Starting Afresh

Been a really long since my last post. Coming to think of it, it has been a busy weeks then and now am still busy. Just wanted to steal time to rest, recreate, rejuvenate and relax. It is now February and it without me realizing it, is the mid February. Wow, time really flies and time really steals away your life. No wonder people say time is life and time is money. What is lost can never be retrieved. Like it or not, we have to move on. Question is how do we go about it?

Someone once told me that some of the most difficult tasks in life are
.. not in what cause us to fall, but in how do we get up after that fall
.. not in how do get up after a fall, but in when do we get up
.. not in when do we get up, but in why do we need to get up

All in all, each failure is a seed of success which was planted yesterday that will sprout into a giant tree tomorrow. Anyone reckon ?

Another month has passed

Another month has passes and I wonder what's there left ... Looking forward, another two week, the school gonna ends. Looking back, I wonder what I had learned for the past 10 months. What I had been doing for the past 10 months. Friends around me, each has their own lives, some already had families of their own. What about me?

Anyway, came back from SPW on Sunday. And now is the second day, yet things learned still fresh. To be frank, was annoyed over certain things that had happened, yet thankful over many reminders given. Deep down there is a longing, there is an expecting whisper. Am guessing, maybe it is not for me. So near yet so far. Lord, help me to focus on You and to focus to what I have now. Telling myself, maybe God wants me to stay another year. Maybe there is a surprise. Whatever it is, I tell myself, I need to pull through this. Question is : Who is still with me? What is there for me to continue to work on? How am I supposed to do so? And the list goes on....

Someone said I'm like a brother (or even a father) to many.... what a statement, but why am I don't seem to be inspired as much as last times. Another month has passed and no news. Maybe no news is good news. Whatever it is, Lord, I know you are still in control. Don't let me lose focus on You.

Gone with the wind

Look at the date! It's already mid of October. Another few more weeks, we shall bid year 2010 farewell. Time really flies and I wonder how much had I achieved this year. What had I learned so far this year? Have I made any significant contributions to my life and my surrounding thus far?

Indeed there are so much that I've learned. Been a really hectic year, especially when you're part of an ambitious State. There are just too much happenings here and there. I would say I am glad to be part of them. No doubts crises still happen. No longer I view them as obstacles but rather as blessings in disguise.

All I hope now is not to let go of my dream and not to lose hope. Someone says to continue to have hope in Him for He is the Lord of hopes, dreams, impossibles ... only achievable by those who have faith in Him. With Him in my vessel, obstacles are GONE WITH THE WIND.

Two Choices, One Decision

Now that PMR is over, I find many of my students are like yachts sailing without anchor, but being tossed in the vast oceans of confusion. Cant really blame them as they are still young to be able to see further. Surrounded by misconceptions, many are like the blinds, groping in the dark; some are like the blinds leading the blinds. Sometimes I wonder, is there any way that these youths be taught to think critically; that to choose is just follow your heart's desire and not obliging to friends.

I recalled after my SRP time, I too was lost, but only for awhile. I knew very well that I am good in Arts, to be specific, Literature... but I wouldn't want to be in that class. Two reasons.

(1) Most of my friends are in the Science Stream
(2) That Literature-to-be class is one of the worst class in the whole form

So, with my result, I chose Science class. And that decision carried me to Form 6, whereby I continued in Science Stream. Not bad.. I found that I could have the best of the two worlds. I am good in both Language and Science/Maths fields. So, I reckon that the best decision to make is to always allow your heart has its say. Your heart knows you very well. Your heart always leads you to the right path.

No doubt, Science students have the wider advantage in terms of courses that they can do and careers that they could venture into, Arts students do not lose out in many ways. Of course, if you could do both, that is the best. The world now is looking for those who can blend in Science and Arts well.

So, follow your heart's desire. Ask those more experienced than you. From there, sit down list down all advantages and disadvantages.... then weigh out the options. When you can see the picture clearly, make a decision and stick to it.

Discipline

I read one quote today : He who lives without discipline dies without honour (Icelandic Proverb). Indeed it is true and a very wise saying. Discipline is part and parcel of life. Some will need to be more disciplined than the rest, obviously. It is only those sluggish ones who suffer in the long run. Months back, I read in a documentary book about a species sloth. They have short, flat heads; big eyes; a short snout; long legs; and tiny ears. On top of that, they also have stubby tails, usually 6–7 cm long. These mammals are capable of sleeping up to 18 hours a day!! That's absurd. Imagine us spending such long hours in sleeping. What's left are 6 hours. What can be done in that 6 hours?

So, it is indeed a wise to say that one who lives without discipline will die without honour. No one will remember how long we can sleep, rather how much we have contributed one way or another to the society.

The Reminder

"What is the most difficult thing to do as Christian? It is to bring the first person to Christ."

Echoing what Pastor has said this morning in his sermon. It is indeed true. To bring someone to Christ is the hardest thing to do. Still remember the first person I brought to Christ. Hardly know him as he was very much reserved then. The only time I would pass his room was when I needed to meet my friend in the hostel during my first semester in campus. But then, sometimes my friend was nowhere to be found. Soon, we became friends. When I found out that he has great interest in Bible, I grabbed that opportunity, offering Bible study to him. And lo and behold, soon he followed me to church. And on that morning, I felt Holy Spirit confirming that he has finally accepted Christ into his life.

Soon after that, I began reaching out to even more people by offering Bible study to anyone who would be interested. It was surprising though.... my knowledge about God wasn't deep then. But somehow I was able to share and teach using the Bible. Thanks to all those sherperding lessons and Bible Study sessions I had. Credit goes to all my respected leaders and peers. Truly value your partnership.

Reckon the STORMS

Been awhile since my last post. Reclining into the comfort of my own desk, my thoughts seem to drift to wanting to pen a thought down. In a way it is a sign of releasing my frustration over the careless mistakes made as I was marking their papers. It was either they were careless or they were just being indifferent. In anyhow this experience is sufficient for the Pen to ink down another post on STORMS.

Someone once said "Life's just a journey; full of bends, full of mysteries, and full of challenges." Hence, life is made of a number of STORMS that we as mortals must and should learn to adjust and to adapt for our own survival.

Struggles - Each of us have our own struggles in life. Be it having to fend for our living in the rat race, or be it having deadlines to meet daily, we cant possibly run away from them. Regardless of age, our struggles are there to mould us into better individuals, having learned the lessons of humility, pride, sense of urgency, sense of belonging and even sense of security.

Trials/Temptations - Life's all about choices and decisions that we have to make. Yes, there is no right or wrong decision. Nonetheless, we know what is right and what is wrong in this world where wrong seems to be right sometimes. Imagine a student facing a major examination paper today. Last night was his favourite football match (live telecast) in the wee hours of morning. He cant resist not to watch his favourite team performing on the field. He made a decision to stay up to watch, at the expense of his paper.

Opportunities - At some points in our lives, God allows some people to come into our lives, granting us some chances to learn and to develop ourselves. There will be some openings for us in terms of advancement in career, securing a top position in office, attending a world class conference, and the list goes on. The question now is "Are we prepared to assume such privileges?"

Recreations - The world we live in today has become a Global Village. Times are hard yet not without some "desserts". When we are STRESSED, we need some DESSERTS to calm our heart and mind. Yes, we need time of refreshing for our tired and fatigue souls after having a day full of deadlines to meet. We need to go back to our homes to be recharged, refreshed and rejuvenated.

Money matters - Nothing is free in this Concrete Jungle. You want to survive, you neeed cash with you. Depending on our purchasing power, we nourish our body with wants and needs. To some people, having a i-phone is a WANT, but to some, it is another NEED.

Solitude - The world societies have taught us that we need friends to keep us company. But, don't we realize that sometimes we need to be alone, time to reflect and respond whether we have achieved our goals in life. We need to come to bargaining with our mind, have we changed for the better or for worse.