A roast goose chase

All things that are, are with more spirit chased than enjoyed - The Merchant of Venice

People ask me what changes I've noticed coming home after a 14-month absence. The most prominent is the frantic expansion of shopping malls and eateries everywhere. Just how much can Singaporeans eat and buy?

Probably as much as your mind tells you to.

I confess to the occasional daydream about Singaporean dishes while in Dili. But interestingly enough, now that I'm back, I find myself without a strong desire to eat what I once missed.

Which all goes to show that sometimes, we desire we cannot have, for no other reason, than the fact that we can't have it there and then!

I am pondering the implications of this statement as I prepare to head for my second year in the field. There are many interesting insights one could draw out.

But for now, I just find myself thinking, watch out for desires that run amok simply because the object of desire is unattainable. Far better to appreciate what is within reach now (by virtue of station in life, geographical location etc) , even better to desire what God places within the boundaries of one's calling.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance. [Psalm 19:6]

I must remember this the next time I shove my too-tall frame into Dili's dinky cabs, as the tacky plastic grab handle rebounds and hits me in the face, as a visible dust storm rises from the backseat when I plonk my too-big butt down...poooof!