the Box ...

Chris' point of view:

A month and a half after Natalie's Salt Lake City trip, I made my way north, to Canada, in hopes of maintaining the strong momentum we had built. Leaving the United States was something I had never done before. A trip out of the country, beyond the only world I had ever known.

As I sat on the plane looking out the window, I glazed the clouds, my thoughts dancing on the horizon. The ever watching eye up above looked down upon me anticipating the early fruits of a plan He had set in motion long ago. With all that Natalie and I had become, I had no idea what was in store for us on this crucial trip.

I think that sometimes we go throughout life begging to know what lies within the box labeled 'Our Future'. When we are given a peek at its contents, our interest eventually subsides; the glimpse slipping from our finite memories and understandings. I say this because as of late, I have questioned what my individual purpose is in life, and how I fit into the grand puzzle of the universe. However, in writing this blog post, I am reminded of the miracle that IS, Natalie and I, and how monumental my glance at 'Our Future' was during this trip.

Natalie and I had been reading scriptures over the phone over the months leading up to the Vancouver trip to feed our spiritual sides. In doing so, we decided to schedule an appearance at a local church there in Vancouver.

That sunday, following a week of delicious food (mmm Tim Horton's Donuts), sight seeing, and shopping, we began finalizing plans to visit a meeting house for spiritual indulgence. As we looked on the internet, the site we had viewed now showed that our intended location was a Spanish speaking branch. Dismayed, we searched for a replacement, finding another Church much further than our previous target. Set on going to church that morning, we decided to adjust our plans and travel a bit further.

After arriving at the church at North Vancouver, we sat, listening to the speakers discuss various spiritual subjects. Natalie rested her head on my shoulder and wrote silly messages with her finger on my palm. "I L-O-V-E Y-O ... ... ... -G-A." One particular speaker caught her attention and she listened intently to the words that he spoke from the pulpit. Following the meeting, Natalie said she enjoyed it and that she wanted to learn more. I told her that if she wanted, we could find the missionaries and set up discussions. She agreed.

We walked around the church, looking for a set of missionaries. Finally, we stumbled upon two women standing in a doorway, with smiles on their faces. Natalie and one of the 'sisters' had a strange feeling as if they knew each other from somewhere. Come to find out, they were friends from Hong Kong and hadn't seen each other in 10 years. It was a clear manifestation of fate and the Higher Power. It is staggering to think about the chances of it all.

I went home, thinking about the majesty of life, and the consistent reassurances we recieve when times are tough. More than that, I thought about the moments in life when we are shown the contents of 'the box'; for a split second, as the light permeates the darkness, we see what lies ahead.

nat's point of view:

skyline run, valentine ...

sometimes i run, but i'm not afraid
he makes me smile.
you make it seems like it was yesterday
however,we've come a long way out of the rain.


Why did Woman created from the Man's Rib?

It’s amazing how Father made man, and so beautiful how He made woman! why did He create Woman from Man’s rib, when He could have simply created her from dust, as He did Man?
this is a story i read that puts a beautiful touch on the reasoning:

“When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him from the dust of the Earth and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity. From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man’s life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do.”

“Around this one bone I shaped you. I modelled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the centre of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body.”

“Adam walked with me in the cool of the day and yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you: my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special because you are the extension
of me.”

“Man represents my image, woman - my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt me. What you do to her, you do to me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart, the heart of your Father and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self.”


often, i wonder if i'm made out of chris? there was coincidence after coincidence. Our minds flowing; so alike. the ideas we have had and the words that we were going to say.

the day that i picked up chris from the airport was a chilly day, we both had a coat on. the very 1st stop on the itinerary packed for this trip, was to meet my best friend - helen. it is the ultimate routine when your best friend has the YES or NO approval about the boy that you're dating. no negotiation. the boy's destiny lies w/ their 1st impression, and the effort that he makes to have the green light. with chris' charm and his witty comments, it was a no match. =)
we arrived to the restaurant a little early, just to make sure we've the right table in the house. as when i removed my coat and chris has moved his - BAMMM! we had matching colour tops, yellow?!
???
out of all the colours in the rainbow, out of all the days in the year, out of all the possibilities. com'on!? i was staring at him speechless. how in the world did we do that? no clue. ... w/ a smile on chris' face, he whispered to my ear, 'you're my ribs!'. =]



w/ this trip, chris has experienced alot during this 1st encounter. meeting helen, meeting my coworkers (whom i had already talked their ears off about chris), trying out all the delicious food, and of course, his 1st HOT yoga class w/ me. =) i've to say, i'm very proud of him, he stayed in the hot room for the entire 90 minutes, and participating all 26 of the postures. for a newbie, he did an amazing job!

okay, enough of chris, i'm stealing the thunder. i planned that sunday to go to church w/ chris; after so many years, going to many different united churches, not alot of the house that i really feel like i belong there. then, i just stopped going altogether. b/c of the time difference at the 1st church, we had to change our route and travel to another branch where it could accommodate our tight schedule. when we got there, we walked down the hall, right away - i felt like i had been in this place before. i couldn't explain that feeling w/in, but it was heating up and i feel joy.

after the meeting, we met w/ a pair of sister missionaries. i set up an appointment w/ them in regard to lessons. following the questions that i had for the sisters, i realised one of the sisters is from the same area where i grew up in hong kong. all of this was so overwhelming to me, on a sunday morning, that she turned out to be one of my good mates from primary school in hong kong. i wrote to her from time to time when i 1st got to vancouver to study, and after a few years we lost contact of each other. it has been some 10 years we haven't seen each other. i couldn't recognise her as she has long hair when we were young. ...

the chances to meet my good friends back from home are quite limited when i'm overseas. ever since i started to go to lessons and w/ what chris has brought into my life, alot of the knots have untied themselves w/ time and it feels like a beginning is blossoming into the lights, with so many more to come.