Comfort and Joy

I had been putting it off too many times.  The year is about to end and I have not finished clearing up the last of the rubbish stored in my mother’s basement.

Last week, I finally went down to the basement armed with my not so original mantra, clean up, give away, simplify life.

But if you are like me, the tasks takes awhile as picking up one item after another triggers a memory.  There was my dad’s old floor lamp, my mom’s old pots and pans used for too many family meals, a petromax that brought light to those dark brown-out days, and a box containing chipped figurines for a Christmas belen.

Just as I pulled out one of the wise men, a thought dashed through my mind. Put up the belen.

I was filled with longing to capture those wonder years when I would vie with my siblings for the chance to arrange the figurines.  How far back should baby Jesus be in the stable? Should Mama Mary be on the left or on the right side? Which farm animals get a chance to be in the stable with baby Jesus?

Looking around, I spotted a carton box that was just the right size.  My mind was whirling with endless possibilities. A little nip and tuck, some left over paint and a Belen could be created. 

I reasoned to myself.  The belen project was way too important.  The clean-up of the basement could stand another day of delay.

1.  Fortified with my resolution, I marched up the stairs and set the figurines on a table.  I then gathered my “carpentry tools”—scissors, kitchen knife, glue gun, stapler, bamboo skewers—and went to work.

2.  Windows were cut out on the sides of the box.  A layer was removed from the carton to get the galvanized iron roofing effect.

3.  Red paint for the roof, white for the whole Belen and brown for outlining the edges.  The stable was somehow reminded me of my mother's house. 

4.  With a little prodding, my mother agreed to paint over the chipped spots on the figurine. It served as a good reason to bond and talk of past Christmases.

5.  I needed to cover the wire holding the angel in place.  It went through the roof and was quite visible.   I don’t know what gave me the idea to put a old metal cross pendant. But I did. And with the glue gun, secured some cut-out lace flowers to hold it in place. Too much drama? Did I try too hard to send out a subliminal message?

6.  Among the animal figurines was a goat.  I thought it fitting to place it at the back of the stable as if it was on the verge of coming in.  I liken it to temptation that lurks and waits for an opportune moment to settle comforably in one's heart-- if we allow it.  Do you think it's a stretch?

7. This Belen project turned out to be another good reminder to apply the "clean up, give away, simplify" motto to my life in my quest for spiritual well being.

----xoxoxox----

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”  Matthew 25:31-46

----xoxoxox----

Christmas is a time when temperatures drop.  A good opportunity to wear those sweaters and pull those pashmina wraps out of the drawers.  The cool Christmas weather also calls for serving up a steaming bowl of comfort and joy.

And in keeping with the spirit of giving, let me share with you a recipe for Tinolang Manok—Chicken Soup—as prepared by my mother’s cook and companion.  Her nine year old son has generously sent us a native chicken he had personally caught.   “Manok bisaya”-- the secret ingredient for a delicious yet simple treat. The soup was made even more memorable because of a generous and thoughtful heart.  

G’s Tinolang Manok

1 young native chicken, preferably caged for a day and fed only water (the Cebuano term for this is laming – to starve—a good way to clean the insides of  the chicken)

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 thumb-size ginger, peeled and smashed

1 lemon grass stalk, tied into a neat knot

1 green papaya, peeled, seeds removed and cut up

A bunch of sili leaves (leaves of bird’s eye chili or if not available, some mallunggay will do)

Once the chicken has been slaughtered, deep it in a pot of hot water for a few minutes. This will make the removal of the feathers easier to do.  Once plucked and dressed, cut up the chicken into serving portions. Set aside.

In a heated pot, pour about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil.  Saute the onions, garlic and ginger.  Once onions are translucent, add the chicken pieces and stir about for 5-10 minutes.  Add enough water to cover the chicken.  Add the lemon grass.  Bring to a boil then lower heat so soup simmers.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cook chicken for about 30 minutes, then drop the sliced papaya.  

Cook until papaya is tender but not mushy.  Stir in the sili leaves, cover the pot and turn off the heat.  

Season to taste with a little patis or fish sauce and let the joy begin!