Thursday, October 29, 2009
Walking around Salem in the rain today has taught me a great irony. Where once upon a time witchery was persecuted and hunted without regards to the truth and lies, it has now been tolerated, exploited and celebrated in Salem, still without regards to the truth and lies of witchcraft. History has made us none the wiser in this case except perhaps that a particular mechanical engineering principle can be aptly transposed into life – Push something too hard, and it’d break and become loose forever. Pressure is supposed to be applied to the right points at the right time, not everywhere all the time.
Monday, September 28, 2009
I fell from my bed this morning.
My alarm clock rang, and in my half-dazed state, I rolled over and push myself up with my left hand, which, on normal days when that worked fine, would prop me upright from the sleeping position with my feet on the ground in one smooth action. But today, my left arm decided to forsake my instructions, because apparently sometime during my sleep, I had pressed on it and it had gone numb. And thus, I landed with a 'thud!' on my carpeted floor. Thankfully, I escaped with only a scraped knee and nasty awakening.
Then I went to church. And then I realised something. It's funny how all these realisations I get don't quite often correspond to what the pastor is speaking about. And this is what I realised --
When I landed on the floor of my room this morning, I felt like Jesus.
Or maybe, Jesus felt like me. See, according to the Bible, all Christians are a part of Christ's body. Each part of the body is supposed to be connected by nerves to Him, so that when He sends us a message, we will act accordingly so that His will can be done.
That's the ideal case. As most of us know, it doesn't happen very often.
We often question why He wants us to do certain things that appear to make no sense. Sometimes it may be because we may not be able to see what He wants to do in totality. But the truth is, we don't trust that He knows what He's asking for. There's a lack of faith.
Imagine He asks you to push the bed. Imagine He asks you to touch the floor. Imagine he asks you to contract. You wouldn't be able to tell that He's asking you to push the bed and contract yourself as a muscle so that Him and all other parts of the body can become upright, and you wouldn't know that He asked you to touch the floor as feet so that His entire body can rest on your solid foundations. Most times we just lament,"Why did you bring me so low? I'm groveling under everyone else! Did I not serve you with all my heart? Where's the glory in rubbing against the floor?" We wouldn't know that we're the most important part of the body on which all other parts and Jesus is relying so much on. We couldn't see just how glorious our tasks are.
And I wouldn't say that that's because Jesus deliberately chooses to keep silent about the big picture. After all, the Bible mentioned that God does not move ahead with any plan without first revealing to His servants, the prophets. Other times, maybe all He wanted was just a bit of faith from us. How tiresome it would be if everytime I moved my arm I had to explain to it what I was trying to make it do in the big picture. Nevertheless, I find myself unable to deny that Jesus just might do such a thing. Well, I have to admit, I'm way less patient with my body than Jesus is with His.
So you see, if you can take a look at Jesus' entire body, you might be shocked. His body is us, and we're really not doing so great sometimes. Therefore, I think Jesus is actually pretty paralysed. There are parts of His body that he just can't get His messages and therefore His will across. And then there are parts where He can get His will across, but those parts just refuse to move according to His will, but rather, they follow their own ideas of where to go. The nerves are alive in these regions. but they can't control the muscles.
Based on this, I therefore postulate that Jesus has epilepsy, or at least some form of muscular dysfunctional illness. His hands and fingers would be all twisted up and occasionally subjected to spasms, and His lips might be contorted such that drool continuously flows out by the edge of his mouth. He'd certainly be in a wheelchair, since his legs would be paralysed and subjected to severe osteoporosis. He can't eat, since his stomach refuses to take His daily bread and living water and He wheezes because His lungs had a falling out with one another over who's inflating and contracting the right way, and are not operating in tandem, as each has decided to fly solo. He can't see as a result of severe glaucoma, because those who are His eyes refused to take in the light of the world and choose to cloud the light and dwell in darkness instead.
What's more, there are parts of Him that is just rotting away; those infected, festering wounds that just would not close up. It starts with some cut into His body at some point, introducing a few cells (we call them terrorists) which start infecting the surrounding parts of the body. Those who are His immune system overreacts and sent soldiers there to bomb, shoot and completely annihilate any of those cells, and they don't care if they take down some healthy, innocent cells in the process. These wounds take a long time to heal under normal circumstances, but they're not even starting to heal yet. The situation in these parts of the body is tensed and may grow worse.
And lastly, Jesus is most definitely battling cancer. The widespread ideologies that premarital and promiscuous sex are acceptable, that money is king, atheism, pride over humility etc. are running rampant over his body causing many many parts to malfunction and perform duties that they were never meant for. As these damaged cells reproduce, they pass on these damaged, cancerous genes to the next generation, so that the cancer is spreading quickly and effectively, threatening to engulf His body entirely.
On a brighter note, there are also portions of His body that have remained faithful, as they try their very best to battle off the cancers, infections and they are also trying to grow new nerve cells into deadened flesh and trying bring back muscles that have gone AWOL so that Jesus can do what He wants, which is to repair His entire body. But these faithful portions of His body are not many, and I imagine Jesus is frustrated, because there is so much He wants to do for us, but because of our disobedience and deviations, all He can do right now and sit in a wheelchair and drool.
I am also inclined to postulate that Jesus' body is that of a child's. After all, he did say that only little children can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And although His body (us) is rotting away, His mind (Him) remains holy, clear and without sin.
So to sum it all up, there is a child, maybe about 5 years old, who is paralysed waist down, epileptic with maybe Parkinson's disease, cannot eat or drink, is blind and has festering wounds and cancerous cells, in the form of tumors, all over His body. Plus, His lips are contorted and He's drooling.
Do you love Jesus? Does it not pain you to see His body fading away even as His mind and guidance remains so holy and pure? Can you feel His frustration each time we give up on Him or turn our back on Him? There's so much He can do and wants to do for us, but because one part is not willing to give in to Him so that He can help another part of His body, it has simply degenerated into a complete mess. It might seem like a losing battle, but have faith. Everyone's contribution counts. Please help by doing His will instead of yours.
Help, so that if ever Jesus wants to get off the bed next time, he would not land on the floor with a "thud" and a scraped knee, with a soreness in His heart that His left arm betrayed Him. Funny how I should feel like Jesus when I fall. Funnier still, that I actually wondered to God immediately after the fall,"Why'd you let me fall for? What lesson can I learn and how on earth can I get to know you better with this silly incident of pure carelessness?"
He certainly doesn't disappoint with His answers and I suppose I am a nerve cell right now, trying to transmit this message across to you.
So in a way, it was for you I fell. Don't let my fall be in vain, please.
My alarm clock rang, and in my half-dazed state, I rolled over and push myself up with my left hand, which, on normal days when that worked fine, would prop me upright from the sleeping position with my feet on the ground in one smooth action. But today, my left arm decided to forsake my instructions, because apparently sometime during my sleep, I had pressed on it and it had gone numb. And thus, I landed with a 'thud!' on my carpeted floor. Thankfully, I escaped with only a scraped knee and nasty awakening.
Then I went to church. And then I realised something. It's funny how all these realisations I get don't quite often correspond to what the pastor is speaking about. And this is what I realised --
When I landed on the floor of my room this morning, I felt like Jesus.
Or maybe, Jesus felt like me. See, according to the Bible, all Christians are a part of Christ's body. Each part of the body is supposed to be connected by nerves to Him, so that when He sends us a message, we will act accordingly so that His will can be done.
That's the ideal case. As most of us know, it doesn't happen very often.
We often question why He wants us to do certain things that appear to make no sense. Sometimes it may be because we may not be able to see what He wants to do in totality. But the truth is, we don't trust that He knows what He's asking for. There's a lack of faith.
Imagine He asks you to push the bed. Imagine He asks you to touch the floor. Imagine he asks you to contract. You wouldn't be able to tell that He's asking you to push the bed and contract yourself as a muscle so that Him and all other parts of the body can become upright, and you wouldn't know that He asked you to touch the floor as feet so that His entire body can rest on your solid foundations. Most times we just lament,"Why did you bring me so low? I'm groveling under everyone else! Did I not serve you with all my heart? Where's the glory in rubbing against the floor?" We wouldn't know that we're the most important part of the body on which all other parts and Jesus is relying so much on. We couldn't see just how glorious our tasks are.
And I wouldn't say that that's because Jesus deliberately chooses to keep silent about the big picture. After all, the Bible mentioned that God does not move ahead with any plan without first revealing to His servants, the prophets. Other times, maybe all He wanted was just a bit of faith from us. How tiresome it would be if everytime I moved my arm I had to explain to it what I was trying to make it do in the big picture. Nevertheless, I find myself unable to deny that Jesus just might do such a thing. Well, I have to admit, I'm way less patient with my body than Jesus is with His.
So you see, if you can take a look at Jesus' entire body, you might be shocked. His body is us, and we're really not doing so great sometimes. Therefore, I think Jesus is actually pretty paralysed. There are parts of His body that he just can't get His messages and therefore His will across. And then there are parts where He can get His will across, but those parts just refuse to move according to His will, but rather, they follow their own ideas of where to go. The nerves are alive in these regions. but they can't control the muscles.
Based on this, I therefore postulate that Jesus has epilepsy, or at least some form of muscular dysfunctional illness. His hands and fingers would be all twisted up and occasionally subjected to spasms, and His lips might be contorted such that drool continuously flows out by the edge of his mouth. He'd certainly be in a wheelchair, since his legs would be paralysed and subjected to severe osteoporosis. He can't eat, since his stomach refuses to take His daily bread and living water and He wheezes because His lungs had a falling out with one another over who's inflating and contracting the right way, and are not operating in tandem, as each has decided to fly solo. He can't see as a result of severe glaucoma, because those who are His eyes refused to take in the light of the world and choose to cloud the light and dwell in darkness instead.
What's more, there are parts of Him that is just rotting away; those infected, festering wounds that just would not close up. It starts with some cut into His body at some point, introducing a few cells (we call them terrorists) which start infecting the surrounding parts of the body. Those who are His immune system overreacts and sent soldiers there to bomb, shoot and completely annihilate any of those cells, and they don't care if they take down some healthy, innocent cells in the process. These wounds take a long time to heal under normal circumstances, but they're not even starting to heal yet. The situation in these parts of the body is tensed and may grow worse.
And lastly, Jesus is most definitely battling cancer. The widespread ideologies that premarital and promiscuous sex are acceptable, that money is king, atheism, pride over humility etc. are running rampant over his body causing many many parts to malfunction and perform duties that they were never meant for. As these damaged cells reproduce, they pass on these damaged, cancerous genes to the next generation, so that the cancer is spreading quickly and effectively, threatening to engulf His body entirely.
On a brighter note, there are also portions of His body that have remained faithful, as they try their very best to battle off the cancers, infections and they are also trying to grow new nerve cells into deadened flesh and trying bring back muscles that have gone AWOL so that Jesus can do what He wants, which is to repair His entire body. But these faithful portions of His body are not many, and I imagine Jesus is frustrated, because there is so much He wants to do for us, but because of our disobedience and deviations, all He can do right now and sit in a wheelchair and drool.
I am also inclined to postulate that Jesus' body is that of a child's. After all, he did say that only little children can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And although His body (us) is rotting away, His mind (Him) remains holy, clear and without sin.
So to sum it all up, there is a child, maybe about 5 years old, who is paralysed waist down, epileptic with maybe Parkinson's disease, cannot eat or drink, is blind and has festering wounds and cancerous cells, in the form of tumors, all over His body. Plus, His lips are contorted and He's drooling.
Do you love Jesus? Does it not pain you to see His body fading away even as His mind and guidance remains so holy and pure? Can you feel His frustration each time we give up on Him or turn our back on Him? There's so much He can do and wants to do for us, but because one part is not willing to give in to Him so that He can help another part of His body, it has simply degenerated into a complete mess. It might seem like a losing battle, but have faith. Everyone's contribution counts. Please help by doing His will instead of yours.
Help, so that if ever Jesus wants to get off the bed next time, he would not land on the floor with a "thud" and a scraped knee, with a soreness in His heart that His left arm betrayed Him. Funny how I should feel like Jesus when I fall. Funnier still, that I actually wondered to God immediately after the fall,"Why'd you let me fall for? What lesson can I learn and how on earth can I get to know you better with this silly incident of pure carelessness?"
He certainly doesn't disappoint with His answers and I suppose I am a nerve cell right now, trying to transmit this message across to you.
So in a way, it was for you I fell. Don't let my fall be in vain, please.
"My love is imperfect. But in my love, I give without asking for returns.
So when she said,'Give Him back to me,' and He said,'Give her back to Me,' I gave in and gave up for I do love them both dearly.
And I also found out that the hardest thing for a determined person to do, is to let go.
But love always prevails."
--In conversation with Anon.
So when she said,'Give Him back to me,' and He said,'Give her back to Me,' I gave in and gave up for I do love them both dearly.
And I also found out that the hardest thing for a determined person to do, is to let go.
But love always prevails."
--In conversation with Anon.
Friday, September 25, 2009
In His infinite wisdom, He has given me all my successes to let me know He's watching over me, and all my failures to keep me humble. Embrace everything He throws at you in your life. *hugs*
Monday, September 14, 2009
“Are you hungry? There’s bread in front of you. You can eat that,” John said to Idbig.
“Is it? Where?” Idbig said as he groped around, searching for the bread.
“Well, it’s just right in front of you. Just open your eyes and you’ll see it,” John told Idbig.
“Why must I open my eyes? If it’s right in front of me, then I would be able to take it and eat it without opening my eyes right? It’s only logical,” Idbig said.
“Well, it’s hard to explain why you can’t reach it with your eyes closed, but just believe it. Just trust me and open your eyes and you’d see the bread,” John said.
“Wait a minute. I think you’re pulling my leg. I don’t think there is bread in front of me at all. Or anywhere around here,” Idbig said as he stopped groping around.
“Huh? Why would I do that for? What’s there for me to gain? There really is bread in front of you, I assure you,” John said.
“Oh yeah? So it’s right in front of me? Why don’t you prove it to me then?” Idbig said as he folded his arms across his chest and tilt his head challengingly at John.
“Ok, so how about you just open your eyes and you can see for yourself I’m speaking the truth?” John asked.
“No. Show me there’s bread in front of me first before I open my eyes,” Idbig said resolutely.
“How am I going to show you the bread if you don’t open your eyes?” John asked, exasperated.
“Well, you have to show me something, a hint of the bread or whatever first before I open my eyes. I don’t want to be fooled by you or waste my efforts opening my eyes to see something that’s not there. I’m a logical and efficient person, I’d have you know that. I don’t waste time and effort doing stupid things. It makes no sense that I can see the bread but I can’t feel it just because my eyes are closed. It’s not logical. You should be able to show me the bread’s there before I open my eyes. That makes more sense,” Idbig replied.
“What have you got to lose just by believing me and opening your eyes? You just have to believe, open your eyes, see the bread and eat the bread or not see the bread and know that I’m lying,” John said. “Would you just try opening your eyes?”
After a pause, Idbig said, “Fine,” grudgingly. “There! I’ve opened my eyes. Where’s the bread? All I see is darkness.”
John stared at Idbig and said, “Your eyes are not open! You’re just looking at the inside of your eyelids! You still don’t trust me!”
Idbig replied indignantly, “Of course they are open! But having opened them, all I see is darkness! You’ve lied to me! There is no bread around here!” With that, Idbig refused to speak any longer and went back to his groping. First, he would extend out his hands, touching and feeling for objects. What he can remove, he brings it to his mouth and tried to use it as food. What he cannot remove, he brings his mouth there to chew. Always, he made sure he checked something thoroughly and carefully with his hands before he chews it. He’d know all of the dimensions and texture of the object; only then is he convinced that something is real and can be tried eating. All of this was done without him opening his eyes, of course. He has survived well and thrived previously without opening his eyes. Why would any of that change? Why would he need his eyes now if he didn’t need it before? In this manner, he has chewed wooden splints, plastic forks, table cloths and even the table itself. None, of course, could fill him up decently and he is left feeling emptier and hollower by the minute. Finally, he reached a point where he doesn’t think he can survive another second longer.
Out of desperation and a lack of alternatives, he opened his eyes and found, to his surprise, a tin can. Now, his vision is blurred, not at all focused, because of the long duration he has not opened his eyes which caused his eye muscles to deteriorate, but he could see that the tin can was sealed by a clever mechanism—one which he could never have figured out without his eyes, but with vision, he easily opened it and found…bread! Idbig devoured it greedily and was thankful that he escaped this hunger finally. Having filled his stomach, Idbig drifted off to rest and his eyes gently closed and…
“So you found the bread?” John asked, concerned.
“Hmm?” Idbig woke up startled. He stretched himself and gave a big yawn…but his eyes remained closed. “Bread? What bread?” Idbig said. He seemed to remember eating some bread and seeing some tin can contraption, but it all seemed like a faraway dream that he couldn’t remember. He’s back in the familiar darkness of the blind and he feels comfortable with it. “Maybe I did eat some bread, but I can’t be sure,” Idbig said carefully.
“Well, I’m just glad you found it though. I’m sure you found the bread and ate of it. For I can see that you are no longer plagued by hunger,” John said and left.
Now, it came to pass that Idbig started getting hungry again, for he did not eat of the bread constantly as he did not open his eyes after the last time and thus, he was back to groping around for food. Now, Idbig was a smart man. He remembered how he found the bread the last time and this time, he went around groping for a tin can. He found something cuboid which he thought could be the can and fingered around to try to open it. He has done it before, his fingers will remember how to do it again. But each time he picked up what seem like a tin can, he wasn’t sure if it was a tin can. And each time he tried opening the tin can, he wasn’t sure if it can be opened at all. And each time he opened a tin can, he wasn’t sure if there would be bread in there. After all, he ate all of it the last time. He had so many doubts, so so many doubts. And he finally gave up, saying,
“I can’t find the bread at all! I did everything I did the last time and I just can’t find it! The bread has gone away from me now.”
John heard the cry and came by and spoke to Idbig, “The bread is there, right in front of you. It has never left you. You did everything you did the last time you found the bread, except you forgot the most important thing this time! You forgot to have faith that the bread IS there and open your eyes to see it is true. When you believe and open your eyes because you believe, then you shall find. If you seek to find before you believe, so that you place your faith in evidence and your own logic instead of the bread’s existence, you will not find. If you find the tin can and believe there is bread because of the tin can, then you will be disappointed, for the tin can you hold is not the tin can that contains the bread. If you believe that the bread exists because the bread exists, then there is no need to look for evidence for the bread’s existence. You’d have opened your eyes because you believed and found, instead of groping around and not find.”
“How can you be so sure? You claim to have opened your eyes and see things I’m not seeing but likewise, I am seeing things that you are not seeing, even though it is darkness and occasion spots of colour. How can you be sure that you’re the one seeing and I’m not? I could be the one with the eyes open and yours closed!” Idbig retorted.
“Well, I’m the one who’s filled, and you, hungry,” John replied simply.
“…”
“I can’t prove to you the bread is there until you believe and open your eyes first. Then you will see for yourself. If you insist on groping around for evidence that there is bread, then you will never find it. For the only evidence that there is bread, is when you see the bread for yourself and you reach out and hold it in your hands. The tin cans and contraptions you hold prove nothing of the bread’s existence as long as you don’t believe, no matter how logically you try to deduce its existence or lack of,” John continued.
You can’t find God without first having faith, the certainty of what you hope for and hold on to without seeing. For He is above the constraints of logical reasoning which he has given us, and because He chooses to be that way.
(Writer's note): IDBIG – I Don’t Believe In God
“Is it? Where?” Idbig said as he groped around, searching for the bread.
“Well, it’s just right in front of you. Just open your eyes and you’ll see it,” John told Idbig.
“Why must I open my eyes? If it’s right in front of me, then I would be able to take it and eat it without opening my eyes right? It’s only logical,” Idbig said.
“Well, it’s hard to explain why you can’t reach it with your eyes closed, but just believe it. Just trust me and open your eyes and you’d see the bread,” John said.
“Wait a minute. I think you’re pulling my leg. I don’t think there is bread in front of me at all. Or anywhere around here,” Idbig said as he stopped groping around.
“Huh? Why would I do that for? What’s there for me to gain? There really is bread in front of you, I assure you,” John said.
“Oh yeah? So it’s right in front of me? Why don’t you prove it to me then?” Idbig said as he folded his arms across his chest and tilt his head challengingly at John.
“Ok, so how about you just open your eyes and you can see for yourself I’m speaking the truth?” John asked.
“No. Show me there’s bread in front of me first before I open my eyes,” Idbig said resolutely.
“How am I going to show you the bread if you don’t open your eyes?” John asked, exasperated.
“Well, you have to show me something, a hint of the bread or whatever first before I open my eyes. I don’t want to be fooled by you or waste my efforts opening my eyes to see something that’s not there. I’m a logical and efficient person, I’d have you know that. I don’t waste time and effort doing stupid things. It makes no sense that I can see the bread but I can’t feel it just because my eyes are closed. It’s not logical. You should be able to show me the bread’s there before I open my eyes. That makes more sense,” Idbig replied.
“What have you got to lose just by believing me and opening your eyes? You just have to believe, open your eyes, see the bread and eat the bread or not see the bread and know that I’m lying,” John said. “Would you just try opening your eyes?”
After a pause, Idbig said, “Fine,” grudgingly. “There! I’ve opened my eyes. Where’s the bread? All I see is darkness.”
John stared at Idbig and said, “Your eyes are not open! You’re just looking at the inside of your eyelids! You still don’t trust me!”
Idbig replied indignantly, “Of course they are open! But having opened them, all I see is darkness! You’ve lied to me! There is no bread around here!” With that, Idbig refused to speak any longer and went back to his groping. First, he would extend out his hands, touching and feeling for objects. What he can remove, he brings it to his mouth and tried to use it as food. What he cannot remove, he brings his mouth there to chew. Always, he made sure he checked something thoroughly and carefully with his hands before he chews it. He’d know all of the dimensions and texture of the object; only then is he convinced that something is real and can be tried eating. All of this was done without him opening his eyes, of course. He has survived well and thrived previously without opening his eyes. Why would any of that change? Why would he need his eyes now if he didn’t need it before? In this manner, he has chewed wooden splints, plastic forks, table cloths and even the table itself. None, of course, could fill him up decently and he is left feeling emptier and hollower by the minute. Finally, he reached a point where he doesn’t think he can survive another second longer.
Out of desperation and a lack of alternatives, he opened his eyes and found, to his surprise, a tin can. Now, his vision is blurred, not at all focused, because of the long duration he has not opened his eyes which caused his eye muscles to deteriorate, but he could see that the tin can was sealed by a clever mechanism—one which he could never have figured out without his eyes, but with vision, he easily opened it and found…bread! Idbig devoured it greedily and was thankful that he escaped this hunger finally. Having filled his stomach, Idbig drifted off to rest and his eyes gently closed and…
“So you found the bread?” John asked, concerned.
“Hmm?” Idbig woke up startled. He stretched himself and gave a big yawn…but his eyes remained closed. “Bread? What bread?” Idbig said. He seemed to remember eating some bread and seeing some tin can contraption, but it all seemed like a faraway dream that he couldn’t remember. He’s back in the familiar darkness of the blind and he feels comfortable with it. “Maybe I did eat some bread, but I can’t be sure,” Idbig said carefully.
“Well, I’m just glad you found it though. I’m sure you found the bread and ate of it. For I can see that you are no longer plagued by hunger,” John said and left.
Now, it came to pass that Idbig started getting hungry again, for he did not eat of the bread constantly as he did not open his eyes after the last time and thus, he was back to groping around for food. Now, Idbig was a smart man. He remembered how he found the bread the last time and this time, he went around groping for a tin can. He found something cuboid which he thought could be the can and fingered around to try to open it. He has done it before, his fingers will remember how to do it again. But each time he picked up what seem like a tin can, he wasn’t sure if it was a tin can. And each time he tried opening the tin can, he wasn’t sure if it can be opened at all. And each time he opened a tin can, he wasn’t sure if there would be bread in there. After all, he ate all of it the last time. He had so many doubts, so so many doubts. And he finally gave up, saying,
“I can’t find the bread at all! I did everything I did the last time and I just can’t find it! The bread has gone away from me now.”
John heard the cry and came by and spoke to Idbig, “The bread is there, right in front of you. It has never left you. You did everything you did the last time you found the bread, except you forgot the most important thing this time! You forgot to have faith that the bread IS there and open your eyes to see it is true. When you believe and open your eyes because you believe, then you shall find. If you seek to find before you believe, so that you place your faith in evidence and your own logic instead of the bread’s existence, you will not find. If you find the tin can and believe there is bread because of the tin can, then you will be disappointed, for the tin can you hold is not the tin can that contains the bread. If you believe that the bread exists because the bread exists, then there is no need to look for evidence for the bread’s existence. You’d have opened your eyes because you believed and found, instead of groping around and not find.”
“How can you be so sure? You claim to have opened your eyes and see things I’m not seeing but likewise, I am seeing things that you are not seeing, even though it is darkness and occasion spots of colour. How can you be sure that you’re the one seeing and I’m not? I could be the one with the eyes open and yours closed!” Idbig retorted.
“Well, I’m the one who’s filled, and you, hungry,” John replied simply.
“…”
“I can’t prove to you the bread is there until you believe and open your eyes first. Then you will see for yourself. If you insist on groping around for evidence that there is bread, then you will never find it. For the only evidence that there is bread, is when you see the bread for yourself and you reach out and hold it in your hands. The tin cans and contraptions you hold prove nothing of the bread’s existence as long as you don’t believe, no matter how logically you try to deduce its existence or lack of,” John continued.
You can’t find God without first having faith, the certainty of what you hope for and hold on to without seeing. For He is above the constraints of logical reasoning which he has given us, and because He chooses to be that way.
(Writer's note): IDBIG – I Don’t Believe In God
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Part I:
The old man asked the young man, "Do you know what faith is?"
The young man looked straight at the old man and without another moment of hesitation, blindfolded himself and walked across a road which was six lanes wide and had traffic coming from both sides.
When he reached the other end, he said to the old man, "This is faith."
The old man, pointing to the drivers on the road who were hollering and cursing at the young man's daredevil stunt but had jam braked their cars instead of running him over, said, "No, this is grace."
Moral of the story: Sometimes people are nice to you even though it doesn't seem like it. Like the drivers who are cursing the young man. They risk getting into accidents themselves instead of running him over.
Part II:
The young man retorted, "This is faith in others' grace."
Moral of the story: Old men aren't always right and they don't always get the last say.
The old man asked the young man, "Do you know what faith is?"
The young man looked straight at the old man and without another moment of hesitation, blindfolded himself and walked across a road which was six lanes wide and had traffic coming from both sides.
When he reached the other end, he said to the old man, "This is faith."
The old man, pointing to the drivers on the road who were hollering and cursing at the young man's daredevil stunt but had jam braked their cars instead of running him over, said, "No, this is grace."
Moral of the story: Sometimes people are nice to you even though it doesn't seem like it. Like the drivers who are cursing the young man. They risk getting into accidents themselves instead of running him over.
Part II:
The young man retorted, "This is faith in others' grace."
Moral of the story: Old men aren't always right and they don't always get the last say.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I've been asked many times by many different people this question, so much so that I think it would be appropriate for me to put the answer down in writing for future reference. So here it is.
The guide to topping your class (misconceptions and the truth)
To be a top student
1. You don't have to be smart. Just don't be stupid.
2. You don't have to be hardworking. Just don't be lazy.
3. You don't have to know everything. Just know the answers to the questions in the exam papers.
4. You don't have to like studying. Just don't hate it.
5. You don't have to apple polish your supervisors or markers. Just don't offend them.
6. You don't have to think too much. Just don't think too little.
7. You don't have to show how much you understand. Just don't show what you don't understand.
8. You don't have to depend on yourself. Just don't depend on lecturers.
9. You don't have to be resourceful. Just don't be friend-less.
10. You don't have to take the top position of the class. Just don't take the rest of the positions below the top position.
See? Isn't it easy? Now everyone can be a top student! For your complete guide to topping your class, order now at only USD 19.99! (First 20 customers get a complimentary foolscape paper!)(batteries not included)
To be a top student
1. You don't have to be smart. Just don't be stupid.
2. You don't have to be hardworking. Just don't be lazy.
3. You don't have to know everything. Just know the answers to the questions in the exam papers.
4. You don't have to like studying. Just don't hate it.
5. You don't have to apple polish your supervisors or markers. Just don't offend them.
6. You don't have to think too much. Just don't think too little.
7. You don't have to show how much you understand. Just don't show what you don't understand.
8. You don't have to depend on yourself. Just don't depend on lecturers.
9. You don't have to be resourceful. Just don't be friend-less.
10. You don't have to take the top position of the class. Just don't take the rest of the positions below the top position.
See? Isn't it easy? Now everyone can be a top student! For your complete guide to topping your class, order now at only USD 19.99! (First 20 customers get a complimentary foolscape paper!)(batteries not included)
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Heartfelt words.
If I could write a piece of music that can express what I feel about this whole thing, I would. But I couldn't. If I could paint a picture to explain what I think, I would. But I couldn't. In the end, since I can only use inadequate words to remotely convey my inner world into the outer, so be it.
I have a story to tell.
There was once an uneducated couple. Life was not easy for them for they had to withstand physical toils to make ends meet as they had no knowledge nor information to trade for a living. Unsurprisingly, when they received their first child, a son, they educated him on the importance of education.
"You have to study hard and graduate with good results from a college so that you can have a good life in the future. See how such people sit in their comfortable offices, earning thousands of dollars with nothing more than their signatures?"
They don't smile often in the absence of others, for life was hard, as I mentioned before, and marriage for a young couple is never easy even under the best of circumstances. Despite this, the child knew that they'd smile at good results.
Then came a day when the mother brought his son to a church. The father fetched them there but did not enter, for he believed in other gods. After the service, the mother brought the child to a statue and told him to touch its feet and make a wish. The wish, the mother assured, would definitely come through. As an example, she performed the act first, touching the feet of the statue, closing her eyes and praying in silence. The child was six, and even at that young age, he could see that the stature was not a piece of art. It was of a man he did not know, but out of obedience, he followed in his mother's actions. Closing his eyes, he wondered about what to ask for and quickly decided that he wanted good results to please his mother. Not just good results; in fact, he asked to be the legendary top student that his mother had always sung praises and told incredible stories about. After all, his mother did say that whatever he wished for would come true. And thus, in that span of a few seconds, a prayer based on the innocence of a child trying to bring happiness to his parents was forged...and quickly forgotten...
Until the child came back with his first ever perfect score in a primary two math test. Then a certain amount of time later, perfect score in mother tongue. And for a while, the perfect score alternated between the two subjects before disappearing. The mother brought the child back to the church to give thanks, and he sees the statue again. Once again, under the urging of the mother, he made a simple prayer to be have good results. And again, the prayer was as quickly forgotten.
Until the child came back, a fairly long while after, as the top student in his primary 3 class. Once again the mother brought him to church to give thanks and he renewed his prayers again. Unfortunately, for the better part of the next two and half years, his studies took a turn for the worse and major disappointment ensued. After the disappointment, there was acceptance that perhaps the child had reached his peak and expectations fall. At the end of the 2 and half years however, the child's results picked up again so he topped the EM2 stream at his primary 6 preliminaries. He did not receive a prize, however, for he had EM1 students in his class who topped the class, and hence, could not fulfill his mother's dream of walking onto stage to receive a prize. He remembered his prayer 3 years ago, and was grateful it was answered. From then on, he thought of the prayer as settled but he no longer went to church to touch the statue's feet nor make any more prayers to be the top student. His primary 6 nationals was unexpectedly worse than his preliminaries, but he went on to a secondary school.
In his secondary school days, the child performed fairly well for his first two years. He never did quite top his class, but he was more often than not within the top 10 in class in results. However, he was made to struggle terribly in secondary 3 and 4 and his prayers revolved more around survival than being a top student. He passed his nationals with very good grades though, and received a prize for it. The prize awarded was for top student, though he was far from truly being the top student; over 20 people were awarded the same prize and all of them performed better than he did. The only reason he was awarded top student along with them was because he attained the best possible grades in the basic subjects just like the 20 others. He did not do as well as them in the additional subjects although he was given the same award. The genuine top student, his classmate, received an additional award on top of this one given to 20 others. He did not remember his prayers as a child but he gave thanks.
He went on to a junior college, and though his grades remained consistently better than average, he was, for the most part, spent and overly stressed. He was arguably the top student in his class, but in junior colleges, there was no effort made to distinguish such people nor honour them; not that the child cares anymore, for he was still desperately struggling and praying only to survive. He recognised that such "top student" could very easily change hands to another while he falls into oblivion if he becomes complacent. Besides, the JC syllabus was as harsh to a "top student" as it was to everyone else. At the end of JC, the child was arguably the top student for his class of 23 people for he performed the best once again in the basic subjects, but he did not take additional subjects like some of his peers did, although they did not do very well in them. At this point, the child did not think he could carry on studying anymore, for he was completely spent and did not think he had any of such determination left in him, which was just well, as he became a conscript of his nation's army. he did not remember his prayers as a child, but he gave thanks for being able to survive JC education.
Two and half years in conscription went by quickly. He did not top any classes in the army, though he was blessed with best serviceman of the month and best commander. Such awards were not exclusive though and meant less to him than the difference he was making in people's lives as a section commander in the army. He gave thanks for being able to survive the conscription process without grievous injuries. He proceeded on to college at the end of his conscription period.
The thought of studies terrorised the child at this point in time, until he found, with extremely pleasant surprise, himself on the dean's list at the end of the first semester. His surprises increased exponentially as his position on the dean's list renewed with every semester. On top of that, he was awarded the best student prize in his second year.
"This must be a fluke. I should cherish this since I certainly won't get it the next year," he thought to himself. He gave thanks for the award.
He was awarded the best student prize the following year, his third year. Besides the faculty prize, other organisations gave additional prizes for him being the best student in his faculty for that year.
"Well, I am very thankful for this blessing, but there's always a chance of someone else overtaking me next year," he thought to himself. He gave thanks for the award. Now he was on track for first class honours, and he figured he would be satisfied should it come to pass that he could graduate with first class honours. However, people's expectations that he would be the top graduating student the following year were starting to get to him, and he had to constantly remind himself to focus on the truly important things in life. He understands that the honour of a top student is the privilege of the Father to give, not his to work for. And he understands that the future is not something one should think about more than the present.
He was awarded 3 medals for being the top student in his course of study the following year, his final year. All at once, he remembered his prayers in childhood and was shell-shocked to find them answered so fully, beyond the wildest of his imaginations, at the end of his studies. As he reflected upon his life, he found his prayers answered at every turn. His prayers which he himself had forgotten so many years ago, a prayer that mattered so little to him. But He who the prayer was made to had never forgotten. He knew the child and watched over him before he even knew who He is. Waves of awe and indescribable gratefulness filled the child as he realised all of these things.
This morning I stood, quite nervously, at the edge of the stage. The speaker had just changed as a new degree, bachelor of engineering (mechanical), was to be presented. After some formalities, the speaker started.
"Winner of the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal award,"
~silence~
"Winner of the Institute of Engineering Society Gold Medal Award,"
~chattering~
"...and Winner of the Professional Engineering Board Gold Medal Award,"
~ "Whoa~" ~
" Lai Chang Quan. "
~ Extended thunderous applause, whistles and owl hoots ~
I walked forward into the applause, the catcalls and the light, into the incredible dream that had been in the works for the past 18 years, prepared by the One who never forgot even a child's simple prayer, completely overwhelmed by the love and grace I was receiving. At the same time, I felt immensely humbled by the unexpected reception I was receiving.
I was told a rainbow appeared in the sky today. I could hear Him tell me, in a language far beyond words and normal human comprehension, that He is always faithful to His promises, and His promises, like the rainbow, stand forever.
I cannot imagine how I can relate to you how it is like to see the fulfillment of His promise except that it brings tears to my eyes. Me, a worthless vessel of wavering and unsteady faith, who rarely did right by God...How is it that He has chosen to bless me, over so many other people, some more pious than me and some more hardworking than me? How is it that a being greater than this Earth and Heaven that He created, would bother to lift up a speck of dust in the wind like me? The sheer magnitude of His grace is impossible to comprehend.
Over these 18 years, my perspectives and values in life have changed and matured rather drastically from the time when I made the prayers as a child. For one, success in studies had rapidly taken a step down to many other things in life, including and most prominently, relationships. Being a top student no longer meant as much to me anymore. I am more thankful for the gift of healthy friendships and trustworthy relationships these days. Secondly, I've learnt to focus on the Giver more than the gift itself. For this reason precisely, even though top student does not mean as much as it did, this gift assures me that the Giver is real and watching out for every one of us all the time. The gift is inconsequential. The love that comes with the gift is invaluable. The answer to some prayers may be a long time in coming, but the scale of its magnitude when they do come will knock us off our feet.
A friend just called me up to congratulate me. In his own words, he was "honoured to have made my acquaintance". I suppose there is little chance that I'll ever convince him that truly, the honour was all mine and nothing in these few years would have been the same and meant as much without them. But if I were to start thanking all of the people who have helped me along the way, I would have a very long blogpost. I mean, just of the top of my head, I can remember the time when my friend was late for an exam because of me; the time when my younger brother voluntarily exchanged rooms with me because he knew I could not sleep in my mosquito infested room and I was going to have an exam the next day; the time when my sister secretly made the ugliest and at the same time, the most beautiful drawing ever in my sketchbook to encourage me in my time of extreme exam stress; the entire 4 years in secondary school when my dad drove me faithfully to school on time everyday; all of the household chores my mum took upon herself to do just so I could concentrate on my studies etc. In short though, i just want to say that I have found the love for people from the love that He has given me.
In short, i just want to give Him all of the greatest glory for His grace in heaping so much glory and sending so much love through all the people I've met on undeserving me.
This is my testimony on the greatest love I've ever experienced in my life.
If I could write a piece of music that can express what I feel about this whole thing, I would. But I couldn't. If I could paint a picture to explain what I think, I would. But I couldn't. In the end, since I can only use inadequate words to remotely convey my inner world into the outer, so be it.
I have a story to tell.
There was once an uneducated couple. Life was not easy for them for they had to withstand physical toils to make ends meet as they had no knowledge nor information to trade for a living. Unsurprisingly, when they received their first child, a son, they educated him on the importance of education.
"You have to study hard and graduate with good results from a college so that you can have a good life in the future. See how such people sit in their comfortable offices, earning thousands of dollars with nothing more than their signatures?"
They don't smile often in the absence of others, for life was hard, as I mentioned before, and marriage for a young couple is never easy even under the best of circumstances. Despite this, the child knew that they'd smile at good results.
Then came a day when the mother brought his son to a church. The father fetched them there but did not enter, for he believed in other gods. After the service, the mother brought the child to a statue and told him to touch its feet and make a wish. The wish, the mother assured, would definitely come through. As an example, she performed the act first, touching the feet of the statue, closing her eyes and praying in silence. The child was six, and even at that young age, he could see that the stature was not a piece of art. It was of a man he did not know, but out of obedience, he followed in his mother's actions. Closing his eyes, he wondered about what to ask for and quickly decided that he wanted good results to please his mother. Not just good results; in fact, he asked to be the legendary top student that his mother had always sung praises and told incredible stories about. After all, his mother did say that whatever he wished for would come true. And thus, in that span of a few seconds, a prayer based on the innocence of a child trying to bring happiness to his parents was forged...and quickly forgotten...
Until the child came back with his first ever perfect score in a primary two math test. Then a certain amount of time later, perfect score in mother tongue. And for a while, the perfect score alternated between the two subjects before disappearing. The mother brought the child back to the church to give thanks, and he sees the statue again. Once again, under the urging of the mother, he made a simple prayer to be have good results. And again, the prayer was as quickly forgotten.
Until the child came back, a fairly long while after, as the top student in his primary 3 class. Once again the mother brought him to church to give thanks and he renewed his prayers again. Unfortunately, for the better part of the next two and half years, his studies took a turn for the worse and major disappointment ensued. After the disappointment, there was acceptance that perhaps the child had reached his peak and expectations fall. At the end of the 2 and half years however, the child's results picked up again so he topped the EM2 stream at his primary 6 preliminaries. He did not receive a prize, however, for he had EM1 students in his class who topped the class, and hence, could not fulfill his mother's dream of walking onto stage to receive a prize. He remembered his prayer 3 years ago, and was grateful it was answered. From then on, he thought of the prayer as settled but he no longer went to church to touch the statue's feet nor make any more prayers to be the top student. His primary 6 nationals was unexpectedly worse than his preliminaries, but he went on to a secondary school.
In his secondary school days, the child performed fairly well for his first two years. He never did quite top his class, but he was more often than not within the top 10 in class in results. However, he was made to struggle terribly in secondary 3 and 4 and his prayers revolved more around survival than being a top student. He passed his nationals with very good grades though, and received a prize for it. The prize awarded was for top student, though he was far from truly being the top student; over 20 people were awarded the same prize and all of them performed better than he did. The only reason he was awarded top student along with them was because he attained the best possible grades in the basic subjects just like the 20 others. He did not do as well as them in the additional subjects although he was given the same award. The genuine top student, his classmate, received an additional award on top of this one given to 20 others. He did not remember his prayers as a child but he gave thanks.
He went on to a junior college, and though his grades remained consistently better than average, he was, for the most part, spent and overly stressed. He was arguably the top student in his class, but in junior colleges, there was no effort made to distinguish such people nor honour them; not that the child cares anymore, for he was still desperately struggling and praying only to survive. He recognised that such "top student" could very easily change hands to another while he falls into oblivion if he becomes complacent. Besides, the JC syllabus was as harsh to a "top student" as it was to everyone else. At the end of JC, the child was arguably the top student for his class of 23 people for he performed the best once again in the basic subjects, but he did not take additional subjects like some of his peers did, although they did not do very well in them. At this point, the child did not think he could carry on studying anymore, for he was completely spent and did not think he had any of such determination left in him, which was just well, as he became a conscript of his nation's army. he did not remember his prayers as a child, but he gave thanks for being able to survive JC education.
Two and half years in conscription went by quickly. He did not top any classes in the army, though he was blessed with best serviceman of the month and best commander. Such awards were not exclusive though and meant less to him than the difference he was making in people's lives as a section commander in the army. He gave thanks for being able to survive the conscription process without grievous injuries. He proceeded on to college at the end of his conscription period.
The thought of studies terrorised the child at this point in time, until he found, with extremely pleasant surprise, himself on the dean's list at the end of the first semester. His surprises increased exponentially as his position on the dean's list renewed with every semester. On top of that, he was awarded the best student prize in his second year.
"This must be a fluke. I should cherish this since I certainly won't get it the next year," he thought to himself. He gave thanks for the award.
He was awarded the best student prize the following year, his third year. Besides the faculty prize, other organisations gave additional prizes for him being the best student in his faculty for that year.
"Well, I am very thankful for this blessing, but there's always a chance of someone else overtaking me next year," he thought to himself. He gave thanks for the award. Now he was on track for first class honours, and he figured he would be satisfied should it come to pass that he could graduate with first class honours. However, people's expectations that he would be the top graduating student the following year were starting to get to him, and he had to constantly remind himself to focus on the truly important things in life. He understands that the honour of a top student is the privilege of the Father to give, not his to work for. And he understands that the future is not something one should think about more than the present.
He was awarded 3 medals for being the top student in his course of study the following year, his final year. All at once, he remembered his prayers in childhood and was shell-shocked to find them answered so fully, beyond the wildest of his imaginations, at the end of his studies. As he reflected upon his life, he found his prayers answered at every turn. His prayers which he himself had forgotten so many years ago, a prayer that mattered so little to him. But He who the prayer was made to had never forgotten. He knew the child and watched over him before he even knew who He is. Waves of awe and indescribable gratefulness filled the child as he realised all of these things.
This morning I stood, quite nervously, at the edge of the stage. The speaker had just changed as a new degree, bachelor of engineering (mechanical), was to be presented. After some formalities, the speaker started.
"Winner of the Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal award,"
~silence~
"Winner of the Institute of Engineering Society Gold Medal Award,"
~chattering~
"...and Winner of the Professional Engineering Board Gold Medal Award,"
~ "Whoa~" ~
" Lai Chang Quan. "
~ Extended thunderous applause, whistles and owl hoots ~
I walked forward into the applause, the catcalls and the light, into the incredible dream that had been in the works for the past 18 years, prepared by the One who never forgot even a child's simple prayer, completely overwhelmed by the love and grace I was receiving. At the same time, I felt immensely humbled by the unexpected reception I was receiving.
I was told a rainbow appeared in the sky today. I could hear Him tell me, in a language far beyond words and normal human comprehension, that He is always faithful to His promises, and His promises, like the rainbow, stand forever.
I cannot imagine how I can relate to you how it is like to see the fulfillment of His promise except that it brings tears to my eyes. Me, a worthless vessel of wavering and unsteady faith, who rarely did right by God...How is it that He has chosen to bless me, over so many other people, some more pious than me and some more hardworking than me? How is it that a being greater than this Earth and Heaven that He created, would bother to lift up a speck of dust in the wind like me? The sheer magnitude of His grace is impossible to comprehend.
Over these 18 years, my perspectives and values in life have changed and matured rather drastically from the time when I made the prayers as a child. For one, success in studies had rapidly taken a step down to many other things in life, including and most prominently, relationships. Being a top student no longer meant as much to me anymore. I am more thankful for the gift of healthy friendships and trustworthy relationships these days. Secondly, I've learnt to focus on the Giver more than the gift itself. For this reason precisely, even though top student does not mean as much as it did, this gift assures me that the Giver is real and watching out for every one of us all the time. The gift is inconsequential. The love that comes with the gift is invaluable. The answer to some prayers may be a long time in coming, but the scale of its magnitude when they do come will knock us off our feet.
A friend just called me up to congratulate me. In his own words, he was "honoured to have made my acquaintance". I suppose there is little chance that I'll ever convince him that truly, the honour was all mine and nothing in these few years would have been the same and meant as much without them. But if I were to start thanking all of the people who have helped me along the way, I would have a very long blogpost. I mean, just of the top of my head, I can remember the time when my friend was late for an exam because of me; the time when my younger brother voluntarily exchanged rooms with me because he knew I could not sleep in my mosquito infested room and I was going to have an exam the next day; the time when my sister secretly made the ugliest and at the same time, the most beautiful drawing ever in my sketchbook to encourage me in my time of extreme exam stress; the entire 4 years in secondary school when my dad drove me faithfully to school on time everyday; all of the household chores my mum took upon herself to do just so I could concentrate on my studies etc. In short though, i just want to say that I have found the love for people from the love that He has given me.
In short, i just want to give Him all of the greatest glory for His grace in heaping so much glory and sending so much love through all the people I've met on undeserving me.
This is my testimony on the greatest love I've ever experienced in my life.
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