liturgy of the ordinary - tish harrison warren (2016)

the blurb says this book explores daily life through the lens of liturgy, small practices, and habits that form us. and so it does.

she writes with a gently rambling style that is just the teeniest bit self-conscious and she meanders into side topics as you slide off to a snooze. 

and yet she suggests ideas that are unexpected and lovely and that you instinctively feel are not too far off the mark. our bodies are not made to worship or be worshipped; our bodies are part of our worship. sleep, she suggests, is God's reminder that we are creatures in need of respite and will ultimately die. beyond a personal encounter with our Lord, it is within the eternal body of Christ that our faith is made whole.

she reminds me that God knows that my daily bread is plain and that there is dignity and holy toil in unexciting tasks in a day that works out in repetitively tedious strains.  

it's like a nice omelet. unassumingly bourgeoisie easy and tasty and just a tad fancy and really quite nutritious.

things i remember about my father (13.11.1937-24.2.2022)

he was faithful in the quiet everyday things like being there when he said he would be and telling the truth even if it was difficult and diligently preparing for his classes and work and presentations. he was faithful in seeking excellence.

he loved languages - mandarin chinese and hokkien and english and malay and japanese and was it bangladeshi that he learnt from the security guards at his condo? he loved the spoken word with its unending melodies and he loved the written word in its rich intricacies.

he was a kind and generous man who shared freely considerably consistently and quietly out of his supplies. he declined promotions in order to keep his friendships. he was contented with his lot and he rejoiced in it.

he loved his wife my mother with gentle understanding and unwavering regard. my parents' love gives me hope that it is possible to grow old and infirm and helpless and yet love. it is possible that affection is redeemed into charity without losing itself.

i have a father a girl can be so proud of. i am glad we will meet again.

to the lady on the bus

dear middle-aged lady on the bus who was sitting on one of a pair of seats when HOM and i boarded and saw that all the other seat pairs were occupied by at least one passenger each and  who stood up to move to another single seat whilst gesturing to us to take her vacated pair of seats, THANK YOU! it was an unsolicited unexpected and very heart-warming little act of sheer kindness that gives me an idea of how i can do the same for others next time.