Why I Love Owls

I sit in front of my computer on a Saturday night, itching to blog something.
As I sat, a thought came to me.  A question to myself, "Why do I love owls?"
For some of my friends out there, you guys know I love owls.
Cartoon ones, real ones, crafty ones.  Just any kind of owls.

So, I thought, "Hey, just as an easy blog entry, I'll blog about 'Why I love owls'"

Why I Love Owls

It all started on my trip to Hong Kong in 2012.  My cousin's friend was selling rings.  When I looked at a few, I thought, "Aw, this one is cute!"  Since then, I started loving owls.

The more I think about this the past few months, the more I realize this doesn't make any sense.  What is so special about the owl?  I started researching about owls and what they do, what they are like, what kinds of owls are there, etc.

Then I realize, I am kind of like an owl.

• I like to stay up late.  Like a night owl.
• Perceptive, knowledgeable, always sitting on my perch and watching stuff.  As an engineer, I am always analyzing the world around me.  Why does x does y and how does it equal z?  An owl may not really do that but don't you think, that owl is sitting on a branch, looking around his/her world, just observing and analyzing the land around it.
• I'm kind of quiet, at first.  If you were in a house with me, I walk around very quietly.  I spook my dad many times.  WHoo goes there!?  One of the first visits to Hong Kong, I even scared my grandmother! (Age 7)
• Solitaire.  I'm actually not so solitaire but I guess I am don't mind being by myself most of the time.  I'm in between an introvert and an extrovert, so while I don't mind being with people, I also don't mind being by myself.

The Beauty

I general, animals are beautiful creatures of God.  The owl is no different.  There is something majestic and royal about an owl.  How they carry themselves is very pompous.  But if you watch an owl, even baby owls, there is also something comical about the birds.

I love watching birds fly.  Although I haven't watched an owl fly in person, I could imagine the power of their flight through the air.  Owls are created to hunt at night and spy out mice in the field, so I would think once they locate their target food source, they are like a bullet.  I can also imagine them flying around at night, very stealth like.  Like a hidden airplane. 

The Science

 I could really bore you with some science.  There are typical owls (the most famous is the great horn owl) and the barn owl (the ones that kind of looks spooky, with a heart-shape disk face).

Great Horn Owl (typical)

Barn Owl

Then there are the scientific names, Strigiformes (the order for owls), Strigidae (family name for typical owls), and Tytonidae (family name for barn owls).  All you need to know, it's from Greek and Latin.

Even the word "owl" comes from a mixture of Norse, old English, and old German, mimicking the sounds of the owls.

The Cuteness

I have watch a few owly educational shows and seen a lot of photos.  Especially the owlets (baby owls), these guys can be very comical and cute to watch.  They have an interesting expression, especially with those big buggy eyes.

Owls on Coffee

Conclusion

 I hope this gives you guys a glimpse of why I love owls.  There are probably a lot more thoughts and explanation of why I love these birds so much but at 12:27am, I can't think of any right now.

When I Grow Up

Recently, a manager at work asked me, "What do you want to do when you grow up?"

Not always wanting to bring out the religion card, I said in general, "I want to travel the world."

He asked, "Doing what?"

"Helping people."

*Boom*  He called me out.  "Like a missionary???"

"Um, yes," I said.

So, our conversations dove into a lot about being Christian and one common theme came out, "It's not about me.  It's about Him and making this a better place."

From the Beginning

There is always something about the travel and the journey to another place.  When I was 7, I took an airplane ride with my family to visit relatives in Hong Kong.  I remember being delayed, stuck in South Korea coming from Seattle, being in Hong Kong for well over 6 weeks, then to come back via Tokyo Japan and finally made it to Charlotte a day late, and missing the first day of school.  (Circa 1987.)  Looking back, I didn't quite mind the journey as much as I knew we were going to land somewhere.

My first impression of Hong Kong: wow, it feels like America.  There's McDonald's (yay), English (although, I thought it was funny that "harbor" was spelled "harbour"), grocery stores, and modern pharmacies.  I remember it was very hot and humid.  Some of my cousins speak some English.

But some things I got used to (and in many of the past Hong Kong trips): driving on the left side, double decker buses, really good dim sum, drinking hot tea (when it is like over 30 degrees C outside), learning to drink Hong Kong style milk tea (a Hong Kong version of British tea), lemon tea from a box... Okay, just drinking A LOT OF TEA... Learning that KFC served white rice as a side, good "biscuits" (aka cookies) that are not too terribly sweet, the sweltering heat in the summer months, getting sick every other time I go there, learning and relearning the bus/train routes, and there are probably a slew of other things.

Since that one trip and many others, I always like to travel and visit other places.  Most importantly, to experience another culture through thought, food, habits, and everyday life.

I never knew...

When I later became a Christian, I never knew that there was a thing called "missionaries."  Some of the most famous ones you might think of are Billy Graham (technically, maybe not, but he's been everywhere), J. Hudson Taylor (missionary to China), and most recently, the Tebow's (Philippines).  I know quite a few others who are either currently serving overseas or on fur low or just doing other things now. 

So, God gave me a heart to go somewhere soon after I become a Believer. 

Granted, I am not your typical people-person.  Part of my personality and part of my DNA is that I am a logical thinking engineering woman, through and through.  I'm not necessarily an introvert; I don't mind being around people most of the time.  However, it takes me a while usually to get to know anyone.  I am observant, reserved at first.  I don't always do well in large crowds of people.  I do much better in smaller circles of friends.

So, the conversation I had before with this manager got me thinking, "How does a normally reserve person impact the world, possibly in another continent?"

The answer: It's not about me.  It's about Him.  And I want to help people.

It's not my strengths that God put me here or there or anywhere. But a passion for people, maybe certain types or culture, that God will put me there.  In my weakness, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Along the way...

God doesn't make us a lone ranger.  God made us a family of believers and followers of Christ.  Along the way, God will place people or situations in your life to further the kingdom.  Could be a future husband, wife, a group of other like-minded missionaries, a job possibility, an international project.  And so many time, my pastor, Naeem Fazal, had the conversation in service, "What decisions have you made that defines who you are now?  What decisions are you making today that will define who you will be?"

I like how my everyday life of working parallels to the messages I learned from my church and my small groups or the postings on FB.  God has a hand on how He influences me in so many ways.

Growing up

If you ask me what I want to do, I do like to travel the world, maybe plant myself in Asia somewhere, teach English or engineering or whatever, and enjoy the journey God has put me in.  I hope and pray that, just maybe, God will bless me with a husband with a similar mind but knowing if Paul can travel in an unmarried state, I guess I can too and trust that He will have me with other Believers sharing the same journey.

The end.

30-Something : (Extended) Greenway thoughts

Many times when I'm out on the greenway, I sometimes pray to God.  I enjoy the nice serene beauty of the trees, the singing of the birds, and the babbling of the creeks.  It's a time to myself, to be away from work, even from people, family and friends, and just walk or have a nice little jog.  I enjoy God's beauty in the natural surroundings.

In a morning jog, I was thinking and praying about my future husband.

I go through cycles.  Sometimes I tell myself, "Nah, I don't need a man."  Rightly so, I have a well paying engineer/sales job, great insurance, I have a mortgage, a car, and many other amenities and just stuff.

But then sometimes, I feel a sense of needing a man, a need for companionship and to have someone of the opposite gender to understand me.  This is when I start dreaming, "What is he going to be like?"

Many of you readers have been in love (and to those married, you are still in love with your spouse, yes?).  When someone is in love, he or she might want to be more like the other person they are in love with.

• Yes, I want to start eating organic food just like (insert person's name here)
• I want to start playing guitar just like (insert person's name here)
• Wow, he is such a godly person when it comes to finances.  I think I will join his financial class (Crown Ministry, financial peace, insert your class of flavor here).  And please note, you hate balancing your check book.

I hope you get the picture.  Many of us have done this.  Admit it.  I have too.

But in my thoughts and prayers in that morning run, God reminded me of something:

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." ~Genesis 1:27 (NIV)~

Build Your World on Jesus

One other morning, when I wasn't at the greenway, and watching CNN Headline News on a Saturday, there was a segment where the hostess was interviewing two former rappers who turned themselves around to become pastors and/or leaders in their respective churches.  (I think one of them is Rev. Run of Run DMC.)  They co-wrote a book called Manology (which I have a slight interest in reading).  In their interview, they explained that men are attracted to confident women who have "built their world" on things she enjoys.  They took the example of Beyonce and Jay Z.  Beyonce became who she is by what she does: a singer and a performer.  She did not chase other people's dreams, or become someone else.

At the time when I watched this, it made sense.  I need to find what interest me.  But to take it a step further, take interest on what God wants you to do for Him.  Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

In becoming the right person, we all have to acknowledge we are God's creation; He made us in His image.  He wants the best of us and from us.  He wants us to be in love with Him; He is a jealous God!

Sometimes when we are in love, we morph into that other person.  But ask yourself, "Is what he/she is doing of godly worth?  Is this person living for the Lord?"  And of course, take a hard look at yourself, "Am I in love with God?  Am I 'morphing' into what God wants me to be?"

30-something : Secret Sauce... The Secret of Contentment (my verison)

From mid-May to mid-June 2013, my church did a sermon series called “Secret Sauce… The Secret to Contentment”.  As the name implies, the sermon series was about how to be content and was also a walk-through Philippians, about Paul being in prison writing to the saints in Philippi.  In a nutshell, Paul has learned during his travels and while he was in jail to be content in all circumstances.

How does my story relate to a guy in jail?  How does anybody’s story relate to a guy in jail?

Many of us have related to Paul in many of his other journeys as written in the New Testament.  Have you been legalistic?  Paul has been the most zealous, legalistic Jew you have ever seen.  Have you never had faith?  Paul didn’t have faith until he was knocked blind for three days.  Have you starved?  Paul has.  Have you been broke?  I’m sure Paul has been broke many times.  And have you been broken?  Please say yes.  Paul probably has been broken many times too.

And what about being unmarried?  Although it is not known if Paul was married, or have been married, or was unmarried, he wrote to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 7 concerning these things –

³² I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Paul writes to Corinth, which was a pretty messed up society in all areas, especially in the area of marriage and issues with worshipping other gods dealing with fertility and the likes.  You get the picture, I hope.  And of course, there are always disputes amongst the followers.  Such as this, to be married, to be unmarried, what should you do if you’re engaged, etc.  But Paul makes it clear: If you are not married, you are concern about the Lord’s affair.  But if you are married, your interests may be divided.

This chapter does go into marriage.  If you are so burning with passion, get married.  If you are engaged, get married.  If you are married, stay married.  But as long as you’re unmarried, live for the Lord.  But that’s not to say that if you are married you cannot be devoted to the Lord.  I know many married Christians who are just as devoted as before they got married.

I believed we’ve all been there: unmarried and we seek to be understood.

But here’s a question: Does it matter if someone, in the earthly sense, understands me?  Probably not.  Ask yourself, “Who gives a crap about me?”  Almost that question, right there, should speak of discontent in your heart.  “Poor me, nobody loves me!”

However, what I’ve learned is this: God understands me and He graciously loves me like crazy.  It’s not so much, from my personally journey, to be understood by anyone.  Like I said, “Who gives a crap?!” 

But God understands.  That’s why He sent us Jesus to save us from our sins and also Paul to write all that he did about legalism vs. faith, starvation, being broke, being broken, and especially being unmarried.

It is part of this journey of life to understand God, who He is, and how He has made me.  God has made you the way you are.  God has made me the way I am.  Through this madness of life, He made me go through this journey I’m going through to have faith and understand Him.  It has taken me quite a while to be at this point in life, to be confident, and acknowledged in mind and heart, that He has fearfully and wonderfully made me (Psalm 139).

Of course, this is only a sliver of my thoughts.  I'm sure there are tons more experiences which I can share about the graciously and generosities of God.

Ultimately, I've learned to be content in all circumstances, whether you are unmarried, married, and dealing with stuff in life. 

When I first read this many years ago as a young Christian, I felt at the time I understood what it meant. However, as time goes on, God has shown me time and time again of how to be content in so many areas of my life.

Philippians 4:

¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

30-Something : About that dating, courtship, whatever...

Seriously, if you asked me to write a book about courtship, I would title it I Almost Kiss Dating Goodbye.

Remember some years ago, a guy name Joshua Harris had the audacity to write a book I Kiss Dating Goodbye? Going to a conservative church during college, almost everybody read the book as if it was the second Bible for courtship (or non-courtship). 

Me, personally, I read a third of the book, and I wanted to chuck it out my dorm room window.  It wasn’t baloney to me, but it was borderline legalistic.  Don’t get me wrong, I noted a few good things, about being pure in any relationship with your fellow opposite gender.

Then Harris redeemed himself and wrote “Boy Meets Girl”.  I almost want to ask, “What is wrong with you?”  But then, there is love and grace, which I had to contain myself and not say anything.  Never read the book, don’t care to.

Some 10 years later after my last romantic relationship, I haven’t had a single date.

You have read correctly.  Almost 10 years have past.  I haven’t dated a soul.

Now, you may even ask me (in return), “What’s wrong with you?”

Honestly, I can’t tell you what’s wrong with me.  Or  what’s even right with me.  After a few years of church bopping, I landed in a church with a bunch of “singles”.  Actually, it was a large group of mostly divorced folks.  At first, it was weird, awkward as I soon found out I was the youngest true single (or maybe I should say unmarried) but I found the few who I trust and became friends with. 

Then a few weird, awkward things happened.  I was asked out on dates.  And not from guys my age.  There was one guy who was probably my dad age.  Oh boy…  I had to turn him down, gently.

Then there was a guy who… wasn’t all there.  I had to run away from him.

And then I would get some strange looks from a few guys.  Run away, run away!

Due to other reasons (not because of the above), I left that church.

And I landed at my current church, Mosaic Church in Charlotte.

I think I’ve learned a lot about waiting.  And waiting.  And waiting.  I have been jaded and my thoughts might be a little skewed about the whole dating thing.  I almost don’t want to pray to God, “Please give me a tall, dark, and handsome Christian guy, who loves You and loves the people he serves.”  Sometimes I would make a list of what I want in a man, only to “scratch it” when God reveals something about me that I need to work on. 

“I want him to be rich and famous.”  Eh! (Think of the buzzer on America’s Got Talent.)
“Okay, can he just at least look like Tim Tebow??”  Eh! 
“Okay, at least, can he have blue eyes?”  Eh!
“Okay, God, I give up!”  Eh!  (God is telling me not to give up on my prayers.)

Often times, I felt like a failure to the human race.  Don’t worry, most unmarried women have felt this way.  We go through this stage of life.  It’s quite normal.  Most of us get through it somehow.

However, I almost want to play a game.  Not that we should test God but this is a good game, to test my own faith.

My pastor, Pastor Naeem Fazal, have often challenged us who are still single, “Wait.  I dare you to wait a year before you date again.”  A few sermons on this topic, he will share about him waiting about 3 years before he meant his wife, Ashley. 

I almost want to tell Naeem, very sarcastically, “What about 10 years?” 

And God tells me, “So, what about 10 years?”  If 9.5 years I have waited, why not half a more years.  Or even beyond.

And if I should wait, for God to make me the right woman and the right wife for a guy out there, I shall wait.  "Don't find the right person; be the right person."