Life in Locamotion

The month of December has been a series of motions. Time sped by so quickly that i haven't had a chance to catch my breath till now. I am proud to have survived 3 weddings, concerts, choir performances and spending quality time with loved ones.

It's near the closing chapter of 2006. I just hope time can stand still for a moment and let me drink in what i have done for the past year. And hope for the better next year.

The Fern and The Bamboo

Somebody sent me this and i thought it's so appropriate to what i wrote earlier about facing the stormy weathers in our life.


The Fern and the Bamboo

One day I decided to quit... to quit my job, my relationships, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I was so exasperated and frustrated that nothing seemed to work out well with my life.

I felt so unappreciated by the people I worked for and with and also by my family members. Wanting to be alone and feeling that I needed to have some answers I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo". He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit."

He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have een struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful."

"Your time will come, "God said to me. " You will rise high!"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life... Good days give you happiness... Bad days give you experiences... Both are essential to life. Keep going... remember, you're more precious in God's eye...

Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrows keep you Human,
Failures keep you humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
but Only God keeps You Going,
Because You're unique, God's own creation.

Singin' In the Rain

I heard it has been raining since Sunday. Got back on Monday from Indonesia and the sky was grey. It started raining on Monday evening as i made my way to the church for our last choir practise. My mind was alittle distracted and i sang a couple of notes off key. Boy next to me was singing at top of his lung...drowning the rest of us with his out of tune notes ....i felt a sense of doom as we ended our practise session.

The next day the rain hasn't stopped. I heard part of Singapore was flooded. A rather unusual occurence. I prepared myself to standby in Paragon while having coffee and snack with my fren in Dome. At 7.45pm, i called a few of my church members to check on status and finally one of them pick up his phone and told me that we will still have to assemble and wait for instructions from our choir mistress. Thank gdness i was nearby! Pauline looked a little distraught. After a moment of hesitation, she called for all of us to bring our umrellas and lined us up. We were going to sing after all.

At 8, we marched towards the podium (open space in front of Tong Centre) and positioned ourselves. Although we had said our prayers before the singing, it seems that heaven hasn't heard us and rained even heavier! In the midst of the thunderstorm, we braced ourselves and sang as though the rain wasn't there. Our music scores were wet and we were cold and slightly drenched. Among us were kids as young as 3 years old and adults as old as over 60 yrs. But as we sang "Nothing is Impossible with God" our hearts surge with pride and joy as we sang in one united spirit. The spirit of Christmas was in the air. I am so proud of my brothers and sisters as we brave through the storm to sing for our LORD and carried out the task he has put forth to us - to bring the good news of the birth of Christ to the world. There were few audience in the crowd. But some lingered behind in the rain to stand by us as we sang through the 45 mins of Christmas hymns. What encouragement!

In life, we have to face disappointments, hardships, difficulties and trials sometimes. Inevitable part of the the whole package of living. Can we still stand firm against these stormy weathers in our life? Overcome these adversities with patience? Rejoice amidst suffering like what apostle paul said? I've had my fair share of trials and tribulations in life. I've learnt that the most difficult part of the experience is to wait. And the trusting. How do one trust God when faced with life at it's hardest, at it's worst? How do one wait upon a silent God?

As i pour my heart out to God yesterday. Singing despite. Continuing to stand in the cold despite. Not understanding despite. Not worrying how the world view me despite. I felt a deep sense of peace and hope. Oblivious to anything and everything else surrounding me except for that stillness in my heart.

I saw the sun today. Beautiful blue skies. I wonder if it will last till this evening. One more night.