This is Joel's Old Blog

What i miss about living in Asia and enjoy about America

As I just have returned from being back in Asia for a few days, I was reflecting on what I miss, what I don't miss, what I enjoy about being back in the states --  Here were the few thoughts that came to mind - of course, there are more ~~

What I miss about living in Asia -

• The smiles
• Everyone wanting to hold and play with our kids - giving elise and i time to talk when we go out
• massages anytime you want for $6
• life moving slower
• Food  - both the ease to eat healthier and cheaper
• Relationships
• The ability for your dollar to go far (meaning how cheaper it is to live)

What I enjoy being back in the States

• Zayd & Daya drinking out of the bath tub water and not worrying about getting sick
• A garbage disposal
• The city Garbage service
• Communication with everyone
• A dishwasher (although our doesn't work that great in our apartment)
• Zayd not getting mad b/c everyone is looking at him and smiling - blending in with the other kids
• Sense of connectedness / community with others

In Seoul ~ in route to USA

not much time the past few days to share any stories or photos of my time in india - had a superb time with 1 volunteer team from denver and anothr from indianapolis, over 55 servlife church planters from india and nepal, and other staff in the region - hopefully can throw up a few photos later

in seoul ~ in route to india

currently in seoul airport in route to india to servlife's 3rd annual co-workers conference - over 50 workers from india and nepal will be coming for 3 days of teaching and encouragement  -- value your prayers in travel, health, and ministry - 

palmer perspective

i have been meaning to change my "Perspective" quote (on the left) on a fairly regular basis and have neglected to do so - I know my Hans Kung quote has been up there a long time - Have a new Parker Palmer, Quaker writer, quote - It is from his book, Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation -    May those who read this find their true calling and vocation that makes them most come alive!

PALMER ON VOCATION:

"Vocation at its deepest level is not, “Oh, boy, do I want to go to this strange place where I have to learn a new way to live and where no one, including me, understands what I’m doing.” Vocation at its deepest level is, “This is something I can’t not do, for reasons I’m unable to explain to anyone else and don’t fully understand myself but that are nonetheless compelling.”

PALMER ON FINDING TRUE SELF:

Most of us arrive at a sense of self and vocation only after a long journey through alien lands. But this journey bears no resemblance to the throuble-free “travel packages” sold by the tourism industry. It is more akin to the ancient tradition of pilgrimage- “a transformative journey to a sacred center” full of hardships, darkness, and peril.   In the tradition of pilgrimage, those hardships are seen not as accidental but as integral to the journey itself. Treacherous terrain, bad weather, taking a fall, getting lost challenges of  that sort, largely beyond our control, can trip the ego of the illusion that it is in charge and make space for true self to emerge.  If that happens, the pilgrim has a better chance to find the sacred center he or she seeks. Disabused of our illusions by much travel and travail, we awaken one day to find

that the sacred center is here and now-in every moment of  the journey, everywhere in the world around us, and deep within our own hearts."