its all good after all…

I find the sentence: “of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.” a noteworthy section of the readings. I haven’t been able to find a title for my post so I thought I’ll pick the crumbs from readings that I did just moments ago.

I’m actually way behind schedule, as you can tell but still always revelatory to be reading the bible. At times I feel that its a bit of a drag but today’s session was just so smooth and exciting. Even while I was reading through such a dry Exodus explaining the detailed and lengthy process the Israelites had to go through to consecrate themselves. I could almost feel myself growing inside, and knowing a bit more about myself even though the readings didn’t have anything to do with me. I was just excited because no matter how boring it seems to be, there’s just something inside of me that convinced me that its all ‘speaking to me!’ – boring and lengthy doesn’t even matter at all!

I’m excited about tomorrow. Doing two days in one just to make up for the days lacking behind!

90 awesome days

I’m continuing to read the bible in 90 days. Reading the first few chapters made me realize how people use to rule over the land, regions and societies. Abraham was just a good steward at home, a husband. He was also a faithful person to his household. He managed the flocks and was an influential person. Hence he was led rule over the land of Canaan in high places basically a government over that particular land. Abraham was like a king, President or a PM equivalent of our world today.

It makes me wonder. If those days the influential and successful people were those who attend to their flock and as long as they manage their social spheres. I’d assume that the same principle applies to the NOW as well! Treating work, studies and all as shepherding and also a responsible person at home would mean that you are capable of ruling a country.

There’s a lot of this (reflections) going to happen throughout these 90 days.

I experience-’ing’ Grace

One of the most vital lessons I’m learning now is that my life is a life of grace. If it weren’t for the this I can’t see myself anywhere.

The things I experience through blessing of friends, family and my studies has been because of the grace of Jesus that is shown through the years after I decide to give my life to him. Oh its been 6 years now. Approaching my 7th.

I still can remember the day I turn a new leaf. Having said that, I must confess though that things have changed in a continual manner rather than an once encounter change in me. In other words, I find myself failing in certain areas or missed the ‘mark’, stumble into wrong decisions… Just like the GPS, He notifies me of it and recalculates an alternative route, pointing me towards the direction. Detour but because of His grace, detours are almost like nothing. I am really thankful and thoroughly appreciative of the things that God has to put up with my life, but He still came through. At times when I least expect it, He brings a person to encourage and speak to me and fill me just when the fuel indicator showing – ‘E’.

His Grace is still sufficient for me.

multitasking not!

I can be quite singletrackmind-ed at times.

Cooked yesterday for 20 people. So, having such a habit may not be the best as I may get too focussed on the dish that I forget what to prepare next or what goes into the dish next (or I’m just not cut it in the kitchen). This is kind of how I am wired to be since I am a guy after all so I guess its fine. A bad habit like how my mom use to go on about me. What do you think?

..lack of posts…

My final semester started few weeks ago, ever since then. I’ve been very much on the edge, well not really. Just busy in generally most areas of my life. Only to realized that blogging was not a ‘top on the list’ at this point of time.

People.Occasions.Dates.

One of the most fascinating things that I realise in life is how people are driven by dates.

Dates are such powerful things in life that determine the mood for every single day. All the hype and excitement building up to events like CNY (Chinese New Year) is one ideal example of how people can be ruled by these dates and occasions. Its amazing because I never really seen anyone as hardworking or even obedient or is it just me (who notice it, not referring to myself.. well maybe to a certain extent I am too) (:

And.. Monday is almost traditional gloomy day hence the Monday Blues. Dates with festivals attached to em like Labour day, the Hanukkah, and of course the ‘obscured’ V day (which coincidently falls on the same day as CNY this year!). They pretty much dictate what we do on that day. Talk about the hype for a certain festival, event, occasions.. I recently got this thrown at me: You shouldn’t be enjoying yourself now, wait till its CNY. My goodness, as weird as it may seem. True story.

This leads me to my next point: asking myself, why can’t every day be a happy day and be in a celebrative mood like CNY? As I’m told that ‘This is the day that the Almighty has made, and I will rejoice and be glad’. It is only evident then that we should be rejoicing and delighting in each day, and not just a ‘hype’ or a switch ON button for the occasion. Of course I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be happy on those days just that we can decide to be merry every single day. Its all lies in a decision. A decision to be different, whether we’re going through the disappointments, reliving sad moments of the past, or experiencing adversaries. For in every of these situation there is an opportunity! – Malcolm Gladwell.

So now.. I have learned to not live up to occasions while being socially sensitive at the same time. Which means I will also tear during an unfortunate event. And may the dates continue to be the occasions that remind us and also gather us towards a better sense of community whether it is to grief, be merry or to commemorate a certain historical moment. All I’m saying is that I don’t let dates or what it represents to me determine who I am on that day.

Anomaly.

conformity. The way that we are expected to walk in. No questions asked.

-VERSUS-

deformity. Not conforming to the norm. Going against the grain of conventionality. Unpredictable!

As I’ve posted before about our world and its system in an earlier post. I’d like to post a question: Does the flow of the water at a river ever go against its course? As you may not or already know that we are living in a system in dictates our what we do. In the light of what has been considered normal, the usual, natural response that we are taught to believe which is seemingly OK.

I don’t know about you but this has come at a time with such urgency that I need to break out of the course that has been dictating how I should live my life. In one way or another, I find myself constantly being sucked back into the seat of mediocrity. I am eager to step out and analyze the implications of living in such potential-limiting lifestyle. Some areas that I have compromised maybe.

Hello hello February.

I truly believe that THIS is the month that kick-startst the year for me. If you ask me why, I’ll tell you why. Its the month filled with activities events and also back to life in Perth. I am actually back in my hometown now (where I spent over 20 years of my life), but I’ve come to a point that I call Perth home too. Its also a month filled with plenty of life-changing activities with the youths which I’m excited, stoked about. Plus getting occupied with catch-ups and all that jazz that students do while they’re back from overseas.

Back to Perth. I anticipate my final semester. And there’s a whole new arena that I’ve been so looking forward to – work! Ah, yes. Resolutions, I have written them down as early as 31st Dec, New Year’s Eve! I bothered. Well if you’ve not, its not too late! I think I shall go through mine for the next few days and really get in sync with ‘what I plan to do’ and allow God to teach me and guide in this journey. Oh February, it will be a good month!

Selective passion.

Ever since I was a youngling, being an indecisive person and lacking that self confidence, I constantly find myself involve in almost anything I could during those days. Gone were the days when I would self-inflict packed days and in the end regret because there was just not enough time to even remember what went on during the day. In the midst of busy-ness the day would pass by and I can’t remember what happen. I think during those times, my time was taken for granted. I can’t actually recall any events that happen or more than half the things I’d done or happened. Not because I’m getting old, well I hope not, but maybe because I have had so many things that I was involved in and wasn’t genuinely in it? I’m not talking about motives but more like unclear motives of my involvement in stuff. Do you find yourself being in those situation? Countless I say for myself. Yeah, countless amount of times. Well maybe genuine is not the right word to describe it albeit it is still something worth noting that I am no longer as ‘adventurous’ as I was before. Not that I’m becoming a boring old man since I still have a fair amount of thrills of early 20s.

It wasn’t until I realized how important it was to set aside certain times of the day for things like quiet time with God, planning for my life, and not to forget ‘me-time’ too for personal reflection on each my day (more like I try to nowadays). I have become more prudent in a sense. Which is a good thing. At the rate that I was going, saying yes to almost any event that I can and also if you’re a people person like myself, there is a high tendency you will also fall into the ‘jack of all traits’ trap.

Ironically, at breakfast just over two weeks ago was one of those times in my life when encounters with people has made me think. And, yes I think. A lot. Hence, that’s how I came out with this post. Ok, back to story, we had a few types of food laid before us on the table, just being Asian. The thing that stood out when my uncle’s first word was to persuade me to make a head-start (like any typical Chinese meal – eat first, go ahead), in the middle of it, he was saying that how he use to intently dive into the food without even considering others during his younger days. Impulsive. Ringing some bells eh? Yes, it related to me immediately. Then he concluded that once we ‘old’ or reached ‘that age’ we tend to not have such urges to go for it anymore. Gulp. Sounds like mid life crisis and all that you can name it.

BUT, whatever it is. I am challenged to see my life go down the path less taken which is to keep the passion still burning for these core areas of my life. At this point of time which is to serve Him to my fullest potential, be successful, and to excel in studies and yeah family and all that… And through such selective passion which has helped me to better invest time and effort into improving myself in those respective areas. Its so so true. Being selective is one of the most important decision(s) I made for my life. It applies not to just the big things but the few hours and minute 10-15 minutes of my life. Its so worth it. I guess having more ‘me-time’ allows me to reflect deeply on such things and made this post a possibility, guess this also explains why I am long in speech. Loso (eng. long-winded) is the term given to people like me here in Kuching. I don’t know about you but it has helped me to be a better person in my time management and also investing myself in things that will really have value in. Oh, I still am available for hang outs k!

Point to ponder: Selective Passion = A sign of maturity or am I just getting old…

Value within a stone.

A piece of stone is worth nothing, almost useless. But when you are chased by a dog it, it flees as you reach for that stone.

- Samson t

Just today I was at the education office enquiring about my fees for my final semester. Turns out that it has increased 3% from its original value last year. Yes and its in Australian currency. My goodness, just for education and the price is increasing annually, to what end? How about my children next time? I sure hope I won’t be paying for fees that will scar my bank account next time. I know I shouldn’t be so pessimistic. Things may change 20 years down the road.. I don’t know. But why is it that the sphere of education and institutions nowadays have played around with their price? Not like graduates get to earn X times more when they graduate now. Below includes the rationale.

One word: Increasing in Value. Well, maybe 3 words in one. Education is increasing in its value hence it has become a commodity. We look into the industrial world of trading where the prices of raw materials are constantly fluctuating, but at the rate that education fees are increasing has made me realize that education is an important asset. People seek education. Its an investment that can never be re-traded. Its also true that under extraordinary circumstance it can be free. To understand the value in education we have to look at how are world works. This is how our world works- a skill, product and item that increases in its value will increase in price due to the demand. And for me, the time is now to find out that: a skill, product discovery, an item or a concept that has the potential to become BIG in the future (as big as Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, Mamak-stalls in Malaysia, iPhone revolution, hamburgers in the States.. within the next few years).

I imagine entrepreneurship. I want to start young and I want to be RICH. And, I am with a mandate to contribute to the community.