it's cliche, but it's still an incredible blessing

thank God for racial harmony in Singapore!

I know this sounds cliche, but I really mean it.

on my way to my friend's birthday party today, i saw three youths decked out in Japanese goth outfits. two of them are Malays, one is a Chinese. and for some reason, I was suddenly reminded of what I read in the news about racial conflicts in other countries and how it has led to terrible tragedies.

I cannot completely understand how those people in such countries feel, but I do know that I am very blessed to live in a country where people of different races can come together and share not just physical space (such as public bus or mrt) but also common interests sometimes (such as the Japanese goth fans).

when I arrived at my friend's birthday party, I thanked God again for this blessing that I take for granted most of the time. my friend is an Indian Muslim and I managed to meet her family members at her party, who are very warm and friendly.

at the party, Indians, Chinese and Malays hanged out and had fun together. and I remember thinking to myself that it is just an incredible blessing to be in such a situation.

life may not be perfect, but it certainly has blessings which are worth being thankful for.

: )

there is a time for everything

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal.
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8


I love these few verses from the Word of God. They really speak to me. Perhaps it's because I've gone through and am going through some issues in life now which force me to think deeply and clearly about what I should do.

When my grandfather passed away earlier this year, I was filled with grief, at how I never seem to give him as much thought when he was still alive as now, when he is no longer here.

Qr then encouraged me with these few verses. It was a time to weep and mourn, but the time to laugh and dance will come again.

But I don't just want to look forward to the time when I would smile again. I also want to embrace my pain and learn and grow from it.

From this particular incident, I learned how sudden and unpredictable life can be. I learned that pain can break you or strengthen you.

Similarly, now, as I have to make some important decisions, the pain can either blind me to take the easier way out or clear my vision to choose the right path.

I also learned, during this holidays, to be brutally honest with myself about where I want my life to go. That sure needs a lot of courage and a lot of faith to know that my needs would be taken care of if I choose to venture into unfamiliar territories.

Another verse I really like:

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are things I will do; I will not forsake them." - Isaiah 42: 16


For my friends who do not know God, may you also look at these verses, as I believe that you have your own issues and need encouragement to deal with them too.

Deo Gracias,