Noodles

Today I made a run to the local "authentic" Chinese food market with Mr. Wu to buy Shanghai noodles for supper. We rounded the corner past the tanks of eels, hanging ducks and acres of fresh vegetables to the Noodle Stall. Mr. Wu yakked to the proprieters about the noodles. What they said I don't know, although it seemed to be something about how limp they appeared. Oddly, they weren't stuck together. Maybe lightly floured? He fingered them a couple times. I couldn't help wonder how many others had fingered my supper. Oh well, they will be boiled. Yes, they will become part of a dish with meat, (take your pick), fresh vegetables (something like baby spinach), garlic, ginger, onion, soy, etc., etc. Is there such a thing as fresh noodles, bought every day at the Noodle Stall?

Entertainment

Scott's driver Mr. Wu took me to see what the Chinese bill as the world's longest bridge today. It links the mainland near Shanghai with a rocky island now being used as a deep water container port, and is 40km long, taking 30 minutes to cross. It was quite a sight for my engineering heart, even on a rainy day. On the way back to Scott and Lynne's house, we stopped for lunch. It was at an authentic Chinese place, at my request. While waiting for our food in this cafeteria type place, I was the object of many stares by the locals. It was blond, 6'2" with a bright green windbreaker vs. everyone else at 5'8" and jet black hair with black or dark blue coats on. Quite a contrast. For me the Bridge was entertainment for the day. For the Chinese in that restaurant, I was the entertainment. Gave me an insight into what it is like to be different than everyone else around. After a while, ya just roll with it.

Trust

Nancy and I visited with my aged mother this week. She is at a transition point in her 100 year old life, that being the imminent move to full scale nursing from assisted living. As a widow of 41 years, she has weathered several such moves up the care ladder from her own home to condo to HUD apartment, to assisted living, and now to nursing home. This one is different in that it is no doubt the last stop. She knows that. This week was decision time for my two siblings and I and our three mates. We all wanted to be on the same page, and we were (are). That alone is a gift from the Lord, and we know it too. The decision is that she will be moved. Up to now, many of you can relate, but the point of this story is coming now.

Mother needs to be told. At every one of the moves just described, she has been appropriately
sad, but in the end bowed to the advise of her children and was happy in the new place. That makes the telling even more important in my opinion, to preserve her dignity and gently but firmly move her to the next place. She is very tired and very deaf, so doesn't always catch what is going on or being said in the room. So at the right time, I pulled a chair close to her bed and announced I wanted to talk to her for a spell. She knew some new information would be imparted. She stared straight into my eyes and concentrated totally on what I was about to say. The look on her face is still with me. It was the most profound combination of concern and innocence and love and trust I have ever seen. It was kind of like a deer in the headlights thing but with unmistakeable trust.

It occurred to me later that this is what the Lord sees over and over again, as we want and do trust ourselves to Him, but still are concerned and even frightened at times. I believe the combination is OK with Him, as long as we trust in the end. That's what she did this week, and she will be better off letting us take care of things with the wider field of vision we have right now, rather than trying to second guess from a position of weakness. Sound familiar?

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid." Is 12:2