TRUEST INDICATOR

When Kayan visited me last month, one morning our conversation lead us to this:
Kayan: “…at the end, many will call God..God.., God I did this, God I did that. But God says: ‘I don’t know you’.”

After she flew back to HongKong. I was still digesting her words. I want to know what matters to Him.

::: IDENTIFIED AS THE POOR

King: “Come, enter the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world! And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped by to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.”
People: “What are you talking about? When did we do that? You’re the King! When did we ever see you hungry, thirsty, sick, or in prison?”
King: “I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was Me—you did it to Me.”

You remember this parable told by Jesus? It’s in Matthew 25:34-40.

Why did God say that?
If you love Me, you’ll show it by loving the poor.
If you neglect the poor, then you’re showing that you don’t know Me.

::: WE ARE INTERTWINED

I don’t like insects!
For me, the world would be so much better without these six-legged creatures.
But then comes the food chain, long story short, if insects go away, I wouldn’t have chili to eat 🌶 , I wouldn’t have birds visiting my balcony, then all of sudden the world end up in catastrophe.
It’s all connected.

Everything is intertwined.
Not only in ecology,
but also with humanity as well.

Being there for somebody who is not family, but in God’s eyes still is part of our family.
This is what it means being a human:
Our individual success and well-being is completely wrapped up with the well-being and flourishing of our family.

This is the vision of peace:
Competent and complete each other. We are all connected and in this thing together.

Sadly, this view is different to a predominant worldview which is focus on self-centeredness, ultimately growing into injustice.

::: IT’S GIVEN

I recently organized a charity project. We called it Rainbow Project and the purpose was to provide 157 pairs of shoes for primary school kids in a small village in Kalimantan. Some of them are too poor to have shoes.

With the generosity of our donors, including many who are reading here, we made it. These 157 kids got new shoes. We even had some money left to buy them socks, too. They were so happy. (check out my next post for the complete story).

When I initiated this project, I received quick feedback from my friends followed by their transfer receipts, but I also received some negative comments.

Of course,
I don’t think our small actions can stop the cycle of poverty.
Of course,
I don’t think God expects me and you to become mother Teresa.
Let’s forget about that stereotypes.

Poverty and injustice are very complex and multifaceted phenomena.
So, our response also needs to be very complex and multifaceted.

This what I think:
Who taught me to read?
Who taught me to enjoy music?
Who taught me to play the piano?
Who listened to my cries?
Who introduced me to Jesus?
Who guided me to learn skills?
Who introduced me cool Cafés?
Who brought me to awesome restaurants?
Who baked delicious cake for me?
Who rescued me from drowning?
Who washed me when I was sick?
Who helped me when I was feeling hopeless?
Who greeted me on the street just to say that I look beautiful?
Who edits my blogposts?

All good things in my life, where did I get those?
It’s all given to me,
by my husband, by my family, by my teacher, by my nurses, by my friends, by strangers, by my community, by you and so on.
Ultimately, it’s given to me by God.

::: SIMPLY GIVE BACK

Have you played the block-stacking/block-crashing game called “Jenga”?
Players take turns in removing blocks, gently piece by piece, until one player causes the entire tower to tumble down into a wooden-block heap on the table.

I see pieces of my life like block-stacking pieces, Jenga. The individual pieces were given to me. They are not mine.

Instead, to plunged privileges I’ve received, I weave myself back into the community, especially in places where there are holes. Where Jenga pieces are missing.
Where schools are broken,
where communities are broken,
where families are broken, and so on.

This is not about political categories or socialism. This is simply the Biblical version of human community:
We’re connected to each other.
We’re one family in God’s eyes.
Restore, rebuild and renovate,
make the community liveable again.

::: TRUEST INDICATOR

Back to the question.
Why did Jesus identify Himself with the poor?
He was oppressed,
He became the victim of injustice, too.

This is the answer:
He suffered and died not only for me,
but also with me. This is the truest indicator for me, that He knows our suffering.
It completely revolutionizes my view about God, about what it means of His life, His death, His resurrection. I can’t put it into words how great is His grace and His unconditional love for us.

Vice versa,
true relationship with God has the truest indicator, too.
Not external, not in ritual,
but in how we are responding to people who are poor, and oppressed.

Jesus said, “what you do to people who are hurting, who are in poverty, who are facing injustice, you’re actually doing it towards Me”.

Love,
Titien

““No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58:6-7‬ ‭NLT‬‬


::: UPDATE ABOUT ME
2 Years 3 Months Post Biopsy
Midline Pontine Glioblastoma/DIPG Grade IV

Next Wednesday, I will receive the 14th round avastin chemo.

This past week I felt tired easily. I need to sit down after 200 meters of walking. The sensitive pain on my right face and my right eye is more frequent now.

In the following weeks I will travel a lot, accompanying Tobias’ business trip. To Berlin, Switzerland, and to Barcelona. There, we will meet up with my 2 best friends from HongKong and Singapore. So, I hope that I stay fit enough to do these trips.

Please go to “My Medical History” for more details.

Thanks for keeping me in your prayers 🙏

PS: Thank you for reading, commenting and sharing my posts.
Please subscribe to get more stories on your email. 🤗

Chemo day, it’s 7:45 am. Waiting for their office open at 8am. Soon, will be a lot of patients here.
I have a handsome husband ☺️🥰
Crossing the Rhein, from Germany to France.
Wissembourg, a small town in France
Quiet Wissembourg
iPhone XR camera is awesome
Auberge du Pfaffenschlick. Worth a visit!
Whatever food I eat, drink Orangina 🥤👍
I love road-trips
Castle of Bruchsal
Selfie 🤳 1
Selfie 🤳 2
Selfie 🤳 3
Willkommen zurück Holger
(A sprout coming out from the sink..Again!)
rescue in process. Tobias is gently pulling it out
And get in the new home. Nobody knows yet what plant 🌱 it is, it’s a surprise.
Whenever and wherever, Ice cream…
…When you live with this ice-cream monster 👻😂
At Mummelsee…funny name..
The Maiers 😎
Mummelsee is a tiny lake, close to the highest point of Black Forest 🌳
Mummelsee has no Ente 🦆.
Just like the way my husband look in this photo 😍
Just me.
Have a nice Sunday everyone 😊
My sketch & poem no.1
Translation:
Happy tit,
land in it’s own shit,
but he loves to eat,
sunflower seeds.
2.
Translation :
It is unbelievable,
always these pigeons,
they’re mating on my balcony,
and who cleanup their mess?
Me!
3.
Translation:
What would I give
to live like a Panda.
Rolling, eating, sleeping..
Here comes the AHA moment.
This is exactly my life.

12 Replies to “TRUEST INDICATOR”

  1. Hi Titien,
    You are such a beautiful soul. I am so thankful you have come into Tobi’s life and give him so much joy. Sharing your journey means so much to many people, myself included. I don’t always read every post, but try to. We are praying for you both on this earthly journey. Much love, April

    1. Hi April,
      Tobias is my greatest blessing.
      And since we’re together, we smile and laugh everyday.. amazing isn’t it. 😃
      Thank you for your warm and encouraging words April 🤗
      Love and blessings, Titien

  2. Hi Babe, I can’t wait to be spending precious time together in Barcelona! Praying for you always! Lots of love!

  3. Your poems & pictures are wonderful!! I have always read but never commented until today.. thanks for sharing with us!

    1. I’m really glad that you like my poetry 😆
      Thank you for reading my stories, and leave a comment. You make me happy 😊
      Have a wonderful week!
      Hugs 🤗

  4. Hi Titien,
    it was so nice to see you today! I already had a glimpse on your posts and think they are very thoughtful and interesting. I love!!! your poems and sketches! They are short, to the point, funny, well drawn, a little bit like a certain version of nonsense poetry, but with a deeper sense! It’s the kind I really like! 还有吗?
    Have a beautiful day,
    Love, Esther

    1. Hi Esther,
      很高兴又见到你🤗
      谢谢你来访我的博客!
      好的,下次我再篇一首幽默小诗😄
      祝好💕-Titien

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