In closing

It's time to formally close this chapter of my life. The year away has been an interesting and learning-filled one. I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to spend the year away, relatively stress-free and free from responsibility.

The most memorable thing about my year was being able to catch up with precious old friends, to spend time with them. If I am even half of what they are in demonstrating hospitality, love and kindness, I am a better person.

It's now time to move on and time to be an adult again back (:(() at pumpkinmagic

A genius!

Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty is an amazing piece... he is truly a genius! Had the priviledge to catch it at the BBC Prom yesterday. Sitting on the floor in the arena in the middle of the Royal Albert Hall and having a "picnic" is truly another enriching experience! Hahahahhahha...

Done!

I am DONE! Hehe. Somehow, I expected to feel exhilarated, but nooooo..... nothing. Well I suppose it's because the journey up until yesterday been a slow and steady trudge and unlike the exams where there was a build up for an intense few hours in the very end , the deadline for the BB invasion has always been on the horizon. Anyhow it's all over now! And it's slowly sinking in how soon I'll be back on home soil.

Hmmm, what shall I do today? Such a wonderful feeling this lack anything to do... hahhha. I'm treasuring it while it lasts since all good things come to an end. :P

PS. There's some crazy digging by construction workers just outside my building causing a deafening din!! Thank goodness I need not worry about concentrating on my paper... the noise is driving me a little nuts. :P

PPS. I've received 4 free tickets to attend the Visa 2012 Olympic Party. Hahaahhaha.. o well.

PPPS. Realised last Sunday that it was going to be my last session at HTB. I'm gonna miss it!!!! LOADS!! It's been such a wonderful, enriching experience. A lovely blend of worship and grounded teaching.

Dilemma!!!!

Climb Ben Nevis or go for the Olympics 2012 Handover Visa Party?????

Help me decide!

Your life is like a letter...

Responsibility

Can't run from it... no can do.

"... From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." - Luke 12:48

List of books to re-read

Some books are worth re-reading, if nothing else for the simple reason that they contain words of wisdom and insight easily forgotten over the passage of time. Here's one to start with:

1) The Time Bind by A. R. Hochschild (1997) - because the realities of managing effective work-family balance will probably be more relevant later on.

2) The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson (1963) - inspiring account of God's calling, compassion and sacrifice.

3) Through Gates of Splendour by Elisabeth Elliot (1981) - the cost of obedience

The timebind

The idea of more time for family life seems to have died, gone to heaven, and become an angel of an idea.

The social world that draws a person's allegiance also imparts a pattern to time. The more attached we are to the world of work the more it's dealines, its cycles, ita pauses and interruptions shape our lives and the more family time is forced to accommodate to the pressures of work.

Parents often feel they owe their children a time-debt and make up for it by indulging them with treats or softened rules in exchange for missed time together.

Such is the world we live in where the social worlds of home and work reverse. Many have grown up in this world where one knows not an alternative. Can one possible reverse the balance of work and non-work even if one wanted to?

[parts summarised from Hochschilds' "The Timebind"]

Of romance

Someone told me recently that romance has a shelf life of 5 years and that after that only love remains. Me thinks: What is love without romance?!

Interesting... it never occured to me that romance had an expiry date, I've always believed that romance and love go hand in hand. How sad, this notion. But then again, is it not a more realistic point of view? I dunno. Things are far greyer these days. Nevertheless, I choose to believe as I did before that one cannot separate love from romance. ;)

Anyways, my friend's statement peaked my curiosity and I Googled "what is romance?" and "is romance real?". Here're some snippets of what I found... some are hilarious!

How to be romantic (check it out here) "...a whole ton of things are intrinsically romantic, and you should use them to your advantage..

• Fancy Curly Things

  Flair and flourishes are romantic. Whenever you get her a greeting card, get one of the ones with all the curly pink scribbles on it. When you write her letters, make the tails of the 'g's and 'y's really long and the loops in the 'd's and 'b's and 'p's really big. That's way romantic. Notice how romantic the title banner at the top of this page is? The 'R' is particularly romantic, because it's red." [Me thinks: What?!! Are girls that guillible?]
  

"When you connect with and experience your own feelings while, at the same time, taking in the feelings of the one you love, you are walking straight into the open heartspace of real romance, into the special connections you make with one another, whether small and subtle or grand and brilliant." [Me thinks: I like this]

"Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Be Romantic

10. The Rose-Growers of America need your help.
9. You'll stay young-at-heart.
8. You need all the help you can get!
7. Love makes the world go'round.
6. Your partner will let you out of the Doghouse.
5. Romantics lead more interesting lives than mere mortals.
4. Why Not?
3. Your partner wants it-- What more reason do you need???
2. You'll score points with your partner's mother.
1. It will improve the quality of your life."

Share your point of view at BBC's Talking Point on the subject "Is romance dead?"

Today's insight

Prayer isn’t about giving God a list; it’s about opening ourselves and our lives to him so that he can influence us more deeply and we can come to know him more intimately.

Remembering the past

By looking back, we are reminded about the many blessings which have been poured out in our lives, despite the challenges and despite the sadness.

By looking back, we strengthen our resolve to move on into the future, to take what we have become and to make good of it.

By remembering the past, we will never forget who we were, come to realise what we are now and strive to be who we want to be.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

************

This always gives me peace.

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

Interesting that Nadal & Federer were shown to recite this on BBC's live telecast of the Wimbledon 2008 men's single finals.

You never let go

We sang this at church today, among many other songs which brought tears to my eyes. This one especially touched me. God has been so good.

You never let go - Matt Redman

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Lovin it!

Several things to look forward to over the next couple of weeks:
- Wimbledon
- Race for Life
- The Feeling concert
- Alicia Keys concert
- Paris

Yay!! I love summer :)

Of mercy

‘The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath’ (The Merchant of Venice). Such is the mercy of God.

Today I discovered a new sin...

it's called covetousness.... hahahahaha

Blood, sweat and T-shirts

BBC Three has been airing a 4-part series about India's garment sweatshops. It's a moving account about child labour and appalling work conditions. Six young fashion addicts experience life as factory workers in India, making clothes for the British high street. In this series, the six work in the mills of India’s cotton belt and stitch clothes in cramped back rooms, sleeping next to their sewing machine. See how it changes their attitudes to cut-price clothing. Makes me think twice about the clothes I buy from high street stores. Watch it here and think about your next purchase. This is another reminder of how blessed we really are.

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

~ William Henry Davies

His grace abounds

Today I was pleasantly reminded that encouragement comes from all places... "His love is more than tongue can tell, His love is more than tongue can tell. The love that Jesus has for me (e-e-e) is more than tongue can tell". (Googled the song, but can't seem to find the name of the songwriter. Do tell me if you know!)