At 35

Rustling leaves
Blowing winds
Summer days are coming to an end.
When the wind starts to change its direction
Autumn is near, in full color.

To the grace of God’s given life
I was born on a beautiful autumn day.
May I live helping to touch other people lives
And letting theirs touch mine.
Thanks be unto God for the gift of life!

Writer's Notes
Written on my 35th birthday in thanksgiving for God's gift of life.

Travelling

When I travel, I never travel alone. It is Him who travels with me.

10,000 feet up in the sky
I see God’s wonders lie
Oh, what a beautiful sight
That He had designed
It’s a feast to the eyes.

Lie above the sky
Are the truth and the light
Shining from on high
Reach the earth and alike
They reflect the light.

Ordering one’s life
Toward the light
Radiant, oh so bright
Wholeness of sight
Perfect one’s life
A joyous life.

Writer's Notes
Written about a year ago to date with the thought of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux in mind as I was reflecting about past travels.

Father

Magnolia - The Heart of Love Photo by Mei

Your gift of love
Your gift of light
In truth you guide
The path to life.

The sun in the morning
The moon at night
Those stars on the sky
It is peace that I find.

Your heart of love
Your Word of light
In you I trust
With my whole life.

Here is on earth
And Heaven above
Only love that can lift
Me up back to you!


Writer's Notes
Written during the week leading to Pentecost Sunday while the last verse was inspired by Father Wayne's (final children Mass) homily.
The photo was edited using Instagram filter.

To the Father above
And here is on earth
Thank you for the love
So blessed, yet so true!

Happy Father's Day 2013

Light

The morning has arrived
driving away the darkness of night
on this joyous Eastertide!

Eastern Redbud Photo by Mei

Happy Easter 2013

Writer’s Notes:
Written during the Lenten Season and completed on Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.

The picture of Eastern Redbud flowers was taken back in April 2012 when those budding flowers were first found on the tree trunk in our family garden.

The photo was edited using PicMonkey photo editor with light trails texture application.

The Greatest Gift of All

The greatest gift of all is you, my Lord, on this Christmas Day
Like the sun will always shine, give life to earth, as it always be
You have given me everything I need — what can I ask for more?
That the Spirit of Love will be with me until the eternal day
Thanks be to God, our Father, for the greatest gift of all.

Christmas Day 2012

Christmas Poinsettia Photo by Mei

Writer’s Notes:
The above verses originated during the week leading to the First Sunday of Advent as I was reflecting on the meaning of Christmas and coming upon the realization that:

The Christmas present is Christ Himself, and that Christ is love!
Món quà Giáng Sinh chính là Chúa Kitô, và Đức Kitô là tình thương!

The photo was edited using Instagram filter.

Let us adore Him

Adore Photo by Mei

Trong không gian tĩnh lặng
Của giá lạnh đêm đông
Mục đồng yên giấc ngủ

Gia đình ông Giô-sép
Dừng chân xin quá lộ
Nơi máng cỏ hang lừa

Nữa đêm hào quang sáng
Bà Ma-ri chuyển dạ
Sinh hạ bé Giê-su

Thời gian như ngưng lại
Thiên thần báo tin vui
Đấng cứu sinh chào đời!

Mục đồng kia tỉnh giấc
Tìm về hướng Bê-lem
Ngắm Chúa sinh hài đồng.

Christmas Eve 2012

Writer’s Notes:
When I was young, my Dad used to tell me the Nativity story at Christmas. As I grow up, I have a chance to read and listen to the Scripture readings and homilies on the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and that I have been mesmerizing ever since... On this occasion, I take up on the opportunity to retell that same story through my very own simple, rustic, yet sincere Vietnamese verses of poem that were written and completed during the past month. It is a gift that I would like to present to God and to share with you all the warmth and happiness of a family on this Christmas Day.

Từ nhỏ Mỹ thường được ba của Mỹ kể cho nghe câu chuyện đêm Giáng Sinh vào mỗi dịp Noël về. Đến khi lớn lên thì Mỹ được đọc, được nghe trong các bài đọc và bài giảng Phúc Âm về gia đình Thánh gia mà Mỹ vẫn còn mesmerizing mãi cho đến tận bây giờ... Nay Mỹ có cơ hội để thuật lại câu chuyện ấy qua lời thơ mộc mạc, giản đơn và chân thành của chính mình được viết và hoàn tất vào khoảng một tháng trước. Đó là món quà mà Mỹ xin dâng lên Chúa và cùng chia sẻ đến với tất cả mọi người cái hạnh phúc bình dị và ấm áp của gia đình nhân dịp lễ Giáng Sinh.

The photo was edited using Instagram filter.

Twenty Years in Thanksgiving

Twenty years had gone by In a blink of an eye. Though it's cliché, it must be said In giving thanks Unto this land and the ancestors. One continuous stream As the season comes and goes From winter to spring Summer to fall And from fall back to winter. On the wings of time Lessons are being learnt Much have been changed Life's going on Moment by moment.

Showy Fall Leaves Photo by Mei

Touching the earth With deep gratitude In giving thanks Unto the Lord For all His graces and blessings. Family and friends Strangers I have met They are Your gifts Bounded by love With much treasure and appreciation. From here on out For years to come No matter what life brings I learn to live A simple life Through Your love in charity.

Thanksgiving 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Ngoảnh mắt nhìn lại, hai mươi năm đã trôi qua. Theo dòng thời gian là con đường của thành công và thử thách tràn đầy hồng ân Thiên Chúa. Tình yêu thương của Ngài được cảm nhận qua sự hiện diện và đồng hành của người thân, bạn bè hoặc/và những người thiện nguyện gặp trên bước đường đời. Cái hạnh phúc giản đơn của cuộc sống là tiếp nhận lấy những gì mà cuộc sống đem lại trong niềm tin nơi Thiên Chúa. Ngài là điểm tựa để quay về.

Looking back, twenty years had passed. In all life's successes and trials, there always were the blessings of God's graces. The greatest love of God, Jesus Christ, manifested through the presence and accompanying of family, friends and of those good samaritans on the road to life. The simplicity of life is to embrace whatever life brings while entrusting everything to God. He is our refuge.

The photo was edited using Instagram filter.

Risen

Like a flower opens up toward the sky
catching the first breath of morning sunlight

My heart is yearning for the Lord
He, who is risen on this break of dawn.

"Flowering Quince" Chaenomeles Flowers Photo by Mei

Happy Easter 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Written on April 3, 2012, during the Holy Week, in giving glory to God at the fifteenth station (Christ’s Resurrection).

The picture of chaenomeles flowers was taken back in March 2012 when those budding flowers found on the "flowering quince" (aka "Japanese quince", japonica) shrub in my Dad’s garden just started to bloom.

The photo was edited in Picasa Web Albums' Creative Kit using mirrored frame by Picnik.

Beginning Anew

Words by: Mei
Sing to the tune of “Morning Hymn”

Spring rain is falling
Sprung up a new life
Awaking my soul
Beginning anew.

Confessing of sins
In reconciling
Profession of faith
In seeking God’s grace.

Come home to give thanks
Thanks unto the Lord
The Lord, O our God
(He welcomes me home)
Welcoming me home.

Lenten Season 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Written on the first day of Spring in reflection of my first confession back on the beginning of the month.

Night and Day

in Love and Prayers

Gazing the stars
Look at the moon
Hugging the sky, I say goodnight.

The sun will rise
Morning will come
Wake up I smile to a beautiful day.

Praying for peace of body and mind
Staying true to oneself
Opening up one's heart to fill with love and to love wholeheartedly!

Lenten Season 2012

Writer’s Notes:
Một ngày mở đầu và khép lại cùng một bài kinh cầu.
Cầu bình an cho thân và tâm
Nguyện sống thật với chính mình và mở rộng trái tim để thương yêu mọi người và mọi loài.

In Your Grace

Words by: Mei

God, I Love You!

From the start of my life,
You have always been there.

Walk me through life,
You have always be by my side.

Taken me by my hand,
You and I, we walk each step of the way.

Through those darkest times
When I’m weak and weary,
You shine the light
Show me the path of life.

Life is so beautiful.
Take a look, there’s love surrounded us.

No need to find
The happiness in life.
Since, it’s already here.
Don’t you see, the love surrounds us.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

The New American Bible

Take the yoke you have tailored,
I’m learning to live freely and lightly.

Throughout the journey,
The road is open wide.
My burden is light.
And I’m worrying free.

Life is so beautiful.
Take one look, there’s love around me.

I now can find
The happiness in life.
Since, it’s already here.
I’m seeing the love around me.

Thanks for all the blessings
And the love you have given to me.

I love you, God!

Today and everyday,
I’m walking in your grace.

Writer’s Notes:
As I was humming to the melody of an Anita Mui Yim-fong (梅艷芳)’s song, the first few opening lines came to mind. It was the beginning of the start of In Your Grace writing process dating back in May 2011.

In between time working on revising Life Is Beautiful, I was inspired by Father Rothan’s homily on Matthew 11:28-30 passage, which gave rise to the completion of the second verse.

Given the title of "In Your Grace", the above set of verses is my personal homage to God in thanksgiving.

Tet Message

. . . of Faith, Hope, and Charity

A year back, a friend of mine gifted me a magnet that reads "Faith, Hope, and Charity" which I placed on the front of the file cabinet here at work - so it comes to view whenever I sit down at my workstation.

Faith, Hope, and Charity Photo by Mei

For the past year, various personal life events and experiences gave rise to opportunities allowing me to stop, pause and reflect on those simple, yet profound words.

Faith - Đức Tin
One would become bankrupted in the darkness time of life, it is only to see the light of faith guiding the way.

Hope - Niềm Hy Vọng
Hope is to believe, trust is the plan, and that in hope there is love.

Charity - Từ Thiện Bác Ái
Love is unbound.
To give with a cheerful and truly loving heart is limitless in thanksgiving.

On the occasion of Vietnamese "Tết" New Year, I would like to pass on those words as message to share with friends and family. May we all find faith as pathway to living in light and in darkness and become the bearers of hope in love and charity!

Nourishment

Picturesque snow covered grounds, leafless winter trees. . .

All seem so cold! But, beneath it all, the slow melting snow yields a great source of water, nourishing the fields.

When spring comes, the grounds are awakening with lives.

late winter'10

Writer’s Notes:
Reference to "the slow melting snow nourishing the fields" was originally presented in Father Burger’s homily on Sunday, February 14 Mass.

Love Life

Choose Life

Life is fragile. Life is hard. But, life is also beautiful and life is blessed.

Cuộc sống thật mảnh mai. Cuộc sống đôi khi gặp phải những khó khăn và sự đau khổ. Tuy nhiên, cuộc sống cũng thật tươi đẹp, mang lại nhiều niềm vui và hạnh phúc tràn đầy hồng ân Thiên Chúa và Phật Pháp.

Prince of Peace

An Imprint of Peace Photo by Mei

Thanks be unto God for His gifts.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:15

Mến chúc tất cả một mùa Giáng Sinh vui vẻ.

Merry Christmas & Joyeux Noël!

My Thìn

If I could ever see your face

The sun, the moon, the stars
I look upon the sky
You're smiling back at me
My Thìn, my dearest sister...

Now and forever more
Until we meet again
In our Father's house
With gladness we rejoice!

Azalea - Starlight on Path
Photo by Mei

Writer's Notes
Knowing that the elders were only teasing me at the time, not that they love me any less, I still fall for it whenever they tell me that my older sister, Thìn, was way cuter and more well-behaved than I do.

It was then I learned that I’m not alone since there was my Thìn, whom I started to long for without ever seeing her face.

For sometime, I kept on wondering: "Would I have been born if my Thìn is still alive?"

As I grew older, finding the definitive answer for what I had been wondering does not really matter anymore as I realized that my beloved sister is always by my side and that she is watching over me all along.

Through God’s grace and great love, I’m thankful for the opportunity to life - to live, love and share with a grateful heart filled with joy and gladness.

Updated: June 2013, added verses and photo.
The photo was edited using Instagram filter.