THE COLD WITHIN

This poem was written by James Patrick Kinney. It spoke a lot to me when I first heard it (Eric can by heart it) and when I read it again, it brings chills......

The Cold Within
Six humans trapped by happenstance
In dark and bitter cold
Each possessed a stick of wood--
Or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,
But the first one held hers back,
For, of the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.

The next one looked cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And could not bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third one sat in tattered clothes
He gave his coat a hitch,
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of wealth he had in store,
And keeping all that he had earned
From the lazy, shiftless poor.

The black man's face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For he saw in his stick of wood
A chance to spite the white.

And the last man of this forlorn group
Did nought except for gain,
Giving just to those who gave
Was how he played the game,

Their sticks held tight in death's stilled hands
Was proof enough of sin;
They did not die from cold without--
They died from cold within.

This poem reminds me of why I do what I do....people ask me, what so much money to spend me ah? well the money I have is from God, and He blessed me with it, but I believe He blessed me because He wans me to bless others. Let's not all die from the cold within

THE LONG WAIT POST

OH my goodness, I think my blog posts are all 2 per month.......hahaha sorry guys, am absolutely tied up with my work and also with other activities (or just plain lazy to update).....

Anyway some new updates about me:

Just finished 2 big events for the CF. 1 was the CF Concert last week. IT was a rocking concert. Although the hall was not filled to the rim but at least the audience this time stayed for the whole thing. That was more important than having 300 people coming. We had about 150 ish and well I believe God was in control and it was a fun nite. I got to do my last mime in USM (I think) with Jinny. It's freaking awesome cause thanks to Yew Kong I got to paint my face white. However, knowing that I sweat a lot the paint kinda smeared -_- . I'm waiting for the video to come out so I'll post pictures (as soon as Joshua Entol gives it to us). Just when I thought I could rest, remembered that there was a Final Year Retreat (FYR) that weekend and I was speaking for 2 sessions. Wah I really had little sleep and all but yet the retreat was great. We went back to MAxwell Hill for the retreat and believe me when I always say God is always speaking to me in the moutains. One of the things I really appreciate God was Derrick and Jinny. We were hikin up to our bungalow at Maxwell Hill and because of time, we had to rush up the hill. Now with my knee condition I knew that I would be able to make it up but don't rush me...I have to takemy time but becauswe of the rushing, my knee hurt like hell. Half way up I wantd to give up and ask them to leave me there. But Derrick keep pulling me up and keep cheering me. For that I trully love him (as a brother). Jinny on the other hand was my entertainer. haha We played mahjong till so late until we got fed up with mahjong. hahaha.... Jinny thanks for being there ya.................

I've finished my third chapter of my thesis and now starting on my first chapter (huh?). haha long story short, I've decided to do the easier chapters first before the harder chapters. But my boss is driving me crazy and keep delyaing me with my thesis. I hope to finish my 1st chapter soon......

Well all in all I'm still alive....but feeling down lately. Feeling very demotivated everyday. Keep having negative thoughts and feeling tension all the time. TO the extent I can't sleep at nite (sometimes)....pls pray for me :)

Cheers

FOR YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER

What a way to end a book.......if u're thinking wat book I'm referring to, it's the book by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner. The heart warming book about friendship, comradeship and forgiveness. It's really a good read and I couldn't put the book down until I finish all 25 chapters of it. Haha yes Aaron Chan has finally finished a book within a week. I've watched the movie before but I think the book is so much better (as in the case of many other books that have become movies).

The story revolves around Amir (the narrator). His whole life from a young boy in Afghanistan to an adult in the US. How he life had many significant people including his own father and of course the most important character of the story Hassan, his servant cum best friend cum ....haha spoiler so cannot tell so much. The backdrop of this story ranges from the good old years of Afghanistan to the terrible times of the Taliban.

The most important lesson that I've learnt of this story is about forgiveness. How bad things can happen to certain people and they still forgive those around him who didn't stood up for him. The other lesson I take to heart is to enjoy every moment and to love deeply the people around us.

Khaled Hosseini is a great writer and his next book is actually another best seller. Hope to get it (hint hint) haha......

FORGIVE AND FORGET

Hmm something to blog about after lunch. A few days ago, our faculty organised an anniversary dinner to celebrate 15 years of it's existence. Of course when there's a faculty event, we the post grad students sure get caught in a lot of drama. First we were forced to go for the dinner. Not only that we were asked to pay for our dinner and not only that, we were forced to do so much work. Well who else would do such things to us, of course our beloved D......haha I can't say too much, I might get sued.

Oh well, if you know who our D is to us, you have to remember our history with him. He's the most ungrateful and selfish guy I've ever met. Not only that, He's always right! and we cannot argue with him. On the dinner itself, there was a lucky draw. And lo and behold none of the students won anything. You will say, well aren't you unlucky? but then it's obvious that our tickets were taken out earlier and was not part of the lucky draw (statistically we should have at least 1 or 2 winners). Anyway I guess it was D's way of getting us back for making him mad about asking for a cheaper dinner. Of course we were pissed off, how not to? Of course my weekend was spoilt by him. We were cursing him and gossiping about him and just complaining about him. But you know what? It hit me last nite, that we are no better from him if we do those things. I think for me, he won by just hurting our feelings. I decided hey you know what, i liked the event. I got to help kids to understand what I'm studying. I got to meet some old seniors and catch up. I got a new t shirt to wear............you see it's not all that bad.

I was sharing this to my friends a few minutes ago. At first they think I'm crazy but after explaning to them, they somehow had a "Ah-Ha" in their head and we were talking about forgiving someone and forgetting it. Well in my humble opinion. I think forgiving someone is easy, forgetting what that person has done to you is another matter. You know after all these years, I still harbour a certain hatred to those people in church who made fun of me. But I'm suppose to forgive them..HOW? hahaha.....not easy lor....but I always make this verse remind me

Be ye KIND to one another, tender LOVING, FORGIVING one another, even as God in Christ has FORGIVEN you....Ephesians 4:32

Christ has forgiven me....and I'm even worst.......

Something to reflect on right?

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Hello everyone,

Haha feel so shameful, that my blog is not being updated. Sorry la, been away and travelling but I'm here again. hahaha

Was away to Singapore (yes again) for Christmas with Dear, we had a lovely time. We were staying this time with Ah Lia and she is a good hostess. We had lots of fun but the only thing was the walking. We walked and walked for hours everyday until my mum said I lost weight. The highlight of the trip was the trip to the Singapore Museum. Seriously, if there is anybody here who is part of the Malaysian Museum Committee please go visit the Singapore Museum. It's super super super nice and great. It's almost like a One Life Exhibition style type of setting but the way History was presented was great. The only thing that I didn't like there was the fact they somehow played the merger between Malaysia and Singapore (and thereafter the split) always Malaysia's fault. Problem is they think we Malaysians are dumb and stupid (not all think like tat la). But I think it's kinda sad that they paint a slightly bad picture about us.

Hmm, since new year is here, it's always time for me to reflect what 2008 was. 2008 was hmm I wouldn't say it was the best year. I think I've had more downs than ups. I named 2008 the year of learnings because of the hurt I went through, I've learned to be a better person from them. 2009 I'm proclaiming the YEAR OF EMPOWERMENT. This word EMPOWERMENT has been ringing in my heart for the whole month of December. I believe that God wants me to continue to grow but at the same time help others grow. This year would be another transition year. I'm finishing my course and movin onto the coporate world. A few things to look forward to this year: A few of my seniors getting married, me starting work (finishing my masters), 20 years of convention (anniversary woo hoo) and of course my 3 years with Dear :)

2009 cheers to you..........

A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE

Oh wow, December is here.......and going to end which means the year is about to end. I'm now in the office, feeling kinda emo and also feeling sickish....Hahaha all self inflicted actually. As you can see from my two previous post, I've been on camps recently and they were back to back.

Convention was great this year. One of the things I've learned this year, that it's worth it to be involved with my LaSallian family. I know as the years goes by, it's going to be harder to be involved but I pray that I'll be able to...Vinny and Prita if you are reading this, please remind me hahaha.....

After convention was my conference in G Hotel (organised by my school). I love G Hotel, the rooms are spacious, free internet, the atmosphere is great but the only thing I didn't like was the food. Thought the food was a bit bland and not much of a variety.

The last camp I went was my Committee Planning Retreat (CPR) in Camerons. Let me just say, I wouldn't want to go there during the holidays, cause it's super jam there. Haha my legs were all wobbly hahaha

Well more camps to come......

DID YOU KNOW

I'm a sucker for did you know facts.......I got an email yesterday on some interesting did you know facts so.....here's some

DID YOU KNOW....
....A pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes (talk about too much pleasure)

....Statiscally, more people are afraid of spiders than they fear of death (hmm I think that's so true, reminds me of a friend who is so afraid of spiders....he actually thinks all spiders are tarantulas)

....A cockroach can last 9 days without it's head. (See they are mean insects)

....A statue in a park with a soldier on a horse with it's 2 feet in the air means the soldier died in combat. 1 feet in the air, the soldier was wounded. All feet on the ground, the soldier died of natural cause (Hmm....)

....During the civil war, when troops return without any casualities, a writing was put up so all can see which read '0' Killed....or O.K. that's where it came from....which means all is good.

....In ancient England, people can't have sex without the permission of the King. When people were married and they want to have a child, they needed to ask for permission from the King and the King would give them a plague to hang on their door. The plague read "Fornication Under Consent of the King"...of F.U.C.K. (hmm this sounds a bit weird)

....Elephants are the only animals which can't jump :)