Identity Crisis

By this time next year, I would have applied for New Zealand Citizenship. You have to be a New Zealand resident for five years to apply. I love my birth country, India but being Kiwi has its own advantages.

So what will I become then?

A Kiwi (New Zealander) from India?

Or an Indian from New Zealand (Kiwi Land)?

If someone asks me where I'm from, do I say India or New Zealand?

Can someone figure it out and tell me?

A First...

Last Thursday, I was asked out on a date for the first time in my life. Sort of.

Here's how it happened:

Now, for the last couple of months, I've been regularly going to meetings with the Christian group on Campus. It's called Student Life. Student Life has different cell groups called Action Groups where we study the Bible together. Of course, there are a lot theological differences but the girls I've seen, especially the leader of my Action Group, seem to have a true zeal for God. I go to Action group with My Gangsta Friend Who Voted Labour.

So last Thursday we met in the hall of the MacLaurin Chapel. We were six of us, all girls, and we were studying Ephesians 5 and discussing Christ's relationship with His Church. Suddenly I felt my cellphone vibrating. I checked it and found that I had got a message from an unknown number. The text told me that I had been chosen for something and that I should look for an envelope under the nearest table.

Once I told my group about the text, they all checked their phones. Surprise, surprise. They had all got the same text. So we all got down on our hands and knees and found a cute envelope with a picture of Noah's animals posing for a photograph. Inside the envelope we found a long letter telling us to go to the nearest place of worship. We were supposed to meet someone there who would tell us what to do. The code was: ALL BLACKS RULE. (In case you don't know, 'All Blacks' is the name of New Zealand's favourite Rugby team.)

So we went to the chapel which was just a wall away. We saw a boy wearing his jumper on his head, near the altar. When we approached him, he asked us, "What's the code?"

"All Blacks Rule!" we said.

"That's correct, now turn around slowly and go back to where you came from."

We obeyed. I wondered if he was talking about going back to the hall or literally where we came from, which is India for me. As we reached the back of the Chapel, five boys lined up in front of us. One of them had a guitar and they all began to sing a song to the tune of Aladdin's A Whole New World though the words were creatively different.

They sang that they would show us the shining shimmering world, taking us wonder by wonder on a magic car ride. It took me a moment to realise that they were asking us to be their dates at the Student Life Ball. The song was hilarious. They promised to be gentlemen and treat us with civility. After they finished they gave us each a long stemmed pink rose. I'd never seen these guys before and they'd never seen me, but I was truly madly and deeply flattered.

Sadly, I wasn't (and am still not planning on) going to the ball (though my parents had given me permission to) so I couldn't (and still can't) be anyone's date (which my parents will never permit).

Back at home, Mum enjoyed the story, though Papa looked shaken to the soul. I've put the rose in a pretty green bottle filled with water. And it's still there, sitting on the fireplace.

One Busy Week

Last week is amazingly busy.

For starters, Sunday the 30th of August was my 20th Birthday. Mamma decorated a cake especially for me. My birthday was especially nice because it was a church day. Everyone was wonderfully good that day. During fellowship Tea (every last Sunday evening), they, lead by Mr.M, sang 'Happy Birthday' to me. At first I was embarrassed, but there was that nice warm feeling inside. I really felt loved. Karate Lamb Chops made me this gorgeous carrot cake with Caramel sauce. Sharpay and Nita got me really nice presents. But I would have loved them even if they didn't. Really, Sovereign Grace is the best church in the world, with good sound theology and loving people.




On Tuesday the 1st of September, I went on a road trip with some of my school friends. The Girl Who Took Care Of Me In Highschool, The Asian Girl Who Sits With Me On The Bus and My Gangsta Friend Who Voted Labour and I drove all the way to Dargaville (which isn't that far away from Auckland). During the long drive we listened to Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Westlife, the Backstreet Boys and whole lot of artists. We checked into a motel, saw three lakes, hugged trees at a Kauri forest, shopped at Woolworths, cooked our own dinner and played Cranium. We checked out the following day, visited a local beach and headed home again. It wasn't a long getaway but it was still lovely. And in the midst of all the fun and jokes, we still took time to talk seriously about our faiths, beliefs and views.





On Thursday, I had my friends over to my house. In addition to the three girls mentioned above, I also had Dalabi Wasabi and Wendy Hime over. Others were invited but couldn't make it. Still we had a good time. We played Singstar and Buzz, and watched a little bit of Monk. We ate Tandoori Pizza and made Caramel pudding.


I had a free day on Friday but Saturday was cleaning day and Sundays are always busy. So that was last week. Thank God for all His blessings, little as I deserve them.

Jonathan

. . . there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Pro 18:24)

Last Sunday at church, Warrick Uncle Warrick gave us the sermon for the evening service. It was about Jonathan, the friend of David. After service, I went to him and told him that Jonathan is one of my favourite people from the Bible.

"How long has this affair been going on?" he asked, feigning concern.

Jonathan is one of my favourite people from the bible. There is something almost romantic about him. A brave young man. A faithful prince. A loving friend. A tragic hero. Jonathan is one of the Hamlets of the Bible.

Warrick Uncle Warrick said in the sermon that Jonathan might have been someone really successful had he been born in another time. Yet God's plans for Jonathan have been different than what we, from a human perspective, think he deserves.

The first we hear of Jonathan is when he is fighting with Israel in the battle against the Philistines in 1 Samuel 13. Jonathan defeated a garrison of Philistine soldiers and this encouraged many more Israelites to join the army. In chapter 14, we see Jonathan operated an ambush on another philistine garrison, with no one but his armour bearer. The two of them single-handedly, defeated the garrison, causing panic in the opposite camp and resulting in the Philistines killing each other in the confusion. For a long time, I thought that Jonathan was rather foolish and fool-hardy for pulling a stunt like that.

But Warrick Uncle Warrick made me look closer at the chapter.

1 Samuel 14:6 says, "Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few."

Jonathan had God's will in mind the whole time. Jonathan acted a lot like David did in 1 Samuel 17. David was upset that the chosen people of God, the Israelites, were too afraid to face the uncircumcised Goliath, who was insulting the living God. Much like David, Jonathan faced the enemy, wholly trusting in God's will, while the rest of the army cowered in fear.

But what Jonathan is mostly known for is his friendship with David. Jonathan was a great prince, loved and revered by his father's subjects (1 Sam 14:45), while David was an ordinary shepherd boy. David was bullied and belittled by his brothers, and his upbringing was definitely inferior to Jonathan's. Yet, despite their different backgrounds, the two formed a thick friendship. We see that Jonathan 'loved David as his own soul'. They made a covenant together. Warrick Uncle Warrick pointed out that in it was practice to exchange tokens to symbolise ones part in the covenant. Jonathan gave David his robe and armour but David gave nothing back to Jonathan.

Jonathan also saved David's life a few times by interceding for him with Saul. Saul had become increasingly insecure about his kingdom. He rightly suspected that his throne would eventually go to David. Therefore he continually tried to kill David. The first time, Jonathan hid David and persuaded his father to spare David's life. In chapter 20, as soon as Jonathan is sure that Saul intended to kill David, he warned his friend to flee. David spent a long time in exile, hiding away from Saul. He went through one of the most difficult times in his life. But in chapter 23, Jonathan went to meet David to encourage him. They made a covenant and parted. They probably never saw each other again.

The love between Jonathan and David is obvious. But today people have corrupted the significance of that love. I was shocked when I first learned that David and Jonathan's relationship is being misinterpreted as a sexual one. No, Jonathan's love is not eros (erotic love) but a clear and beautiful example of agape, a love than gives and takes nothing in return. Jonathan gave his all to David. He protected him and encouraged him. He had also been self-denying. Jonathan was a born leader and had been groomed to be the future king. But he was later confronted with the realisation that it was his best friend who was God's anointed not him. Did he become resentful? No. He swore a vow of friendship with David because he recognized God's hand in everything. In chapter 23, he reassured David of God's protection. Jonathan continued to care for David even though the friendship put great strains on his relationship with his father and endangered his own life. In chapter 20, Saul in his anger attempted to kill his own son by throwing a spear at him, because of his loyalty to David.

John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Jonathan may not have died for David but there's no doubt that if he had to, he would have. He sacrificed as much as he could for him. Jonathan exhibited true Christ-likeness. Jonathan sacrificed a great deal for David like Jesus did for us. The covenant in chapter 18, reminded me of Jesus. Jonathan gave David a token to symbolise his part in the covenant but there is no indication that David gave Jonathan anything. Likewise, it's Jesus who did the giving, there is nothing we can give him. But as great as Jonathan may be, it is important that we recognize that he is nothing compared to Jesus.

Jesus had so much more to give and so much more to lose than Jonathan, yet he died for us. There is a finite gap between a prince and a shepherd boy. But the gap between a sinner and the great Creator God is infinite. Jonathan interceded before a wicked king for an innocent shepherd boy. But Jesus interceded before a holy wonderful and powerful God for the guilty sinner who really does deserve death.

Those who read their Bible stories would know what happened to Jonathan. He died along with his father in battle against the Philistines. But how proud he must be, now in heaven, to know that God used him to fulfill His purpose for David and establish His will, to know that God still uses his (Jonathan's) life to teach people about His son's love and sacrifice.

That is Jonathan's legacy: to be a biblical figure whose life looks forward to Jesus, who was born in the line of David, Jonathan's best friend.

And there are billions of people in this world who name their sons after Jonathan, with or without understanding the significance.

And I know at least one girl who sighs and says wistfully to herself, "If only I knew someone like Jonathan. I would sooo marry him."

Nita's Birthday

August is a lovely month. I hadn't realised it before. The sun has come out again, the daffodils are out and the magnolias are blooming pinks, whites and purples. And August has what every other month has.....Birthdays.

Wednesday was Nita's birthday. She turned sixteen. I haven't known Nita very long. Her family started coming for evening services at our church earlier this year but we've all become friends. It's strange how quickly everyone got along, because the kids in my church, (Karate Lamb Chops, Ryan, Sharpay, my siblings and myself) are a bit shy. I didn't speak to Karate Lamb Chops for around six months after we started going to this church. It took about a year for us to get properly acquainted with Sharpay. Ryan ignored us for two years and a half.

But for some reason we all got along quite quickly with Nita and her family. Nita has three brothers and a little sister.

Joshua is the oldest. He's a very quiet chap, about my age.

Judah is next in line and one of the most interesting people I've met. At age 16, he sent an email to the then Education Minister about a bill he was concerned about. The minister sent back a rather patronising and slightly discriminatory reply back to him. Judah found all the spelling mistakes in the email he had got back, and handed it over to the press. I guess it's not particularly cool to gain a reputation as someone who can't spell when you're the Education Minister. Judah is into politics and he's currently campaigning for the Vote No side of the Anti-smacking Bill and fighting for the rights of parents in NZ

Next in age to Nita is Bartholomew, a little thirteen year old boy with a quirky sense of humour. Bart is exactly the type of kid I get along with best.

And then comes little Anna, the five year old baby of the family. Anna loves the nursery rhyme, Wee Willie Winkie. She goes to folk dancing classes, reads Peter And Jane Books and has two dolls who she affectionately refers to as her 'babies'.

(*...I would like to remind everyone that all of these names are aliases and I will strive my best to keep the real names hidden in order to protect my acquaintances from ID theft. Except in Judah's case, I might divulge his true name later, in case he becomes famous. It can boost my blog rating...*)

But the hero of this post is Nita. I remember when I first spoke to her. It was the girls' turn to prepare the afternoon tea after Church. Nita was sitting by herself. She was probably very comfortable without us but all I could think of was the awkward feeling you get when you're sitting by yourself with an unfamiliar group and no one is trying to make friends with you.

But we were different with Nita. Karate Lamb Chops went up to her and said, "Excuse me, would you like to help us do the dishes?" Which not probably something you'd want to say to someone you're trying to make friends with. But Nita helped us with the work and observed everything with a bemused expression on her face.

Nita likes shopping, movies and Kiera Knightly. She has a sarcastic sense of humour and it's hard to tell when she's serious and when she's joking. She also has some strange tastes i.e, she thinks the Keira Knightley Pride and Prejudice movie is better than the Jennifer Ehle Pride and Prejudice mini-series (gasp!).

So it was her birthday on Wednesday. We teased her last Sunday by threatening to crash her house at night to wish her a happy birthday. Nita didn't take it seriously because she thought we were joking.

So come Wednesday, Karate Lamb Chops came to pick up The Old Hag and myself. Sharpay couldn't come because :
1) She was sick (again).
2) She had to baby sit.

So the three of us went to Botany Mall where we bought chocolate for Nita, party poppers, bubble blowers and those party blow-thingees. We got lost looking for Nita's house and wandered around for almost an hour before we finally reached our desitination.

Mrs. Nita's Mum opened the door. She grinned at us and called Nita down from her room. Nita spied us from the top of the stairs.
"Oh no...." was the welcoming cry from her.

In a few minutes Judah, Bartholomew, and Anna had joined us. Mr. Nita's dad was away and I think Joshua was asleep. We ate the cake Karate Lamb Chops had baked for Nita and Mrs. Nita's Mum gave us juice. Nita has a lovely home which seemed to scream 'F-A-M-I-L-Y'. And the family members were really good hosts. Bartholomew showed us a science project he had done. Anna and Judah entertained us with some steps from her folk dance. Nita and her mother showed us baby photos and talked us. We had a great time. I remembered to tell Nita that Sharpay wished her a very happy birthday. Old Hag and I weren't sure what Nita would like so we brought a small Indian conatainer handcarved from marble as a present. Just to add some culture to the environment.

Mrs. Nita's Mum gave us more helpful directions to get back home and we left after Judah took a picture to commemorate the event. We went home for a late dinner (Old Hag and I) and bed (Katate Lamb Chops, Old Hag and I).

This post is especially for Sharpay to give her an account of what happened. Wish you were there, Sharpay. Get well soon.

Thoughts about yesterday

The King of Pop is dead. I learnt this first thing yesterday when I was just googling to see if Kate and Jon are really splitting up. I felt more than a twinge of remorse (about the King, I mean). My childhood summers often meant Heal The World, I'm Bad, Black Or White and Billie Jean. Only a couple of days ago, I had been thinking how beautiful Michael Jackson looked in his Don't Stop ('til You Get Enough) video. The rest of the morning passed with MJ videos on C4 (NZ music channel), News Updates on his death and the Old Yeller trying to educate Thatha (Grandad) on who Michael Jackson was.

That evening Karate Lamb Chops came over to pick me and Old Yeller up to go to the Outreach event at the Howick Baptist Church where their youth group was having an Accoustic Cafe. I latched onto Karate Lamb Chops and Sharpay for the whole time. Ryan came by later with an exciting story of how two criminals had taken refuge in his workplace (Dick Smith at Sylvia Park, if you're interested) and a troop of policemen had come in to apprehend them.

Anyhow, we had a bit of entertainement with a Christian Band called Epidemic. Two of the members were actually friends of our friends but my brother and I were too shy to introduce ourselves. There was also a rapper called Theophilus.

I was pretty sceptical about the rapper. I hate normal rap and Christian rap almost seemed blasphemous. But I changed my mind soon afterwards. The guy had a clear message: What will happen to you when you die? Have your sins been died for on the cross? Will you be in heaven if you died today?

I wouldn't advocate rap for formal worship but I felt that he got the attention of every non-believer there.

Theophilus then held out his gloved right hand and said, "I'm wearing a black glove. As a tribute to Michael Jackson. I admire him as a musician. I love some of his music. But as far as I can see it doesn't seem like he had prepared himself for death. For what is a man profited, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26)

He was right. I had been thinking the same thing the whole day. There are all kinds of great people in the world. We have our Michael Jacksons, Elvis Presleys, Farrah Fawcetts and Marilyn Monroes who have inspired and entertained us. We even have our Mahatma Gandhis and our Mother Theresas who had given their life to service for people. But nothing these people can do or have done, can get them to heaven, on their own merit.

You can be well-loved and revered on earth and it won't matter a jot when you're dead. No matter what you do, you're a sinner and in enmity with God. The Holy God who cannot tolerate sin should destroy you. But no, He sent His son to die for His children. You cannot earn your way to heaven, nothing you do will ever matter. Unless God has redeemed you through His grace.

But it is wonderful to think that an average person like me who won't be missed outside my tiny circle of family and friends, who won't even be remembered after a decade, who won't be mentioned in a single history book, can enter God's Kingdom. Not by anything I did but by everything He did.

Sorry if I'm rambling a bit. I'm just writing my thoughts as they flow.

The 'Cold' Season

It seems like a universal Flu season. The swine flu has been announced as a pandemic. I heard on the radio some weeks ago that they expect that over half the population of NZ will be infected with the virus. Besides, with the cold weather here, it seems inevitable that you get sick from one thing or another.

So I’m sick! Not the Swine Flu, thankfully. Just a bad cold.

It happened yesterday while I was walking the four-kilometre distance from home to work. I wasn’t wearing a hat, which must have triggered the entire episode. It had been slightly warm, you see, and I had my favourite bulky jacket (the one that Mamma hates, because it make me look dumpy) and my pretty brown-leather gloves. By the time I got to the school (where I work), I was having the sniffles. It’s general knowledge that taking care of fourteen children, who’ve had too much sugar in their juice during Afternoon Tea, doesn’t really help the immune system. And so at 6.01 pm, I found myself in Papa’s car, after work, with a really bad sore throat.

The one thing that was going on in my mind was that if I became too sick, I can’t go with Karate Lamb Chops, Ryan and Sharpay on our outing on Friday. We had planned last Sunday to visit this youth group, which belongs to an Armenian church with a Reformed youth pastor. I usually don’t see the three of them outside of Church so it's a bit of treat, which I did not want to miss.

So as soon as I got home, I drank a mug of hot water. I had a tablespoon of honey, which soothed my throat…temporarily. Then for dinner, I had a mug of hot creamy chicken soup. While we were listening to a sermon John Piper for family prayer, I sipped another mug of hot water. While doing the dishes I sucked on an orange flavoured lozenge. Before going to bed, I drank a mug of Lemsip (a drink which is supposed to be good for colds and sore throats, and, let me tell you, they exaggerate its effects in the TV ads) and gargled with hot and salty water. In my bedroom, my oil heater was on high and I had four layers (a sheet, a blanket and two summer duvets) to cover me and a hot water bottle to hug.

So you can imagine I was pretty gutted when I woke up this morning with a sore throat….and a blocked nose!!!

By now I have added a headache to my list of grievance and I fear that I might be getting a fever.

So I’m pretty much trying to figure out whether it would be morally wrong to go to a youth group with a possibly infectious cold.

I wonder what I’ll decide….