I no longer believe

Any promise of speed makes a fan in me. So, when the self service checkouts began popping up all over I was instantly touting their praises. I'd walk up to the overcrowded lines, look at all the unenlightened shoppers, briefly pity their plight then ninja into the SSC line. Minutes later my receit would spit out and I'd be exiting the store catching the sad glances of the shoppers left behind. Why can't they just believe. . . I no longer believe. I realize you can't base your beliefs on one bad experience but you can actually, people do everyday, especially as it applies to shopping. Here's what happened.

I had just finished shopping in a place I usually avoid due to ethical reasons and/or masses of people and I was walking up to the checkout lines when I spotted them. I had already been shopping twice as long as I planned and my small cart was bursting. Why do we use small carts when we know they're too small. Anyways, I entered the no line laughing hautily to my brother in law and wife. Angie began scanning the items as if she was being timed and I kept careful eye on the clock sensing a record was imminent. Then came the voice. "Please wait for assistance." What? Who said that? "Please wait for assistance." Wait? In the SSC? Panic began to set in. Just keep scanning stuff I blurted out. We have to do something. But our something didn't work. So we stood. That's when the arguing began.

Just cancel and start again. You can't do that. Well push that button then. Do you even know what that button does? Well, scan more stuff at least. It won't let me. Well forget this then, lets just take our stuff to the unenligtened tills. No, we only have a couple things left to scan. Yeah, but we could be standing here all day. Oh wait, a blue smock, someone's coming. What, they're just staring, like, not my problem I'm on my break. Oh, there's another, what? She's just staring at us too, staring!!!! And so there we stood. The unenlightened. Waiting.

10 pitying glances later a human being flashed a card and minutes after that we were on our way. Phew. Flashes of the movie AI appeared and I secretly prayed machines would never take over the world. Sure they're faster but. . .. humans are great, right, even in blue smock.

John

P.S. I was snuggling with Lex in bed this morning when she asked "Dad, what do you want to be when you grow up?" I celebrated thinking "she thinks I'm young." And then she continued, "yeah, dad, you really need to get a job." ha ha. I'm working on it.

HK pics

Me and my magnets at the market in Mong Kok.

Mong Kok. Crowdest place on planet earth.

Hong Kong. Breathe deeply.

Kong Show

Hong Kong Gong. It was a show. Btw - never fly there and back in 5 days. The 15 hour difference will eat your mind. Also, don't speak 5 times to teenagers leaving all your sightseeing to the final 12 hours. Hong Kong is one of the great world cities for a reason - there's LOTS to see. My experience was a blur within the smog. Still, the blur was worth it. The smog, not so much.

Oh yeah, welcome to the new blog. I figured it was time considering we haven't been in Europe for 3 months. The name? Steve, Harmony and I were having a little Mongolian for supper (not literally) and I made the statement "we only got one crack at earth, so we best make it a big crack." Yes I realize I could have also called this Big Crack, but, really? Could I have?

I posted a few Kong pictures on the Facebook but nothing could capture this city. Its crowds and air pollution are well documented. On an average day the pollution is "dangerously high" which means. . .maybe just breathe when you have to? And the crowds. We spent last night walking around Mong Kok, the crowdest spot in the world. At one point I just stopped moving my feet and let the Asian current take me for a ride. If you're not a people person or have claustrophobic issues, don't travel here. You will die or feel like you did. We also toured the famous markets and ate and drank Hong Kongy things. By the time we arrived back at Harmony's house I was spent and needed my alone time.

Beyond all that here's the top ten things that surprised (and impressed) me about HK:

1. Housing - Thousands of 30-50 story - slim fit apartment buildings everywhere, making up most of HK. As Steve said "it feels like a never-ending downtown." I still wonder how people feel special or even noticed in a culture like this.

2. English - Everyone speaks it (the long British occupation explains it) and all of the signs contain it.

3. Signs. Big as billboards and the shops they point to.

4. 7-11 - They are everywhere, even in ritzy malls.

5. Taxi drivers - Fast, daring, weaving, fast. . .

6. Bible Knowledge - The teens I spoke to knew more about the Bible then most Canadian adult Christians. Btw -our talks went good.

7. Harmony's Crib - Sky Tower. 32nd floor. Very sharp. And chandelerie.

8. Clean - I'm serious, as dirty as the air is, the streets make up for it. Very little garbage or grafitti to be seen.

9. Western - HK is VERY Westernized. To be honest, I felt like I was in Vancouver's China Town. I would have rather seen more traditional Chinese culture, probably have to head to the country for that.

1o. Organized - In a city of 8 million on such a small land mass, chaos lurks everwhere, except here.

Bonus: Harmony. Great host and woman of God. If you're looking for a good role model for your daughter, steer them towards C Mac. She's among the best there is.

It was the longest and fastest trip I have ever taken and I felt lagged the entire time but it was well worth my time and gave me yet another experience on our great planet. What a week!

Now? Continue to explore ministry opportunities, here, there and everywhere. One crack.

John