Peking Duck

How cool would it be to go through life as a mime. Yeah, they kinda freak people out, but is that just b/c the others watching are not okay with the white painted face. I really think that's it; all we gotta do is get rid of the classic white face and gloves. I mean, think about it...at parties, such as last night...the best laughing comes from watching others try and act out a "thing" while friends are trying to guess it in a limited time. Granted, even if there is no time it can be hilarious watching people try. Even in cases when the word being acted out is totally not what they are doing. Take for example the pecking action seen in chickens...there may or may not have been an instance in which one nameless PT student started pecking the air with her arms winging at her sides and we all still knew she was going for peking duck. Both of which are not literally identified with the action of pecking or the full size duck animal. Come on you Chinese food fans out there, ya gotta know and be able to imagine the scenario. Classic.
Which leads me to my previous statement of what if we went through life "miming." If you think about it we already kinda do. We, as a society, are huge on non-verbals; we, as a race, communicate through non-verbals. Believe you me, this is proven fact as I go week after week to a church that speaks not my native language and yet I am able to connect with others through a smile, hug, kiss, and a very broken combination of english and spanish just so we can reassure one another that the Holy Spirit speaks all languages, even one that we cannot and that is to the individuals' heart. I come out of there feeling loved, feeling a part, feeling like I really do know my brothers and sisters in Christ even though if you would ask me about their everyday life, interests, families, I would be able to tell you a limited bit of information. Isn't that how it is anyway...we go through the everyday we see people on the street. We see people in the hallway. We know them, we exchange unspoken words of kindness or unkindness through our gaze, our acknowledgement, our undertones that tend to seep out of who we are. Isn't it that much sweeter when you feel the love from others in a smile or pat on the back that you weren't expecting. One that catches you off guard and is in itself a gift because in your mind you don't deserve it.
How many of these are missed, how many of these free gifts are given daily; yet, they are not recieved b/c the recipient is either too caught up in their own thoughts or are too involved in their own self pity. Let me tell you I bet it is more often than we think. We, like mimes, are experts at putting on the facade. The fake faces plastered on at times start to crack and what is underneath is almost too scary to admit so we patch it up, turn our gaze downward and walk on without seeing the beautiful light that might be emminating from another that could help us out and maybe even help remove a bit of crusty white that has built up on our face. Where do these people get that brilliant gift of light. What makes them able to sparkle as they walk around in this often depressing world? I think we both know deep down who it is that inflitrates their being and offers up His light as their own. Jesus is alive in people, of this I am sure and have seen the effects of. I believe b/c I have recieved the gift myself. I am not claiming to be a giver of this effervescent light all the time. Oh no, I know He is in me, shining, but I also know at times I have not let myself recieve enough of Him for me to be filled to overflowing. There are times I must rely on Him through others to get through. It is in those times, I am humbled the most to admit that I am a weak, tired, worn out, overwhelmed by the woes of this world, a very little girl. It is times like this week where I am so drained I do not make the effort to ask Him to help me; it is those times my soul cries out but I am too lazy to open my mouth to make the sounds...I think He understands; I think God hears my soul's cry as well as, if not more than, my mind and physical voice.
My Jesus never promised it would be easy. Our God never guaranteed he would keep us from pain of any kind. The Lord did say He is the Senor Todopoderoso (Lord Almighty). Jesus did say: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will recieve power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8
Ironically enough after Jesus said this he was sweeped up into Heaven and and hidden from our site. All I can say is good thing we are not like infants who do not have object permanence yet and if they can't see it, then it doesn't exist. (and some with dementia as well, funny how that whole life cycle young and old works) But good thing other wise it would be very hard to trust that He is there, He is here. His commands are still in effect even when He is not physically present. i am still called to be His light, His witness, His testimony here in my city, in the neighboring (and even lesser, or rivalrous areas), in different countries other than my own...to the ends of the earth. Yep, that's a pretty clear answer. Should I go? Yes, of course. Should I stay? If there is work to be done, absolutely. Shall I live here or there? The place doesn't matter...the city irrelevant. It's the people that count. It's who can I share this gift with today? Who can I let help me along my way, to get out of my own way at times? Who do I need to be in communion with at this point in time? The rest is just peking duck.