Life is invariably tough. The moment you think you’ll finally find rest, something else gets thrown onto your face, blinding you from the road ahead and gets you a little sidetracked. You lose your bearings, and try to regain your balance. And all around you, mayhem. You have stepped into a quagmire. You try to get out of it only to be sucked in deeper.
Is there a rope nearby? A helping hand? You call out for help.
Maybe help arrives immediately. Maybe it takes its time while you try to keep your head above the waters. And all the time, you hold on to dear life.
Almost certainly you will get out of it alive. Not necessarily unscathed. Not necessarily without pain. But you survive. Perhaps you emerge from it all the stronger. You may have learned something valuable from it all. You emerge victorious.
You get back on the road, with brand new resolution. Brand new hope. Stronger faith.
Without fail, you’ll get thrown off again. But you are more prepared now. You look at your troubles square in the face, ready for a fight yet again.
You roll up your sleeves and dig in.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Of Weddings, Bouquets and Prayers
Romance & Marriage
I attended a wedding recently. I have to admit it was one of the more touching weddings I have been to. The pastor was engaging and his advice about marriage and romance was heartfelt. I cannot remember his exact words but it went something like this: a marriage is not only about that loving and romantic feeling for your partner. It is about accepting that person despite his/her faults and idiosyncrasies. It is not about finding your soul mate, but working together to build a successful married life with that person you have chosen to spend your life with.
No Karaoke, OK?
Much later, someone asked me how I would like my wedding to be. I said I haven’t thought about it much. As long as it’s not garish and there is no karaoke involved, I am fine with it. Then I questioned myself. Why haven’t I, like most girls, imagined exactly how I would love for my wedding to be like? I’d like to conclude that I would rather be planning a marriage – instead of a wedding. And, the less prudent side of me would rather be imagining a honeymoon, instead of a wedding.
Flower Power. Not.
Another thing about wedding I cannot fathom: the tossing of the bouquet. A feminist would despise such a blatant show. Pictures of girls jumping for and snatching the bouquet always make me wince. Many a time, I have been pushed to the crowd of girls to be among the catchers by well-meaning people. Excuse me if I appeared reluctant and even annoyed. To me, it’s demeaning. Why should girls be expected to clamber for a wedding? I don’t see the groom’s side doing the same thing. Imagine the groom tossing say, a piece of cake and all the single eligible guys rushing to catch it with their mouths open. Hehe… But then again, knowing guys, they’d probably be on the next boat to Indonesia in a blink if that was ever to happen.
Prayers
On a different note, there’s a list of prayers to be done for friends. You know who you are.
- For she who is waiting for a reply for her PhD application. Am praying for a favourable answer soon!
- For he whose boss is making his life at work hell, I pray for a light to shine through the dark clouds ahead.
- For the couple who had just blessed us with their wedding, may their married life be wonderful as they learn to grow old together.
- For she who is bearing a precious life within her, I am amazed by her courage and her trust in God to take care of all things.
I attended a wedding recently. I have to admit it was one of the more touching weddings I have been to. The pastor was engaging and his advice about marriage and romance was heartfelt. I cannot remember his exact words but it went something like this: a marriage is not only about that loving and romantic feeling for your partner. It is about accepting that person despite his/her faults and idiosyncrasies. It is not about finding your soul mate, but working together to build a successful married life with that person you have chosen to spend your life with.
No Karaoke, OK?
Much later, someone asked me how I would like my wedding to be. I said I haven’t thought about it much. As long as it’s not garish and there is no karaoke involved, I am fine with it. Then I questioned myself. Why haven’t I, like most girls, imagined exactly how I would love for my wedding to be like? I’d like to conclude that I would rather be planning a marriage – instead of a wedding. And, the less prudent side of me would rather be imagining a honeymoon, instead of a wedding.
Flower Power. Not.
Another thing about wedding I cannot fathom: the tossing of the bouquet. A feminist would despise such a blatant show. Pictures of girls jumping for and snatching the bouquet always make me wince. Many a time, I have been pushed to the crowd of girls to be among the catchers by well-meaning people. Excuse me if I appeared reluctant and even annoyed. To me, it’s demeaning. Why should girls be expected to clamber for a wedding? I don’t see the groom’s side doing the same thing. Imagine the groom tossing say, a piece of cake and all the single eligible guys rushing to catch it with their mouths open. Hehe… But then again, knowing guys, they’d probably be on the next boat to Indonesia in a blink if that was ever to happen.
Prayers
On a different note, there’s a list of prayers to be done for friends. You know who you are.
- For she who is waiting for a reply for her PhD application. Am praying for a favourable answer soon!
- For he whose boss is making his life at work hell, I pray for a light to shine through the dark clouds ahead.
- For the couple who had just blessed us with their wedding, may their married life be wonderful as they learn to grow old together.
- For she who is bearing a precious life within her, I am amazed by her courage and her trust in God to take care of all things.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Free to Leap?
I was reading this book, Five Little Questions which asks this particular question: Are you free? I'm going to put a different spin on that question and ask myself:
- Am I free to leave this country and go off to a place far far away for as long as I wish? And not waste a single thought on money, job, family, friends, etc? NOT just for a holiday, but for work or even to live? BY MYSELF?
- Am I free to do crazy stunts like sky dive, bungee-jump? Without worrying about the price I have to pay - for the jumps which would cost a bomb; and also the price I may have to pay if things went awry? (I may lose a leg, become blind, get strangled by the bungee cord...)
- Am I free to live life recklessly? Like not caring to obey laws, or bosses? Wouldn't it be nice if once in a while we can rebel and refuse to carry out an order given by a "higher authority", which we think is foolish, morally-corrupt, or a waste of time, etc?
There are so many restrictions that we put up for ourselves. We cannot do this, we must do that... When, oh, when will we be truly free?
- Am I free to leave this country and go off to a place far far away for as long as I wish? And not waste a single thought on money, job, family, friends, etc? NOT just for a holiday, but for work or even to live? BY MYSELF?
- Am I free to do crazy stunts like sky dive, bungee-jump? Without worrying about the price I have to pay - for the jumps which would cost a bomb; and also the price I may have to pay if things went awry? (I may lose a leg, become blind, get strangled by the bungee cord...)
- Am I free to live life recklessly? Like not caring to obey laws, or bosses? Wouldn't it be nice if once in a while we can rebel and refuse to carry out an order given by a "higher authority", which we think is foolish, morally-corrupt, or a waste of time, etc?
There are so many restrictions that we put up for ourselves. We cannot do this, we must do that... When, oh, when will we be truly free?
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Why Egypt?
Two of my favourite author's books were set in Egypt. One in the 1930's and another in 2000BC. One had a romantic setting onboard a Cruise ship, "Death on the Nile" and the other was set in Ancient Egypt, "Death Comes as the End".
It helped that Agatha Christie's second husband was an archeologist in the Middle East. The flavour of Egypt in both her novels was strong and decidedly delicious. They painted Egypt as a mysterious and dangerous place. Sweltering heat, shifting dust, rolling boulders, scheming tourists, conspiracies, dead concubines.
Which are reasons why I want to go there. ;)
It helped that Agatha Christie's second husband was an archeologist in the Middle East. The flavour of Egypt in both her novels was strong and decidedly delicious. They painted Egypt as a mysterious and dangerous place. Sweltering heat, shifting dust, rolling boulders, scheming tourists, conspiracies, dead concubines.
Which are reasons why I want to go there. ;)
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
My Favourite Poetries
Here's a selection of my favourite poetries:
(Click on the titles for the full works)
~~~
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
-The Tyger, William Blake
~~~
And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariners' hollo!
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'
'God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the fiends, that plague thee thus!--
Why look'st thou so?'--'With my cross-bow
I shot the Albatross.'
-The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
~~~
(Click on the titles for the full works)
~~~
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
-The Tyger, William Blake
~~~
And a good south wind sprung up behind;
The Albatross did follow,
And every day, for food or play,
Came to the mariners' hollo!
In mist or cloud, on mast or shroud,
It perched for vespers nine;
Whiles all the night, through fog-smoke white,
Glimmered the white Moon-shine.'
'God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the fiends, that plague thee thus!--
Why look'st thou so?'--'With my cross-bow
I shot the Albatross.'
-The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
~~~
His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flash'd into the crystal mirror,
"Tirra lirra," by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.
She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces thro' the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.
- The Lady of Shalott, Alfred, Lord Tennyson
~~~
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Celebration of Children
When I saw the letter asking for helpers at the National Children Prayer Conference, I immediately decided to go for it. I didn't think about it. I JUST DID IT. Then I paused and thought: what makes me think I am qualified to teach children about prayer? Being a new Christian, I won't be surprised that some of those kids in the NCPC knew more about Christ than yours truly. And there really were a few brilliant kids I met there whom I learnt a lot from. So I guess the role of being a helper was two-fold: to teach and be taught.
Whilst there, an amazingly intelligent boy of about eight started to talk to me about how he tried to tell his friends about Jesus. But they either ignored him or teased him about it. I was lost for words. What do I say to that? Thankfully, a man, who was also a helper, came to our rescue. He said, "Do not be discouraged. You have already planted a seed in their hearts. You may not see a change immediately. But continue to pray for your friends. God will do the rest."
Wow! I think for me, my teachers in Sunday School years ago, planted that seed in me. I grew up always knowing about Jesus, though my family was Buddhist/Taoist. I even ended my childish prayers, which I did every night, with the words, "In Jesus's precious name."
But once I was older, I became cynical and rebellious. Religion, I argued, has became reasons countries declare war on each other. I believed in God wholeheartedly, but I didn't think religion can solve anything. Who have not heard of priests who had been caught for paedophilia? Or pastors who turned out to be false prophets or involved in frauds? And what about those religious teachings that say women are inferior compared to men?
But I have learnt to separate the human factor in religion, and concentrate on GOD instead. We humans are fallible and imperfect. Only God's grace can save us. HE and only HE is perfect. And He loves us even though we are flawed.
The crux of the matter is that Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with God.
Coming back to the NCPC... It was a real eye-opening experience. I enjoyed playing with the children. It was like being a kid once again. I thought I may have to resort to strangling or even sitting on the more boisterous ones ;-P - but I found myself smiling indulgently at them instead (as they jumped around on their seats, spilling their food all over the place, breaking out in rashes, etc).
Anyway, I thought the name "prayer conference" sounds rather daunting. They ought to rename it "celebration" or something more apt, for it was after all a celebration of God's love for children - and the child within us.
Whilst there, an amazingly intelligent boy of about eight started to talk to me about how he tried to tell his friends about Jesus. But they either ignored him or teased him about it. I was lost for words. What do I say to that? Thankfully, a man, who was also a helper, came to our rescue. He said, "Do not be discouraged. You have already planted a seed in their hearts. You may not see a change immediately. But continue to pray for your friends. God will do the rest."
Wow! I think for me, my teachers in Sunday School years ago, planted that seed in me. I grew up always knowing about Jesus, though my family was Buddhist/Taoist. I even ended my childish prayers, which I did every night, with the words, "In Jesus's precious name."
But once I was older, I became cynical and rebellious. Religion, I argued, has became reasons countries declare war on each other. I believed in God wholeheartedly, but I didn't think religion can solve anything. Who have not heard of priests who had been caught for paedophilia? Or pastors who turned out to be false prophets or involved in frauds? And what about those religious teachings that say women are inferior compared to men?
But I have learnt to separate the human factor in religion, and concentrate on GOD instead. We humans are fallible and imperfect. Only God's grace can save us. HE and only HE is perfect. And He loves us even though we are flawed.
The crux of the matter is that Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with God.
Coming back to the NCPC... It was a real eye-opening experience. I enjoyed playing with the children. It was like being a kid once again. I thought I may have to resort to strangling or even sitting on the more boisterous ones ;-P - but I found myself smiling indulgently at them instead (as they jumped around on their seats, spilling their food all over the place, breaking out in rashes, etc).
Anyway, I thought the name "prayer conference" sounds rather daunting. They ought to rename it "celebration" or something more apt, for it was after all a celebration of God's love for children - and the child within us.
Flush before you eat!
At Queensbay Mall in Penang there is a food outlet with a very interesting concept. The name of the shop is T-Bowl. So one may think it has a bowling theme. Or perhaps all its food come in bowls? Nope. It’s a different kind of bowl altogether. T-Bowl is short for Toilet Bowl. Yup, you got that right. Fancy sitting on a toilet bowl as you tuck into your noodle that comes in a mini toilet bowl replica? Or enjoying your ice cream in a mini bathtub? And while you wait, you can check out the seashells in the washbasin that doubles up as your table.
Seriously the owner of that place has got a really crooked sense of humour. Gives a different meaning to “eating and cr@pping at the same place”, doesn’t it? Good thing their copywriter wasn’t crafty enough to come up with interesting names for their menu. Imagine ordering something called Deep Fried Faeces, or Sputum in Salsa Sauce, or Piss n Peas… How appetizing.
The only questions me and my friends came up with were: “Where did they find all these toilet bowls? Are any of them used before?” We certainly hope not!
(Anyhow, the dessert above was yummy - without any extra "unexpected" ingredients. :-P)
Seriously the owner of that place has got a really crooked sense of humour. Gives a different meaning to “eating and cr@pping at the same place”, doesn’t it? Good thing their copywriter wasn’t crafty enough to come up with interesting names for their menu. Imagine ordering something called Deep Fried Faeces, or Sputum in Salsa Sauce, or Piss n Peas… How appetizing.
The only questions me and my friends came up with were: “Where did they find all these toilet bowls? Are any of them used before?” We certainly hope not!
(Anyhow, the dessert above was yummy - without any extra "unexpected" ingredients. :-P)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Racial harmony?
It's sad. I'm still having a brain block. I wonder what happened? Could be due to all those rubbish I've been reading in the papers about university students protesting against some new proposal by the Selangor Menteri Besar. Somehow this piece of news was reminiscent of the US historical scene where the people protested against admitting minorities into certain establishments. Surely that can't be happening in peaceful Malaysia where all the races live together in harmony, right? Er, right?
And yet, in a different arena, there's the Olympics. The whole of Malaysia is rooting for Lee Chong Wei as he gets ready for the final showdown against Lin Dan in badminton. (At the time I am writing this, there are still a few more hours before the finals starts.) In this particular scene, it's heartening to see that race has nothing to do with it. I could imagine all those protesters putting down their badly-scrawled banners and angry fists (and pitch forks?) to sit down in front of the telly to cheer for Chong Wei. Wouldn't that be ironic?
And yet, in a different arena, there's the Olympics. The whole of Malaysia is rooting for Lee Chong Wei as he gets ready for the final showdown against Lin Dan in badminton. (At the time I am writing this, there are still a few more hours before the finals starts.) In this particular scene, it's heartening to see that race has nothing to do with it. I could imagine all those protesters putting down their badly-scrawled banners and angry fists (and pitch forks?) to sit down in front of the telly to cheer for Chong Wei. Wouldn't that be ironic?
Or maybe I'm just wishing. It could be that massive brain block - I'm not thinking straight...
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Of Kangkungs, Evolution and Masochism
I have got a writer's block. And when I can't write, I read. Or sing. Or play. Or whatever. Here's a list of things I've been up to. If you should care to know (OK, I'm a bit moody too).
1. The War between the Theory of Evolution and Creationism. Can't Science and Religion go together? (My thoughts: Science is just man's way to figure out God and his works.)
2. Adultery. No, I'm not going through this in real life. But I've been reading this book "Fourplay" by Jane Moore, and I can't help feeling rather depressed. There was not only one, but at least THREE instances where adultery was committed. If this was real life, I'd rather not live. (Didn't I tell you I am moody?) This should teach me to resort to chick lit. Give me murder or sci-fi please...
3. I've been learning to play the keyboard by myself. I found a cool site where I can download those kiddy piano sheet music and have been teaching myself songs like "Silent Night", "Joy to the World", "Fur Elise". Just don't ask me to play for an audience yet unless you've got a masochistic streak in you. You have been forewarned.
4. Phlegmy Flamingo. Ian Phlegming. Nuff said.
5. Punny Pun Pundit. Puny Punner.
6. Nasi kangkang. Kangkung kangkang.
I better end here before my brain walks out in protest. Till next time.
1. The War between the Theory of Evolution and Creationism. Can't Science and Religion go together? (My thoughts: Science is just man's way to figure out God and his works.)
2. Adultery. No, I'm not going through this in real life. But I've been reading this book "Fourplay" by Jane Moore, and I can't help feeling rather depressed. There was not only one, but at least THREE instances where adultery was committed. If this was real life, I'd rather not live. (Didn't I tell you I am moody?) This should teach me to resort to chick lit. Give me murder or sci-fi please...
3. I've been learning to play the keyboard by myself. I found a cool site where I can download those kiddy piano sheet music and have been teaching myself songs like "Silent Night", "Joy to the World", "Fur Elise". Just don't ask me to play for an audience yet unless you've got a masochistic streak in you. You have been forewarned.
4. Phlegmy Flamingo. Ian Phlegming. Nuff said.
5. Punny Pun Pundit. Puny Punner.
6. Nasi kangkang. Kangkung kangkang.
I better end here before my brain walks out in protest. Till next time.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Picture Perfect?
~ Random shots of beauty ~
Colmar
KL Tower
Kudat
Pulau Sapi
Subang
Subang II
DamansaraDisclaimer: I don't have a digital camera. All the shots were taken with a pathetic 1.3 mega pixel phone camera. Amateurish, yes? But the gorgeous skies kinda made up for it...
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