Of Cakes and Gifts

A friend asked me why do you get a cake on your birthday? And why is it that we also get gifts?

They say, birthday cakes started with Greeks. Some say Germans. In the case of Greeks, they were offerings to their Goddess of the Moon, Artemis. For Germans, it was Jesus’ birthday celebration.

While gift-giving has been there since time immemorial. I found this article on gift-giving helpful. http://ezinearticles.com/?Origin-of-Gift-Giving&id=1090115

In an episode of Big Bang Theory, Sheldon gave Penny an earful when he saw her holding what appears to be a gift for him. Why is that so? Because he feels he is now imposed to give her a gift.

That shouldn't be the case.

Gifts come from the heart.

We are not obliged to give if we don't really mean it. Gifts are expressions of appreciation, an acknowledgment. It need not be a material gift; it can be a call, a line or two, your time.

This is may only be true for those needy of affirmation.

Either way, all these small acts are expressions that somehow you have an impact on someone else's life.

But then again, we need not just do that on birthdays, we can do that anytime.

Some are satisfied with telepathy.

But for those who are telepathically-challenged, let them eat cake.

Where The Wild Things Are

Even in a place where the wild things are, where things are supposed to be simpler, everything is also complicated.


Max felt like everything is falling apart in his home. He wanted to get away from it all. Only to find out that in that faraway place where the wild things are, things can get complicated too just like at home. Things that you want to happen don't also happen in this make-believe world. As Carol said, it's like grown-up teeth, after some time, without you noticing it, all your teeth are quite far apart.

Just when Max thought he has his own kingdom, everything will just fall into place.

In the end, he realized wherever he may be, things may not turn out the way he wants to be. Not even a dirt clod fight can make it better or can make you forget your problems. And what better illustration of our selfishness than seeing it manifested on the people around us.

Sure, the fun can help you forget but it doesn't deal with the root cause which needs to be dealt with first.

Max learned that he needs his home, his mom, even his “evil” sister. Things may not be perfect at home but they're his family.

And that place where the wilds things are, is a good place to visit once in a while. It is for us to be reminded what we have and to appreciate them.

Covers

(Written on Christmas 2009)

In our attempt to cover up the emptiness seeping in our core, we throw in it people, activities or things that mask this vacuum. And yet upon searching for substance, all these things we use to cover these potholes turn out to be empty cisterns unable to hold any weight at all.

I have done this only to be proven lacking in the end.

In a desire to feel accepted, I managed to collect an assortment of anchors. Blinded by the glitter,  I prided myself in an illusion of steadiness.
I told myself I have to stop thinking it's all about me. Because it has never been .

God has paid for the prize, we need not do anything but be still and know that He is God.

Merry Christmas!

Fasting

I always hear this quote whenever it's fasting week:

"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie.
It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for
heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not
the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we
drink in every night."-John Piper

2009

The last few days of 2009 were a blur. But with the blurriness came a sense of clarity that can only come after a bout of blurriness.


It was a year with its share of dramas. Some of my own choosing, some were shoved towards me. Things are meant to happen if they are meant to happen I guess.

When from afar it looked like a wall being erected, when I drew near, it turned out to be a new bridge being built. When doors were shut, windows have been thrown open.

There are a lot of places to be explored, hands to be held, backs to be patted, voices to be heard, ears needing to hear, shoulders to be leaned on and heads to lean on.

Here I am thankful to God for the year that was 2009.