Tuesday July 20, 2021

Zirbawii went to work. I had a very good nigjt sleep. Mary and Gerry were at our house most part of the day as the workers came to put kitchen counter top and the plumber came to do his parts. They are very much God'd given parents in town for me since the day I came to interview in early August 2012.
We stayed at home on the 28th floor of luxurious condo's of Ziri's. Will went down to get Thai for lunch. I had red curry duck and Will had Penang chicken. So delicious! Will worked over to the Wallgreens for some nick nacks. He had fun playing a city dweller's life today.
In the evening, we went to China town for Dimsum dinner. So very delicious, little steamed shrimp, and pork, veges, and oh, the Chinese broccoli plainly steamed were among many varieties we ate. We talked, laughed, drunk green tea, ate the little dumplings...It was more like a taste of heaven. Family, love, food, laughter and conversations.

After that we went to the Chicago River Walk. Such a beautiful thing in the middle of this concrete jungle. It is basically a long public park by the river. So clean, so nice, so restful with green grassy ares and chairs and benches and steps for anyone to sit and rest. Chicago did a great job there. After a bit of walk, we sat to have wine at the "Tapp" more talk and laughter. We walked a little more and watched a light show starting at 9:00 P.M. We went home and watched a movie at home. Yes, that's what we do. All of us are introverted. And that's what we do to wind down, always.

God is great and I am thankful.

When all of what I had been writting are true to me there is a part of it that I had not written. Most of my family in Yangon, Myanmar are sick. I prayed and am praying and will continue to pray to God for their healing body, mind and soul. I feel at times that I have wasted this time of sabbatical not having accomplished much. The Children's sermon book I thought I had wirtten having a lot of fun and spiritual nourishment from seems not much of anything.

Thomas Merton, my spiritual guru wrote in his Diary on July 3, 1968 when I was 7 years old, "How much precious time energy I have wasted in the l ast 3 years..." I feel sort of the same way about my 3.5 months - most of it done is wasted. God only knows what I need to do the rest of the 3 weeks left in the sabbatical.

I remain grateful to God who has been so very good to me.