St. Bart's

About a few years ago, when I was working at my former agency, I felt that I reached the end of my rope. I felt stuck, abused, exhausted, lost and hopeless. I didn't know what to do. So I wandered into a nearby church in midtown to attend an evening service, hoping to gain back some kind of sanity. A priest walked into the chapel, and started a service. I was the only person attending it. As I was not familiar with an Episcopalian liturgy at that point yet, I could not quite follow him at the pace he was going. Then at the end of the service, he said to me, "I'm done, OK?" and walked away. Instead of feeling whatever I was hoping to feel, I felt worse. From then on, I avoided this church.

Fast forward to now, I work even closer to St. Bart's. I also have had a chance to consciously live my life as a Christian. Every time I feel the need to ground myself in prayers or to remind myself what it is that's important or just be in silence, I find myself here again. And I'm able to feel at peace this time. I also now have a friend who is a priest here. All of this makes me reflect on my journey in faith, then and now and wherever I'm going. For now, I'm grateful that my heart is open and I get to appreciate what this quietly powerful house of worship offers.


Saint Bartholomew's Church
http://www.stbarts.org/

325 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022

My faith

“Loving can cost a lot but not loving always costs more, and those who fear to love often find that want of love is an emptiness that robs the joy from life.” –Merle Shain

Promise

I promise myself to look after my heart as I would my dear friend's. I will focus on me and discerning God's voice and calling. I will get to know myself better, my strength, my weakness, my needs and my desires. I will learn to trust my gut feelings and act on it without fear of feeling what ifs. I will let go of all the expectations and just be. I will work on myself to be a better person, to God, to others, and to myself.

As a daily reminder, I will wear a bracelet with the Lord's Prayer. So that even in my solitude, I know I'm holding hands with Jesus.


Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Dreaming of the prettiest and yummiest soup

I went to Chicago on the business trip and found this restaurant called C-House by Marcus Samuelsson. The soup I ordered was simply amazing! It was sweet corn soup with crab meat, blueberries and polenta. I loved it so much that I went back the next day and ordered it again.

www.c-houserestaurant.com

Inside Affinia Hotel
166 E Superior St
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 523-0923

Reflection

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Kahlil Gibran