best shot ever

 

simple things like this always move my heart

it makes me believe the goodness in all of us

I not only had my second shot

but also a dose of loving-kindness

a talk with the tide

while the sun was setting

the rising tide teased me playfully

"hey, it's my turn now"

I said,

"oh alright, I'll step aside"

tide told me again

"here, I'll give you moonlight instead"

I said

"how kind, thank you"

the ocean was full of grace 

as always

 

 

해질녘 밀물이 내게 말했다

"거 좀 비키시오, 주인이 돌아왔으니..."

내가 말했다

"어이쿠, 이거 실례가 많았습니다"

밀물이 또 내게 말했다

"대신 달빛을 내어 드리리다"

내가 말했다

"친절도 하시지, 기꺼이 받겠습니다"

이렇게 오늘도 바다는 내게 은혜를 베풀었다

헌데 우리는 왜 사극 톤으로 ㅎㅎㅎ

season for ice tea

well, 

the season for ice tea is back!

I brewed three different kinds of fruit tea--blueberry, raspberry/hibiscus, and apple cinnamon 

a bit stronger than normal so it would be just right with some ice cubes. 

I drink them all day long

I still haven't figured out if I like the taste or color better

there's something about the color of ice tea that makes me so excited

can't wait to go shopping for new flavors

taking it personally

 

nowadays

there is hardly anything I feel resentful

but last week 

the day I had to be in a meeting all-day

while the spring sun was warm and bright

and when the meeting was over

the sun was gone behind the clouds

and when I went to the beach  

it was gray like winter

I was resentful.

While I was walking 

resenting the loss of the beach walk under the sun

and taking comfort from the emerald ocean and salty breeze   

at some point

I started seeing my surroundings becoming brighter.

When I turned around

the sun began to come out of the clouds

painting the skies with different shades of yellow

Nowadays

I rarely take anything personally

but that day

I took the sun personally

I took it as music with rhythm and rhymes

I took it as a love letter

I took it as a big hug

And I said,

thank you

I love you too

accidental blessing

On a warm dry spring day last week

I went to an arborium in Boston for a picnic.

While walking 

I found forsythia bushes 

that made me lose a sense of space instantly

took me to Korea 

playing an old film of the memories 

of my childhood, youth and young adult years. 

They are the first flowers in spring 

in the city I lived.

After a dull brown winter 

brilliant yellow on a dusty spring day always fluttered my heart.

In an arborium

I unexpectedly encountered who I was long ago

 an accidental blessing 

Easter in a Pandemic Irony

This year my Holy Week began a week early as we pre-recorded the Maundy Thursday service. 
And it ended on Wednesday when I finished editing the videos for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. 
On Maundy Thursday night, 
I needed to switch my gear from Holy Week to Easter in preparation for the recording of the Easter Sunday service the next morning. 
So I watched two comedy shows to create space in me for an Easter vibe.
The next day, while people were journeying with Jesus to the cross, I was at the empty tomb. 

The problem came later in the day. 
I made a spicy pork belly dish, one of Joel's favorites. 
Then I took a picture and sent it to him, saying, 
"Made this and thinking of you!" 
He responded,
"Mom, I'm fasting"
Oops...

But once I arrived at the empty tomb, I couldn't go back to Calvary.  
Even though the Holy Week journey made me encounter my 'first love' of Jesus and his presence,
once I moved on to Easter, I was already with risen Christ in a new place of love. 
While love on Good Friday was about grief for my sins and gratitude for his sacrifice,
love on Easter was about the joy of reunion with him, his calling, and my commitment.
Although I was a bit of a mean mom on Good Friday, 
I believed Joel would understand 

because he knew the love he was experiencing on Good Friday 

will soon lead him to the love on Easter morning.