Monday, February 14, 2005

and the award goes to ::.
this weekend has been all about awards. we drove down to good ol' blue for just a day so that lauren would make her presence available to be inducted into the pennsylvania volleyball coaches association hall of fame. that is like  - whoah. she is now a hall of famer. still, she never makes anything of her great achievements or skill. others gladly do that for her. i'll do it here. there are boxes of awards and recognitions that will probably remain in the dark for years. but at the mention of her name in these circles a physical reminder is not needed. she has earned respect and admiration for her contribution to the sport as well as who she is. a legacy is what others will say about you and the continuing influence you leave even when you have moved on.

we were able to catch the grammys tonight. it surely was one of the best grammy presentations in a long time. at first we turned on just in time to catch U2 beautifully perform 'sometimes you can't make it on your own' --- i'm still shuddering over that song. jlo and her man wasn't all that. kanye really was. his jesus walks performance was a vibrant expression of faith couched in rich culture and history. it's always good to see joss stone and she dropped it hard with a bald melissa etheridge...uh...electrifying. but the show belonged to one man's legacy. it truly was ray's night.

all in all, as it is valentine's day or singles awareness day, i do want my lovely wife, lauren, to be recognized today as the treasure in my life. for being married to me, she is automatically granted with a lifetime achievement award. we do have our share of struggles and incredible moments of glory. it's a miracle for two totally different individuals to have entered into this gift of companionship for a lifetime, this mystery of oneness. praise God for making lauren, simply lauren. how i want to be a better man every morning and find satisfaction in the daily task of bringing greater joy to my wife. my success is marked by a sparkle in her eye and  enduring warmth in sweet embracement. ~ a house doesn't make a home ~
recently, she tried to get me U2 concert tickets. all i can say is wow. what a cool wife even tho she wasn't able to get them. sigh.




so long year of the monkey

more reflections on the chinese new year ::.
what a contrast between the material and prosperity focus of the chinese new year and the simplifying call of lent. as chinese-american christians we are creatures of deep conflict. it is a joy however to give out those red envelopes. it is a symbol of the transition in our lives. i am no longer a child. i've received my blessings and will continue to receive them but it is time to bless the generations ahead. this is the beginnings of the internal wrestling over what chinese traditions do i keep alive and how to do them well. it is good to have traditions.