un californien à paris

Every day is first love in Paris

A British psychologist believes, “but cannot prove, that babies and young children are more conscious, more vividly aware of their external world and internal life, than adults are…that, for babies, every day is first love in Paris.” If this psychologist were parisienne, of course, she would romanticize some other “exotic” place. I rarely see the City of Lights as I once did, vividly like a child, a lover, or an immigrant. Even in Paris, the daily grind can dull the senses. Is it possible to live every day like first love in Paris? That’s a good question. Yesterday, Karen and I brought the grind to a halt just to be vibrantly alive to this city that we call home.

I believe, but cannot prove, that Jesus brings our senses back to life. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see! Karen and I are privileged witnesses of God’s mighty activity in our city. We want to live every day like first love in Paris. We want to be alive, really alive, to the people God brings close to us and to love them vibrantly.

Isn't she lovely?

happy 30th birthday

shore limits

i hesitate to add to the media flood in the wake of the indonesian tidal wave. i've been trying to think clearly about the One who limits the shores ... or doesn't. i want to understand the Voice from the whirlwind.

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:

"Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them...

    "Who defined the boundaries of the sea as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, `Thus far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!' Job 38.1-11 (NLT)

the mission with which i work, CBInternational, will be on the ground helping to rebuild the shores of Sri Lanka, India, and Indonisia long after the TV cameras have gone. here is an example of just one worthy project:

Brazilian Medical Team Goal $50,000

One of the areas hardest hit by the recent Indonesian earthquake and tsunami is the province of Aceh, where tens of thousands are dead and nearly 2 million homeless. AME, a Brazilian organization which partners with both CBInternational and an Indonesian organization, is sending a team of relief workers and supplies to the province to assist with relief efforts.

Historically, this province has been a restricted area, hostile to Christianity. This is an opportunity to give Acehans a cup of water in Jesus' name.

In addition to the team of Brazilians that plan to deliver this aid, Brazilian soccer stars Jorginho and Bebeto will be hosting benefit soccer matches both in Brazil and Indonesia as a means of raising funds for the relief efforts.

CBInternational-Brazil hopes to raise $50,000 toward the purchase of basic supplies for Acehans. Gifts for this project should be designated for the AME Indonesia Project (#6409-940). DONATIONS CAN BE MADE ON-LINE.

it is clear that we do not control the limits of the sea. but we do set the limits of our generosity and compassion.

new year -- new nationalité

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french administration is an endurance sport: just finishing counts. yesterday, the last day of 2004, i received the above letter from the ministry of foreign affairs. the last word in the first sentence, aboutir, feels soooo gooood. it's like the moment a marathoner crosses the finish line, breathlessly putting his hands on his knees. L'ABOUTISSEMENT ! the word means "the successful conclusion of a project." i am, officially, a french citizen.

like many conclusions this one announces a new beginning, a genesis ... a birth certificate. literally, a french freakin' birth certificate. i will need it to procure my french identity card and passport, both of which will be in my possession within the next two months. according to the paragraph below, my french identity was born on 15 January 2004... what the letter doesn't say is that the pregnancy was 7 years long. 180 cms, 76 kilos: that's a big baby!

if you followed this blog last year, you may remember that my legal right to french citizenship is by virtue of mariage, another aboutissment that was only a beginning. i told this story on 13 january 2004 in the post titled, your story to remain untold.

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this is of course good news for my blog purposes. i will be reflecting on the experience of an immigrant in 2005. a french birth certificate is an appropriate starting point.

an aboutissement that is a new beginning: oh how i wish you could read Paul's letter to the Ephesians through the eyes of an immigrant :

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord: in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God
--Ephesians 2.19--

THIS aboutissement is only just the beginning of eternity as citizens of God's household, a fact that puts our respective national identities into relative perspective.

happy eternity to you, fellow citizens who have been integrated into the dwelling place of God.

F, H, & L in 2005