Once in awhile you stumble upon things that makes you smile.
A friend sent me this link in response to the earlier post titled "What a Wonderful World."
I am absolutely blown away by the talents that lie within God's creation. We must certainly be God's pride and joy for Him to give us such great gifts. I think this is an example of a talent developed and refined to bring joy and happiness to others - to make people smile, laugh, or even cry in awe and wonder of God's goodness ...
Yet, to date, nothing beats this little one - a prodigy and star in the making ... seven-year-old Connie Talbot singing because she likes to make others happy.
May we see this wonderful world through God's eyes ... and learn to enjoy the beauty that He has created in each of us and around us.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
What a wonderful world
I've been feeling under the weather for almost a week now. Being the active person that I am, I've probably out done myself again - doing too many things and everything from climbing to knitting to working to making time to build friendships, and definitely not getting enough sleep.
Why am I rushing through life, seeking to do everything in the shortest time possible as if there's no tomorrow? ... Well, I guess the reality is there will come a day when there will be no tomorrow ... the question is when?
Since coming up with my resolutions for 2008, I am pleased with my progress with climbing. Having completed 10 private lessons with Mehdi from Camp5, the once impossible vertical routes or sometimes overhanging walls are now possible to climb with proper techniques. I still have a long way to go to build power and endurance, but I am glad I have basic techniques to better enjoy climbing and achieve greater heights.
The pursuit of furthering my education, though, seems delayed for the time being. As I wait for the check from the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) to come through, I was thankfully comforted by an email titled:
The 'L I T T L E' things .
As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now, when I am stuck in traffic,
miss an elevator,
turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...
or wait for weeks on end to hear from the EPF on a loan ... and finally receive a check in the mail only to find out that they got the currency and amount completely wrong (what in the world ...)
all the little things that annoy me.
And I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
Why am I rushing through life, seeking to do everything in the shortest time possible as if there's no tomorrow? ... Well, I guess the reality is there will come a day when there will be no tomorrow ... the question is when?
Since coming up with my resolutions for 2008, I am pleased with my progress with climbing. Having completed 10 private lessons with Mehdi from Camp5, the once impossible vertical routes or sometimes overhanging walls are now possible to climb with proper techniques. I still have a long way to go to build power and endurance, but I am glad I have basic techniques to better enjoy climbing and achieve greater heights.
The pursuit of furthering my education, though, seems delayed for the time being. As I wait for the check from the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) to come through, I was thankfully comforted by an email titled:
The 'L I T T L E' things .
As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now, when I am stuck in traffic,
miss an elevator,
turn back to answer a ringing telephone ...
or wait for weeks on end to hear from the EPF on a loan ... and finally receive a check in the mail only to find out that they got the currency and amount completely wrong (what in the world ...)
all the little things that annoy me.
And I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am midway through a nasty throat infection, cough and cold. The last two days, which happened to be Easter weekend was really tough going. I had in mind to go for Easter sunrise service this year before heading to the Sepang International Circuit to host colleagues and clients alike at the AT&T Williams Suite at the Paddock Club. (It was such fun at last year's Malaysian Grand Prix!)
I had to give it all up ... no Easter sunrise, no paddock club pass for the sickly poor me! Ended up catching the rather mundane Malaysian Grand Prix on telly. No skids. No out of control cars. And worse of all, no rain!
It's rather unbelievable for a country like tropical Malaysia to not experience rain in all but one of its 10 years of Malaysian Grand Prix races at the Sepang International Circuit.
Even the telly commentators said that it was remarkable that a country that experiences rain throughout the year with monsoon seasons and all remains dry every single year, without fail, when the Formula One race comes to town.
Our "Visit Malaysia" motto says it all - "Malaysia, truly Asia!" Where we are uniquely Malaysia. Where the all sorts of things can happen - just read the newspapers on the repercussions of the nation's political tsunami that took place on International Women's Day (8 March 2008). The seemingly impossible can become possible ... in wonderful Malaysia!
I digress ... back to the Malaysian Grand Prix. My favorite driver Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes didn't make a podium finish although he won the race a week before in Melbourne. Finnish Kimi Raikkonen from Ferrari Scuderia finished first, his second Malaysian Grand Prix win; the first being in 2003 when he was with McLaren Mercedes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I drove along aimlessly on the streets of Petaling Jaya today, just to get out of the house. Even my stuffed nose and watery eyes deserve a break from the four walls ;-)
I hear this play on Lite & Easy, and I couldn't help but sing along in my sexy, raspy voice ... oh, what a wonderful world ...
What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.
The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
...
If I look hard enough, I just may see
My country through God's eyes and sing
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, you're wonderful Malaysia ...
*sigh*
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
To be or not to be ...
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing
- Edmund Burke
- Edmund Burke
I read a forwarded e-mail today that made me realize how important it is to be counted and to have done the necessary and right thing in order to make a positive difference in the society in which we live.
A portion of the email content reads:
It is a matter of history that when the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, General Dwight Eisenhower found the victims of the death camps, he ordered all possible photographs to be taken and for the German people from the surrounding villages to be ushered through the camps and even made to bury the dead. He did this he said, in words to this effect; "Get it all on record now - get the films - get the witnesses - because somewhere down the track of history some ******* will get up and say that this never happened.
This week, the UK removed the Holocaust from its school curriculum because it "offended" the Muslim population because they say it never occurred.
This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easy each country is giving into it.
It is now more than 60 years since the 2nd World War in Europe ended. This e-mail is being sent as a memorial chain, in memory of the 6 million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered, massacred, raped, starved, burned and humiliated while German and Russian people looked the other way!
Now more than ever, with Iran among others, claiming the Holocaust to be a myth, it is imperative to make sure the world never forgets.
I realized that either way, our actions or non actions will make a difference. The question is what sort of difference would we want to make.
I am also reminded that we each have our convictions on various matters. Each may not share the same convictions as the other.
Consider the story of Esther and how God placed her in places of influence where she could and thankfully, did get counted. Yes. She shivered. She feared. She fasted. She prayed. She did all she knew and had courage to do. God worked through a life submitted to him and she made a difference for a people and a nation ...
"If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14, NIV)
May righteousness and truth prevail. May the kingdom of God that stands for love, joy and peace come, and God's will be done. May we find courage do what is right for such a time as this.
Disclaimer: This is not a post about race or religion, rather it's about certain values and principles that I believe cultivate a positive and progressive people and nation.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
What are the odds ...
I am still quite baffled with the recent events that have taken place in my life. In total, I have found four buddies whom I can climb with in the past three months, but for some reason, none of them were able to make it for this past week and likely this coming week.
Climb buddy #1: A scuba diving buddy, we began climbing together. She fell and injured herself in January. The sprained ankle is taking a long time to heal. She will, hopefully, climb again in mid-March ... yes, that's just two weeks away!
By the way, we are now knitting buddies ... LOL!
Climb buddy #2: Began rather enthusiastically end last year. She went for a minor surgery to remove a cyst on her foot over the Christmas holidays. She did try to climb with me in January but her wound bursts open just before she was to meet me for climbing. She is prone to having kiloids and has been advised to keep off strenous activities for a few months to allow the wound to completely heal.
She has since taken up Japanese and is faithfully attending those classes. She may return to climbing someday soon.
Climb buddy #3: Also a scuba diving buddy, she has recently signed up for a 10-entry pass to the climbing gym but can only climb as and when work is not too hectic. She is also a member of a fitness gym and has made a decision to frequent the fitness gym more than the climbing one. I guess I won't be seeing or climbing much with her.
Climb buddy #4: Has become a more active climber since January. However, she climbs only once a week on Fridays and takes the rest of the week off. If there were other social engagements on Fridays, these would take priority over climbing. I don't blame her given her numbered days in Malaysia.
What are the odds of having four climbing buddies and yet not a single one to climb wtih for a span of 1-2 weeks? Last week, 50 percent of my buddies were out of action due to physical wounds, while the other half had work or social engagements.
At the rate I am going, I might need eight climbing buddies just to be able to climb on a weekly basis!
I can almost feel the banished fat cells from a couple months ago jump for joy as they work their way back to the sedentary areas of my otherwise toned body.
I feel so bummed ... among the many other things ... sigh!
The only saving grace are my knitting projects. They give my arms and fingers some exercise ...
My absence from the climbing scene this past week has led to the start of a third knitting project - a multi-colored, sleeveless cardigan with shades of pink, red, and maroon. Absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to finish this one.
I am almost done with knitting project number 1 - the hunter green, bolero-like cardigan. While I missed my personal deadline of completing this by 29 February, the chances of completing it this week are quite high with only 10 inches of collar left to do.
Climb buddy #1: A scuba diving buddy, we began climbing together. She fell and injured herself in January. The sprained ankle is taking a long time to heal. She will, hopefully, climb again in mid-March ... yes, that's just two weeks away!
By the way, we are now knitting buddies ... LOL!
Climb buddy #2: Began rather enthusiastically end last year. She went for a minor surgery to remove a cyst on her foot over the Christmas holidays. She did try to climb with me in January but her wound bursts open just before she was to meet me for climbing. She is prone to having kiloids and has been advised to keep off strenous activities for a few months to allow the wound to completely heal.
She has since taken up Japanese and is faithfully attending those classes. She may return to climbing someday soon.
Climb buddy #3: Also a scuba diving buddy, she has recently signed up for a 10-entry pass to the climbing gym but can only climb as and when work is not too hectic. She is also a member of a fitness gym and has made a decision to frequent the fitness gym more than the climbing one. I guess I won't be seeing or climbing much with her.
Climb buddy #4: Has become a more active climber since January. However, she climbs only once a week on Fridays and takes the rest of the week off. If there were other social engagements on Fridays, these would take priority over climbing. I don't blame her given her numbered days in Malaysia.
What are the odds of having four climbing buddies and yet not a single one to climb wtih for a span of 1-2 weeks? Last week, 50 percent of my buddies were out of action due to physical wounds, while the other half had work or social engagements.
At the rate I am going, I might need eight climbing buddies just to be able to climb on a weekly basis!
I can almost feel the banished fat cells from a couple months ago jump for joy as they work their way back to the sedentary areas of my otherwise toned body.
I feel so bummed ... among the many other things ... sigh!
**********************************************************
The only saving grace are my knitting projects. They give my arms and fingers some exercise ...
My absence from the climbing scene this past week has led to the start of a third knitting project - a multi-colored, sleeveless cardigan with shades of pink, red, and maroon. Absolutely gorgeous. I can't wait to finish this one.
I am almost done with knitting project number 1 - the hunter green, bolero-like cardigan. While I missed my personal deadline of completing this by 29 February, the chances of completing it this week are quite high with only 10 inches of collar left to do.
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