A Little Tea Party

I am just being caught in a little tea party that goes like this –

I had a little tea party
This afternoon at three
It was very small, three guests in all
Just I, myself and me
Myself ate up the sandwiches
And I drank up the tea
It was also I who ate the pie
And passed the cake to me.

I am wrestling with myself, in another words, or aptly,

My little self is in the way
My big self is back here
Yet the same self that I am trying to advance is the one that stands in the way.

So, I am going to take a break away from this blogging world, until I sort out with my little self, my big self and the same self – I, Myself and Me.

Pressures of Life

Today, I have been thinking of these words of Kipling. It describes the pressures of life so well. It’s for sharing, for your thoughts, most of all, it’s my state of mind lately –

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 stop and build ’em up with worn out tools:

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!

Someone said that is a eloquent description of life. Someone said that is what it means to be “strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

What do you think?

Model to Follow

I read a very enlightening article by Zhen Ting-Xian, a writer and columnist with Sin Chew Daily recently.

Ting-Xian writes,

When we were small, parents would say to the young ones, "Sons/Daughters, be good and finish the food. Look! The children in China and India do not have rice to eat."

Today, we have to tell our children, "Sons/Daughters, be good and finish reading the books. Look! The children in China and India have snatched your rice bowls."

Ting-Xian goes on to relate how India's Infosys Technologies Ltd bypassed Malaysia six years ago when they tried to set up its establishment in Malaysia. Infosys had wanted to invest in Malaysia six years ago. But was frustrated with the bureaucracy which included limited movement of IT specialist, immigration and other travel-related matters. Today, Infosys has 50,000 employees worldwide. It has just gained a foothold in Shanghai, China and would be providing employment of 10,000 workers in year 2009. The story was related by Infosys' Chairman, Narayana Murthy to DPM Najib Abdul Razak during his recent visit to India.

Ting-Xian ends,

May be one day, the parents of India and China will tell their children, "Sons/Daughters, be good and eat the rice and study well. Look! The children in Malaysia do not eat well, and study less. They are not your model to follow.

Who is your model to follow? We continually seek a model to follow. I remember in the pop musical world, there were Elvis Presley, The Beatles. In the realm of science, there was Albert Einsten. In statesmanship, Winston Church. In social work, Mother Teresa. In religion, Billy Graham, Martin Luther ….

But in Jesus, we have a model to follow which cannot be surpassed….

Warts and All

Recently, whether at home, at work or at my social work, I encountered “photograph woes”.

First, it was the grandmother choosing a photograph for a magazine. From choosing, scanning, cropping, re-sizing, finishing touches to printing, it tested the patience of the granddaughter (my teenage daughter) to its limit. Anyway, it’s a happy ending with the job delivered and perfectly done.

Then, it is the photo of mGf whom I interviewed for my new project – Sarawak children abroad – for the newspaper, The Borneo Post. This time, it was mGf’s patience being tested to its limit. I kept rejecting his photos sent in, until he wrote, “You mean I should not show warts and all?”

The job has been delivered and perfectly done, too!

Then, it was the photograph session for the Girls’ Brigade. With over 20 women and 200 girls wanting to show the best, what do you think?

The job has also been delivered and perfectly done, no doubt about it!

Today, much settled, I remember mGf’s “warts and all” and the source of this phrase.

It was in England. It was during the years of the Protectorate under Oliver Cronwell. Cronwell said to the famous French painter in the name of Peter Lely,

I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all, but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts and all, otherwise I never will pay a farthing for it.

What desire for honest description!

How many of us would want a honest description of ourselves – “warts and all – that’s the way I want it”?

Most of the time, I feel that the picture taken does not do me justice! Don’t you?

Yes, it was always the first reaction. But, I am always comforted that God takes me the way I am, warts and all. Not only that, He picks imperfect people, warts and all, to do His works.

Just make yourself available, He uses “warts and all”!

Over 200 happy women and girls – all in GB family – Warts and All – Jesus Loves us!

Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings

Ever-inspiring Raynore Mering (Senior Journalist, The Borneo Post) wrote of the “funny, familiar feeling” of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS). The “storm” is not over yet. Raynore writes,

When Dato Sri Dr James Jemut Masing declared on June 11 that the “storm has passed” in PRS, there was that uneasy feeling that it was really not over – not by a long shot.

Yesterday, the party suffered a major blow whent he door was closed in its face at the BN supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur, raising fears that the 19-month old paty might be reaching its end.

History has shown in Sarawak – as recently as two years ago – that when internal quarrels in a politcal party become a public washing of dirty linens, the ending is never good.

That’s the “starter” of the funny familiar feelings of PRS’ leaders. Raynore recalls, and I quote –

Whatever it is, Masing is in familiar terrain. After all, this is not the first crisis that Masing, Sng or Sidi have been in together and theirs has truly been a love-hate relationship.

Masing and Sng, in particular, go back a long way. When Masing was running for the deputy president’s post in PBS in 2000, Sng was there backing the incumbent, Dato Sri Daniel Tajem, all the way. Masing lost that fight.

Then in the PBDS crisis that led to its deregistration, Sng turned around and became Masing’s running mate as the altter fought for the presidency. It did look like they were the best of pals although a certain PBDS vice president at loggerheads with them would call them “an unholy alliance”.

Raynore ends with some “maybe”, maybe for the good times, maybe for the bad times, maybe for the funny familiar forgotten feelings –

May be this time, the solution is not in trying to shut each other out. Maybe just may be, the rival leaders of PRS can this time say to each other, “Alright, we both amde mistakes. I’m willing to forgive. Let’s put what has happened behind us and start anew.”

I am getting a little nostalgic today with that funny familiar forgotten feelings of Tom Jones. Indulge me –

Funny Familiar Forgotten Feelings
Tom Jones

Last night, quietly, she walked through my mind
As I lay searching for sleep Her soft hand reached out
She whispered my name As she brushed a tear from my cheek
And then those funny familiar forgotten feelings
Started walkin’ all over my mind
It’s sad, so sad to watch love go bad
But a time love would not have gone wrong
I’m just thankful for the good times we’ve had
for without them I could not go on
With all these funny familiar forgotten feelings
Walkin’ all over my mind
I must go on, be strong
Tho’ a million teardrops may fall
Before those funny familiar forgotten feelings
Stop walk’ all over my mind.

True Colours

We were on the road last night when Chris asked,

“Mummy, what colour you dislike most while on the road?”

I said, “Red. How about you?”

I thought, of course Red, who wanted to stop at red light.

Chris answered,

“It depends. If you are sending me to tuition, I love Red and dislike Green. Red means we have to stop and reaching the centre late, but more time with you. If it’s going home, then I dislike Red.”

I caught that perfect moment. I saw the true colours. Heard of this song? Here’s the lyrics –

You with the sad eyes
Don’t be discouraged
Oh I realize
It’s hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colours
Shinning through
I see your true colours
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colours
True colours are beautiful
Like a rainbow. Show me a smile then,
Don’t be unhappy,
Can’t remember
When I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you’ve taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I’ll be there

And I’ll see your true colours Shinning through
I see your true colours
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colours
True colours are beautiful
Like a rainbow.

The Perfect Storm

The Borneo Post reports,

Looking clean-shaven and confident, Masing said the restructuring of PRS supreme council was now complete and “with this the party can now move forward with one voice and as one party”.

In line with this, he declared at the press conference after the meeting,”The storm has passed. We have sunshine now so please (telling reporters) don’t put the storm in PRS anymore.”

The storm in Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) is no news in Sarawak political scene. In yesterday’s press conference, Dato Sri Dr James Masing announced the restructured supreme council. It includes Pelagus assemblyman Larry Sng.

To say the storm has passed is a very much “party’s thing”. To say PRS has sunshine now is also a very much “party’s thing”. To tell the reporters “don’t put the storm in PRS anymore” is not justifiable.

Here, it is interpreted,

The reporters have been putting the storm in PRS. Now that the party is consolidated, the storm is over, please do not “disturb” us anymore by putting back the storm.

Have I got it wrong?

It has always been interesting to watch the blame game. The president was to be blamed. No, it was the deputy president. No, it was the party members. No, it was the reporters.

Storms came in our lives. Storms are raging. For some it is financial. For others it is a health issue. Still others, it’s relationships. Storms came in the life of Jesus as well.

Remember when Jesus and His disciples were in the middle of a ferocious squall out on the lake? (Mark 4:35-4:41)

The wisdom is to be prepared – storm will come in our life. Trying to analyze what happened and assign blame are fruitless activities.

Storm will come in our life, but we know, Jesus is with us in the storm. If you are in a storm, the person you want to be with you in your boat should be Jesus.

Remember Jesus was with the disciples in the boat.

Storm will come in our life, Jesus is with us and Jesus will calm the storm. At that perfect time during the perfect storm he exercises his power over the storms of life.

Storm comes, Jesus is with us, Jesus calms the storm, it is only in the storm that we truly understand who God is.

I end the storm with this true story:

Marianne Uhlig of Germany once sailed from America to Japan on a Danish freighter. The voyage was stormy, and some of the passengers were afraid. The captain, sensitive to their concerns, told a story at dinner about sailing through another storm.

His wife and eight-year-old daughter had accompanied him on one of his voyages, and they ended up sailing through a terrible storm. Taking every precaution, the captain ordered all hands to their lifeboat stations. He went to his cabin to awaken his wife and give her the news. When he had explained the situation to her, she woke the little girl and told her that there was a bad storm and they must get up quickly.

The little girl asked, "Is father at the wheel?" When the mother said that he was, the little girl said, "Then everything will be all right," and turned over to go back to sleep.

We all go through bad storms in life. When that happens, we need to ask, "Is our Father at the wheel?" If he is — and he is — we have nothing to fear.

Yes, with Christ in the vessel, we can smile at the storm!

 

Just Musing

As the title suggests – I am just musing today to get away from tensions, tensions among the past and present ministers, past and present issues, settled and unsettled issues …

PMS Vs PMT

Musa Hitam said Mahathir is going through PMS. Oop .. not Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. Mahathir would never have it. It is "Post Prime Minister Syndrome".

Three years ago, I was relating to a friend about PMT (Pre-Menstrual Tension). This 70 something learned friend was much amazed (at least he put it that way then) by my unique way of using PMT instead of PMS. He said,

"Your tension sounds so much less ominous than our syndrome."

Is it PMT (Past Present Prime Minister Tension)? Here it seems like Tension sounds more onimous than syndrome. Syndrome is at least one person's problem only that doctors may help.

Tension can be very stressful and leading to other problems!

Famous Lines

Also three years ago, I was attending a TOT (get it, it is Train The Trainers, the two "Ts" have nothing to do with Tension here) session on a program called "No Apologies" teaching teens on sex, love and life. To be direct, the message of the program is "abstinence until marriage is the best and healthiest sexual decision for children, teenagers and young adults".

There was "Tension" because I could not find someone to babysit Chris (my son, who was then 7 years old). So, I decided that I brought him along. Though 7, Chris was very disciplined (He still is anyway). He did his homework while the aunties (all women, Girls' Brigade project) enjoyed some famous lines. Read on …

Boy – If you love me, you'd let me.

Girl – If you love me, you won't be asking me

Boy – Don't you want to show me that you love me?

Girl – I don't have to have sex to show you that I love you.

Boy – It's safe – I have a condom

(Interruption)

Chris – Mummy what is condom?

Oop! The facilitator looked at me, and said, "You settle it yourself."

Chris – Mummy, what is it?

The facilitator continued, ignoring Chris. Mummy was thinking …

Girl – You want me to bet my future on that piece of rubber?

Smart!

Mummy – It's a piece of rubber.

The "Tension" gone. Chris went back to his homework. Women went back to learn the famous lines.

The piece of rubber

Three years later, it was last week. I had just secured the account of that rubber thing. I was vetting the visuals and text of the advertisements on my home PC. The creative company has been creative in the text, and waiting for an OK to go ahead.

Overlooking my shoulder to the computer screen, Rachel (15-year-old daughter who has just been drilled in the "No Apologies" program) said, "Mummy, you are buying condom?"

"No, it's advertisement, I want to make sure it is OK for publication."

Chris, now 10, said, "Condom? The rubber thing you said last time? What's that for by the way?"

He remembers. He has been wondering.

"It's used by married couples if they do not want to have baby." Mummy hopes to close the issue as soon as possible.

Tension still on …

Perhaps this would end the tension, still on "famous lines"

Boy – I thought this relationship was going somewhere.

Girl – If somewhere is Sex, then think about going somewhere else.

Boy – But we should celebrate our love.

Girl – GREAT! Pick me up at 7 with roses and we'll go out for dinner. I need to be home by 9. You can join me and my mummy and daddy to watch England Vs Paraguay in the opening …

Unfortunately, Mahathir does not watch World Cup, tension still on ….

In Singing or Dancing

Max Lucado says,

Disappointment is cured by revamped expectations.

He tells a story to illustrate his statement. There was a man who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. The store owner had just the right bird for him. The man bought it.

The next day the man came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time the parakeet had only one leg.

He felt cheated that he'd been sold a one-legged bird, so he called and complained.

"What do you want," the store owner responded. "A bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?"

Max Lucado says,

Good question for times of disappointment.

It seems like it's true in our life very often – that something we want and thought we had to have turned out to be totally wrong for us.

Tun Mahathir is in such a situation in the choice of his successor as expressed by him through the media yesterday. I don't care whether he has wanted a singing bird or a dancing bird, this is the kind of leader I dream of experiencing with –

I want to feel his passion. I want to see his courage. I want to experience his spirit. I want to know that he cares about us.

I want to feel his caring. I want to see his love. I want to experience his compassion. I want to know that he is working for common good.

I want to feel his openness. I want to see his trust. I want to experience his honesty. I want to know that he will always speak the truth.

I want to feel his commitment. I want to see his engagement. I want to experience his hope. I want to know that he will do what is necessary to get the job done.

I want to feel his true self. I want to see his tears. I want to experience his joy. I want to know that he will never hide who he is.

I want to feel his yearning. I want to see his searching. I want to experience his longing. I want to know that you will never stop listening to the needs of his people.

Whether in dancing, in singing, I just want to experience him.

This, I know, are not too high expectations, for I have been experiencing with many good friends who are common people passing through my life path.

This, I know, are the longings of many souls in Malaysia, a place we call home.

Missing the signal

What do you do when you are in a train? What do you do when you are in a plane? Do you know where is the emergency exit? Do you know where is the emergency cord?

Robert K. Greenleaf, a premier figure in leadership, education, management in non-profit and religious circles in his essay, The Search found On Becoming A Servant-Leader shared his experience of pulling the emergency cord on a train in order to save a man's life.

Greenleaf related that he was in a New York subway train. A man's arm was caught in the door. He was unable to get himself free before the train took off. The train was moving. The man was being pulled towards his death. Many people shouted, "Pull the emergency cord!"

None of the 75 or so people closer to the emergency cord than Greenleaf was pulled the cord just hanging overhead of them. Greenleaf ran for the cord from the opposite end of the train. He reached just in time to pull the cord and saved the man's life.

Greenleaf wondered why all the 75 or so closer to the emergency cord than he did not pull the cord. Later, Greenleaf conducted an experiment. He began telling the story to other people who regularly ride the train. They all said they would pull the cord. But when asked where it was on the train, no one could tell him with certainty. Where is their awareness? Greenleaf says,

"The trap that sometimes brings failure to otherwise successful people is to substitute routine for awareness. Awareness is a constant reaching out and responding to everything in the environment: the people, the sunset, the sounds of the street, the smell of flowers, the clackity-clack of the subway wheels. It is nto tiring or boring. In fact, it is quite the opposite: It is the essence of life. Be able to withdraw into the silence, but do not turn off the current to the antenna so that you miss the signal that will bring you back in a flash … The effort is always to be aware, always to know that something important is going on all of the time."