The greatest trip of my life came because I did not get the things I wanted

But I also try to hold on to the girl who was young and stupid enough to believe in foolish adventures, the girl who was equal parts ready to fall in love with you and hurl a ball peen hammer into your front windshield. I had a strength I did not realize, but one I did not forget. When I am restless and defeated and scared again, I tell myself this: that the greatest trip of my life came because I did not get the things I wanted.

Read this inspiring account of Sarah Hepola on a road trip for 5 months across the country by herself here.

This Too Shall Pass

Read this short story today:

很久以前，有一个国王想找到一句话，它能让高兴的人听了难过，难过的人听了高兴。但他找了很长时间都没有找到。­­直到有一天夜里，他梦见智者对他说了一句话，正是自己想找的。
这句最神奇的话就是：这一切都会过去的！
­不管是好的还是坏的，没有一件东西可以永恒不变。当你失败、痛苦的时候，你要告诉自己：这一切都会过去的！当你成功、得意忘形的时候，你也要知道：这一切都会过去的！­好的人生，是一个过程，而不是一个状态；它是一个方向，而不是终点。

But this is the exact truth that makes me feels so sad, and morbid.

人生就如游园惊梦 - 不想继续醉生梦死，但又怕醒来时发现还是一场空。
抓得越紧，伤得越痛。
Let go, let God; this is going to be a lifelong lesson for me.


但愿我终可领悟到“行到水穷处，坐看云起时”的意境。。。

"Human Disaster" vs "Natural Disaster"

Today, when I was driving home amidst the heavy traffic, suddenly I am flooded with string of (strange) thoughts.

"I ought to be grateful; because it's only the traffic jam that I have to deal with, and not any form of natural disaster."

Indeed, I'm always very thankful that our boleh-land is free from earthquake zone, Tsunami high risk area, and many other major natural disasters.
Truly, God will not give you what you cannot handle...

But coming from another perspective, it reminded me of the choice of King David. At 2 Samuel 24, God asked King David to choose from the 3 options of punishment to carry out against his sin - 3 years of famine, 3 months of fleeing from enemies & 3 days of plague.
And David made a very daring choice. He said he would rather falls into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great, than to fall into human hands.

So, my question is, would you rather have long suffering under social injustice, lousy government (and to endure the disgrace your prime minister's wife brought to your countrymen), and probably you may die suddenly under collapsed building / bridge due to corruption, victimized by brutal crime; OR to face the challenge of natural disaster?

"Human disaster" vs "natural disaster", which is worse?

I'm ambivalent.

Yes, the force of nature can be very cruel at times; but the wickedness and the depravity of mankind, chill my heart even more.

Up On The Roof

UP ON THE ROOF
by Peter Cincotti

When this old world starts a getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I'll climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space

On the roof, it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me

When I come home feeling tired and beat
I'll go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I'll get away from the hustling crowd
And all the rat-race noise down in the street

On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so

At night the stars put on a show for free
Darling, you can share it all with me

Right smack dab in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's troubleproof
If this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two
Up on the roof
Up on the roof

When I heard this song, the "ROOF" reminds me of God - peaceful, shielded us from the world, makes all our worries drift away, a safe haven where nothing can't bother me, a paradise that's troubleproof... Beautiful isn't it? =)

Dear God, may my heart always have a room for you, because yours will always have a room for me. Thank you for loving me.

Life at the Cross Roads

"All life concentrates on man at the cross roads."

In every action of life man is confronted with a choice; and he can never evade the choice, because he can never stand still. He must always take one way or the other.

- William Barclay -

Matt 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

不能够再见的“再见”

阿公。。。 不能够再见的“再见”。。。
I'm sorry =(

Good when He gives, nor less when He denies

Good when He gives, supremely good;
Nor less when He denies:
Afflictions, from His sovereign hand, are blessings in disguise.

~ Brother Lawrence ~

4

This is the fourth year. You're dearly missed.
I wonder, how long more til my turn to go to the other side...
=)

Social Distortion

We're living in a distorted world today.

We are so "connected" to the world thanks to the Internet & mobile phone network; but yet we're so disconnected with each other.
We seems to know so much about the happenings at a person's life, thanks to all the updates at facebook, twitter & probably bloggie too. But often it's just superficial, we never know what happened "deep within"...

Tonight, when Mr Lian reminded us that we all are the being that needed relationship. I do agree, strongly in fact. But yet too often I dread about building relationships. I have my own "social distortion" to deal with.
Because I know the more I attached to a person, the more painful it will be when the person had to leave you - either to the next phase of life, or stay out of your life.

I wish, I really wish that I will have the "mind of a traveler" when I have to leave this place - just say goodbye and never look back.

In times like this, I only wanted to sing this out loud: "How far is heaven, Lord can you tell me?"

"Heaven"

Save me from this prison
Lord help me get away
Cause only you can save me now
From this misery
Cause I've been lost in my own place
And I'm getting' weary
How far is heaven
And I know I need to change
My ways of livin'
How far is heaven, Lord can you tell me

Cause I've been locked up way too long
In this crazy world, how far is heaven
I just keep on prayin' Lord
Just keep on livin', how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just got to know how far, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me

Tu que estas en alto cielo,
Echame tu bendiciòn

Cause I know there's a better place
Than this place I'm livin', how far is heaven
So I just got to show some faith
And just keep on giving, how far is heaven
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven
I just wanna know how far, how far is heaven,
Lord can you tell me, how far is heaven,
'cause I just gotta know how far,
I just wanna know far

I see Thee not, I feel Thee not; but Thou art here

Distinguish between the fact of God's presence, and the emotion of the fact.
It is a happy thing when the soul seems desolate and deserted, if our faith can say, "I see Thee not. I feel Thee not, but Thou art certainly and graciously here, where I am as I am." Say it again and again: "thou art here: though the bush does not seem to burn with fire, it does burn.
I will take the shoes from off my feet, for the place on which I stand is holy ground.

~ Author Unknown ~

Every exit is an entry somewhere

Alexander Graham Bell once said,

"When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."

How true and wise =)

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. The hard times that we go through will build character, it makes us a stronger person.

In good times, we learn to be thankful for the things can be.
In tough times, we learn to accept that there are things that cannot be.

But when darkness strike you, do not bow your head in sadness; instead, keep your head up high, gaze into heaven - for that is where our broken heart has been sent to.

Some people will look at me and said, only those who are weak in heart needed faith in God.

But I said, only those who are strong in heart are willing to put their faith in something that they cannot see (now).

Finding God in Nature

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.
God is the friend of silence.
See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence;
see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...
We need silence to be able to touch souls.

~ Mother Teresa ~