Hospitality

       I took a moment last night to flip through my guest book, which dates back to the fall of 2012, and was pleasantly surprised to see how many friends have come through my home in that span of time.  From casual after-work tea gatherings, to an impromptu spring party, I must confess that I enjoy having people over.  Reading through the comments, I note that many of them are written in languages other than English (almost all of my visitors being non-native English speakers), and a fair number of them are accompanied by sketches or drawings, some of which are truly amusing!  It is interesting to see that many of my guests come out of town, or are otherwise passing through en route to another destination; however, there are also posts from several friends who frequent my place often and write simply "thank you very much for everything -- again!"  I also notice that several "regular" visitors manage to sneak by without signing the book, but for the most part, it provides a fairly reliable record of those who have come for a visit.

     It's true, good friends who stimulate, encourage, challenge, uplift you -- what would life be otherwise?   Birthday celebrations (mine and those of others!), Christmas caroling evening, ladies-only clothes-swapping party (complete with chocolate covered strawberries!), Independence day dinner, Saturday morning brunches.... and the list goes on.  And how lovely it is to engage in lively discourse on all manner of topics, or just catch up on daily life, over a cup of tea and home baked carrot cake?   When you enter someone's home, you also enter into a part of their life you otherwise might not get a glimpse of.  Much of my home furnishings were gifts or hand-me-downs from friends leaving the city, and I love to recount to my guests how I came to possess each one.   

      Recently, a friend lamented that people just don't invite others over anymore for a full meal as it is quite costly -- instead, we busy people tend to go out to eat, splitting the bill, of course.  And yet, however nice it is to have a vast restaurant selection to chose from and to be served, it just isn't the same as being in someone's home!  

      A wise friend once told me "hospitality must be practised." Coming from one who is forever opening her home to others (and makes the best baked salmon I've ever had!), I was surprised to hear her reminder that just like anything else, if you wish to be a good hostess, you must actively and regularly make the decision to invite someone over.  And for me, the invitation is only the beginning.... then I take some time to plan the menu (sometimes I try a new recipe, but many times I return to something that has been tried, tested, and enjoyed by many), and for more elaborate gatherings, advance preparation is required.   I for one, love the process of creating interesting meals to suit various palettes, but above all, I love spending time with people and having them at my table.  So to all my past and future guests -- thank you for gracing my home with your presence!

 

The power of encouragement

      This year, I wrote Christmas cards for the first time in a long time.  I didn't go out and buy anything fancy -- in fact, I had exactly a dozen cards which I had purchased the previous year during a fundraiser and had never used.  I began writing them late one evening, although I think I only got through about half of them and had to finish the task the following day.  I wrote to the first dozen people who came to my mind, most of whom were friends or people I worked closely with in various capacities.  In each card, I enclosed a brief personal note, sincerely thanking each person for the role he/she had played in my life during the past year and wishing them a blessed Christmas.  I posted (or in some cases, hand delivered) the cards and the following day, left town for the holidays.

       Responses to my cards came trickling in via e-mail, SMS and phone calls shortly after.  A couple of people shamelessly admitted they shed tears, and others remarked how much the words encouraged them.   When I returned home from my vacation last week, those who had thanked me in writing made sure to make mention of their card again when we met in person.  I was floored and the experience taught me one thing -- never underestimate the power of words to encourage and uplift.  What I had intended as year-end appreciation surpassed my own expectations, and serves as a fabulous reminder how a few words can go a long way.     

    

Autumn leaves

     I haven't blogged in almost two months and that is perhaps no big surprise, given that the academic year has begun, and with it, all kinds of responsibilities!  In all honesty, I've been working non-stop, and to make things even more challenging, I managed to book every weekend solid throughout the month of September!  What was I THINKING?  However, I'm falling into a rhythm and had a chance to relax last weekend, so there is hope in sight!    

     Fall is truly here up in the north, and with it, crisp mornings and a dazzling array of colours adorns the trees.  In fact, I have a lovely view from my living room window out into the yard!   Earlier today, I took a walk in the neighbourhood and there was a lovely blanket of reds and oranges covering entire areas!  It was truly a delight to go crunching through the piles on my way!  

     My only issue with fall is what comes after it -- the long, frigid, dark winter we have up here.  I've grown up with cold winters all my life, although these past two have been especially snowy.  Today as I was taking my walk, a gust of wind blew, causing a small shiver and I immediately was reminded of that inevitable winter, set to grace our paths in but a few short weeks.  And then I chided myself, because I realized this kind of thinking is robbing me from enjoying the present splendour.  Instead of being thankful that we've had very little rain, here I am worrying about the snow when it hasn't even arrived yet!

     Have you noticed that our lives also have seasons?  Right now, I am in a season of discovery and great joy, having just embarked on several new personal projects (more on those in future blog posts!).  In addition, my work place is a breeding ground for the exchange of ideas (scholarly, pedagogical, musical and otherwise) and personal growth on so many levels, and did I mention that I have fantastic, helpful colleagues who are fun?   I'm embracing all of these new and exciting things and sometimes, I have to pinch myself to be sure it's still me.  Not a bad place to be.   However, I recall seasons of my life which were less than ideal -- where I questioned my self-worth, relationships, my career, my purpose and yes, even my existence.  Perhaps you have been there too.  This popular song by Matt Redman comes to mind:

"you give and take away, you give and take away
my heart will choose to say, "blessed be your name."'

    Just yesterday, a close friend recounted how much this song meant to her during a particularly high season in her life.  At once, she felt the Lord challenge her to sing these words when the going gets rough, and indeed soon enough, her time of trial and testing came, and yet she was still able to sing the same song.  And so it is that in all things, in all seasons, we CHOOSE to bless the name of our creator who made both the winter's snowflakes and the brilliantly coloured leaves of fall.  Furthermore, in those seasons of great happiness, we gather faith to endure those times of hardship.

    Seasons.  The rhythm of life that we have received.  Woven throughout is our song, the thread that binds all it touches together in praise.      



    

Preparation -- the key to success?

      Last night I dreamed that I was teaching a random group of former students and had not adequately prepared.  I managed to make it through the most of the lesson, until it was time to give homework, only to discover I couldn't find the assignment I had prepared and in my dream, this was a source of huge stress!  I woke up feeling rather anxious and then reminded myself that the students probably would not have been so terribly upset about this predicament.

     The dream seems to indicate that at least subconsciously, I'm aware I have quite a bit of work to do before the academic term begins!  In order to be successful as both a teacher and performer, I need to be well prepared.  Unfortunately, preparation requires planning on my part, and that has never been something I enjoy, so this morning, I started making a to-do list, along with deadlines and a breakdown of tasks.  Since planning an entire undergraduate course from scratch is a daunting task, it helps if I divide up the work into more manageable sections.

         In addition, today I was contemplating some long term goals that have somehow fallen by the wayside and I realized, if I'm going to achieve them, I will have to devote some attention in that direction.

     When I was in grad school, a teacher of mine constantly told us, "success in the music world is really only 20% talent.  The rest is sheer hard work."  He was right -- the people from my class still working in music today are those who always came to rehearsal with every note learned.  This doesn't only apply to music either.  Growing up, I remember watching my brothers prepare for tennis tournaments.  Not only did they train constantly, they also adhered to a proper diet and sleep schedule.  In their spare time, they created strategies or tried to learn about their opponent, just to have an extra edge.  They were determined to win.  

     Keep dreaming big and remember -- preparation really is the key to success! 

Songs of adventure

     Exactly two years ago today, I began a new adventure, uprooting myself from my comfortable North American hometown, to a small city in Northern Europe.  I've encountered culture shock, and am still struggling to communicate in not only one, but two, distinct new languages.  In addition, the practical concerns of relocation, such as necessary paperwork and orientation within a new place, still occasionally threaten to drown me in the dark abyss of despair, even two years later.

     However, the adventurer in me has made a preliminary start on both foreign languages and is accepting all kinds of new personal, vocational and artistic challenges every day.  The greatest blessings have come in the form of a home-cooked meal, accompanied by heart-to-heart talks late into the night, my richly decorated flat courtesy of friends themselves in the midst of relocating, walks by the beach or through the woods, and hours spent singing together in homes and at churches, for weddings, funerals and special events.

     You learn a lot about a group of people through their songs.  Indeed, you learn even more if you are brave enough to sing those songs alongside them -- no matter how imperfect the singing.

     This adventure -- the forest paths, the roads not taken -- have been illuminated by another voice, sometimes whispering softly in my heart, other times singing along with me at unison or in harmony... the voice of my heavenly Father, which has led me every step of the way.   To be sure, when things are not looking so bright, there have been numerous nights when I have tossed about restlessly, filled with doubt and anxiety, half-wondering if I'm following a crazy dream or a living nightmare?  However, after wrestling within myself, that voice, which once seemed so very elusive, reveals itself, lucid enough for me to be very certain of one thing -- I am not alone in this world.

     Therefore, I dare to live, drinking of the cup that overflows and never runs dry, intermingling the melodies of both new and old.

     I am not alone in this adventure -- the adventure we call life, and seeing as how I still have many songs yet to learn, I think I will stay here awhile.