I've always loved celebrating Easter with the family, so one can imagine that since going to Stanford, I tend to get a little homesick on Easter Sundays. Not really "homesick" but I wish I was just home, with the parents and whichever sibling was home, attending church in the morning, and then a long lunch. I woke up on Sunday morning, thinking about my family, kinda wishing I could be home, at least for the day.
A group of us went to a Protestant Church a few blocks from where we live called "Jubilee." The music and energy were great, and I especially loved when some of the songs had different languages in them. I think the message of forgiveness and commission was pretty good, though I do not agree with how the pastor presented the information. Thankfully, all of us (Christian and non-Christian) who attended the service thought the same thing.
It became the starter for one of the best (or maybe the best) conversations I've had this year. Over brunch (breakfast meal for under 3 dollars at Obs Cafe--for students on a budget, it's a pretty sick deal), we discussed Christianity and Buddhism, mainly Christianity. Debates, opinions, and tensions were present at the table, but everyone was very comfortable to express what they were thinking. Many challenging questions and topics were brought up about Christianity, but Tim and I answered to the best of our abilities questions about its doctrines, our "relationships with God," and what it means to be a follower of the Christian faith. We also talked about Buddhism, which Ken and Mimi answered. It was a very open and honest conversation, and it challenged me in ways that I needed to be. As I said at brunch, it's good for me to be questioned about my faith, so that I can grow stronger in my faith by finding out and discovering the answers. After the conversation that last an hour and a half, the five of us agreed to make it a weekly discussion. For next week, we're going to try to find a service for another religion. I'm pretty excited. I think more people may join.
Later that afternoon, we went to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden to watch the last of its weekly-summer concerts. I don't think I've ever seen something so beautiful and awe-inspiring. The mountains, the floral, the sunset, the grassy knolls--I imagine this is kind of what the Garden of Eden looked like. With some of the girls, we walked around the giant garden and took millions (I could've taken more with how pretty everything was) of pictures. While walking around, I was reminded of God's creativity and magnificence. The pictures do not give the scenery justice at all. I wish everyone could visit it.
The concert was sweet. It took place in the middle of the garden, in an outside amphitheatre. To give you a view of what I saw: mountains and peaks on the left and right, Cape Town and ocean behind the stage, hundreds of people in the green grass, the sun setting, performers from South Africa singing their hearts out, and many of us dancing and jamming to the music.(YouTube "Gangs of Instrumentals"--they were my favorite group)
At the end, the MC asked one of the female artists to translate her French lyrics to the audience. Her interpretation: to daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, etc., there are many beautiful things going on around us, and to not recognize blessings of "the life cycle" is a "tragedy." Her words couldn't have come to my ears at a better time...
It's Easter Sunday, the day we Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who we believe to have died to save us from our sins. I don't deserve his love, yet he gave his life for me, and every day, through things big and small, he reminds me of his unsurrendering love and faithfulness. In many ways this Easter Sunday, I was reminded of this love--from being tested on my faith in little cafes, to dancing at an outside concert in one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.
I am tremendously blessed and undeserving. :)
Thank God I don't know tragedy...
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