Posted in reflections, tagged finding one's voice, not being a burden, wholeness on December 2, 2014| 1 Comment »
Photo by liz west
By Joy Wong
Back in college, I remember participating in an icebreaker activity where everyone had to name a fruit that they wanted to be and say why. We went around the circle, and when it came to my turn, I said, “a seedless clementine.” The reason? “Because they’re easy to peel, easy to eat (because they’re seedless), and sweet.” (more…)
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged childhood, healing, minimizing needs, not being a burden, shame on March 15, 2009| 1 Comment »
Photo by MarcinMoga/Lolek
by Joy Wong
I was sitting in Dale S. Ryan‘s class called “Recovery Ministry and the Local Church,” and the topic of discussion was receiving from God. Dale pointed out that receiving from God should be so simple, like a child receiving a gift, but it is often complicated by adults. We often don’t trust the gift or the Giver, suspicious that the gift requires something in return. He then asked the rhetorical question, “What could be more precious than coming to God with our needs?” (more…)
Posted in Joy, tagged conflict resolution, culture gap, finding one's voice, generation gap, immigrant church, leadership, minimizing needs, not being a burden, speaking the truth on October 22, 2008| 1 Comment »
Photo by whatmegsaid
by Joy Wong
I recently suffered an offense in church about which I had to decide whether to speak up or stay silent. Normally, I would have remained silent, with the anger of injustice burning within me. In the past, I often chose to remain silent for the following reasons: 1) somehow I had come to believe that I was overly sensitive, so that if I was hurt for any reason, it was not the fault of the person who hurt me, but it was my fault, for being too sensitive, 2) without being sure of whether my wound was a fault of mine or of others, I felt it was safer to remain silent, so that I would be the only one who had to deal with the effects of my anger and pain, and 3) perhaps my Asian-ness decided that I would rather remain in silence than burden others with my problem. (more…)
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