Moving….

I have moved to blog at Yans On Second Thoughts.

See you there.

On Second Thoughts

Believe me, this is the most difficult post to write. I have been typing, deleting, typing, deleting… and I am still here!

I have been thinking of stopping blogging altogether. Because I am running on empty.

Yesterday, I have my first batch of printed materials out for my church’s 40 Days of Purpose Campaign out. I am quite amazed by the result –

I have the blog setup and updated now and then –

Wesley 40DOP

I have also updated the Jubilee Celebrations blog at Wesley Golden Jubilee.

How could I have done all these when I am actually running on empty?

It’s the presence of the Lord, loved ones, friends and even friends in blogging world…

So, I am here now, after I am on a

On Second Thoughts…..

Yes, on second thoughts, why don’t I just let myself run on empty at the other “home” and close this temporarily? Meet you there! Fill my tank, please!

Beyond Mothers’ Day

Chris gave me a card yesterday morning. I could only open it after midnight as instructed on the envelope.

At the Cinderella’s strike of the midnight clock, I opened the envelope, believe me, I really did wait until 12 midnight! This is teaching children to take instruction (smile).

The card reads –

There are 5,63,545,626 people in the world …

and the inlay of the card is here –

The Chinese words are –
Mum, you are really nice to me!
Now I have nothing to repay you..
I can only say three words … you are annoying I love you!

Probably, the highlight is the strikethrough word “you are annoying”, and it’s really how he feels when mum nags!

Rachel said her result for her exam now would be her gift for me on Mothers’ Day in an IOU!

The face towel is the church’s way of appreciating parents.

It really does not take much to make a mother happy. Right, Mothers?

Now, what would a mother do to her mother? I seldom write (or have I ever?) of my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law is a very “private” person. She is one of those modern women. She uses computer. She sends emails. She reads website. I think she is not aware that I keep a blog! She is widely-travelled. She is a qualified accountant. She speaks excellent American English. She plays piano. She writes perfect English with no grammatical error. She is a great cook!

You know, I feel very inadequate in front of her. She is just a no-nonsense woman!

I cooked this meal – pizza, Cheesy chicken and rice casserole and mushroom soup, for lunch for the family and a carnation for MIL –

Typical of a practical woman and in a typical grandmother fashion of not letting any opportunity slip by when they can teach grandchildren, she said to Chris, “You do not give flower to your mother. I give you this carnation for you to give to your mother.”

Read the story of a woman who did something very meaningful on Mothers’ Day. The deed is very noble. However, the way that the story was written probably did not do justice to the woman. I have not been able to get another version of the story. Did she do that “to show his 10-year-old son how donation were made? Now, the story, as it is reported –

Amid this apparent slowness, one Singaporean woman’s spontaneous generosity stood out.

She turned up at Red Cross House in Penang Lane just before noon yesterday and donated $100,000 in cash.

The woman, who appeared to be in her 40s, asked how she could help the Myanmar victims. Then, from her handbag, she handed over a wad of $1,000 notes, totalling $50,000, which was tied together with a rubber band.

Even as Red Cross volunteers were thanking her, she took out another wad and said: ‘Here’s another $50,000.’

She told volunteers she wished to remain anonymous and did not need a receipt.

She told The Sunday Times in Mandarin: ‘I felt so much pity for the victims of the cyclone. Whenever a disaster happens, I will do my part and make a donation.’

She had her 10-year-old son with her to ‘show him how donations are made’.

Read the whole story here or here.

Before Chris gives me another strikethrough of “you are annoying“, I better end on a “High” (this I have learnt from SAHM), here is what my friend CY has left on my comment –

Happy Mother’s Day thoughts : May the day be happy, may all the days of a mother be happy, may a mother be a happy mother always, may all days be mother’s day, because she fills it with her 24 hours….may each day be filled with God’s blessings for mothers to love and be loved, to be happy..and allow people to be happy with her, for her….

May all these be yours!

Yes, may all these be yours too, all friends who are mothers!

A Love that Mends and Heals

Look hard into every seat
Listen deep to hear each beat
Feel the warmth of breath in air
Sweeter fragrance has its share
Hear that whisper soft and low
See that face with smile to show
It looks much like day before
Words still touch the inner core –
Long as love is deep and real
Broken heart will mend and heal

Joepsc has left this at my comment counter on the last post that I put up on “empty chairs filled with memories”. I am no poet. I cut and paste this for my mothers’ day post. The poem talks much of my mother. From the warmth of home to the walk into time and eternity and to love that mends and heals – it’s mother, mother, still mother, it brings so much tears to my eyes.

Thanks Joepsc, for the words.

Happy Parents’ Day!

Empty Chairs filled with Memories

Again at the airport. I have lost count of the number of times I was at this airport as early as 6 am waiting to board the 7 am fight for the past three weeks. I was there again yesterday. It was a little different. Normally, it was hazy outside. But, I caught the rays of sunshine reflecting beautifully on these empty chairs. No, I did not look at them just as empty chairs.

Having just used the LCCT in Kuala Lumpur, it means there are many chairs for passengers to sit comfortably!

Having just sent off former pastors and missionaries making a homecoming to our Church golden Jubilee celebrations, it means these chairs have been warmed by our friends and visitors and left many warm memories! It also means those who have seated themselves there have enriched our lives in a way or another…

The ray of sunshine tells that they will be back one day to fill up the chairs, warm the chairs and leave more memories for us!

The days without blogging (huh, finally a confession that it has been a long silence here) are never the days of emptiness. You, it’s you – bp, dobbs, IML, JoMel, SAHM, justme. joepscand many more) have filled me almost to the brim!

I have the privilege to interview the first pastor of our Church, Rev David MacDonald seven years ago. Rev David MacDonald and his wife, Audrey came back again this time. That night, as we sang “Blest be the tie that binds…”, we were all in tears. Audrey said, with Rev David standing beside, “Can we take you home?”

Can we take you home? These words have filled much of my mind and I know they will stay in my mind for a long time, just like these words that Rev David MacDonald said seven years ago,

When I left Sarawak I left part of myself here
and took part of you with me.
For that I thank God.”

The chairs are empty, but God fills the spaces with love, memories, warmth and He promises more!

The Missing Shoe Dance

I have been busy with Church Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

I am also experiencing what they call “writer’s block”.

In the meantime, please enjoy this very very nice video of children from our Children’s Home that thrilled our some 1200 guests last night at our Thanksgiving Dinner. The youngest of the children missed one shoe while dancing. Note he picked up his shoe at the end of the dance. By popular request, the children performed the dance again at the end of the dinner. The little boy took off his shoes this time, by the end of the dance, he even had his socks missing!

The missing shoes!

The socks missing!

Now the show – the first performance!

I shall be back soon!

Yet another Perspective – The Heights and Depths of Life

A long-time friend in the medical profession writes –

Been out of touch for a while. Thought I better send you an idea of my recent 2 legged “distractions”.

(He sent me a link to his photography works on oriental birds, I think a hundred of them)

Most around me feel it must be part of a mid-life crisis, dreaming to achieve what one did not in ones’ youth. However, my thrust is that splashing out a few thousand on a camera and lens is not the equivalent of getting Ferarri or Porche, and more creative.

Hope you like the results.

Yes, I like the results. Here is one –

Yesterday, as I viewed the magnificent works of this long-time friend, it brings me to new understanding of the Scriptures. The Scriptures mention two types of birds in particular.

Swallows are one of them. During my teen years I lived in Sarikei. There are many swallows in the town. Every evening I could see them darting about. Now in Sibu, the town where I live now, there are also swallows. Swallows are the swiftest of birds. They exemplify restless activity. Are we not like the swallows sometimes? We are restless, we are forever on the move. But, the Psalmist says, even the swallow can find in God a home, a place to build a nest and to raise the young, a place of purpose and fulfillment.

“Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Looking at the peace shown in the birds through the lens or eyes of my friend, whether resting or soaring high, I know these are not mere words. It is not just beautiful language for stir our emotions. These are words designed for life.

“Your father knows that you have needs of all these things. Do you think he is unable to supply them to you? If he can feed the birds of the air and cloth the lilies of the field do you think he cannot find some way to meet your need as well?” (Matthew 6:26-28)

Life is difficult because we refuse to believe that our Father can supply what we need!

Even the sparrow finds a home
And the swallow a nest for herself
Where she may lay her young
At thy altars, O Lord of hosts,
My king and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in thy house
Ever singing thy praise! (Psalm 84:3-4)

The sparrow is another bird mentioned in the Scriptures. The sparrow is always regarded as a symbol of insignificance. However, the Lord Jesus spoke to his disciples referred to the sparrows –

“Not one of them will fall to the ground without your father’s will.” (Matthew 10:29), he further said, “you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31).

He also said, “Are not five sparrows sold in the market-place for a farthing (the smallest value of money)” (Luke 12:6).

The Psalmist says that even the insignificant sparrows finds in God a home, a place of warmth and security, a place where life is fulfilled and overflows. How many times our Lord bypasses the proud, the haughty, the powerful and chooses some insignificant individual and uses him to accomplish his purposes. We are never to feel how insignificant we are. You will find through God a wonderful sense of purpose, if you go to Him.

I salute my friend who is very successful in his profession finding time to look at the beauty of God’s creation through the lens. Being a photographer at my tender years, I can understand the long wait to capture a scene. I have never been able to capture a satisfactory photograph of birds. My friend has reached the heights of his profession, and now the depths of his life.

The song writer has said:

Heaven above is softer blue,
Earth around is sweeter green,
Something lives in every hue,
Christless eyes have never seen.
Birds with gladder songs o’ver flow
Flowers with deeper beauties shine
Since I know as now I know
I am His and He is mine.

(This is a recycled post with some modifications following my heart now. I will be away for a week, and may not be able to update the blog. Leaving some thoughts here. As my darling daughter said, I am like my article.)

Another Perspective

photo credit: lipkee

How do you look at this picture? The photographer has described these Great Egrets as “Adult and two very demanding juveniles”. It is a prickly, thorny experience.

I did a search of the bird and found this interesting fact:

The male great egret chooses the nesting site and builds a nest platform of sticks and twigs in a tree or bush before he selects a mate. Both the male and female aggressively defend the nesting territory. They nest in colonies, often with herons and ibis.

Now, after reading about their habits, I look at the picture differently. It is not “demanding juveniles”. It is an awesome sight to behold – just aesthetically perfect of great egrets living in colonies playing with each other!

Often it’s our perspective. There are prickly people, thorny problems and thick carpet of troubles in our everyday’s life. What do we choose to see? Do we allow God to brighten our days with His perspective?

Rick Warren in his email devotion today titled “Loving difficult people” shared this verse,

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (NIV)

He shared four methods Jesus modeled when He encounter difficult people. Let’s allow Jesus’ ways to transform mundane and troublesome daily events into a personal spiritual encounter with Him:

1. Realize you can’t please everybody. Even God can’t do that! Refuse to play games (Matthew 22:18).

2. Learn to say no to unrealistic expectations. Confront them by “telling the truth in love.”

3.NEVER retaliate (Matthew 5:38-39). It only lowers you to their level.

4.Pray for them (Matthew 5:44). It will help both of you. Let God speak to them.

(Note: This post also appears in my Church’s 40DOP here.

The making of a journalist?

I left a comment at the tent that I read while on my cross-trainer. Today, I am very delighted to read this once-upon-a-time doc in my small town Sibu thought “reading while on a cross trainer” made a good journalist. Not kit-kat and Astro (for the benefit of non-Malaysians, Astro is the paid TV channel here).

I not only read when I cross-trained, I also think of all the good things in life. Remember the song “All kinds of everything” – those are all the good things that I think of, plus one more – blogging. Today, just before sunset, as I exercised on my cross-trainer, I had my camera strapped over my neck. And I took this picture, that’s how you read on a cross-trainer – a large print bible! You can’t read the small print book. Only a large print bible.

The Bible, the sunset, it’s really heavenly though you are working on a cross-trainer

Or I could scan through the newspaper if I am exercising in the morning.

Now, I am looking into eternity from my cross-trainer over my front garden. You have seen the other corners of my garden. I have kept the front part of it for future blogging. Now, the moment of truth!

Why eternity? The huge building is a theological school, at the other side is Children’s Home kindergarten and at the back further in is my Church!

Now, I might as well let you see what other machines I have in my open-space gymn –

For the steps

For the muscles

For walking and also reading, notice the reading light?

The book corner where we stock some books for easy pick-up, books can be read when you walk

Isn’t it heavenly?

Listen and Share

Listen + Silent = Better Understanding

Listen + Share = You are important

Yes, yesterday I blogged about listen in silence and looked at a 17-year-old differently.

It was also yesterday that the Engineer (hubby) and the Technician (me) were unhappy over some differences. Before the sun went down, I received not only one card, but two cards. One read, I am sorry. The other read,

You listen to my sorrows
You share my ups and downs

Does that shout “You are important”?

To be more romantic, it’s like Roy Croft’s words (Jim Reeves’ voice over the music is even better):

I love you. Not only for what you are
But for what I am when I am with you.

I love you, not only for what
You have made of yourself
But for what you are making of me.

I love you for the part of me that you bring out
I love you for putting your hand
Into my heaped-up heart
And passing over all the foolish, weak things
That you can’t help dimly seeing there
And for drawing out into the light
All the beautiful belongings
That no one else had looked
Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you
Are helping me to make
of the lumber of my life
Not a tavern but a temple
out of works of my every day
Not a reproach, but a song.