CHONGLAND

Today has been an interesting day, with a couple of quirks and decisions that turned out for the better…

Over lunch we had our City Bible Study at Australia Square. In attendance this week we almost had a full complement with Sam, Josh, Gordon and myself. We went to get some food and I opted for a sandwich, I was keen for my usual; a number 5 on white with fillings of chicken, tomato, avocado and tasty cheese. As I approached the counter and blurted out my order, somehow the number 8 slipped out…. I ended up with pesto, salami, roasted veggies, rocket and feta on white….. It turned out to be a very tasty slip of the tongue….

I had the pleasure of leading our group through Psalm 4 which says:

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
¹ Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
² O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
³ But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
⁴ Be angry, and do not sin;
l ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
⁵ Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
⁶ There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷ You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.
⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

The quirky thing that happened today involved a personal joke that was a little offensive in the office…. Our temp Megan is finishing up due to our restructure and holidays finishing up…. There’s been some hard times having her here and some fun times. Someone complained about my message on her going away card being offensive, but it was a personal joke… The head of our department pulled me aside and asked if I was being offensive or if it was a joke, and I explained it, but boy was it a bit awkward….
It reminded me how we do need to be above reproach as Christians as Paul says in Colossians:

²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

This year I changed hair salons from Beecroft to Castle Hill, the reason being that my stylist had left the salon and I wasn’t too pleased with the replacement(s). After three cuts with Ashley I was very pleased with her work and we’d built up a nice rapport, but alas she no longer works at Imagination as I found out on my latest visit.

I’m a little bit particular about my hair, but I had always thought that I was an easy going, easy to please client; I don’t mind how my hair is cut as long as:

• It’s not extreme.
• I can style it down for work and up to go out

Working at a bank means that we need to be a bit conservative, but then being out on the party circuit also means that I want to stack up to others out there.

• It’s cut differently to the last time

I’m paying for a concept, wash, cut and style. If the concept isn’t there this time why should I pay the same price for re-use on my head??

This gives both me and the stylist room to grow, adapt and learn. It is tailored more towards the creative though, however I don’t see that as a bad thing.

On this visit to Imagination I felt a little awkward as I’d pretty much only dealt with Ashley and didn’t really know any of the other girls. They also seemed to whisper a bit here and there and it felt like it may have been about me.
The girl that cut my hair didn’t speak much, so I didn’t speak much, but if she had of made an effort then I would have happily reciprocated, instead it was all business with only a few questions about how the cut was going and what was done last time… When I came out of the cut, it felt like nothing much had been done, there wasn’t a noticeable change or any advice on wearing my hair….

I definitely didn’t feel like I got my monies worth, so the search begins (for the third time since arriving in Sydney) anew for an impressive and creative salon that doesn’t charge a heap, but will satisfy my requirements. Does anyone have any recommendation at all??

After lunch with some St Pauls people today, we were saying farewells and after a handshake Manny throws his arms up in the air and embraces me in a hug, I reciprocated with a one hand pat on the back before breaking it off. It was a little awkward… I’m not a fan of manhugs in public places.

It did get me thinking though as to why this was an issue?? What concern is it of anyone else around? Any thoughts on public hugs??