A house divided cannot stand,
It crumbles, shattered from within;
A house is torn by inner hand.
Wise are the ones who understand
The good old adage which has been:
A house divided cannot stand.
And if there be grave reprimand
From those of nearest kin, it's then
A house is torn by inner hand.
From history we learned firsthand,
And from the past we've duly seen
A house divided cannot stand.
When spars and quarrels take command,
When sanity is wearing thin,
A house is torn by inner hand.
A fragile mind cannot withstand
Both thought of good and urge to sin;
A house divided cannot stand,
A house is torn by inner hand.
5 November 2011
Showing posts with label serious stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label serious stuff. Show all posts
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Tuesday, August 9th, 2011
Proverbs 24
"An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips." ~ v. 26
When I read this verse, I immedately thought of how to reconcile this with when the truth hurts. And then I realized, a kiss on the lips is for loved ones, and you would never lie to your loved ones, even if it hurts. At the time, it seemed like telling my parents about school problems would hurt, so I held back. I refused to admit anything. And because I held back, when I no longer could conceal it, it had already inflicted a whole lot more damage in addition to whatever little telling the truth could have caused. I don't want to say much on this, so I'll stop here.
Two days ago I highlighted Proverbs 22:28 (Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.) discussing ancient boundary stones. I mentioned about how that may have meant land distributions or old laws that we shouldn't alter. However, yesterday, a similar verse came up in Proverbs 23:10-11. It says, "Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; He will take up their case against you." Upon reading this, moving ancient boundary stones took on a third meaning: to cheat people or to behave dishonestly. The LORD is a just God and He will avenge injustice. Both verses, ultimately, are related. Let them be a warning to us, keeping us honest, and on the straight and narrow.
On this note, good night!
"An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips." ~ v. 26
When I read this verse, I immedately thought of how to reconcile this with when the truth hurts. And then I realized, a kiss on the lips is for loved ones, and you would never lie to your loved ones, even if it hurts. At the time, it seemed like telling my parents about school problems would hurt, so I held back. I refused to admit anything. And because I held back, when I no longer could conceal it, it had already inflicted a whole lot more damage in addition to whatever little telling the truth could have caused. I don't want to say much on this, so I'll stop here.
Two days ago I highlighted Proverbs 22:28 (Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.) discussing ancient boundary stones. I mentioned about how that may have meant land distributions or old laws that we shouldn't alter. However, yesterday, a similar verse came up in Proverbs 23:10-11. It says, "Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Defender is strong; He will take up their case against you." Upon reading this, moving ancient boundary stones took on a third meaning: to cheat people or to behave dishonestly. The LORD is a just God and He will avenge injustice. Both verses, ultimately, are related. Let them be a warning to us, keeping us honest, and on the straight and narrow.
On this note, good night!
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Sunday, August 7th, 2011
Proverbs 22
"Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your forefathers." ~ v. 28
I write this back home in Hong Kong. During my time in Israel, I promised myself to not use the internet. This was, after all, my pilgrimage, and I didn't want any distractions. Everybody knows, a vow to go lacking is hardest to keep towards its end, and it was near the end that I was tested. I was carrying my Aunt's laptop for her, and the last few nights we stayed at Radisson. Free broadband in the room. Praise the LORD, my resolve remained. Nevertheless, this got me thinking: there's so much inaudible "noise" that encapsulates us nowadays, besides the physical noises. I suppose school and the internet are the two biggest ones. In Israel, I had a hour, more or less, each night, where I could just sit, pray, read a chapter of the Bible, and write down my thoughts for the day. Spiritually speaking, it was so refreshing! I could listen to God, both around and inside of me.
I write this now because I just happened to pass by a friend's blog and re-read his post about silence. In the post it mentions a video about silence, which we watched during fellowship one night, about a month ago. When we watched the video and when I read his post the first time, I have to admit that I didn't give it much thought (sorry!). Actually, asides from the passing moment of inspiration, the last few years I never really gave much thought to anything. If I was asked for my thoughts it was usually very superficial. If I was asked for my attention, I didn't give it fully. I listened and thought exclusively about myself. Everything had to lead back to myself. I almost thought that I forgot how to listen to others. In Israel, I discovered that this wasn't true. That I did remember how. That I was just excusing myself from it. I expect to habitualize a daily time of silence for God, from the foundation I laid in Israel. Who knows, some of it might find its way here.
As mentioned above, in Israel, I set aside time for prayer, one chapter of the Bible, and some writing each night. I actually began a daily reading of the Bible in Hong Kong, but it was just that - reading. I chose to begin with Proverbs, because it has many lessons which I have heard much of, but thought little about. While I may not have time to write like this every night during the school year, I hope and even expect to habitualize a daily time of prayer, Bible reading, and thought, building on what I started in Israel. This actually was a habit until I got undisciplined, complacent, and distracted for the past few years. May the LORD grant me a new resolve.
Each night in Israel, I began writing by copying a verse from the chapter of the day. Tonight, I begin with a verse from the 22nd chapter. This verse is interesting. I looked it up; originally it referred to land distributions that the LORD set out for Israel during the time of Joshua, and the law which dictated a reset to these boundaries every 50 years. However, nowadays this verse may have a different application. Our nation's laws were founded on Biblical notions. Even the national motto is taken from the Bible. Today, our lawmakers do exactly opposite of what King Solomon warns. They have begun to put the nation on a slippery moral downslope. While we may not be able to reverse or even stop them, it is our duty as Christians to not be pulled along with them, to hold our ground, and to keep our "ancient boundary stone" exactly where it should be. Coincidence or not, the Ten Commandments were originally written in stone. Let this be a reminder to us.
That's it for tonight. Good night!
"Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your forefathers." ~ v. 28
I write this back home in Hong Kong. During my time in Israel, I promised myself to not use the internet. This was, after all, my pilgrimage, and I didn't want any distractions. Everybody knows, a vow to go lacking is hardest to keep towards its end, and it was near the end that I was tested. I was carrying my Aunt's laptop for her, and the last few nights we stayed at Radisson. Free broadband in the room. Praise the LORD, my resolve remained. Nevertheless, this got me thinking: there's so much inaudible "noise" that encapsulates us nowadays, besides the physical noises. I suppose school and the internet are the two biggest ones. In Israel, I had a hour, more or less, each night, where I could just sit, pray, read a chapter of the Bible, and write down my thoughts for the day. Spiritually speaking, it was so refreshing! I could listen to God, both around and inside of me.
I write this now because I just happened to pass by a friend's blog and re-read his post about silence. In the post it mentions a video about silence, which we watched during fellowship one night, about a month ago. When we watched the video and when I read his post the first time, I have to admit that I didn't give it much thought (sorry!). Actually, asides from the passing moment of inspiration, the last few years I never really gave much thought to anything. If I was asked for my thoughts it was usually very superficial. If I was asked for my attention, I didn't give it fully. I listened and thought exclusively about myself. Everything had to lead back to myself. I almost thought that I forgot how to listen to others. In Israel, I discovered that this wasn't true. That I did remember how. That I was just excusing myself from it. I expect to habitualize a daily time of silence for God, from the foundation I laid in Israel. Who knows, some of it might find its way here.
As mentioned above, in Israel, I set aside time for prayer, one chapter of the Bible, and some writing each night. I actually began a daily reading of the Bible in Hong Kong, but it was just that - reading. I chose to begin with Proverbs, because it has many lessons which I have heard much of, but thought little about. While I may not have time to write like this every night during the school year, I hope and even expect to habitualize a daily time of prayer, Bible reading, and thought, building on what I started in Israel. This actually was a habit until I got undisciplined, complacent, and distracted for the past few years. May the LORD grant me a new resolve.
Each night in Israel, I began writing by copying a verse from the chapter of the day. Tonight, I begin with a verse from the 22nd chapter. This verse is interesting. I looked it up; originally it referred to land distributions that the LORD set out for Israel during the time of Joshua, and the law which dictated a reset to these boundaries every 50 years. However, nowadays this verse may have a different application. Our nation's laws were founded on Biblical notions. Even the national motto is taken from the Bible. Today, our lawmakers do exactly opposite of what King Solomon warns. They have begun to put the nation on a slippery moral downslope. While we may not be able to reverse or even stop them, it is our duty as Christians to not be pulled along with them, to hold our ground, and to keep our "ancient boundary stone" exactly where it should be. Coincidence or not, the Ten Commandments were originally written in stone. Let this be a reminder to us.
That's it for tonight. Good night!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors...
Forgiveness is so much easier said than done, and a reason for that is because of my memory. For whatever bizarre reason, things I try to forget, I remember; whereas things I try to remember, I forget. This begs the question: if I still remember the incident(s), can I forgive? Further still: is it even possible to truly forget?
"Forgive and forget" is something that is repeated so much that it has, for all intents and purposes, no meaning at all. However, recently, this issue has come to the forefront of my attention, and for good reason. I realized that I remember a lot of things. Very, very old things, which I claim to have completely forgotten about and forgiven, and therefore have no bearing whatsoever on current relationships at all. I was so wrong, and it took some soul-searching with a level-headed and uninvolved friend (at the time of our conversation) to find out.
In a sense, I was half right. I had forgotten the details of the past. But that's just a chip off the old brick. The bulk of the memory, the emotional memory, was still there. I just turned a blind eye. Lied to and fooled myself, and the other person. To take my friend's word for it, I was "hardened." I had no clue, but I was still, in some corner of my heart and soul, mad. Some part of me still wanted to pick up the blame of past and present and just chuck it at this person who had crossed me -- no, who I thought had crossed me -- years ago. By the way, said person is a very important one.
It's actually been over a month since this issue first came into the spotlight. This post has been a work in progress ever since (hence the lack of posts recently). My thoughts are so scattered, and I am so heavily involved that I have had no idea how to arrange the post. To date, I still lack a complete answer to the two main questions. However, I think I have at least a few pieces of the puzzle.
Logically, I should try to answer the second question first, so I will. I don't think that it's possible to truly forget things like this. When the emotional scar comes between people as close as that person and me, even if the details become lost in the sea of time, the thoughts and feelings accompanying it will never, ever get completely washed away. It may be dulled, but it will always be there, somewhere. God may be able to completely blot out our sins with Christ's blood, but that's because he's omnipotent. I am -- we are -- not. Even so, as my friend pointed out, this is not a free pass to dwell on the past. It is not a reason to expect badly of the future. Life was meant to be lived in the present, and problems are to be fixed in the present as well.
God never commanded us to forget wrongs, but He has told us to forgive them, and nothing He tells us to do is impossible. That is why I think that even though I may never be able to forget, there is a glimmer of hope that I can, however slowly, reach the realm of true forgiveness. It won't be easy. I've only taken a few baby steps. I'll be the first to acknowledge that I could move faster, that there are still way too many thoughts that get in the way; but at least I'm pointed in the right direction.
As I've let these thoughts percolate in my head, it has led to a vastly increased appreciation of how great, how awesome, how unfathomably deep God's love for us is. The difficulty I face in my problems with one person, compared to the sin of the entire world and its billions of people. Still He promised never again to flood the world. Still he promised to give the world a way. It cost Him dearly, but He delivered. It is the ultimate example of and inspiration for forgiveness.
All these years, I have "forgotten," but never forgiven. Now I see that maybe it should be exactly the other way around. "Forgive, but never forget" is a quote that is also thrown around. It is a quote that probably deals with problems and has a background that is vastly different from that of mine. However, for now, this is what I will go by. If only for the fact that, as a Christian, I am called to forgive. If only for the fact that it might be impossibly difficult to forget. Perhaps it ought to be "forgive, despite not forgetting." If I can achieve that, I believe I will have mastered the highest level of human forgiveness.
As to "forgive and forget" -- flawed, but sufficient for the small things in life.
"Forgive and forget" is something that is repeated so much that it has, for all intents and purposes, no meaning at all. However, recently, this issue has come to the forefront of my attention, and for good reason. I realized that I remember a lot of things. Very, very old things, which I claim to have completely forgotten about and forgiven, and therefore have no bearing whatsoever on current relationships at all. I was so wrong, and it took some soul-searching with a level-headed and uninvolved friend (at the time of our conversation) to find out.
In a sense, I was half right. I had forgotten the details of the past. But that's just a chip off the old brick. The bulk of the memory, the emotional memory, was still there. I just turned a blind eye. Lied to and fooled myself, and the other person. To take my friend's word for it, I was "hardened." I had no clue, but I was still, in some corner of my heart and soul, mad. Some part of me still wanted to pick up the blame of past and present and just chuck it at this person who had crossed me -- no, who I thought had crossed me -- years ago. By the way, said person is a very important one.
It's actually been over a month since this issue first came into the spotlight. This post has been a work in progress ever since (hence the lack of posts recently). My thoughts are so scattered, and I am so heavily involved that I have had no idea how to arrange the post. To date, I still lack a complete answer to the two main questions. However, I think I have at least a few pieces of the puzzle.
Logically, I should try to answer the second question first, so I will. I don't think that it's possible to truly forget things like this. When the emotional scar comes between people as close as that person and me, even if the details become lost in the sea of time, the thoughts and feelings accompanying it will never, ever get completely washed away. It may be dulled, but it will always be there, somewhere. God may be able to completely blot out our sins with Christ's blood, but that's because he's omnipotent. I am -- we are -- not. Even so, as my friend pointed out, this is not a free pass to dwell on the past. It is not a reason to expect badly of the future. Life was meant to be lived in the present, and problems are to be fixed in the present as well.
God never commanded us to forget wrongs, but He has told us to forgive them, and nothing He tells us to do is impossible. That is why I think that even though I may never be able to forget, there is a glimmer of hope that I can, however slowly, reach the realm of true forgiveness. It won't be easy. I've only taken a few baby steps. I'll be the first to acknowledge that I could move faster, that there are still way too many thoughts that get in the way; but at least I'm pointed in the right direction.
As I've let these thoughts percolate in my head, it has led to a vastly increased appreciation of how great, how awesome, how unfathomably deep God's love for us is. The difficulty I face in my problems with one person, compared to the sin of the entire world and its billions of people. Still He promised never again to flood the world. Still he promised to give the world a way. It cost Him dearly, but He delivered. It is the ultimate example of and inspiration for forgiveness.
All these years, I have "forgotten," but never forgiven. Now I see that maybe it should be exactly the other way around. "Forgive, but never forget" is a quote that is also thrown around. It is a quote that probably deals with problems and has a background that is vastly different from that of mine. However, for now, this is what I will go by. If only for the fact that, as a Christian, I am called to forgive. If only for the fact that it might be impossibly difficult to forget. Perhaps it ought to be "forgive, despite not forgetting." If I can achieve that, I believe I will have mastered the highest level of human forgiveness.
As to "forgive and forget" -- flawed, but sufficient for the small things in life.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
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!
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!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Adrift
My mind runs wildly to and fro,
My thoughts take no apparent flow,
I've lost my way, I do not know
In which direction should I go.
My heart is here, my heart is there,
My soul floats aimlessly somewhere,
If God is here, then tell me where,
I cannot find Him anywhere.
Am I the one who's back is turned, who's eyes and ears are closed? Am I the one running away? Am I the one who's put so many distractions and barriers in between, and put so many things ahead of God? In all the years of Sunday School and sermons and whatnot, the probable answer is yes, because God's never the one who does the ditching. However, that's just knowledge, and knowledge of a spiritual matter is only the tip of the iceberg.
At some times, the feeling of connection to God is fairly strong. At others, it's so weak I might as well be a non-Christian. Sometimes, the lack of Spirit that I display alarms me. Am I actually saved? Follow that with a burst, and injection of God, and then it's back to apathy. An unending, and fairly vicious, cycle.
Worship, fellowship, and service are almost routine-like now. Do I even go with the right motives in mind? Do I even HAVE motives? I probably spend less and less quality time with God, trying to get more time for myself, but the irony of it is that I'd probably have more time for myself if I spend more time with Him.
These are pretty jumbled thoughts and it's taken me a while to sift through them all. Among the thoughts that plague me, the biggest is probably "where do I go from here?" So God is a sovereign God. He has His plans. Where am I in them? I'd like to know!
Chances are, I probably won't get to know, so where do I find my faith? How do I REALLY learn to love God again, with that childlike innocence, with that initial passion? God, I want that searching heart back. I don't actually have it. Those spiritual moments of late, they have been so fleeting, so temporary. It's just enough to keep me from giving up. But I don't want to just hang on by a thread. I want to stand on the Rock.
For now, I remain adrift, waiting for the wind to come, and blow me in the right direction, back to the shore, because I'm powerless without God.
"Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD." ~ Psalm 27:14
So must I wait, so shall I wait.
My thoughts take no apparent flow,
I've lost my way, I do not know
In which direction should I go.
My heart is here, my heart is there,
My soul floats aimlessly somewhere,
If God is here, then tell me where,
I cannot find Him anywhere.
Am I the one who's back is turned, who's eyes and ears are closed? Am I the one running away? Am I the one who's put so many distractions and barriers in between, and put so many things ahead of God? In all the years of Sunday School and sermons and whatnot, the probable answer is yes, because God's never the one who does the ditching. However, that's just knowledge, and knowledge of a spiritual matter is only the tip of the iceberg.
At some times, the feeling of connection to God is fairly strong. At others, it's so weak I might as well be a non-Christian. Sometimes, the lack of Spirit that I display alarms me. Am I actually saved? Follow that with a burst, and injection of God, and then it's back to apathy. An unending, and fairly vicious, cycle.
Worship, fellowship, and service are almost routine-like now. Do I even go with the right motives in mind? Do I even HAVE motives? I probably spend less and less quality time with God, trying to get more time for myself, but the irony of it is that I'd probably have more time for myself if I spend more time with Him.
These are pretty jumbled thoughts and it's taken me a while to sift through them all. Among the thoughts that plague me, the biggest is probably "where do I go from here?" So God is a sovereign God. He has His plans. Where am I in them? I'd like to know!
Chances are, I probably won't get to know, so where do I find my faith? How do I REALLY learn to love God again, with that childlike innocence, with that initial passion? God, I want that searching heart back. I don't actually have it. Those spiritual moments of late, they have been so fleeting, so temporary. It's just enough to keep me from giving up. But I don't want to just hang on by a thread. I want to stand on the Rock.
For now, I remain adrift, waiting for the wind to come, and blow me in the right direction, back to the shore, because I'm powerless without God.
"Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD." ~ Psalm 27:14
So must I wait, so shall I wait.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
A grateful heart
Thanksgiving just passed and I thought it would be nice to have a post for giving thanks...even though it's a bit belated.
I must start with giving thanks to God for just being here, and for everything that now surrounds me (and, I must be honest, this includes the food). Upon further reflection, this includes the dirt and grime of life too, because even though I really, REALLY don't understand anything about this right now, I'm sure it has a purpose, and I'll be thankful later, so I might as well deal with it by being thankful NOW.
A shout out to mom and dad...I'm thankful for you two...sometimes the presentation might not be the most obvious, and at times it might even seem like the exact opposite is true, but deep down, always, I love you. This extends to the rest of my family too, without the love-hate complications.
And of course I have to include my best of friends (goes without saying; you know who you are) on this list...honestly I don't know how I might have handled many separate incidents without you guys over the past few years. Standing beside me through all the times that I have been such a drag...you have no idea how much that means, but it's enough to bring tears to my eyes.
In conclusion, God, you're the best, and people who choose not to know you don't know what they're missing out on.
I must start with giving thanks to God for just being here, and for everything that now surrounds me (and, I must be honest, this includes the food). Upon further reflection, this includes the dirt and grime of life too, because even though I really, REALLY don't understand anything about this right now, I'm sure it has a purpose, and I'll be thankful later, so I might as well deal with it by being thankful NOW.
A shout out to mom and dad...I'm thankful for you two...sometimes the presentation might not be the most obvious, and at times it might even seem like the exact opposite is true, but deep down, always, I love you. This extends to the rest of my family too, without the love-hate complications.
And of course I have to include my best of friends (goes without saying; you know who you are) on this list...honestly I don't know how I might have handled many separate incidents without you guys over the past few years. Standing beside me through all the times that I have been such a drag...you have no idea how much that means, but it's enough to bring tears to my eyes.
In conclusion, God, you're the best, and people who choose not to know you don't know what they're missing out on.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Saying goodbye is always the hardest part
So ends our few short days in Guizhou. Although I forgot my camera, and therefore currently have no pictures to display about the trip, I am fairly confident I don't need pictures to relay my emotions.
I am perfectly thrilled that I chose to come. Just seeing the joy beaming from the faces of all those children made it ALL worthwhile. Their lives are so simple, sometimes to the point of lacking, but they are still so happy. Whatever we gifted to them, even just a little bit, was received with the utmost gratitude and almost wonderment. What a far cry from our affluent world! And in return, innocent joy oozed from the children, and such warmth from the teachers, principal, and village chief! Never before has any time in my life come close to these past few days. What our team and the villagers were able to share together was truly priceless.
Sure, it took 1.5 hours of end-to-end bumping on a washed out road to get to school every morning, and the hotel every night. Sure, it was 37 degrees and humid, without air conditioning. Sure, bathroom amenities, or the lack thereof, made several things rather inconvenient. But in the end, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's hardly been 5 hours since we left the school, and already I am filled with a sense of emptiness. I miss them all, and if I have a chance to come next year, I would, in a heartbeat.
If there was one regret, it would be this: that we were not able to preach the Gospel, due to China's laws. And so, as I sit here right now, on the verge of tears, I hope that our love has been able to shine a light on something different, that they might be able to recognize it, and search for that something different. I pray that when they search for this, they will be able to find God, and when they have done so, to believe in Him, so that they might not just receive momentary joy in this life, but a rich, abundant, and eternal joy in the next.
May this dream one day be fulfilled.
I am perfectly thrilled that I chose to come. Just seeing the joy beaming from the faces of all those children made it ALL worthwhile. Their lives are so simple, sometimes to the point of lacking, but they are still so happy. Whatever we gifted to them, even just a little bit, was received with the utmost gratitude and almost wonderment. What a far cry from our affluent world! And in return, innocent joy oozed from the children, and such warmth from the teachers, principal, and village chief! Never before has any time in my life come close to these past few days. What our team and the villagers were able to share together was truly priceless.
Sure, it took 1.5 hours of end-to-end bumping on a washed out road to get to school every morning, and the hotel every night. Sure, it was 37 degrees and humid, without air conditioning. Sure, bathroom amenities, or the lack thereof, made several things rather inconvenient. But in the end, I wouldn't have it any other way. It's hardly been 5 hours since we left the school, and already I am filled with a sense of emptiness. I miss them all, and if I have a chance to come next year, I would, in a heartbeat.
If there was one regret, it would be this: that we were not able to preach the Gospel, due to China's laws. And so, as I sit here right now, on the verge of tears, I hope that our love has been able to shine a light on something different, that they might be able to recognize it, and search for that something different. I pray that when they search for this, they will be able to find God, and when they have done so, to believe in Him, so that they might not just receive momentary joy in this life, but a rich, abundant, and eternal joy in the next.
May this dream one day be fulfilled.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
T-minus 7h 7m
Guizhou, here I come.
To be perfectly honest, I'm totally flummoxed. I'm anxious, apprehensive, and yet elated, and positively excited, all at the same time. With just over 7 hours before leaving the comfort of home for a trip I will likely never forget, this sensory overload is perhaps the last thing I needed. And yet it exists. So bear with me here.
An opportunity like this has actually been presented to me twice already. Once last year, once earlier this year. And yet, both times, out of sheer bloody-mindedness, I refused. I delayed. I fretted about. I flat out avoided the issue. I was, in other words, being an ass. Or a coward. Or both.
And yet, midway through May, once again the issue arose. This time, because my aunt wanted me to come along on the volunteer trip her company was organizing. Well, something clicked. Third time's the charm, they say, and so it was. It was the third time something like this presented itself to me. I got the point. I was Jonah, and this was my Nineveh. I can't just sit there and waste my summer, pouring out the idle vapourings of a mind diseased. God was saying, clear as ever, "Go!"
Sometimes, commands from on high don't come directly. They come through opportunities, and you have to recognize them. Not only that, but then you have to take them. For the perpetually stubborn, such as myself, sometimes once isn't enough. Twice isn't enough. Thankfully, our God is a gracious one.
And so, here I stand, at this moment, on the brink of what promises to be a new chapter. People, pray for me. Pray that I will be a beacon of God's glory to the children and teachers that we meet. Even though we cannot explicitly preach the Gospel, even though this isn't a religious trip, pray that God's love, through me, will bear witness. And on a similar vein, pray for the physical and logistical aspects of this trip, for our entire team. Thank you so very much, people.
And, God, because I realize I haven't earnestly thought of you behind the scenes, I would like to take this time to finally say, after a few months of delay, thanks for this opportunity. Bless it, for your own sake.
To be perfectly honest, I'm totally flummoxed. I'm anxious, apprehensive, and yet elated, and positively excited, all at the same time. With just over 7 hours before leaving the comfort of home for a trip I will likely never forget, this sensory overload is perhaps the last thing I needed. And yet it exists. So bear with me here.
An opportunity like this has actually been presented to me twice already. Once last year, once earlier this year. And yet, both times, out of sheer bloody-mindedness, I refused. I delayed. I fretted about. I flat out avoided the issue. I was, in other words, being an ass. Or a coward. Or both.
And yet, midway through May, once again the issue arose. This time, because my aunt wanted me to come along on the volunteer trip her company was organizing. Well, something clicked. Third time's the charm, they say, and so it was. It was the third time something like this presented itself to me. I got the point. I was Jonah, and this was my Nineveh. I can't just sit there and waste my summer, pouring out the idle vapourings of a mind diseased. God was saying, clear as ever, "Go!"
Sometimes, commands from on high don't come directly. They come through opportunities, and you have to recognize them. Not only that, but then you have to take them. For the perpetually stubborn, such as myself, sometimes once isn't enough. Twice isn't enough. Thankfully, our God is a gracious one.
And so, here I stand, at this moment, on the brink of what promises to be a new chapter. People, pray for me. Pray that I will be a beacon of God's glory to the children and teachers that we meet. Even though we cannot explicitly preach the Gospel, even though this isn't a religious trip, pray that God's love, through me, will bear witness. And on a similar vein, pray for the physical and logistical aspects of this trip, for our entire team. Thank you so very much, people.
And, God, because I realize I haven't earnestly thought of you behind the scenes, I would like to take this time to finally say, after a few months of delay, thanks for this opportunity. Bless it, for your own sake.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Writer's Block
You may have noticed that it's been a week since the last post. That's because of two things. One, I SAW PEOPLE OVER THE WEEKEND AND DID COOL STUFFS LIKE BADMINTON AND GOLF. Yippee! So that's a complete distraction from blogging already. Two, asides from that, nothing really happened...so I had no reason to blog.
So anyways, tomorrow is Thursday, and it happens to be the last workday of the week for me, because I took Friday off. I'll be seeing friends again ^_^ AND WE'RE WATCHING DESPICABLE ME. OMGWTFBBQ I'VE HEARD IT'S REALLY CUTE. Please pray that I don't die of fluffiness xD. Mebbe I'll do a movie review afterwards.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaanywho, back to earth now. The above paragraphs are probably totally different from any style of writing I have ever used on either blogs of mine. Usually I save the giddiness for chatting with friends cause it's more fun that way, but well...none of them are online right now, and I needed some way to get myself started with this post, so...yeah...
On a complete non sequitur, it is now...1, 2, 3...3 days and a night until I leave for Guizhou. Fun stuff. I'm actually fairly excited, although at the same time slightly apprehensive. Excited because this is pretty cool and meaningful, but apprehensive cause it's such a new and exotic experience. I really hope the love of God will be able to shine through from my actions, so that the kids and the people there can really notice something different, even though I'm not allowed to explicitly say anything about God. For those of you reading this, a prayer request for: physical protection on the trip, a sincere heart towards the children, a way to glorify God through this, and an experience I can learn from and cherish forever.
And that's where things stand. For now, this is Eddie Wong, signing off from Hong Kong. Good night, everyone!
So anyways, tomorrow is Thursday, and it happens to be the last workday of the week for me, because I took Friday off. I'll be seeing friends again ^_^ AND WE'RE WATCHING DESPICABLE ME. OMGWTFBBQ I'VE HEARD IT'S REALLY CUTE. Please pray that I don't die of fluffiness xD. Mebbe I'll do a movie review afterwards.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaanywho, back to earth now. The above paragraphs are probably totally different from any style of writing I have ever used on either blogs of mine. Usually I save the giddiness for chatting with friends cause it's more fun that way, but well...none of them are online right now, and I needed some way to get myself started with this post, so...yeah...
On a complete non sequitur, it is now...1, 2, 3...3 days and a night until I leave for Guizhou. Fun stuff. I'm actually fairly excited, although at the same time slightly apprehensive. Excited because this is pretty cool and meaningful, but apprehensive cause it's such a new and exotic experience. I really hope the love of God will be able to shine through from my actions, so that the kids and the people there can really notice something different, even though I'm not allowed to explicitly say anything about God. For those of you reading this, a prayer request for: physical protection on the trip, a sincere heart towards the children, a way to glorify God through this, and an experience I can learn from and cherish forever.
And that's where things stand. For now, this is Eddie Wong, signing off from Hong Kong. Good night, everyone!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Office hours
Well...9:30 to 6:30...so slightly staggered office hours, but office hours nonetheless. Honestly it's not quite as boring as some poeple make it out to be. You always see those cubicles on TV, everyone's slacking off trying to find something to occupy themselves with until the boss walks in, at which point everyone sits up straighter and makes haste to appear to be busy with work.
I can tell you it's not like that. People actually do stuff, and the atmosphere isn't tense with "WHEN'S BIG BOSS WALKING IN?!" It's actually fairly relaxed, you can walk about to talk to other people, and the time actually passes by fairly smoothly if you're occupied. There is no office bully that everybody kowtows to, people are all nice and respectful to each other, it's almost all first name basis.
Of course, there is etiquette and manners and whatnot of the working world, and there's the challenge of those assignments you're given, but you know, that's exactly the stuff I expected and wanted to face and learn when I told my aunt I would do it. I just hope that I get as much as I possibly can out of this, and keep it in my life for future use. It's a brave new world out there, and I'm going to embrace it.
I can tell you it's not like that. People actually do stuff, and the atmosphere isn't tense with "WHEN'S BIG BOSS WALKING IN?!" It's actually fairly relaxed, you can walk about to talk to other people, and the time actually passes by fairly smoothly if you're occupied. There is no office bully that everybody kowtows to, people are all nice and respectful to each other, it's almost all first name basis.
Of course, there is etiquette and manners and whatnot of the working world, and there's the challenge of those assignments you're given, but you know, that's exactly the stuff I expected and wanted to face and learn when I told my aunt I would do it. I just hope that I get as much as I possibly can out of this, and keep it in my life for future use. It's a brave new world out there, and I'm going to embrace it.
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