happy countries know essence of God
in the pics: There is a couple a palagi man and samoan woman who are remodelling her family's samoan fale/house, and are making it into beach fales as a business...they put me to work one day...that's good because i don't get enough physical work in samoa.
7/5
Hmmmm..a lot to think about. Today is Sunday. A day to eat..and rest. And not much else. I’m still uncomfortable with not doing anything. So I will keep my hands busy by writing these words.
What is it you can release into the world that would create the most change? A book? A poem? A movie? A person? That might be why I’m drawn to teaching. It’s a way to change opinions, open minds, transfer (knowledge, habits, love, a better life).
So I sit here trying to absorb the essence of God. It’s a Godly day—Sunday. A day people go to church. But then rush off—I do mean rush. Why not sit and be still for a while. But Samoans usually do not eat a “breakfast” before church on Sunday, so I’m guessing they are hungry to eat the toana’i—the Sunday “brunch.” And yes, it usually has many different kinds of food. Samoans like food, but on Sunday the food is special. God wants a daily relationship, not a hello and goodbye on Sunday morning. That’s not a real friendship. Yeah, well the other part of me says a real friendship is with someone I can see, touch, hug, and talk to—and get a verbal or written response. ..oh…there’s that voice, saying faith faith faith. Yes, my dear. So that’s something I miss…being in a community with other people trying to figure out the God thing. I’m at a Catholic mass this morning with my peace corps friend. “My ‘second’ breakfast this morning” says my (palagi—non-samoan) friend. After toast and pizza..the second breakfast. The Samoan teacher says she has not had any fod yet today. A different way. Some parts I may never understand, or really appreciate…the part about not having “enough” food.
I spend all day struggling with my projects trying to make the world a better place, even if it’s only in the small village of Savaia, on the small island of Upolu, in the LARGE ocean of the Pacific.
O le a le mana’o a’u?
What do I want?
Hmmm…service is not about demanding wants..that I have. But do I have to want something to make service effective. Sometimes, I sure have to be directing, demanding and loud to make things happen in samoa.
“The happiest country in the world is Coasta Rica…cananda is #2..many countries in South America top the list.” Where is the USA..oh, I hear it’s waaaaaaay down on this list. Hmmmmmmmm costa rica……nice yoga retreat.
Top the list because “they are not big consumers” I hear, unlike the USA. Can you be a big consumer AND be happy? I think yes…when you’re consuming for God’s purposes. CONSUME. PRODUCE. What do you do whtn you’re not consuming? ..just being…when I eat a lot I feel bad. When I but a lot I feel empty. When I drink (alcohol) a lot I feel bad also, unless it’s the fruitiness of a strawberry daquri; mango passion yumminess. Raspberry bite.
I don’t like my health right now. I can feel my knees getting weaker…oh hohohoh you might say. That’s old age, well I’m only ………well, why don’t you guess. But I think it has more to do with my not exercising nearly as much. As much yoga. And NO ultimate frisbee. That will change when I go home.
7/5
Hmmmm..a lot to think about. Today is Sunday. A day to eat..and rest. And not much else. I’m still uncomfortable with not doing anything. So I will keep my hands busy by writing these words.
What is it you can release into the world that would create the most change? A book? A poem? A movie? A person? That might be why I’m drawn to teaching. It’s a way to change opinions, open minds, transfer (knowledge, habits, love, a better life).
So I sit here trying to absorb the essence of God. It’s a Godly day—Sunday. A day people go to church. But then rush off—I do mean rush. Why not sit and be still for a while. But Samoans usually do not eat a “breakfast” before church on Sunday, so I’m guessing they are hungry to eat the toana’i—the Sunday “brunch.” And yes, it usually has many different kinds of food. Samoans like food, but on Sunday the food is special. God wants a daily relationship, not a hello and goodbye on Sunday morning. That’s not a real friendship. Yeah, well the other part of me says a real friendship is with someone I can see, touch, hug, and talk to—and get a verbal or written response. ..oh…there’s that voice, saying faith faith faith. Yes, my dear. So that’s something I miss…being in a community with other people trying to figure out the God thing. I’m at a Catholic mass this morning with my peace corps friend. “My ‘second’ breakfast this morning” says my (palagi—non-samoan) friend. After toast and pizza..the second breakfast. The Samoan teacher says she has not had any fod yet today. A different way. Some parts I may never understand, or really appreciate…the part about not having “enough” food.
I spend all day struggling with my projects trying to make the world a better place, even if it’s only in the small village of Savaia, on the small island of Upolu, in the LARGE ocean of the Pacific.
O le a le mana’o a’u?
What do I want?
Hmmm…service is not about demanding wants..that I have. But do I have to want something to make service effective. Sometimes, I sure have to be directing, demanding and loud to make things happen in samoa.
“The happiest country in the world is Coasta Rica…cananda is #2..many countries in South America top the list.” Where is the USA..oh, I hear it’s waaaaaaay down on this list. Hmmmmmmmm costa rica……nice yoga retreat.
Top the list because “they are not big consumers” I hear, unlike the USA. Can you be a big consumer AND be happy? I think yes…when you’re consuming for God’s purposes. CONSUME. PRODUCE. What do you do whtn you’re not consuming? ..just being…when I eat a lot I feel bad. When I but a lot I feel empty. When I drink (alcohol) a lot I feel bad also, unless it’s the fruitiness of a strawberry daquri; mango passion yumminess. Raspberry bite.
I don’t like my health right now. I can feel my knees getting weaker…oh hohohoh you might say. That’s old age, well I’m only ………well, why don’t you guess. But I think it has more to do with my not exercising nearly as much. As much yoga. And NO ultimate frisbee. That will change when I go home.
posted by bigchainring at 8:18 PM
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