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(One Summer’s Day / Joe Hisaishi)

Every now and then I revisit gems like this.

“You don’t remember your name?”
“No, but for some reason, I remember yours.”

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I haven’t been quite myself ever since I returned to Singapore two days ago. For the past month, I woke up every day bursting with excitement because there was something new to be done. Now that the reverie is over, I find myself a little disoriented, dazed, confounded even, by this familiar version of reality that I’ve grown up with, and yet seems so foreign to me now.

I feel weak.

“Oh, it’s a Saturday. Means I have to attend church today!”

(Laoniang hasn’t stepped foot into church in the past four weeks.)

I will also be making a couple of transitions in just over two weeks: 1. Moving into the Adults ministry, and 2. Starting work. I am excited at the thought of both transitions, but that would also mean leaving behind the level of comfort I have become used to.

For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

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A sky full of stars, a head full of dreams, an adventure of a lifetime.

One of the highlights of Indo was being able to view the Milky Way from Seruni Point, a vantage point of Mt. Bromo. We camped there for two nights; as soon as the sun set, when the clouds cleared, the stars emerged. I wish I could have taken better photos (shame on me for not bringing along my prime lens!) but then again, photos, no matter how well taken they are, would not have done any justice to this breathtaking view I saw with my own eyes. How truly infinitesimal we are as compared to the universe.

(Fun fact: Apparently, two-thirds of the world population can’t see the Milky Way!)

When I was on the way home from the airport, I realised how nearly impossible it was to be able to stargaze here in Singapore. One option would be to visit the observatory at the Science Centre, but other than at that location, it’s unlikely we would be able to view anything in the sky other than the moon and occasionally, the planet Venus.

Which is why I decided to make a travel bucket list of places to stargaze! #thingstodowhenbored

Anyway, I’ll probably write about Indo again soooooonnn. Am too lazy to even sort out the photos…

 

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Best work of the day. I’m not the most detailed person when it comes to ~art~ so drawing geometric shapes was the easiest and the most convenient.

A friend shared with me a piece of news that surprised me. While the misunderstanding was resolved without much fuss (I think…; thank God), it still made me ponder if I have subconsciously become a person I had not intended to be. 

Hmm. Relationships are messy 😩

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In light of today’s sermon (“Better Together”), I would like to give a shout-out to a good friend who trusts me enough to share life’s joys and bitterness together 🙂 I’ve got your back, buddy 🙂

In other news, I’ve finally completed my Colossians classes! There are only four chapters in the epistle but it felt sooooo long. I haven’t been the best student (L O L) so I’m going to find some time this week to review all my notes.

Lastly, I guess I have unofficially graduated. Wee Hangout was in every way a true TGIF – good food, free-flow booze, great company. These four years have been the best :’) From entering University as a wide-eyed 18-year-old to leaving with massive eye bags no thanks to the all-nighters, it’s been four transformative years. I think WKW deserves a separate post complete with photos.

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I am on the verge of tears because of an ulcer on the SIDE of my TONGUE that has been causing a sharp pain each time I eat/swallow/talk. I ate a teaspoonful of Manuka honey (cos this stuff is supposed to be good for you) and dear Lord, I have never experienced such acute torture ever since my mum applied Bonjela on the ulcer at the tip of my tongue when I was in Primary 3. I guess this is what I get for sleeping at 4/5am the past week.

Also, I misplaced my trusty pair of EarPods today :< I replaced it with some $6 “rose gold” imitation hur hur. So far the sound quality is decent!

Lastly, I’m left with two presentations and one mid-term for this semester, then I’ll unofficially graduate! Yay!

………. Okay now where did I place my post-its…………….

 

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“We give because we have been given.”

Not because we want something in return, but because we have been given the grace of giving (2 Cor 8:7). This also reminds me of 1 John 4:19.

True joy lies not in reciprocity; it lies in knowing you can give freely in abundance. Your material wealth doesn’t matter, your status at work doesn’t matter, your age doesn’t matter… Everyone has something to give, to offer, to contribute.

(Those 7 words have struck me with some hard-hitting realisation I’m actually contemplating writing them nicely i.e. calligraphy, and framing up the finished product.)

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Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme

Been taking a walk down Disney’s memory lane since the latest rendition of Beauty and the Beast (Ariana Grande x John Legend) came out on Friday. As much as I like the duo’s version, I think… nothing beats the original :’)

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“What’s the purpose of being born into this world, suffering, responding to the suffering, but in the end nobody knows and nobody cares?”

“But you know, don’t you?”

“So what if I know? Doesn’t make any difference to anyone.”

“It’s made a difference to you right?

“Yes, but so what if it’s made a difference to me? Is that all there is to life? To suffer for so many years, to lead such a sad, lonely life, just to be witnessed by one or two people around you?

“Isn’t that true for most of us, unless you are the rich and famous? Don’t all our lives get witnessed by just one or two people around us? That’s life, and life is always flowing, moving forward, history is about moving forward, not just about the past.”

— The Sound of Sch, Danielle Lim (2014)

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I don’t usually write about religious stuff here, but today is a day I want to remember.

After feeling frustrated, lost and discouraged over the past month, I’m glad that today, I finally found a closure to another chapter of my life.

The past six months have been pretty amazing. I thank God for placing me in the company of loving and welcoming people. I will never forget their generosity.

Even as we part ways, the God whom we worship will be the same eternally, and we will always be building His kingdom together. 

I no longer wish comment on the spiritual teachings of the church I went to (past tense… yeah); they are entitled to their views, and so am I to mine. I don’t wish to discredit their faith just because of some disagreements we have. I am in no position to critique anyone’s faith; truly, only God knows our hearts. 

This entire episode has opened my eyes to many things: church leadership and management, the power of communication and new media, evangelism, doctrinal teachings, the concept of righteousness… I’m still struggling to understand all of these things, and I don’t think I will ever fully comprehend them. 

For now, rather than rushing to find another church, I want to take this break to rest and recharge in the word of God, and also to pray hard for Him to lead me in His plans. I honestly have no clue where I’ll end up at, but I know it will be good ◡̈ 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18