Truly church

This is where we normally go for our Sunday worships in town but...

...last Sunday evening, we had a different experience of church from the normal Sunday evening services which are normally very good too. Instead of meeting at the church ground, we had church at the beach. We didn't have a sermon - actually, we didn't have a program. No one led songs, no one preached. We just sat around and appreciated the handiworks of God, the beach, the sunset, the beautiful day and the company of each other. We sat around, laughed, ate, talked and felt comfortable enough to share deep and meaningfuls with another brother or sister-in-Christ.

There's something about sharing our lives with each other that makes church truly meaningful. The church is afterall made up of people. That's precious. Hope you had a good weekend and a blessed week ahead. Till next time...

The Impossibility of Being Real

I decided to delete a few of my previous posts last night because hubs raised his concerns about this whole blogging thing. He said if I were to reveal too much about myself some people might take it all the wrong way like the case of the chinese whisper where things are misconstrued. So, I am now reassessing my blog and whether there is any point in continuing with it. Hubs is all for me to blog just so long as I stay away from airing our issues out like hanging our dirty laundry in the public, I guess. I suppose I'm more of an open-book person. Deep down I know he's right about the human nature but I like to think that we humans are better/smarter than that.

I suppose we live in a very small town where gossip is the favourite past-time and words get around like wildfire. Not that I should be ashamed of anything I had written previously, because everybody has issues, every couple has disagreements, arguments and frustrations. That's only normal (read: "Everyone Is Normal Until You Get To Know Them" by John Ortberg). But not everyone is mature and wise enough to see that. It's human nature to make assumptions, talk about other people and make our own comments and some are worse than others. So, we just have to becareful who we tell things to, my husband says. Well, I suppose he's right but I'm disappointed that the world we live in makes it hard for people to be real.

Anyway, that's all I have to write about for now. I'm still coming to terms with this impossibility. How can we be real to one another if we cannot trust each other to be real, and, if we cannot trust people not to turn around and use our authenticity to boost their own ego or for their entertainment and benefit?

Men and women can be so cruel. And I am angry that we live in a world where being real is such a near impossible task because we are so cruel to one another, yet there's a deep longing in each and everyone of us to be accepted for who we really are.

The First Law of Motion

I haven't forgotten everything about Physics. My mind often drifts back to the First Law of Motion when I keep thinking about how busy I get everyday. How each day just rolls into one another and the weeks and months just pass me by. How often when someone asks me "How are you?", I would invariably say, "Good, good... busy" because I either can't remember what I've done recently that was significant enough to talk about because I've just been going through the motion of it all without reflecting on what I've done and why I do them. This is where the connection is between my topic today and the first law of motion.

The First Law of Motion states that :
"Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it."

You know, I've learnt that busy-ness is a uniform state of life, like that in the first law of motion. And unless we do something to counter-act that (ie. apply an external force), it will remain in that state. Has the light bulb turned on yet? Ever since I learnt that I've looked at life in a different light. I didn't have to be propelled by the demands of others on me anymore if I stop and think about where I am, what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. I could prioritise rest & relax, holidays and time-off into my schedule and not feel guilty about it because I know it's a necessity, not a luxury. Unless I do that, busy-ness will always prevail and it will seep into every free time I have like air filling up any vacuum it can sniff out.

Recently I heard someone mentioned a survey that was done on a group of elderly people and the question was, "What would you have done differently if you had the chance to do it all over again?". The top three responses were: 1. Take more risks 2. xxxxx (can't remember!)3. Reflect. (Unfortunately he didn't give any references and I can't find the source of it now.)

So, take time off, put something off today that you can do tomorrow if it can wait - most things can wait if you're prepared to leave it! Ask yourself questions like, "What's the worst case scenario if this is not done today?". See the bigger picture - are you being ruled by urgencies in life that surmounts to nothing much in the bigger scheme of things. Have you been proscrastinating doing something because you've been too busy? If so, maybe it's time to do some reflection and apply some external force to change the direction of things. Maybe it's just doing nothing. Maybe it's lending a hand to someone that's been in your heart for a while. Perhaps maybe the picture below will inspire you for something else! Follow your heart!

Acknowledgement

The first photo above is from: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040131/nc5.jpg

Good Value People

Ever met good value people in your lifetime? Everyone is precious in God's eyes, I know, so everyone is valuable, but not everyone influences your life as much as some do.

I went for a walk and swim (yes, that's the pool in the picture) today with my friend, MM. She amazes me. If I hadn't known MM, I'm not sure if I would do half the things I do up here, or had lasted as long as I had up here. She's one of those people that makes me feel that I can take on things that I'd think impossible - yes, she empowers me as an individual and as a parent. She listens and reflects so well - so well it puts me, a trained counsellor, to shame.

MM is my answered prayer. She was there when I rang at the maternity ward here to find out the birthing facilities. MM went over and above her call of duty and filled me in on what to expect up here. She provided me with information about what I would need and not need and she assured me that I would be alright. There I was talking to a total stranger who could have been my angel but she was flesh and blood, and expecting her first baby around the same time I was. We both ended up having boys, 3 weeks apart.

Having left all my good friends behind in Sydney and Singapore, I now have to build new relationships. I often pray for at least one friend I could talk to at my level and about the kind of things I am interested in, someone whom I can hit it off with. MM does that and more. She challenges me to think beyond my comfort zone and inspires me to do things I'd never have been interested in.

Everyone needs a friend like MM who is walking the same path at one point or another of their journey in life. They are rare, like this red tailed (can't see the red in this pic) black cuckatoo we saw on our walk home from the pool, but thank God they are around.

So, this post is for all the MMs in my life that I've met over the years. You've influenced my life just by being yourself and without even trying hard.

Northern Exposure Downunder

A year and a half ago, my husband took up a contract position in a mining town in the Northern Territory (NT). We thought it would be an exciting to do as a couple while we are still young and our son (I was 32wks pregnant when we arrived in town) is still in his pre-school years to travel Australia. Afterall, life is to be lived and experienced in its abundance.

What we thought would be for only a couple of years would now most probably extend for a bit longer. Well, that's the current plan anyway. We can but plan and leave the rest to God. With all that's happening in this world, it's best we learn to be open and prepared for change at anytime. Sydney though will always be home. We know that. It's the prettiest city to live in and no amount of people and stress is going to put us off going back to the place we will most probably always call home - on this earth anyway. Well, whether that might change in time is something we will yet to find out.


Meanwhile, we're here in the NT and there's much to be gained and experienced. I experienced my first 4WD on the sand as we drove along the beach watching spear-fishing by an aboriginal wise man - well he looked wise - old, with white hair but looked as fit as a fiddle. If you haven't experienced 4WD in the Top End, you haven't seen the Top End at all. The past-time here is fishing & camping. Swimming isn't a good idea in the Top End because of the salt-water crocodiles so it's a real shame.





Besides the ruggard beauty of its landscape and seascape and the vast open space, this town does have more to show me, a city girl. Town is only 5 mins drive (20mins walk) away from everybody and so is everything else 5 mins drive away or less. There's only 2 supermarkets (one of them is the size of a largish 711 in Sydney), and a few shops. For the die-hard shoppers, withdrawal symptoms is sure to be expected but most people wouldn't come to this town if there wasn't a travel allowance in the remuneration package. The facilities are good enough though. For instance there are tennis courts, a 50m swimming pool, kids pool, squash courts, gym, library, toy library, playgroup, childcare centre, pre-school, 2 primary schools, 1 secondary school, a limited University and a hospital. The next nearest town is about 800kms from here so this is it unless you want to drive on dirt road for a day. The power is very unpredictable though - which can be a real pain. The weather is tropical, usually around 30-33 deg celcius with humidity ready to drench you within 2 mins of walking on the street.

I have learnt that adaptation does happen, although not to the extent of Darwin's theory of evolution, I must add. But adaptation, resilience and strength evolves with time. For instance, for a year an a half, I spent most of my time in the aircon, if I can help it and I drove everywhere even if it was 2 mins walk away. I was getting really paranoid about cellulites and diabetes from lack of exercise. Then one day, something within me just clicked over like a clock, and I started walking my son in his pram in the mornings to go do my grocery shopping and have not found the heat nor the humidity a hindrance. What a relief!

Well, there's lots more about the town I'd like to share but that will have to wait for another post. Suffice to say that I am finding the simple life a refreshing experience and no doubt an important journey in my life.