*no hesititaion*
pondering the mysteries of life's up and down turns.
after thirst on saturday, i had an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night from my half-brother, saying that his stepmom has been yelling at him and he left the house. this is not the first time this has happened, but when he said she tried throw a letter opener at him, i was irate and decided it was quite enough. he's always telling me about how his dad and stepmom treat him horribly, how they don't give him any money for food and yet refuse to let him eat at home... so i called the police hoping they would be able to do something to stop this cycle. my brother has called the police before about this, but they never seem to do anything useful. i figured we might get a better result if i called, since my brother also has a psychological condition which may cause the police to not believe him.
i am not entirely naive about the incompetencies of the hong kong police system, but i was still surprised at how absolutely unhelpful the officer was (should i really be shocked?). not to judge all police officers unfairly, since some of the ones i spoke to did try to help, but the one who went to pick up my brother was so rude and useless that i am still considering writing a complaint.
then on top of all this chaos at 2 in the morning, my downstairs roommate decided she needed to explain to me how hard she works compared to me, and that she really needed me to be quiet so she can sleep. i thoroughly admit that i was inconsiderate and that in the midst of dealing with the police i had forgotten how late it was, but i didn't have the patience at that very moment to deal with her. i still can't figure out whether i need to worry about things with her. is it only because of her poor english and brash argentinian nature that make her seem like she is perpetually pms-ing?? or is it me? to be honest, i've never had any real complaints from any of my many roommates in the past (and i've had enough - about 23 - to qualify for a good sample), so this is kind of a new problem for me. i've made a decision in the first week to not complain, so i won't. but i still need to settle in my own mind what exactly it is that makes her seem like she's pissed off at me all the time.
i just listened to sam song's sermon at 180 on life with the Spirit. turn the other cheek. love those that are difficult to love. not as easily done, but something i want so much to be a part of my life. so i'm trying. i'm trying to change a lot. i mean, there's so much to change. i'm nowhere near the image of the one who created me in His image. i like what luis cabral said on sunday: we are all on a journey up a mountain, collecting a different perspective as we travel, and as we share with each other our journey, we can gain other people's perspectives and create a fuller picture of this mountain and the One who travels with us. if we hear other's journeys, but don't learn from their lessons as well, then we are just the those james talks about:
for if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. you see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. but if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the law that sets you free--and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. ~ james 1:23-25
i don't want to forget the things i hear, the lessons that others have learned and shared, because i know i have heard God's truth in them, and i can't turn my back on it. do i need to be told something a thousand times before i realize that's what God wants? i hope not. He delights in a heart that is quick to obey, and i hope to be that kind of person. no hesitation.
pondering the mysteries of life's up and down turns.
after thirst on saturday, i had an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night from my half-brother, saying that his stepmom has been yelling at him and he left the house. this is not the first time this has happened, but when he said she tried throw a letter opener at him, i was irate and decided it was quite enough. he's always telling me about how his dad and stepmom treat him horribly, how they don't give him any money for food and yet refuse to let him eat at home... so i called the police hoping they would be able to do something to stop this cycle. my brother has called the police before about this, but they never seem to do anything useful. i figured we might get a better result if i called, since my brother also has a psychological condition which may cause the police to not believe him.
i am not entirely naive about the incompetencies of the hong kong police system, but i was still surprised at how absolutely unhelpful the officer was (should i really be shocked?). not to judge all police officers unfairly, since some of the ones i spoke to did try to help, but the one who went to pick up my brother was so rude and useless that i am still considering writing a complaint.
then on top of all this chaos at 2 in the morning, my downstairs roommate decided she needed to explain to me how hard she works compared to me, and that she really needed me to be quiet so she can sleep. i thoroughly admit that i was inconsiderate and that in the midst of dealing with the police i had forgotten how late it was, but i didn't have the patience at that very moment to deal with her. i still can't figure out whether i need to worry about things with her. is it only because of her poor english and brash argentinian nature that make her seem like she is perpetually pms-ing?? or is it me? to be honest, i've never had any real complaints from any of my many roommates in the past (and i've had enough - about 23 - to qualify for a good sample), so this is kind of a new problem for me. i've made a decision in the first week to not complain, so i won't. but i still need to settle in my own mind what exactly it is that makes her seem like she's pissed off at me all the time.
i just listened to sam song's sermon at 180 on life with the Spirit. turn the other cheek. love those that are difficult to love. not as easily done, but something i want so much to be a part of my life. so i'm trying. i'm trying to change a lot. i mean, there's so much to change. i'm nowhere near the image of the one who created me in His image. i like what luis cabral said on sunday: we are all on a journey up a mountain, collecting a different perspective as we travel, and as we share with each other our journey, we can gain other people's perspectives and create a fuller picture of this mountain and the One who travels with us. if we hear other's journeys, but don't learn from their lessons as well, then we are just the those james talks about:
for if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. you see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. but if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the law that sets you free--and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. ~ james 1:23-25
i don't want to forget the things i hear, the lessons that others have learned and shared, because i know i have heard God's truth in them, and i can't turn my back on it. do i need to be told something a thousand times before i realize that's what God wants? i hope not. He delights in a heart that is quick to obey, and i hope to be that kind of person. no hesitation.
posted by jana* at 12:16 PM
