Tuesday, August 30, 2005
好久不见！Before you get any wild ideas that this post is about 5566's newest CNY-sound-a-like song, be rest assured I have long retired from my career as their fan, but pardon the pun.
Haven't felt the urge to blog lately, mainly because my life is so monotonous, there is nothing much to blog about. But I guess it is time I update you with the happenings of my life.
I just had a 5hr marathon of Kbox. Doubt I will ever step foot into another karaoke room for at least a month. I love singing, but I can't remember the last time I sang for 5 hours non-stop. Wait, I dun think I ever did.
Anyway, I have been spending my time volunteering at Rainbow centre, working with 3 yr old kids with Down's syndrome, as well as at the Cerebral palsy centre. When I am not volunteering, I give tuition to support the ever increasing transportation fees and help plan a carolling cum evangelistic event, which would include 1500 carollers.
One of my friends called me noble, for wanting to help kids less fortunate than myself, and volunteering my time with them. However, I feel that I might need these kids more than they need me. Spending time to get to know them, has taught me to appreciate many things in life I would otherwise take for granted. Like the fact that I was born healthy, developed at the correct pace, and never ever recalled a time I had trouble eating. When I compare myself with them, I see how blessed I am. If one does not feel thankful for life, one can become a cold, heartless and ungrateful person. I know how close I am to being that kind of person and there are times when I catch myself grumbling too often, but I am glad that God gave me the chance to remember how much He has blessed me.
The unfairness of it all may strike some people, in that why there are children born with cerebral palsy, completely reliant on others for simple tasks such as dressing or eating, for the rest of their life, never being able to move freely without a wheelchair. I believe God loves all His children, and He takes care of each and everyone of them, just like He makes sure the sparrows do not go hungry and clothes the flowers in the field. There are many things about God that we will not understand, we may at times doubt Him, but it is necessary to trust Him, for He alone is worthy. He is the Alpha and Omega, and will never change. In a world, where change is rapid, we may find it difficult to even trust ourselves, but God is always the same and we can take comfort in that knowledge.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Everytime I want to surf the net for the sake of it, I will browse thru Friendster, all because I have nothing else better to do. Then I will look thru the scores of friends and their friends and see if there are people whom I know. Its quite interesting to catch up with people whom you havent seen in ages. Everyone changes and its delightful to know someone from the past remembers you.
Was looking at the friends of my oldest friend (known her since we were 5? but unfortunately never got the chance to catch up with her) and then I came across this guy without a picture. His name jolted my memory and if I am not wrong, he aint a total stranger.
You see, when I was in Pri 6, I attended this friend's church and even went to her church camp. Now on the day we were to leave Singapore (which was a Sunday at midnight), we had church in the morning. Upon arrival, being the 12yr olds we were, all the children around our age started teasing one another about boyfriends and girlfriends. Soon I became the subject of teasing and I was taunted with a name of a guy I did not know since I was pretty new to the church.
Later on, my friends told me this guy was staring at me all throughout sunday school. Completely baffled I asked them to show me who he was and I found out he was pretty cute BUT 1 yr younger. Being the 12 yr old I was, I took great pains to avoid him throughout the camp. Although I did not know what to make of the rumours, I still felt extremely awkward. However as fate would have it, there was this little boy who was very clingy to me and one day during worship, the little boy dragged me to sit next to that guy... ok thats about it. Haha, we never talked though, but now I can't help but wonder what he really thought.
Seeing his name on Friendster, with the right connections, I am pretty tempted to open what might be a Pandora box. The last time I added someone who did not know me and I did not know personally, it has developed into a beautiful friendship. But what if I had made a mistake? Won't that be so embarrassing? Suggestions anyone?
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Look up now to where you type the web address and you will see precious grace. The reason why I named this blog so was not only because it sounded nice and was meaningful but also because it is what my name in chinese, 玮恩， means. Although my parents gave me that name, hoping I would someday grow up to be a gracious person, I admit that I have not been able to live up to my name.
However what does grace really mean? In a world where society works on meritocracy, grace is nowhere to be found. You work hard for a promotion, you get what you deserve, that is what justice and fairness means. Anger fuels hatred and the quest for revenge is neverending. Feuds last for generations and decades later, all that is left is destruction and emptiness. Take a look at the war on terrorism. From the moment America retaliated and launched a large scale attack on Iraq, terrorism has not ceased to exist. Conversely, never has the world seen such horrific acts of violence at such an alarming frequency in the past century as they do now. People worry about bombs on public transport, hijacks in airplanes and in some countries, walking along the streets is a highly dangerous affair. When Ms Universe contestants are asked the question what do they wish for the most, we will always remember the cliched answer, "World peace." But is world peace attainable?
I believe it is and it all hinges on grace. When Jesus comes back again, there will be world peace. The one thing that distinguishes Chrisitianity from all other religions is grace. Other religions teach that you need to do good deeds to attain enlightenment or go to Heaven. Even then it is not guaranteed. Only the Chrisitian faith guarantees you a place in Heaven and all you have to do is accept Jesus as your Saviour. However, to some, this seems very unfair. We can all understand why the apostles go to heaven, even Paul, who like Hitler, went all out to persecute the Christians before he met God, but later went on to become the world's best evangelist. However, what about the thief who was crucified with Jesus? All he did was asked Jesus to remember him and he was granted a place in paradise. Let us not forget about the other sinners Jesus was seen with, the prostitute who washed Jesus feet with expensive perfume, tax collectors, etc.
To those who suffered years for the Lord, it is difficult to swallow the fact that even murderers before their death sentence have a chance to enter heaven. Many of us, react like the elder son in the parable, The Prodigal Son, frustrated as to why the father would care to hold a feast for the son who left and squandered away his inheritance and came back in a sorry state. We would like to have seen the younger son getting punished but the bible shows us that he had a lovesick father who saw him from afar, ran to the son and kissed him. The younger son did nothing to deserve the feast held in his honor, but the father gave it anyway. We too have a lovesick Father, and His grace means there is nothing we can do to make Him love us more neither is there anything we can do to make Him love us less.
Finding an item that was lost, often brings greater joy than when obtaining it in the first place. What must it feel like for a parent to get a phone call from the police reporting that a daughter abducted years ago has been found alive? I believe that is a glimpse of how God feels when a sinner repents. In the words of Henri Nouwen, " God rejoices. Not because the problems of the world have been solved, not because all human pain and suffering have come to an end, nor becuase thousands of people have been converted and are now praising Him for his goodness. No, God rejoices because one of his children who was lost has been found. "
It often seems to me that in creating us, God made a very bad investment, He even had to sacrifice His one and only beloved son. But then again grace takes away all sense of human logic. Someone once said, that if we were all to operate on "an eye for an eye" attitude, the whole world will go blind. How true! Perhaps it is time we take on a gracious approach to an ungrateful world, only then are we one step closer to world peace.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Recently, while doing my quiet time, I came across this quote: "Honest people can be cruel. Kind people may be soft and not concerned enough about righteousness. But when you put honesty and kindness together, you have a wonderful pair that honors God and blesses others."For those who are very close to me, or have received the brunt of my frankness, you will know that I can be tactless at times. I apologize for the times when I tried to help, but used the wrong method. I am trying my best to change and hope your can bear with me for the time being. =)
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities
