Life in Delhi and Giving Thanks

Life in Delhi is interesting, to say the least.

We live in a busy part of the city and the noises never seem to cease!  Cars honking and revving, the annoying, electronic high pitched staccato of vehicles in reverse  struggling to squeeze into a parking spot that should be reserved for a bicycle!  There is the call of the Cabadi wala who is the most enterprising recycler – he will pick it up from your doorstep, (ladies, no need to store all that junk in the garage and eke out time to transport it to the dump or the thrift store).  There is the Sabzi wala  with his cart of fresh and inviting vegetables, the Jhardu wala with his store of brooms, mops, squeegees and other gear all immaculately placed and precariously balanced on his bicycle.  Of course, the Fal wala with a colorful array of fruit arranged tastefully.  What is fascinating is that after a while you learn to recognize the individualized calls.  Then you get even better and distinguish the tone of the particular Sabzi vendor you wish to purchase from.  “It’s your Sabzi guy, Mom,” Brandon calls, “and he even has broccoli for you today!”

We lived in Mumbai for four years.  My husband was there longer and I found it so much more convenient than Kolkata.  (By the way, I am realistic but let it be known I am partial to the City of Joy!) In Mumbai, it didn’t matter where you lived.  Just around the corner there was bound to be an STD/ ISD booth (by the way, that’s Standard/ International Trunk Dialing, in case you were wondering – basically a phone booth!)  Right along side there would most definitely be a grocery store and pharmacy.  Very handy.  But in Delhi , the convenience is one step up – in Baloo’s words, “The bare necessities of life, they’ll come to you.”  So you can call the local pharmacy and they will deliver – the same with the grocer.  Out of eggs?  No problem, just call and you’ll get it in time for breakfast.  What about chicken?  You got it!  No, I’m not kidding!  I love it – it makes life SO easy!  When I visit my mother in Kolkata I realize how spoiled I am because I have to make a trip to New Market to get anything and everything.

O yes, one more convenience that will make some fellow homemakers eat their heart out – the Press wala.  You give him your bundle of laundry and he returns you a pile of impeccably ironed clothes!  So indulged am I that when I have to actually iron something – I realize I just don’t measure up!

I also have a maid (no, she does not dress in black and white) who comes six days a week to sweep and mop my floors.  In India this is a necessity (unless you do not mind your white socks black and your black socks grey.)  I could do my floors by myself but it’s wonderful to have someone do it for me at a fairly inexpensive rate.  I know, it sounds like I am living it up.  But these are the pro’s of life in Delhi that I like to ponder on when I start to feel sorry for myself.

 Sure, it would be so nice to take a nice drive to Walmart and Target, where I don’t have to haggle to purchase,  where I can take a cart and amble along aisles that actually have what they are supposed to, to see the beautiful Maryland countryside, to take advantage of all the learning opportunities that are made available for home schoolers.  To throw my laundry in the dryer and pull out soft socks that aren’t stretched to uneven sizes in the washer and limp from line drying; to arrange my dirty dishes in a nice dish washer and open it up to clean, sanitized dishes; to be able to predict exactly what the car in front of me and behind me are planning to do.  These are a few things I miss.

Life in India can be difficult (then again, is there any place where life isn’t?) but there is PLENTY to appreciate and be thankful for.  Pastor Rudy spoke some Thursday’s ago on The Sacrifice of Praise.  “By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15  

Our church has been doing a verse by verse study in the book of Hebrews.  It’s been wonderful!  I think it’s how the Bible should be studied.  Rather than a course of generalities or studying another man’s views or commentaries about the Bible, why not let the Bible speak for itself?  Seriously, why would I want to give my time to studying a guide when I could read the book itself?  I don’t even want to talk about mindless conversation, the subjective what-I-think-it-may-mean presumptions; for goodness sake, just let’s read what it says! What I love about my church is the art of  question, answer, research and debate.  These have been abandoned by most Christians who seem to appreciate entertainment more than discussion and thought.  Thanks very much, but I’d gladly forego the bling for some hard core, life changing truth!  The study also made me think of those inner sacrifices seen only by the eye of God and I am convinced these count the most.  Recently one of my good friends has had to face a heart breaking loss and her response to trust the Lord has blessed and encouraged me so much.  Why do dark times highlight beauty and spirituality?

I’ve always loved Larnelle Harris’s When Praise Demands Sacrifice.

 On a lighter note, I have an exciting weekend ahead (thanks to my dear friends, Ian and Anne White AND the generosity of a selfless, thoughtful hubby)…but for now, Mum’s the word!!