸：其实，咱中国也有情人节啊，还不止一个呢，三月三，七月七不都是吗？我觉得那洋情人节就不怎么样，咱中国活里头“情人”就不是个好词，我还看见，2月14日那天，有个饭店门口竟然立了块牌子，写着“非情人莫入”，也太过分了!
BB: Actually, Our China also has Valentines day, and not only one! March 3rd, July 7th, both are, aren't they? I think that foreign Valentines Day is not even worth talking about. In Our China lives "lover" is not a good word. AND! On February 14th, quite to my surprise, I saw a restaurant with a sign on it's door, that read "No Lover No Enter"! So uncalled for!
[I really got a kick out of translating this one. A few notes:
1. As foreign teachers talking with students, or just when you talk with anyone in English, unless they are pretty good with their English skills, will say Our China, which is a direct translation from the Chinese. It's an aspect of Chinese culture that is a little far removed from "Our American" lives. But it's Chinese culture. They find a healthy sense of identity in the group. So they use the plural.
2. And yes, China does have two Valentines Days. The first one is on March 3rd, the second on July 7th. And the dates aren't random either. In Chinese the months don't have names, they're just in order by number. So March is sanyue 三月, literally Three Month, and July is the same, qiyue 七月, Seven Month. So the date comes out 3.3 and 7.7. Chinese culture is particularly bonkers about numbers. Eight is also a very 'lucky' number. That's why the Beijing Olympics started on 8.8.2008 at 8:08pm. Pretty cool, huh? If you're bored you can learn more about the two different Valentines Days here and here.
3. I made the sign on the restaurant door a little Chinglishy, just because I can see it happening like that. Call it translators prerogative. It's also how the Chinese comes out, very very directly. But it wouldn't sound like that to Chinese ears.
4. "Lover" was also a funny translation. It's not uncommon for students to talk about their 'lover'. It's far far too late to try and correct the issue, though we attempt it from time to time with friends, explaining that 'lover' is usually used when referring to the woman a man or woman is sleeping with other than the man or woman's spouse. Then they go, "OH!!!!!". Yeah. And, one time Emily got an email from someone at the company asking if she could take her 'lover's' passport to the office for something. We got a kick out of that. And, yes, she is my lover, my only lover. Emily and I also thought it was funny that Baba says it's not a good word in China. But people use it here ALL THE TIME. All the time. Though, perhaps not among the older folks. I need to talk with them more, and find out.]
小林：哎呀，您那么认真干吗呀！我倒觉得节是越多越好，传统节咱也过，那是属于咱们全家的，外国节，我也过，那是属于我自己的，您看怎么样啊？
LL: Aiya! Why do you care about this so much?! I admit, celebrations are getting better and better -- traditional holidays we all celebrate, they're for the whole family; foreign holidays I also celebrate, they're for myself. OK?
[Aiya! - a very common expression, usually of exasperation. And more sass from Little Lin. He gives into Baba's pressure to include the traditional holidays in his effort at 'self-expression'. And he ends it with a question that is polite in form, but shows his frustration. It comes out more literally, 'How do you see that?', but it's basically saying, "see, I give in a little, so get off my back!", and he again uses the more polite nin, 您]
I hope you have enjoyed this tour through a Chinese text and culture today. If you have questions, please refer to my Contact Me page on this blog... :p
Monday, November 8, 2010
Police Action, Conclusion and Confidence
As a rather anti-climactic ending to the saga, here's how it has concluded.
I decided not to go to the local police station. I didn't want to make Officer Liu lose face, which was a possibility. That relationship can go a long way, in either direction, and it is good to be on his good side.
In thinking more on the issue of our address in the paper, there's really nothing we can do about it now. It's already out there. We could complain to the paper, but what would that accomplish? They might not do it next time? Perhaps. Is there also a good chance that it'll happen again, to some unsuspecting person? Yeah, probably. Is there any recourse that could be taken, should our apartment be broken into? Nope. We can complain. Throw a fit. Socially embarrass ourselves. Can we make a certain connection between to paper printing our address and the thief. Not a chance.
But, as I was pondering and stewing about what to do, these thoughts came to my mind.
I have a Protector and Shield that is far greater than any lock on any door, or any secret Bat Cave without an address for that matter, and He is watching over me, my wife, and 'our stuff.' Did I mention that he is a Master Administrator? Should He deem it good to relocate some things, that's His prerogative. He gave and He can take away, and His name will always be blessed in our Home, whether or not a stranger enters to remove things or not.
And as I was thinking through all these things, I was also reminded of Brothers and Sisters, not TOO long ago, who knew what was Valuable and what was not.
The writer of Hebrews is right, that we are in need of endurance. We all are. Especially those who think their stuff is permanent. You've got your cameras, your alarm systems, and your dog. All to protect your STUFF. There's nothing wrong with alarms, or cameras, and I love dogs! Can a camera stop a volcano (catch up on the news in Indonesia if I'm losing you)? Can it stop a tsunami? A tornado, or a wild fire? Or simply TIME?
In the middle of all this my wife asked me, "what is it about stuff that makes us feel good? Why does getting something new make us feel good?" I think I tried to come up with some philosophical answer that was clever, but I don't recall it right now.
The question remains, what is my confidence in? In my stuff? Or in the One who is coming. And the writer of Hebrews is clear, He IS coming. Are you enduring in your confidence in Him? Or have you taken a side road that seemed softer, more easy going?
Here's a pic of our plundered property. Did I post it earlier? I can't remember. It's actually the only pic we have of it, taken with our friend Withy from Singapore. She's lots fun. And may the man (or woman) who stole our scooter be blessed as much as we are, and may he or she find a better Possession, and the only Abiding One.
I decided not to go to the local police station. I didn't want to make Officer Liu lose face, which was a possibility. That relationship can go a long way, in either direction, and it is good to be on his good side.
In thinking more on the issue of our address in the paper, there's really nothing we can do about it now. It's already out there. We could complain to the paper, but what would that accomplish? They might not do it next time? Perhaps. Is there also a good chance that it'll happen again, to some unsuspecting person? Yeah, probably. Is there any recourse that could be taken, should our apartment be broken into? Nope. We can complain. Throw a fit. Socially embarrass ourselves. Can we make a certain connection between to paper printing our address and the thief. Not a chance.
But, as I was pondering and stewing about what to do, these thoughts came to my mind.
I have a Protector and Shield that is far greater than any lock on any door, or any secret Bat Cave without an address for that matter, and He is watching over me, my wife, and 'our stuff.' Did I mention that he is a Master Administrator? Should He deem it good to relocate some things, that's His prerogative. He gave and He can take away, and His name will always be blessed in our Home, whether or not a stranger enters to remove things or not.
And as I was thinking through all these things, I was also reminded of Brothers and Sisters, not TOO long ago, who knew what was Valuable and what was not.
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,Just a few weeks before the newspaper 'fiasco' we had our scooter stolen, "right out from under us" (we kept it beneath the stairs on the first floor). At that time I remembered this verse, and it came back to me again, reminding me to be joyful, even at the plundering of my property. For we have a better possession, and it cannot be taken away. It is stored up for us in Heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal.
“Yet a little while,and the coming One will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
The writer of Hebrews is right, that we are in need of endurance. We all are. Especially those who think their stuff is permanent. You've got your cameras, your alarm systems, and your dog. All to protect your STUFF. There's nothing wrong with alarms, or cameras, and I love dogs! Can a camera stop a volcano (catch up on the news in Indonesia if I'm losing you)? Can it stop a tsunami? A tornado, or a wild fire? Or simply TIME?
In the middle of all this my wife asked me, "what is it about stuff that makes us feel good? Why does getting something new make us feel good?" I think I tried to come up with some philosophical answer that was clever, but I don't recall it right now.
The question remains, what is my confidence in? In my stuff? Or in the One who is coming. And the writer of Hebrews is clear, He IS coming. Are you enduring in your confidence in Him? Or have you taken a side road that seemed softer, more easy going?
Here's a pic of our plundered property. Did I post it earlier? I can't remember. It's actually the only pic we have of it, taken with our friend Withy from Singapore. She's lots fun. And may the man (or woman) who stole our scooter be blessed as much as we are, and may he or she find a better Possession, and the only Abiding One.
Friday, November 5, 2010
In the News
As much as I like to watch China news, it can sometimes be helpful to read about what's happening on the periphery, yet still related to China. Here's an interesting article on Vietnam's recent comings and goings. It helps broaden one's perspective, and divides an often myopic a U.S. perspective of China's relations with the world.
Sometimes the most important developments occur, not at the center, but at the periphery.
Maps for the geographically challenged. The first is of the South China Sea dispute. China claims the territory in the red dotted line. The blue lines indicate the United Nations international agreement on territorial waters, which basically says, a country bordering water has special economic rights to an area that extends 200 nautical miles straight out from its coast. China has signed and ratified this agreement. Ironically, the U.S., who helped shape the agreement, has signed it but not ratified it, due to internal disagreement. See the Wikipedia articles on UNCLOS and why the U.S. has not ratified it for helpful information.
The second map is of the Mekong river. You can see that it begins in China (for a long long ways, all the way up into Tibet), and comes down between Myanmar and Laos, through Laos, between Laos and Thailand, passes through Cambodia and then Vietnam before dumping into the ocean.
China's rise prompts Vietnam to strengthen ties to other nationsAmong the various issues that Vietnam is looking at are sovereignty over the South China Sea (all of which China claims as it's own, and other smaller nations dispute the claim), and the Mekong River (China possesses the upper region and has built a large network of dams, and the waterflow to the lower regions possessed by Southeast Asia is gradually diminishing).
That change of perception has led Vietnam to embark on an extraordinary undertaking to befriend the world as a hedge against China. And prominent among its new intimates is the United States, which is equally eager for partners to help it cope with Beijing.
"It is always good to have a new friend," mused Vice Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh in an interview. "It is even better when that friend used to be our foe."
Sometimes the most important developments occur, not at the center, but at the periphery.
Maps for the geographically challenged. The first is of the South China Sea dispute. China claims the territory in the red dotted line. The blue lines indicate the United Nations international agreement on territorial waters, which basically says, a country bordering water has special economic rights to an area that extends 200 nautical miles straight out from its coast. China has signed and ratified this agreement. Ironically, the U.S., who helped shape the agreement, has signed it but not ratified it, due to internal disagreement. See the Wikipedia articles on UNCLOS and why the U.S. has not ratified it for helpful information.
The second map is of the Mekong river. You can see that it begins in China (for a long long ways, all the way up into Tibet), and comes down between Myanmar and Laos, through Laos, between Laos and Thailand, passes through Cambodia and then Vietnam before dumping into the ocean.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
In The News
I like reading news on China. Here's two stories of bizarre things:
China to embark on Yeti expedition
A group of Chinese scientists and explorers is to embark on a £1m-expedition in search of the country's equivalent of the Yeti, or Bigfoot, which is said to stalk the high mountains and forests of the central province of Hubei.
Yes, it's true. Yeti :: Bigfoot. And they want to spend a million Pounds looking for it.
Suspended disbelief: the amazing art of Li Wei
Chinese artist Li Wei creates images of himself and his friends being thrown off buildings, dangling from bridges and hanging off cars, all in the name of art. Li's photos can take up to six months to set up and involve huge crews organising props such as smoke, mirrors, wires and cranes. After the photographs are taken the father of one removes traces of the wires with a computer.
This one was way cool. If you like pictures that make you go, "huh?" this is a good one for you. And his quotes were revealing too. For example:
America is in real danger, but it's fine. Your life is in real danger, but you're fine. It's not until things come crashing down all around you, and inside you, that you realize things are not fine; and upon reflection, that they weren't fine before - you were in real danger.
Li has a website too, with a lot more pictures. Though I would add, viewer discretion is advised. You can tell by the thumbnails that not all the pictures are good for your soul.
China to embark on Yeti expedition
A group of Chinese scientists and explorers is to embark on a £1m-expedition in search of the country's equivalent of the Yeti, or Bigfoot, which is said to stalk the high mountains and forests of the central province of Hubei.
Yes, it's true. Yeti :: Bigfoot. And they want to spend a million Pounds looking for it.
Suspended disbelief: the amazing art of Li Wei
Chinese artist Li Wei creates images of himself and his friends being thrown off buildings, dangling from bridges and hanging off cars, all in the name of art. Li's photos can take up to six months to set up and involve huge crews organising props such as smoke, mirrors, wires and cranes. After the photographs are taken the father of one removes traces of the wires with a computer.
This one was way cool. If you like pictures that make you go, "huh?" this is a good one for you. And his quotes were revealing too. For example:
He said: "I like to achieve the impossible. I have hurtled to the earth like a meteorite and flown through the air. My pictures show the unstable, there's a lot of danger and I love to create that feeling in my work"I think this says something about Chinese society in general. There is always a sense of instability, things could come crashing down at any moment. But there's also a sense of normalcy to it all. You don't walk around wringing your hands or fretting about it, at least most of the time.
"Sometimes I am in real danger - I have to hang myself high with steel wires and people do get a little worried for me - but I am fine"I think this is just funny. "Sometimes I am in real danger...but I am fine." It's also true. When things are unstable there IS real danger. But, "I am fine." The danger may be immanent, but it's not quite here yet and we feel quite comfortable.
America is in real danger, but it's fine. Your life is in real danger, but you're fine. It's not until things come crashing down all around you, and inside you, that you realize things are not fine; and upon reflection, that they weren't fine before - you were in real danger.
Li has a website too, with a lot more pictures. Though I would add, viewer discretion is advised. You can tell by the thumbnails that not all the pictures are good for your soul.
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