The Searchlight of Insight

Barnaby Bear

This week Barnaby Bear came home from Sebastian's class for an overnight visit. Barnaby visited each member of Sebastian's class for the past six weeks - even before the extra long holiday thanks to the bad flu circulating Hong Kong just before Easter. Each host then writes about Barnaby's visit to their home that are placed into a binder that captures  Barnaby's travels.  Wednesday when Barnaby came home to our place, Tess broke out the camera. Afterwards Tess and I downloaded the photos that I arranged into a collage. The next morning I took one last photo when Sebastian returned to school with Barnaby.

Thursday night Seb's homework involved writing descriptions for the collage and the story of Barnaby's visit. I had a business dinner that night followed by a conference call lasting until 1:30 AM. When I returned home about 2 AM I quickly pulled out Sebastian's completed  homework. I was so impressed that I scanned the written portion. Sebastian also wrote next to the pictures but to maintain picture quality I used text here instead of re-scanning the pictures. Below is the description of the afternoon and evening. (Click to enlarge images.) What do you think?

End of the weekend...

It's the end of a gorgeous Hong Kong weekend. The weather was terrible on Friday, but surprised us on Saturday by clearing up - the partly cloudy and breezy day presented a wonderful opportunity for the junk trip that Tess wrote about here (includes pictures). I was amazed that this morning the kids didn't sleep later. Regardless, after church we met a friend of a friend of Tess, Harmony, and had a somewhat relaxing - as relaxing as it could be with four kids equal to our less than six years old. At the end of the weekend we had a fun moment, so entertaining that Sebastian insisted I tell him the story THREE times.

As we approached Sunday evening, Sebastian and Tess headed to a neighbour's flat to drop off a birthday present for a friend whose party Seb missed because he was on The Junk yesterday. While they were gone I started dinner for the triplets... vegetable fried rice LOADED with veggies that Jasper would never eat but so good that ultimately all kids wolfed down. (Veggies disguised as very small bits.)

Sela and Carys finished first, because naturally, seems that JJ's bodily functions always call him to the toilet during dinner thus delaying the consumption of his meal. Carys was the first to polish off her yoghurt and other after dinner treats. I whisked her off to the bathroom where she wee'd, changed, brushed her teeth, nappied and got into bed. Next it was Sela's turn, but Sela needed quite a bit of prompting. Sela was messing around in the kids' bedroom with Carys, much to my changrin. Flash to Jasper, now eating his yoghurt, drinking his milk etc. Before I know it JJ is at my feet, "FINISHED!" he exclaimed upon which JJ - who normally takes forever - quickly  wee'd, changed and brushed his teeth. As I was putting on Jasper's nappy, Sela pranced before JJ and I with a "tah-dah" to announce she'd finally changed. However...

I had meanwhile been saying to Jasper, "JJ, you are going to beat Sela."

"HO, HO," he laughs, chuffed at his little impending victory, "Why?" he asked.

"Because Sela hasn't brushed her teeth!" I replied.

"HA HA HA," he laughs, "Sela, I am going to beat you!"

"NO NO NO," Sela yells, turning to race into the kids' bedroom with Jasper in hot pursuit. Sela landed first on her bed with JJ landing a close second on his bed. Sela spun around to face JJ in his bed, arms raised to the heavens, yelling, "Jasper, I beat you, I beat you!"

"NO YOU DIDN'T SELA, YOU HAVEN'T BRUSHED YOUR TEETH!" replied JJ with certainty... trusting that Dad spoke the truth.

With screaming, laughing and yelling erupting from all three triplets a small moment of silence registered in Sela's mind when she realised she was completely and totally BUSTED. That moment could have resulted in a major pout, but instead she was a very good sport, laughing hysterically that she lost the race due to her unbrushed teeth. I whisked her away for a quick clean after which the three of them made absolutely no effort to go to sleep.

By this time Sebastian returned. I sat with him as he ate his veggie-rich rice, recounting the story of JJ's 2nd place victory that brought him so much joy he insisted the story be told three times. Why do you suppose this story brought him such delight? A great weekend had by all. (Above, two adults - Arnaud & Richard - on yesterday's junk trip trying to stay on the tubes while moving at top speed.)

New pics of the kids...

Okay, I confess... it was a Shrek Birthday Cake. We've created a new photo album of the kids out and about from February & March. Click here to access the photo album at Tess' blog.

Happy Easter

Today we had our annual Easter Egg Hunt on the playground with a dozen other families in the building. In the morning we made the bags with the kids. Due to the terrible weather the hunt was off, then it was on, then if was off and finally it was on. Click here for a report from Tess. With eggs laid the kids poured onto the playground and sure enough, the heavens poured onto them in buckets. Afterwards shivering kids rationalised, "But why do I need a hot bath when I just got washed in the rain?" Twelve hours later it is Easter Sunday and I have been asked to give the Offertory Prayer for the 11 AM service and here it is:

Good morning, while preparing for this morning’s offertory prayer I happened upon a cute story. The story is about a man who drove to a very run-down section of town for a business meeting. The man left his new car parked at the side of the road. After the man’s meeting he approached his car to find a small boy gazing at the car with wonder in his eyes. The man asked, “Do you like my car?”

The boy replied, “Mister, I think is it the most beautiful car I have ever seen.”

The two stood in a few moments of silence, and then the man said, “My brother gave me that car.”

“Wow,” said the young boy and then he asked, “Do you know what I wish mister?”

The man thought he knew, but waited and then politely asked, “What do you wish?”

After a few moments the boy replied, “I wish I could be a brother like that.”

The point is, that each day as brothers and sisters in Christ we have the opportunity to be generous both in spirit and pocketbook to those around us who are in need. Let us pray the Offertory Prayer…

Loving and gracious God, we thank You for being such an extravagant giver, You have blessed us beyond our wildest imagination with what we need and so much more. We come to You in thanksgiving, knowing that all we are and all we have is a gift from you. In faith and love, help us to do Your will. We are listening, Lord God. Speak Your words into the depths of our souls, that we may hear You clearly. We offer to You this East Sunday all the facets of our lives, whether it be at home, at work, or at school – to be patient, to be merciful, to be generous, to be holy. Give us the wisdom and insight to understand Your will for us and the fervour and courage to carry out our good intentions. We offer our gifts of time, talent and possessions to You as a true act of faith, to reflect our love for You and as brothers and sisters in Christ to our neighbour. Help us to reach out to others as You our God have reached out to us. In Your name Christ Jesus we pray and ask you to receive today’s offering, Amen.

Above, Tess with some of our Union Church friends.

Testing a conspiracy theory

Living in Hong Kong gives us the unique advantage of seeing China in a different light. In my almost twelve years here, the changes and approaches the Chinese government takes to sensitive situations swings back and forth. As the Olympics approach, the government has been super-sensitive to the handling of controversial issues. There is no lack of planning or forethought at the moment. Also during the course of the last thirteen years (one of those being a year of graduate school study of Asia while living in Vancouver) I have  come to know of the anti-China lobbyists around the world. Some of the white papers I have read from and about these groups are as extreme and appalling as some of the very things they use to attack China. Almost like the pot calling the kettle black, in a philosophical sense.

The point is, I find it extraordinary that all of a sudden, and very conveniently as the Olympics are only a few months away, the current turmoil erupted in Tibet. The situation and response is completely contrary to the Chinese government's preparation for the Olympics: cautious. Call me a conspiracist, but this makes me wonder if the eruption of violence has been engineered, provoked and triggered by anti-China lobbyists from outside China. I am not saying China's handing of the situation is appropriate, but I can't help but sense their Achilles heel has been perfectly played by those who know how to provoke them. Isn't that convenient? What is the worse of the two evils? Thanks a lot everyone - now the athletes will pay for it. Even The Straits Times (Singapore-based) wrote, "The precise cause of the violence remains a mystery."

There seem to be many people with views similar to mine. While the West claims Chinese are brainwashed, those in China (and parts of Asia) accuse the West of being brainwashed!  Another blogger wrote:  "We are trapped by the western countries. US firstly put us out of the list of human right violators and praised our progress, and then in 48 hours they reported the unrest in Tibet! It’s a mean plot to first drive the attention upon China and then threw us into a gaffe."

The Washington Post printed this story entitled, "Chinese seethe on Web over rare riots in Tibet."

And furthermore, do you think my kids will EVER learn to speak with an inside voice?