For all Eves: The Hole in Eve's Heart

I wrote this poem years ago, for a very simple reason. For my heart-broken female friends who had been searching for true love but still looking. I was one of them. I doubted that true love might be just a myth, which everyone talked about it, but no one had ever seen it. At least, I didn't believe that someone had ever found it.

But, I'm a believer of Christ, and I believe that if Jesus is love, and if He asked us to love one another, isn't true love between a man and a woman the most fundamental kind of love from which we form family, raise children and then expand our love? If He had created us to feel the passion and desire for spiritual and physical unification with someone, why the heartbreak, disappointment, and long waiting? Why can't He make a world where we can find our perfect match once we turn 20, and no more emotional struggles and traumas?  But, my faith told me, there must be something there for us to discover, to learn....but I didn't know what it was at that time.

Then, I found this verse in the Bible...

Proverbs 30:18-19 

There are three things that amaze me—
no, four things that I don’t understand:
how an eagle glides through the sky,
how a snake slithers on a rock,
how a ship navigates the ocean,
how a man loves a woman. (NLT)

But, I had something to say about "how a man loves a woman." For me, I was more amazed by " how a woman loves a man, " well, from my friends experiences. ...then, I was thinking if God made a woman out of Adam's rib...we were supposed to be identical? right? but we are not. Research has shown that men and women simply think differently like dogs and cats (sorry for the analogy). I had a strong intention to "make up" something related to the biblical Genesis with a heartwarming twist...

then, twirling with the idea... came with the poem..then came with the drawing...two simple symbols to represent Adam and Eve and here I am sharing this poem, to all the Eves, particularly. 

When I convinced myself that the hole in my heart is not the missing piece but the opening for blessings, I felt peace. I had waited peacefully, until that particular day when my love came to me, and my disbelief stared to crumple.

I want to share that peaceful feeling, and I want to testify that the blessing will come if you believe.

May God bless you, my friends.

I'd like to express my gratitude to 志翔科技 for making this poem into an animation. Hope you like it. 

 

The Book of Everything by Guus Kuijer, translated by John Nieuwenhuizen

Since I'll be traveling in Europe, I decided to read as many books by European writers as possible. I re-read "The Book of Everything" on the trip to Germany and when the final page was finished, my heart was floating with the clouds outside of the plane. Here are my comments:

Who is the author: A renown Dutch writer of various genres.
What is the story about: domestic violence carefully handled and softened by the infatuation and imagination of the boy, Thomas. His timely encounter of a strong woman (a witch-like lady) and his visions and dialogues with Jesus mark the turning point of his life and also his family's.

My favorite lines: "what do you want to be when you grow up?"
           "when I grow up, I am going to be happy."
           "And do you know how happiness begins? It begins with no longer being afraid."

The lady helps him understand that it is fear that makes his father violent. And if you are fearless, nobody can take away your happiness.

Are you happy today? Hope my review make you happy, at least for a while.

Daniel Nesquens (Daniel m. Sánchez): A writer who tickles your funny bone

I first met Daniel after Uri's talk at the White Raven Festival. It was brief and I was laughing during that 30 seconds of talk. I told my housemates, "He looks like a funny man." and they said, "He IS funny." So, next day, I stared looking for him to have more chat but couldn't find him until we were about to say good-night. Then, suddenly, here he was at the doorway.  We took this funny picture.

With Daniel on the street.

And I realized that he had a picture book published in Taiwan by Grimm (格林）.

Here is the book.

I've been looking for this book on-line, but it seemed out of stock everywhere, even the publisher's own website. Well, if anyone has this book, please let me know. It'd be the greatest shame if I know the writer but not his work. I'll update this post after I read the book.  Ciao for now.

Bennett Schroeder: A Princess of Surrealism

In the attic of the International Youth Library,  you can find the collection of Bennett Schroeder: the books by her favorite writers or illustrators, her own books, and the little girl that never ages with time.
She gave us a guide herself to the hideout of that little girl and tell us her story of being an illustrator. Here is the story:

She wanted to be a nun when she was little, simply because the nuns dressed elegantly.

The melancholy of falling in love with a wrong man gave her the images to create this lovely story, Lupinchen, her favorite one. 

The little girl wears the shoes of different colors: one blue and one green.

Standing by the author with her book, what a honor. I hope my readers would feel the same about me. 

It's still a mystery how she got this hand puppet.

滿月傳奇 (格林文化）http://www.cite.com.tw/product_info.php?products_id=3495
is the book you can find in Taiwan illustrated by her. 

March of the Angels: the book that holds your heart

I knew the exhibition room of the library had changed their exhibit for a new topic. From the new decors, photos, and pictures, I guessed it was about a doctor who took care of children. I felt the heavy sadness lingered in the room every time I passed the room, but I ignored it until today.

I wanted to catch the sunlight that warmed the room, so I sat down and read the book about the doctor.
"March of the Angels,"  is the title. The story was told in chronicle order about Janusz Korczak, a doctor in Poland, who gave up being a doctor and became a care-taker of children who lost their families in wars and almost lost themselves in poverty when their dignity as human beings were tramped by the neglect and indifference of the society.

Janusz Korczak with children

The decors in the exhibition room.

I thought, well, yes, I know this kind of story...the humanitarian acts ...but the story turned when Nazi came in with the brutal decision.  All the kids should be sent to the gas chamber. My heart sank into a lump, and my tears gushed out when I reached the part that described the doctor led the children march to death with calm and dignity.

They all died in the end. But the children didn't know they were marching to their death. They were talking about what they'd want to be when they grew up. They never grew up, the dreams perished with their lives. But, at least, they died in calmness, in the dream of having a future.

I couldn't stop my tears just like I could not stop the visitors who happened to come in at the moment when I was wiping my tears and my eyes were terribly red. But, I didn't feel embarrassed, this is the book that gives you perfect justice to cry in front of people.

A mini window decor of the dinning room of the orphanage.

The book, March of the Angels.

I tried to google the book, but couldn't find any. So, I share the photos with you. Hope you will find the book and give yourself a good cry in the love of Janusz Korczak.

An interview 學生的訪談

I feel lucky to be able to make some influences. Weeks ago, I was interviewed by a former student who is now studying for her master's degree in vocational education. I was impressed by how she could organized my messy talk into a decent interview. Read it if you have time and comment on it if you want.

有時候覺得自己很幸運，能多少有些影響力。幾個星期前，一個以前教過的學生來訪談我，她現在在讀研究所了，我雜七雜八的話，被她整理的有條有理。有空看看吧，也歡迎分享你的想法。

                                       

Opening remark

Looking for a story to tell? A book to read? A place to wander?
This is a bilingual space where I share my favorite books and stories and my own writing.


在找故事嗎？在找書嗎？在找地方閒逛嗎？進來瞧瞧，看我分享的寶貝。