Words that inspire

by day ...

Study the past if you would define the future 

- Confucius

Chinese philosopher and reformer (551 BC to 479 BC)

History repeats itself.

It has all been done before.

Nothing under the sun is truly new.

- King Solomon

Ecclesiastes 1:9, New Living Translation

and by night ... 

You are a perfect man 
but not the perfect man for me. 

- Hannah (Michelle Monaghan) in Made of Honor

A romantic comedy (2008)    

I know, it was not all that original, but I enjoyed seeing this again! In essence, it reminds me of one who may not be perfect, but he may be perfect for me!

Graduated ... what next?

After 15 months of work and study with little time for anything else, I find myself not knowing what to do with myself now that it's all over. It's surreal!

Five down, one more to go.

CSR paper. Check.
Anna Karenina dance review. Check.
Doing business in China paper. Check.

Survived and singing ... DONE diddy DONE diddy do ...

10kg FedEx box for LA session .... Che...eck!
Los Angeles, here I come ...

Of Untamed Passions that end in tragedy

It was easy to attend the ballet, a seemingly airy fairy affair in comparison to the heavy segment and finals of Corporate Finance at the National University of Singapore. Yet, it took me awhile to adjust my mind to appreciating the arts that evening and equally difficult to churn out a review for Asia Dance Channel in the midst of corporate work and studies.

I just submitted my second dance review, two weeks after the performance and overdue in the midst of juggling facts and writing a paper about doing business in China. If only I could tell stories in the latter ... I would be able to sleep better.

The ballet, choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky - former artistic director of Bolshoi Ballet, is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina novel. Performed by the Finnish National Ballet during its Asian Premier on 29 and 30 May 2009 at the Esplanade in Singapore, the ballet focuses on Anna’s life - her passions, family and societal obligations – and how passions unrestrained, albeit sweet and fulfilling for various moments in time, can lead to a contrived life of guilt, insecurity, dissatisfaction and ultimately death.

The ballet begins with a morbid scene with a nice play of silhouettes of Anna’s (performed by Petia Ilieva) lifeless body and those who mourned her death - her lover Count Vronsky (Nicholas Zieglar), husband Alexei Karenin (Henrik Burman). At her death, close friends and family within the aristocratic society in St Petersburg show their last respects.


The story unfolds with Anna’s lover Count Vronsky reminiscing the days when Anna was still alive. She was young, beautiful, aristocratic … and married. He was an officer - a Count and a good catch for young debutantes.


By chance, they met for the first time at a train station in Moscow. Their eyes lock and a certain attraction drew one to the other. A train accident claiming a victim disrupts their gaze and Anna is quickly diverted back to the obligations of life and society where she attends to her husband and son. She accepts her responsibilities as a wife, mother, and member of the aristocratic society.


They meet again later at a party, where Vronsky was “pursued” by a young debutante, whom he rejects as his affections for Anna grow at this second meeting. Vronsky begins to pursue Anna. She is embarrassed by the outward affection and struggles to remain composed. She succeeds in avoiding Vronsky’s advances and returns home.


Up to this point (after the prologue and in Act One), the ballet and its characters came across as rather constipated. The scenes dragged from one to the other as the choreographer builds the storyline. Unfortunately, the movements appeared constrained, as the lines of the dancers’ bodies, while depicting strength and sound classical ballet training, did not extend their energies beyond the confines of the stage.


As Anna’s affection for her lover Vronsky builds, so did the dance … thankfully! I was beginning to wonder if I should have stayed at home and watched a ballet video instead. Albeit technically excellent as principal dancers of international ballets should be, the ability to transform the beautiful stage sets, costumes, props and choreography and bring the whole ballet to life calls for rare artistry and technical brilliance coupled with freedom – this was missing from the ballet that evening.


The story continues with Anna feeling deprived the love and affection at her home. Her husband Karenin, a dispassionate civil servant, buries his head in work. He ignores Anna’s attempts to “tempt” him with her beauty and sexuality. She, in turn, expresses her love to her son by being the doting mother. However, Anna’s basic, yet desperate, need to love and be loved finds its way beyond her home and into the arms of Vronsky.


Anna falls into the arms of the dashing Vronsky at another social meeting; her husband disapproves of this conspicuous courtship and demands that Anna returns to her home and resumes her societal obligations as a wife and mother. Anna defies as she had fallen in love with Vronsky.


She reluctantly leaves her son behind as she realizes that she cannot live a life without passionate love … and without Vronsky, who loves her deeply. Her passion and irrationality direct her to go away with Vronsky to Italy to begin a new life.


Here I witnessed the saving grace of the Finnish National Ballet’s performance that evening. Perhaps the most spell-binding pas de deux between the lovers and much like the lovers’ duet between Romeo and Juliet, both Anna and Vronsky danced with great passion that transcended the invisible confines of the stage. The lovers’ love and lust for one another were apparent. Their attempts at unabashed displays of their passions were constricted by the limitations of their thinly clad physical bodies. Their bodies intertwined between huge extensions and brilliant lifts and twirls across the stage. The lovers ultimately consummate their relationship drawing the breathlessly beautiful dance to a standstill.


Ah, the taste of “forbidden fruit” was sweet and explosive to the sense, but Anna’s face revealed a deeper emotion – a shadow of remorse as her body sat motionless for a split second next to her lover’s. The realization that she had finally committed the once unthinkable act of adultery and journeyed down a path where there was no return sinks in. She had torn the veils of aristocracy and proper conduct in exchange for a moment of untamed passions and pleasure. That would be the beginning of a life tormented by faded memories of her life in St Peterburg and her duty as a wife and mother return to haunt her.


Torn between her love for her son and her newfound life with Vronsky, Anna makes an attempt to visit her son. She returns to her busband’s home in St Petersburg. Though she was overjoyed to see her son, she was greeted with contempt by her husband.


She then unsuccessfully persuades Vronsky to go to the opera with her and ends up attending on her own. At the opera, she was again shunned by the aristocratic society. Rejected, she returns to Vronsky to seek comfort but senses his feelings for her have changed.


The realization of having lost everything - the love of her family, of Vronsky and the approval of society – Anna was destined to live a life as an outcast. Distraught, Anna calmly stands before an oncoming train and commits suicide. The ballet ends with parallels to the stranger killed by a moving train at the beginning of the ballet.


A moving plot with moments of brilliance, Anna Karenina is a ballet that has the potential of taking you and your heart on a roller-coaster ride with moments of breathtaking beauty, great passion, explosive energy, and yet disappointments of a judgmental and unforgiving society that does not allow second chances for those who have made mistakes in life. The ballet reminds all that there is indeed a heavy price to pay for going against societal norms.


http://www.asiadancechannel.com/AnnaKarenina.cfm

Corporate Social Responsibility

The propensity towards becoming a socially responsible corporate citizen rests upon one's ability to recognize how much he/she has received and the power that has been bestowed upon him/her.

With great power, comes great responsibility - Uncle Ben in Spiderman.

The price of greatness is responsibility - Winston Churchill.

In a democratic world, as in a democratic nation, power must be linked with responsibility - Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Luke 12:48 (New Living Translation)
48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Church Bulletins

I received the following from a friend. This has circulated for many years as I remembered receiving it more than 10 years ago. Albeit having circulated on the net for so long, it continues to bring laughter and smiles today. Enjoy!

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters -- misspellings, bad sentence construction or choice of words all made for fun reading. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals..

The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict

Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: 'Break Forth Into Joy.'

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours! My sentiments entirely.

My first dance review ... of Men in Tutus

http://www.asiadancechannel.com/Men_in_Tutus.cfm

"... The performance that, perhaps, stole the show that afternoon was The Dying Swan, a famous solo first danced by legendary ballerina Anna Pavlova in the late 1800s. Trevino’s version, a parody of the original dance filled with lyrical movements and the intense emotions leading to its death, was filled with great humor of a swan shedding lots of feathers as it first appeared and glides across the stage en pointe. Technically excellent with an amazingly feminine built that exuberated strength and effortless grace, Trevino’s interpretation of a dying swan was one that was intentionally cheeky displaying bushy underarms and arms waving frantically in the air to depict a badly injured or perhaps aging swan that really did not want to die. Trevino’s rendition of this supposedly intense ballet solo had the audience in stitches when the occasional hip gyrations, the lifting of the tutu to see what was underneath, and the wink made visible by the three-inch eye lashes popped up at the most unexpected moments. Trevino’s performance brought the dance to an entirely new level and paved the way for the second half of the show – the Act Two of Swan Lake ... "

Children say the most interesting things ...

yet these are the 'lil' comments that keep me smiling and going ... and perhaps, they are some of the reasons why Jesus loves the little children!

You will find the budding consultant, the future "rich young ruler," the Pragmatist, a few who thought a 'lil' too loudly, and the one who is likely to "live it up!"

Strange winds are blowing ...

We live in extraordinary times ... yes, times when strange winds blow, turning our lives upside down ... but for a moment and then everything becomes calm again, as if nothing happened. Only the strong, the experienced survive the strange storms and live to see the normality of life again.

*****

I couldn't wait any longer. I had to take a dip, a dive into the cool waters. Inhale nitrogen and find my mind at peace within tranquil surroundings of colorful corals and marine life. Except for the sounds of my breathing through the regulator and the beeps from my dive computer, everything else was blissful.

The 3 days, 2 nights trip to Tenggol Island, off Dungun, Trengganu, was my first dive trip since December 2007. Surprisingly, I found myself completely calm about venturing into extreme conditions - after all, we are not built to breathe underwater - not naturally at least. It didn't take long to adjust to the very tight wetsuit and carrying a ton on my shoulders and back while making my way to our tiny boat (about 15-20 feet in length).

Yes, diving is somewhat like riding a bicycle - once you know how to do it, it doesn't take long to get back into it and getting the buoyancy right during the first dive at Turtle Point.

The vibrance of the marine life and corals were amazing too - the nudi branch, turtle, the clowns made famous by Nemo, and schools and schools of fishes ...













(photos courtesy of fellow diver Siew Keng, very talented to have captured these amazing shots for a first timer in underwater photography)




... including the strange wind that blew towards the end of our last dive at Tenggol Island's tanjung Gemuk site. As my buddy and I were surfacing after the last dive, I saw the dive master making frantic hand signals for us to come up quickly. When we got to the surface, I was amazed to see two-meter high waves when it was rather calm about 30 minutes before.

We struggled to stay close to the boat as the waves kept pulling us away. Furthermore the rise and fall of the boat made it difficult to stay too close for fear of being knocked out by the bottom of the boat.

After what seemed like ages (but I am sure was just a few moments) of trying to hang on to the steps, I managed to remove my fins and climb into the boat. It was as if the boat was heaving and ho-ing, wanting to spit out its passengers.

At that time, all but one was on board.

As the boatman maneuvered the boat towards the lone diver drifting in the waters, another huge swell swept past, titling our boat 180 degrees. The group leader, still out in the water, at that point saw the bottom of the boat. We thought the boat would capsize!

Within that split second, I found myself thrown from the seat and sprawled along with the air tanks in the middle of the small boat. Thank God I was thrown further into the boat and not out of the boat and into the waters!

Scrambling to get back onto the seat and clutching to the metal railings of the boat, I checked my nerves ... fairly calm considering the ruckus on the boat. Experience told me to keep my floatation devices on, tank and regulator ready to be used ... just in case I got thrown back into the water and needed to descend to calmer waters below.

The moment the dive leader got onboard, we sped back to the island that was nestled within a cove and protected from the strange winds.

Within moments, the skies were clear and the waters were calm again.

*****

"What was that all about?" I asked the Lord.

"We live in strange times. Upheavels come to sift my people. The righteous and just shall live by faith ... Those who call upon my name shall be saved," the Lord impressed in my heart.

We live in such a time as this ... as evidenced by the happenings in the world - times of uncertainty. It's such a time when the experienced draw on their knowledge and skills to navigate the difficult times and come out stronger or survive the difficult circumstances. Others may not be so fortunate - not able to draw from the skilled, experienced and good fortunes of the stronger ones, and come out of these times in a poorer shape. Distraught. Destroyed.

One thing is certain though. There is a "window of opportunity," this is a time of greater manifestation of God's presence with tangile signs and wonders ... from miracle healings to gold dust on hands. God beckons His people to return into a relationship with Him, and for those who do not know Him, to seek with all their heart, mind and soul in order that they encouter God, our Creator and Maker of the Heavens and the Earth.

All things extraordinary ...

We live in extraordinary times. While there's been generally bad news all around, there are few things that truly have been uplifting - witnessing the extraordinary and celebrating with extraordinary talents and people ... even laughing out loud is an extraordinary thing for such a time as this!

A star is born on Britain's Got Talent!
47 Year old Susan Boyle wows the judges with her performance in the auditions for Britains Got Talent, singing I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Here's a group of friends from North London presenting a FLAWLESS act. Extraordinary. Their motto is to "chase the dream, not the competition"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GrOMLylvhQ

Father and son team up to present a hilarious rendition of Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gHvATmUsSg

BRAVO Susan ... Flawless ... and Stavros!

And above all things, it's the knowledge of God and knowing that He has the whole world in His hands that gives me the peace and courage to dream big dreams and pursue them as He opens the doors.

I am privileged to be living for such a time as this. Thank you Lord!

Favorite quotes from the Cool One in Bangalore

We thoroughly enjoyed our strategy class. It was useful and full of lively discussions.
I especially loved the one liners that came from the front that got the whole classes laughing out loud.

Cash is King ... but STRATEGY IS GOD!


When the wind is strong enough, even A TURKEY CAN FLY!

The benefit of doubt

If I could only know the heartaches you have felt,
The longing for the things that never came,
I would not misconstrue your erring then,
Nor ever blame.

Daily Inspiration on 11 March from "A Selection from Wings of Silver" a product from Garborg's, The C.R. Gibson Company

Applying for a Job @ Hamilton Island

The video that never got uploaded due to the poor internet connections in Bangalore ... ok, it did make it through but the 2MB one that got rejected due to poor technical quality!

This was originally set to my favorite song - Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World but when I uploaded it onto YouTube, there were copyright notices that suggested a replacement of the audio track... but of course!

What you will not hear is my intro to the video:
Hi, I am Michele from Malaysia.
Here's why I will be the best caretaker at Hamilton Island ... (music) ...

Let me teach you how to dance

I must have seen this movie "Miss Potter" for the third time now and still continue to enjoy every single moment of it. My favorite being the little dance "Let me teach you how to dance" between Beatrix Potter (Renee Zellweger) and Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor).

Let me teach you how to dance,
Let me lead you to the floor,
Simply place your hand in mine,
And then think of nothing more.

Let the music cast its spell,
Give the atmosphere a chance,
Simply follow where I lead,
Let me teach you how to dance.



This movie reminds me of the inner strength of a woman that enables her to stand her ground and pursue her dreams no matter what society thinks. Endure heartbreak and ridicule from those closest to her (her mother), and in the end, still rise above difficult circumstances in life to succeed.

Here's a nice trailer of the movie ...

It's been a hard day's night ...

6:00 am Alarm goes off. Eyes closed. "Good morning Lord!"

6:30 am Eyes half closed. "Kurabarashandarabashikara ..."

7:00 am
God I pray that this day will go exactly as you have planned. ... (nodding, nodding, nodding) ... Help me see life through your eyes and do the things that matters most to you ... but yet, there are things that needs to be done to get by ... (nodding, nodding, nodding)

7:30 am
Reading Leviticus 25:1-7 ... Leviticus 26:27-35 ... Leviticus 26:40-45 ... I believe God is saying to his people to let the land/servants rest from producing and labor. This is a commandment of the Lord, to practice the Sabbath. Rest.

8:00 am
Reading "Alliances ... MNCs must, therefore, maintain important relationships ..." (YAWN) ... ... ... ... off to work!

12:30 pm
Lunching ... and reading "Alliances ... MNCs must, therefore, maintain important relationships and build new ones ...." Finished my kuey teow noodle soup. "Oh hi Mala! So glad you could rush over to hand me my stuff ..."

7:55 pm
In front of the TV ... and reading, once again, ... "Alliances ... MNCs must, therefore, maintain important relationships and build new ones in times of crisis."

9:00 pm
Halfway through American Idol and still trying to read "Alliances ... MNCs must, therefore, maintain important relationships and build new ones in times of crisis. This may require compromising short-term profitability to facilitate the survival of allies, ..."

10:00 pm
American Idol ends. I am so happy that the final two blue collar workers pitted against one another and the both of them got in! ... Reading ... "Alliances ... MNCs must, therefore, maintain important relationships and build new ones in times of crisis. This may require compromising short-term profitability to facilitate the survival of allies, through channeling sales or resources to key partners, providing greater or more generous credit or long-term loans, and investing in partners."

Golly, after reading those couple of sentences for fifth time throughout the course of the day, I finally realize that perhaps God is trying to tell me something ...

1. That "resting" in front of the TV was much needed ...

2. that in times of crises, certain relationships are key to our survival - God tops the list.

3. Don't be judgmental. Be open to new relationships that come our way - not necessary the most obvious, perhaps the "obviously nots" ...

4. Your decision to befriend the "impossibles" or "the less likely" may set you back a couple, a few, many steps and not make sense in the eye's of the world, ... But it's the right thing, in God's eyes and for the longer term.

Why?

Because we don't necessarily see ahead but God does.

Well, very few saw this global crisis coming. God did.

God causes certain ones to make seemingly odd decisions, and surely those would prove to be the right and wiser decisions in the end.

The proud are humbled.

The humble are called to rise up and seize the opportunities.

And yet the God-fearing shall say, "Lord, not my will, but yours be done!"

Golly ... It's been a hard day's night, and I have been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night, and I should be sleeping like a log ...
Lalalalalalala ... lalalalalala ... will make me feel alright.

Take 5 ...

This personal journey I embarked on nine months ago ...

oh wow, NINE months - the duration of a pregnancy!!!!

and the end is no where in sight ... no, actually it's way out in the distance.

I feel like this ...




The end must be near ... just like the climb up Mount Kinabalu four years ago.


In the end, it was all worth it!

I hope chipmunks don't practice copyrights ...

Occasionally, I like to revisit some of my blog posts and listen to the music I had included from youtube.

To de-stress. To dream of a new world ... and believe that each day is a special gift from God, and that I am to make the most of my day(s), living life through His eyes.

Today, I revisit my post titled "Meet Joe Black ... well, HELL-O!" to listen to my all-time favorite song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole.

Guess what?

For the second time now, I click on the video and this message pops up "This video is no longer available due to copyright claim by WMG."

Drats! I must say, while I understand that artists need to earn a living from the royalties they collect for each album sold, I don't quite get it when it comes to an artist who has already passed on. Well, it is likely his family still reaps the royalties from IZ's albums but I am sure they also have day jobs to help them earn a living ... so why restrict the dissemination of IZ's music through youtube? After all, the song can be a blessing to many and it would be such a waste to only restrict it to those who have his CD "Facing Future."

By the way, I did go to the extent of getting a friend to bring this CD all the way back from Hawaii. That's how much I love this song! IZ has such a special gift. His songs, this one in particular, is "out of this world." His voice and music evokes such good feelings and beautiful pictures in my mind. It calms me and takes me to the wonderful world that we all dream of.

Well, I have had to search for another source of IZ's song and did manage to find one, but it's different without the video of IZ.

During my search, I found another version of this song and hope this one sung by fictional, non-human characters, won't have copyright issues ... hahaha, I doubt it because some human created created Alvin and the Chipmunks on the silver screens.

Wikipedia tells me that Alvin and the Chipmunk's "voices ... were all performed by Bagdasarian, who sped up the playback to create higher pitched, comical, squeaky voices."

We shall see!

I BELIEVE... in magic - the good kind, of course!

"Make me a child ... so I can believe once again!" I cried.

God has a great way of answering prayers. Just last week, I was pondering what it was like to be a child again. Having the child-like faith to believe in the things that are larger than life, things that seem impossible to achieve with one's natural efforts. Having the courage to believe that there was more to life than this ...

While juggling homework, thinking about work and life over the Chinese New Year holidays, I must confess it wasn't all hard work ... really. I had many moments of vegging in front of the telly.

Tonight, I found myself mesmerized with Star Movies' after-dinner program "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium". It was exactly what I needed to see and hear ... and have the courage to believe once again.

The story is about Mr Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), a 243-year old eccentric toy inventor who built a magical toy store called "Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium," where magic makes everything come alive. Wonders never cease at his store and children spend all day playing and letting their imaginations run wild.

And when Mr Magorium decides that it was time to leave the world for good, he entrusts the store to his manager Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman). He employs an accountant Henry Weston (Jason Bateman) whom he calls "Mutant" to valuate the store and get the necessary paper work for the transfer of ownership.

Henry, the stuffy accountant, does not believe in magic. But of course!

Meanwhile, Molly is devastated with the news because she doesn't believe she can run the store. After all she was just a girl who aspired to be a pianist but ended up working in a toy store all these years.

The "magical" store, too, is upset that Mr. Magorium is leaving and throws a fit. The store deteriorates in appearance and the toys loose their sparkle.

Before departing, Mr Magorium encourages Molly, "Life is an occasion. Rise to it!"

Mr Magorium dies (as all good things eventually comes to an end), the magic leaves with him. Upon seeing the dull interiors of the store, Molly looses all hope and seeks to sell the store.

Nine-year-old Eric, a store helper and one who has befriended Henry the Mutant encourages Molly to keep the store and run it. "It's not so bad. It just needs a bit more magic!" he says.

The Mutant who has since experienced a bit of magic after seeing the "Congreve block" (a wooden cube) move and whizzed around the store finally believes. He, too, encourages Molly to keep the store. He believes she can run the store.

"You can make it to be anything you want it to be," Henry tells Molly.

Don't you see, you are like that block of wood (the Congreve block). "What you need to believe in is not ... the store, or me. What you need to believe in is you."

Suddenly, Molly sparkles. She believes and the sparkle that reflects the greater things in life comes forth. Magic fills the store once again and everything comes alive, and the next chapter begins.

As a reviewer aptly puts, "... the truth is, there's nothing wrong with following our hearts as long as we lend our brains and our souls to the proposition, too. God created in each one of us talent, passion and drive to do ... something.

"Throughout most of this story, Mahoney closes her ears to that calling. And the music doesn't soar until she opens them. She's not escaping responsibility or relationships. She's finally embracing them.

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast," Eric Liddell says in Chariots of Fire. "And when I run I feel His pleasure."

"We are God's creatures, and each of us carry a sparkle - something greater than ourselves trying to get out. And believing in yourself enough (being courageous enough) to make that happen, well, that's a great thing indeed."

And what of the next chapter that is about to unfold?

I will take Mr Magorium's advice.

I will turn the page. "Continue reading. And let the next story begin."

I will be like a child and believe ... that there is truly more to life than this!

Go catch the movie on Astro's Star Movies. Be like a child again. And believe!

Make me a child ...

After several long days in Bangkok with work life mirroring the hustle and bustle of traffic on Rama IV, I was all ready to go home.

Before packing up, I did the usual glance through of Facebook.

A friend commented that there was no grey hair in sight when viewing my profile pictures. Yes, I thought, just like the typical Asian, I must be blessed with a youthful look ... and that got me thinking while I was in the cab on the way to the airport.

I have been doing so much reading on different topics from newspapers articles, textbooks, the Bible to the book titled "Blink" ... I don't think I have ever read up on so many different topics all within a short span of time.

The end result: Everythings seems a blurr and nothing of great value has yet to pop up ... and all that grey on pages and pages of material is truly giving me a headache!

Oh, that I would be like a child once again, taking time to smell the roses, enjoy the ocean's fresh air and soaking in the healthy morning sun ... and perhaps, all that information and knowledge will slowly settle and form a clearer vision.

I was reminded of this song that we used to sing over and over again as we sought with passionate hearts to worship our God and Creator amidst humble surroundings.

Today, I sing it again with heartfelt thanks that somewhere out there, somehow, my Father in Heaven is just waiting around the corner to surprise me with good gifts and great adventures ... that keep me excited with live and living.

Intimacy Song by Jonathan Daniels

Make me a child in my faith
Make me a child in my love for you
Hold me now, in your arms
As I open my world to you
The secret place of my heart
This is my song of love ...

I need you more than the ocean needs the shore Father
I love you more than the sunshine you bring
I love to tell you just how wonderful you are, Jesus
I see your beauty everywhere I look ...

There is no song to sing it
There is no dance to dance it
The way that I feel
This is my song of love ...

And I am certain there's more lyrics to this but I was not able to find the song on the internet and so, if any of you have this, do send it my way so others can benefit from this beautiful song to a deserving God and Creator of the Universe.

... a key to finding that pearl of great price must be in having a child-like faith to pursue God and the things that occupies His heart.

Dancing with God

When things seem to move in slow motion, God is at work. He quickens the hearts of friends to share words of encouragement. This note in particular was meaningful to me ...

Author Unknown

When I meditated on the word "Guidance,"
I kept seeing the "dance" at the end of the word.
I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
And everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that,
And lets the other lead,
Both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
Or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness,
And attentiveness from one person
And gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word "Guidance."
When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "I".
"God, "u" and "I" dance."

God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
That I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
And mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.

Dance together with God, trusting God to lead
And guide you through each season of your life.
And I Hope You Dance !

Glimpses of 2009

2008 has come and gone so quickly, and I finished the year feeling more tired than ever.

While I would have liked to have just slept right through the Christmas and New Year's break, I ended up meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. They were all fine and good.

I enjoyed watching lots of telly, something I don't get to do much when work and study schedules intensify.

As I move into the new year, I find my plate already full of to-dos. Several projects that have already marked my 2009 calendar will get done in due time. However, I would like 2009 to be different.

I would really like to inculcate the godly balance of work and rest - a necessary skill for survival.

I would like to ...

Regularly STOP from the flurry of activities

& SMELL the ROSES!

Go CLIMBING in and out doors

Be an ECO DIVER and

Scuba dive again

And more than anything, I would like to be found in the Potter's hand, journeying into His heart and seeing his goodness and faithfulness in my life.




The Potter's Hand

Beautiful Lord, Wonderful savior
I know for sure all of my days are held in your hands
Crafted into your perfect plans

You gently called me into your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord to live all of my life
Through your eyes

I'm captured by your holy calling
Set me apart I know you're drawing me to yourself
lead me, Lord I pray

Oh Take me, mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the potter's hand

Oh Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the potter's hand



Through His eyes, it looks like the "world is my oyster" where the opportunities are vast, but also, it is the oyster, where I will venture in with sword in hand to battle for that pearl of great price!

This shall be my direction for 2009.

P.S. Many thanks to my friends who have continued to visit me in this space, to the anonymouses who say what needs to be said, and most important of all, may we all experience the grace of God in our lives in 2009 and live to tell of his goodness and mercy all the days of our lives.