Forgiven

I put my soul upon a cloth,
And up rose crimson stains.
I gave it to my Lord to wash,
And take away the pains.

He washed it out the best He could,
He rinsed it through and through.
Still, when He handed back to me
My cloth––red residue!

I said, "My Lord, why is this so?"
He wisely then replied,
"My child, it is because 'til now,
My grace you have denied."

And so the sun shines through again,
The clouds lift up their veil,
As I accept this gift of grace,
And find my holy grail.

24 January 2011

Thinking outside the boundaries

It's generally agreed that thinking outside the box helps solve problems, and innovative thought patterns are a good thing. However, there are times when an active imagination can be a bit of a drag.

Ever have those moments when things just seem too coincidental, setting off a chain of thoughts that leads to the conclusion that something isn't right? Or one of those moments when you suddenly question somebody's motives and come up with some totally out-of-character, evil genius explanation for what was otherwise a trivial deed?

I'm guilty of it, but it taken a while for me to admit. I'm often very quick to point out when somebody might just be thinking a little out of bounds, a bit too much, and over-analysing the situation. However, I don't often recognise it when I do it myself, out of sheer bloody paranoia while the thoughts are firing off.

Of course, there are times when being wary is the right thing to do, but when we're talking about tried and true friends, this sort of thinking is hardly necessary, much less beneficial for me, or the person involved.

So here's to a happier, healthier, simpler thought process.

Productivity

一朝國祚可甚長，但若亡國，豈不只列為歷朝之一嗎？周雖歷七百餘年，貢獻無多。相反，秦歷僅十五年，卻統一中國，是為首大帝國。生命也是如此。重要的，不是壽命，乃是成就。

Translated, that means:
"A dynasty may last for some time, yet if it falls, is it not but listed as one dynasty? Even though Zhou lasted over 700 years, its contributions were limited. On the contrary, Qin lasted but 15 years, yet unified China, as the first great (Chinese) empire. So too is life. What is important is not longevity, but achievement."

Productivity - it's not how long you're at the job, it's what you manage to do with it. I guess the same could be said of school.

Eyes on the road

Time flies, they say, and indeed it has. Already we've come to the end of a year, and the beginning of a new one. Since this is the time everyone looks back on the previous year, and also forward into the new year, it is perhaps fitting that we take a look at looking.

Perception is so important. How we see things, from which angle, all that jazz...however, it is nonetheless impossible to see anything of worth unless the initial issue is addressed: where do we look?

This question might be easier to answer with an analogy. In terms of perception, life is much like driving. When you go for a drive, you do not look through the sun roof, and by law, not at the screen of your smart phones because that's bound to get you into an accident. Rather, you keep your eyes on the road, often checking the side-view mirrors, and occasionally looking in the rear-view. So too in life. In front of us, our future, and where we look to go; beside us, our present, all too important and requiring attention; behind us, our past, there to reflect on, not dwell on. Miss out on any one of these, and it's off to the metaphorical (but sometimes even literal) hospital.

So, here's to a 2011 where I can learn a bit from 2010, look to friends and family around me now, and in doing so, strive for the future. Looking back, 2010 has had its ups and downs, but it's been a great one. Now, it's time to turn my eyes back onto the road.

Therefore, I'd like to conclude by wishing everyone a Happy New Year...and all the best for the year (and years) to come!