What is the most valuable thing you have? How do we define what is most important to us? What is the most precious commodity that we can ever own? It's not wealth, it's not health, it's time.
With time, we can bless the world. With time, we can change things for the better. Time heals all wounds. Time is what we need to do the things we want. Time flows throughout our lives. When we regret, we wish we could change time.
Psychologists have said before that it's actually the quantity of the time spent with kids rather than the quality. There is an old saying: "a family that eats together, stays together". The emphasis there isn't the eating, it's the time spent with the ones we love. How do we know when a guy and a girl is a couple? When they spend most of their time with one another. How do people judge what others value? It's by what things they spend the most time on.
Time is a very valuable thing. It is constantly flowing, always forward never backward. We can't buy time nor can we sell it. It's the one thing that's equal for everyone, whether you be the richest person on Earth or the poorest. It's also the one thing that we all seem to lack all the time.
But why do we lack enough time? Did God make it flow too fast? Surely not, for He is perfect. So, why then? Probably it's because we are all distracted.
We are distracted by the things around us. Adverts are always trying to grab our attention. TV shows are planned to keep people glued to the idiot box out of the curiousity of "what happens next". News tell of the worries of the world, keep us distractedly worried. The world throws so many things that we "should do" or is "interesting to try" that we are kept busy by the unimportant.
And of course, there's work. Sometimes, bosses make demands on our time. Sometimes, the job requires long hours. The worse one though, is us spending all our time at work!
Now, there's nothing wrong with working. And hey, if working is what you wanna do with your time, by all means do so! It's just that, many seem to work long hours but claim to want to do other things in their life! If you have other things that is a bigger priority, spend more time on those activities!
The most common excuse I know which people give as to why they don't do what they like/love/want is, "I don't have the time." I say, if you don't have the time, make time! Isn't the thing you love the most important thing? So why should you not be spending the most time doing it?
Most popular answer to that is: not enough money. I need to get cash to live. I believe that God has a purpose for each and everyone of us. He gives us a purpose, and He gives us a passion for that purpose. To know what you are meant to do in life, it's usually what you are most passionate about and what stirs you up the most. And God has promised that when we do as He says, He will in turn take care of us! So, the excuse of needing cash to live is no longer valid. We may not see how our passion will translate into money. The world may say it's not possible. But God says, "all things are possible with me". He has taken care of everything!
Therefore, what are you waiting for? Seek out your passion, spend time doing what's important, not what seems to be important. Learn the truth, claim the promises and the blessings set apart for your life. For at the end of the day, what greater life is there?
Wednesday 21 November 2007
Saturday 10 November 2007
Challenge the status quo
Let me first say this: I'm not anti-tradition. I'm also not anti-family. Nor do I hate peace. Heck, I also would love the whole world to get along! But the truth of the matter is, the world doesn't get along. People fight. Sometimes, we don't see eye to eye. There's no happily ever after. Perfection doesn't exist.
And the reason why the world is like that is: that's how it's design to be! Everyone has a warped idea of perfection. Everyone has a warped idea of peace. Everyone is so afraid of being anti anything because they have a warped idea of going against the grain!! People think the world would be perfect if we all got what we all wanted. They think peace means no more fighting. They are afraid of going against normality because they are scared they are the "bad guys".
There is a very nice quote which I believe is very profound. It's a line from the 1994 movie; "Street Fighter". As said by Dr. Dhalsim,
Hitler manage to expand much of his early empire due to the failure of the League of Nations to stop him. If Japan had not attack Pearl Harbour, the US may never have joined WW II and we may all be speaking Japanese now. But we don't have to go that far... everyday, we see people cut queues, break traffic law, lie, cheat and steal. Why do they continue to do that? It's not because they are brave enough to defy the system, it's because no one has step up to stop them! If we all started ticking off people who cut the queues, wouldn't they stop? They'll be embarrassed into following the rules!
But that's not what I wanna talk about. I wanna talk about rules set up that needs to be changed but no one does because no one dares. I'm all for rules. I believe they help keep us in line. I believe they help keep us safe. But sometimes, some rules need a change. As we learn more about the world and more about the humanity in it, we need to modify rules to signify new rules that makes the world a better place.
I believe that behind every rule, every tradition, every law, there must be a meaning. There is a reason behind the creation of such limitations. We outlawed stealing because it isn't nice to take other people's stuff without permission. Classes do not allow talking when the teacher is talking because it distracts everyone from the lesson at hand. Chinese weddings have a tea ceremony to pay homage to the groom's parents.
What I am saying is that sometimes, the meaning behind the rules have changed or are gone. Thus, the rules themselves need to change or be abolish. Chinese newlyweds used to pay homage to an altar but nowadays, Christian Chinese newlyweds don't do that because it's against their religion. Offices used to have a rule that the worker must wear proper attire but most companies now taken that away because they realize people are more productive in clothing they are comfortable in. Feudalism worked well until they discover corruption in the system that led to it's demise.
You see, there was nothing wrong with the Feudal system. It worked! The peasants maybe at the lower caste but they were taken care of by the knights. Everyone served the king who, in turn, took care of the people at the highest levels. The problem with the system was when they discovered that
That's the first part. The second part relates to peace and how it is a misnomer. We all want peace but what we don't realize is the sacrifice it takes to have peace. Peace can only be enjoyed when the group/community/country is in sync and in agreement. It doesn't mean that we all think the same way, far from it! It means we all agree on the same goals and are in sync in what we want to see happen in the group/community/country. In order for us to understand one another and have peace, sometimes we have to fight or argue with one another. It's not that we're trying to be disruptive, it's that they see one side of the argument while we see the other. By arguing, we slowly see each others point of view and how both point of view are actually towards the same goals.
People fight when they are unsatisfied with something. At times, we have to fight to do what is right. Most of the times, we fight because we both believe we are right and can't see how the other party can be right. Now, wouldn't making everyone see the same views make life so much easier? Yes, it will but then everyone would be a clone, not a human. The world will just move in one way and I can't think of a more boring world. We need differences of opinion. We need people who see things in polar opposites to others. That way, we can really enjoy each others company and help us grow as people.
You see, we were created perfectly by God. So seeing 1 view isn't a negative. Instead, it's a positive! It gives us the opportunity to socialize and to learn. It makes life interesting. We have a purpose in life.
What people don't seem to get is that to keep the peace, we end up sacrificing something. We choose to sacrifice our happiness and (possibly) other people's happiness just to make sure everything stays the same. If God wanted the world to stay exactly the same always, He wouldn't have make us want to change things nor would the earth's plates move. From time to time, we all need to change. We need to challenge the status quo.
The world is perfect as it is. Humans are perfect already. We just have to learn to see what perfection truly is and to fight against the traditions, the rules and the laws that sought to keep us from it. Just because something has always been done or going on, doesn't mean it's not wrong.
And the reason why the world is like that is: that's how it's design to be! Everyone has a warped idea of perfection. Everyone has a warped idea of peace. Everyone is so afraid of being anti anything because they have a warped idea of going against the grain!! People think the world would be perfect if we all got what we all wanted. They think peace means no more fighting. They are afraid of going against normality because they are scared they are the "bad guys".
There is a very nice quote which I believe is very profound. It's a line from the 1994 movie; "Street Fighter". As said by Dr. Dhalsim,
"If good men do nothing, that is evil enough."Notice, it doesn't take much to be evil, just don't stop it! Let those who are breaking the law continue to break the law! Don't help victims of crimes! Continue to let your friends do stuff you know is wrong!
Hitler manage to expand much of his early empire due to the failure of the League of Nations to stop him. If Japan had not attack Pearl Harbour, the US may never have joined WW II and we may all be speaking Japanese now. But we don't have to go that far... everyday, we see people cut queues, break traffic law, lie, cheat and steal. Why do they continue to do that? It's not because they are brave enough to defy the system, it's because no one has step up to stop them! If we all started ticking off people who cut the queues, wouldn't they stop? They'll be embarrassed into following the rules!
But that's not what I wanna talk about. I wanna talk about rules set up that needs to be changed but no one does because no one dares. I'm all for rules. I believe they help keep us in line. I believe they help keep us safe. But sometimes, some rules need a change. As we learn more about the world and more about the humanity in it, we need to modify rules to signify new rules that makes the world a better place.
I believe that behind every rule, every tradition, every law, there must be a meaning. There is a reason behind the creation of such limitations. We outlawed stealing because it isn't nice to take other people's stuff without permission. Classes do not allow talking when the teacher is talking because it distracts everyone from the lesson at hand. Chinese weddings have a tea ceremony to pay homage to the groom's parents.
What I am saying is that sometimes, the meaning behind the rules have changed or are gone. Thus, the rules themselves need to change or be abolish. Chinese newlyweds used to pay homage to an altar but nowadays, Christian Chinese newlyweds don't do that because it's against their religion. Offices used to have a rule that the worker must wear proper attire but most companies now taken that away because they realize people are more productive in clothing they are comfortable in. Feudalism worked well until they discover corruption in the system that led to it's demise.
You see, there was nothing wrong with the Feudal system. It worked! The peasants maybe at the lower caste but they were taken care of by the knights. Everyone served the king who, in turn, took care of the people at the highest levels. The problem with the system was when they discovered that
A) there's no difference between a king and a peasant. They are both humans.Hence, the democracy system was set up. It abolish the caste which was proven meaningless and a provided an accountability for the government. And so, the rules of governance has changed.
B) the upper caste proved to be corruptible therefore, they need to be held accountable.
That's the first part. The second part relates to peace and how it is a misnomer. We all want peace but what we don't realize is the sacrifice it takes to have peace. Peace can only be enjoyed when the group/community/country is in sync and in agreement. It doesn't mean that we all think the same way, far from it! It means we all agree on the same goals and are in sync in what we want to see happen in the group/community/country. In order for us to understand one another and have peace, sometimes we have to fight or argue with one another. It's not that we're trying to be disruptive, it's that they see one side of the argument while we see the other. By arguing, we slowly see each others point of view and how both point of view are actually towards the same goals.
People fight when they are unsatisfied with something. At times, we have to fight to do what is right. Most of the times, we fight because we both believe we are right and can't see how the other party can be right. Now, wouldn't making everyone see the same views make life so much easier? Yes, it will but then everyone would be a clone, not a human. The world will just move in one way and I can't think of a more boring world. We need differences of opinion. We need people who see things in polar opposites to others. That way, we can really enjoy each others company and help us grow as people.
You see, we were created perfectly by God. So seeing 1 view isn't a negative. Instead, it's a positive! It gives us the opportunity to socialize and to learn. It makes life interesting. We have a purpose in life.
What people don't seem to get is that to keep the peace, we end up sacrificing something. We choose to sacrifice our happiness and (possibly) other people's happiness just to make sure everything stays the same. If God wanted the world to stay exactly the same always, He wouldn't have make us want to change things nor would the earth's plates move. From time to time, we all need to change. We need to challenge the status quo.
The world is perfect as it is. Humans are perfect already. We just have to learn to see what perfection truly is and to fight against the traditions, the rules and the laws that sought to keep us from it. Just because something has always been done or going on, doesn't mean it's not wrong.
Wednesday 15 August 2007
Give before you can receive
It's funny how life works: you have to give, before you can expect to receive.
The river Jordan flows through 2 seas; the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Both receive the same water but one is a thriving lake with plenty of life and the other, is dead as it's name reveals. The difference? The Sea of Galilee doesn't keep the River Jordan; it allows it to flow through and onto the Dead Sea. Whereas the Dead Sea has no outlet. So all the water will just sit in the sea till it evaporates.
I like this story because it reflect uncannily on life itself. We all know life is not constant but the reason why life isn't constant is because everything that has life, that is thriving will give! Springs give water to the rivers and rivers flow to the sea. Seawater is given to the sky who then returns it to the springs via rain. Carnivores may eat other animals but when they die, they will rot and become the nutrition-packed earth that plants need. The herbivore in turn eat these plants. Other than cycles, plants give out pollen so bees will come and pollinate them. Spiders must produce thread before they can catch flies. Seeds push out roots before they can grow tall.
Even in the marketplace, this give and take policy is so true. Companies that are most desirable are the ones who are most active (i.e. stock bought and sold a lot). Not the biggest gainers. An exciting game of football is when there's a lot of goals involve (i.e. lots of giving in). Cars move when you 'give' the accelerator a push. Airplanes create lift by making the air above the wing 'give' way to the greater pressure from below. To get into a packed train, someone has to give way and leave the train first.
Even many self help books teach this: you have to give in order to receive. You have to give praise to receive praise. Give a smile and people smile back at you. You respect others, they in turn respect you. When you lift people up, they will in turn lift you up. How we react to others shows how others will react to us in turn.
It's really weird how everyone is always so interested in take, take, take when the world clearly shows that the way forward is to give, give, give. Asking commuters to allow those getting off the train/bus to go first is the logical idea, not only because it's good manners. Being nice to others and helping them in every way isn't just about doing good; it's also about gaining. So for all those who don't follow these ideas, they're not only rude, they're dumb as well!
And definitely, it is more blessed to give, than to receive. - Acts 20:35
The river Jordan flows through 2 seas; the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Both receive the same water but one is a thriving lake with plenty of life and the other, is dead as it's name reveals. The difference? The Sea of Galilee doesn't keep the River Jordan; it allows it to flow through and onto the Dead Sea. Whereas the Dead Sea has no outlet. So all the water will just sit in the sea till it evaporates.
I like this story because it reflect uncannily on life itself. We all know life is not constant but the reason why life isn't constant is because everything that has life, that is thriving will give! Springs give water to the rivers and rivers flow to the sea. Seawater is given to the sky who then returns it to the springs via rain. Carnivores may eat other animals but when they die, they will rot and become the nutrition-packed earth that plants need. The herbivore in turn eat these plants. Other than cycles, plants give out pollen so bees will come and pollinate them. Spiders must produce thread before they can catch flies. Seeds push out roots before they can grow tall.
Even in the marketplace, this give and take policy is so true. Companies that are most desirable are the ones who are most active (i.e. stock bought and sold a lot). Not the biggest gainers. An exciting game of football is when there's a lot of goals involve (i.e. lots of giving in). Cars move when you 'give' the accelerator a push. Airplanes create lift by making the air above the wing 'give' way to the greater pressure from below. To get into a packed train, someone has to give way and leave the train first.
Even many self help books teach this: you have to give in order to receive. You have to give praise to receive praise. Give a smile and people smile back at you. You respect others, they in turn respect you. When you lift people up, they will in turn lift you up. How we react to others shows how others will react to us in turn.
It's really weird how everyone is always so interested in take, take, take when the world clearly shows that the way forward is to give, give, give. Asking commuters to allow those getting off the train/bus to go first is the logical idea, not only because it's good manners. Being nice to others and helping them in every way isn't just about doing good; it's also about gaining. So for all those who don't follow these ideas, they're not only rude, they're dumb as well!
And definitely, it is more blessed to give, than to receive. - Acts 20:35
Monday 13 August 2007
Knowledge is Power
Calling this the Information Age is really apt. Though technology continues to revolutionize our world and as much as industry is still vital, the world today belongs to those who have wisdom and information at their fingertips.
Knowledge has always been the key towards enhancing life. Armed with the knowledge that lightning is a big electric spark in the sky, lightning conductors were created to efficiently negate it's harmful effects on buildings. Understanding of the human body allows doctors to recognize obscure symptoms and nip harmful diseases in the bud. As we learn more about life, we know better how to live a more productive life.
Information also makes life easier. As we learn more about the raw materials around us and their properties, we use that knowledge to build cheaper, more durable and more user-friendly products. In fact, the more manufacturers know about how users use their products, the better they can design their products to match user usage. Such innovation include but are not limited to the QWERTY layout on keyboards and typewriters, car seat contours, lift button positioning for disabled people and many more. After all, we all enjoy products that work with little or no effort on our part.
Having more knowledge also is a HUGE advantage. Here's a good example which I observed: a tourist coming to town will have to depend on someone to show him around; giving the them the advantage of showing the tourist their chosen places. A tourist who repeatedly visits town will know better and can find his way around better. However, a local will know much more, shortcuts to get to places and better routes other than the main one . In addition to that, a really seasoned local will know even more, such as obscure good spots for eatery and/or recreation instead of just the popular ones. As one can see, each knows more about one place; thus giving them the advantage of flexibility.
In business, knowledge is truly power. Knowing about the latest deals in the market allows businesses to profit from it. Knowing about the latest deals earlier than everyone else allows businesses to profit first before anyone else does. A businessman who knows more about a certain business will be better place to make sound judgment on company movement. In short, the more you know, the better your business will be.
In today's times, knowledge is a bigger factor in success than ever. With the advent of the internet, the world is truly connected to one another. What one creates in his home can be available to another halfway across the world in an instant. Information is being transmitted and shared at an incredible rate. People can meet and collaborate with each other anytime, anywhere. This makes those who search for knowledge the true masters of the age.
In short, knowledge is the key to the power in today's world. Without it, business can boom, innovation cannot happen. Information is the means towards success in everything that we do. With it, we have the power to change the world.
Knowledge has always been the key towards enhancing life. Armed with the knowledge that lightning is a big electric spark in the sky, lightning conductors were created to efficiently negate it's harmful effects on buildings. Understanding of the human body allows doctors to recognize obscure symptoms and nip harmful diseases in the bud. As we learn more about life, we know better how to live a more productive life.
Information also makes life easier. As we learn more about the raw materials around us and their properties, we use that knowledge to build cheaper, more durable and more user-friendly products. In fact, the more manufacturers know about how users use their products, the better they can design their products to match user usage. Such innovation include but are not limited to the QWERTY layout on keyboards and typewriters, car seat contours, lift button positioning for disabled people and many more. After all, we all enjoy products that work with little or no effort on our part.
Having more knowledge also is a HUGE advantage. Here's a good example which I observed: a tourist coming to town will have to depend on someone to show him around; giving the them the advantage of showing the tourist their chosen places. A tourist who repeatedly visits town will know better and can find his way around better. However, a local will know much more, shortcuts to get to places and better routes other than the main one . In addition to that, a really seasoned local will know even more, such as obscure good spots for eatery and/or recreation instead of just the popular ones. As one can see, each knows more about one place; thus giving them the advantage of flexibility.
In business, knowledge is truly power. Knowing about the latest deals in the market allows businesses to profit from it. Knowing about the latest deals earlier than everyone else allows businesses to profit first before anyone else does. A businessman who knows more about a certain business will be better place to make sound judgment on company movement. In short, the more you know, the better your business will be.
In today's times, knowledge is a bigger factor in success than ever. With the advent of the internet, the world is truly connected to one another. What one creates in his home can be available to another halfway across the world in an instant. Information is being transmitted and shared at an incredible rate. People can meet and collaborate with each other anytime, anywhere. This makes those who search for knowledge the true masters of the age.
In short, knowledge is the key to the power in today's world. Without it, business can boom, innovation cannot happen. Information is the means towards success in everything that we do. With it, we have the power to change the world.
Friday 27 July 2007
Post block
For nearly a month now, I've kept drafting and redrafting the same posts in my head. Unfortunately, I keep forgetting them the moment I reach home. Gotta really start writing them down. Oh well... bear with me folks! Hopefully it all comes to me this weekend!
Tuesday 26 June 2007
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Today was such an awesome day! And it all started with a prayer to God to help me decide on what to do today.
I woke up and realize that the IBM seminar was today and my boss didn't know about it yet. So I prayed to God about which step should I take; go to work or go to the seminar. Just after I prayed, my dad came in and suggested I call my boss who immediately said to go for the seminar.
What a great decision it turned out to be! For this seminar, IBM had organized a 'contest' where the grand (and only) prize was a PlayStation 3. Those techies out there are drooling... To win the PS3, I had attended an earlier seminar, filled up a case study, entered a slogan between 20 to 40 words regarding power and attended today's seminar. The total number of people who did all that was about 10 only.
And yet, I won it!!! Wow... considering this is the first time I've ever written a slogan for a contest, I even more amazed by it.
That alone would make this day great but it gets better. A colleague of mine was involved in a motorcycle accident and was in University Malaya Medical Center (aka University Hospital). I wanted to visit him but couldn't get the chance (didn't wanna go alone) and it looked like my colleague weren't really planning a trip together. Through a series of timing and conversation, I managed to visit him today! It was good that I manage to accomplish so much (in addition to my regular work of course).
Not only that, I still had time to make it for Prayer Service and meet new friends while strengthening old friendships. I've never had a day when I manage to accomplish so much that I had not plan in advance. Truly, this is a day only God could have made possible.
I woke up and realize that the IBM seminar was today and my boss didn't know about it yet. So I prayed to God about which step should I take; go to work or go to the seminar. Just after I prayed, my dad came in and suggested I call my boss who immediately said to go for the seminar.
What a great decision it turned out to be! For this seminar, IBM had organized a 'contest' where the grand (and only) prize was a PlayStation 3. Those techies out there are drooling... To win the PS3, I had attended an earlier seminar, filled up a case study, entered a slogan between 20 to 40 words regarding power and attended today's seminar. The total number of people who did all that was about 10 only.
And yet, I won it!!! Wow... considering this is the first time I've ever written a slogan for a contest, I even more amazed by it.
That alone would make this day great but it gets better. A colleague of mine was involved in a motorcycle accident and was in University Malaya Medical Center (aka University Hospital). I wanted to visit him but couldn't get the chance (didn't wanna go alone) and it looked like my colleague weren't really planning a trip together. Through a series of timing and conversation, I managed to visit him today! It was good that I manage to accomplish so much (in addition to my regular work of course).
Not only that, I still had time to make it for Prayer Service and meet new friends while strengthening old friendships. I've never had a day when I manage to accomplish so much that I had not plan in advance. Truly, this is a day only God could have made possible.
Friday 22 June 2007
I don't judge
How can I? As I've said over and over again, there's always 2 sides to a story; both of which can be right. I used to be angry at others who (in my eyes) did me wrong but since then, I really learn that forgiveness is better.
Anyway, how can I judge others? Just because some people are rushing or pushing their way doesn't mean they don't have a good reason to. I always wondered why people rush about in the LRT stations. I mean, some of them are just so worried about missing the train, they want to rush in the moment the doors open! And of course, there are those who push their way to the front of the door to go out as well as the majority who walk fast/run when out of the train; wanting to be the first out of the station.
Like I said before, I don't understand why people like to rush about. Enjoy life man... However, I myself have had to rush sometimes for various reasons and I also push myself to the front of the train doors once. Imagine my embarrassment when I realise that the people behind me are also getting off! That's when I decided never to push in front again. I start pushing only when the doors open. =P Seriously though, I can't get properly angry at all these people rushing about anymore because I'm come to realize that some of them are new to the LRT system so they are genuinely worried they don't have the time to get on or off. And of course, some commuters are naturally fast walkers so can't really blame them (I'm a pretty fast walker too most of the time. Mostly coz I like to walk fast). And there are those are a little late so they have to rush. While I think most of the time, with proper planning, we don't have to rush; there's still those few times when emergency strikes. And with so many people on the LRT and so many reasons, how can I genuinely pick out the few who are simple impatient? It's like picking a needle out of a haystack.
The same applies to traffic jams. I'm sure we have all been angry and swore at those inconsiderate drivers who cut lanes and/or cut queue. Of course we have a right to be angry at them but let's understand the scenario as it is from their point of view. There will always be drivers who genuinely don't know the road so have to cut in at the last minute and hence, cut queue. And of course you have drivers who were driving on the fast lane but now have to go to the slow lane for their turnoff. Can we really be angry at them?
Another thing I have learn: I still can't judge others even if I have never done it before. I can't condemn a thief simply because he stole. Yes, stealing is bad and there's hardly a good reason to steal but sometimes, we have to look at the motive and the intention. For example, if he stole to feed his family. I agree that he should be punish but let's not be quick to condemn him to being a thief and that he's always a thief. That's why I hate the saying "Once a ____, always a ____" where the "___" represents any label we put on others. When people get desperate enough to resort to law breaking, we must first understand their situation. Then and only then can we properly judge them.
That's probably why the penalty for murder and the penalty for manslaughter is so different. While both are crimes worthy of punishment (and the guilty are punished severely for it), the punishment is heavier for the premeditated one. That's because though wrongdoings should be punished, our intentions is doing the crime is also a big factor. Can we really condemn someone who did wrong sincerely believing he was right? Course, we do call these people deluded sometimes but that's not the point.
In short, there's a hundred and one reason why people do what they do. Not all the reasons are right, nor does the right reasons make the actions right. However, it does mean that we can't simply judge them and say they are bad people because of it. And how are we to say what is justifiable and what is not? Humanity has not reach a point where every action is in black and white. If anything, the rules by which we judge others are becoming grayer.
In retrospect of this, I decided that God's ways are better. I will forgive them if they intentionally or unintentionally anger/hurt me. Forgiveness gives me peace of mind and freedom of spirit. God, in all His power and greatness, knows whether they deserve to be punish or not and He will act accordingly. There's no need for me to take revenge. It doesn't help anyone. Certainly not me.
Anyway, how can I judge others? Just because some people are rushing or pushing their way doesn't mean they don't have a good reason to. I always wondered why people rush about in the LRT stations. I mean, some of them are just so worried about missing the train, they want to rush in the moment the doors open! And of course, there are those who push their way to the front of the door to go out as well as the majority who walk fast/run when out of the train; wanting to be the first out of the station.
Like I said before, I don't understand why people like to rush about. Enjoy life man... However, I myself have had to rush sometimes for various reasons and I also push myself to the front of the train doors once. Imagine my embarrassment when I realise that the people behind me are also getting off! That's when I decided never to push in front again. I start pushing only when the doors open. =P Seriously though, I can't get properly angry at all these people rushing about anymore because I'm come to realize that some of them are new to the LRT system so they are genuinely worried they don't have the time to get on or off. And of course, some commuters are naturally fast walkers so can't really blame them (I'm a pretty fast walker too most of the time. Mostly coz I like to walk fast). And there are those are a little late so they have to rush. While I think most of the time, with proper planning, we don't have to rush; there's still those few times when emergency strikes. And with so many people on the LRT and so many reasons, how can I genuinely pick out the few who are simple impatient? It's like picking a needle out of a haystack.
The same applies to traffic jams. I'm sure we have all been angry and swore at those inconsiderate drivers who cut lanes and/or cut queue. Of course we have a right to be angry at them but let's understand the scenario as it is from their point of view. There will always be drivers who genuinely don't know the road so have to cut in at the last minute and hence, cut queue. And of course you have drivers who were driving on the fast lane but now have to go to the slow lane for their turnoff. Can we really be angry at them?
Another thing I have learn: I still can't judge others even if I have never done it before. I can't condemn a thief simply because he stole. Yes, stealing is bad and there's hardly a good reason to steal but sometimes, we have to look at the motive and the intention. For example, if he stole to feed his family. I agree that he should be punish but let's not be quick to condemn him to being a thief and that he's always a thief. That's why I hate the saying "Once a ____, always a ____" where the "___" represents any label we put on others. When people get desperate enough to resort to law breaking, we must first understand their situation. Then and only then can we properly judge them.
That's probably why the penalty for murder and the penalty for manslaughter is so different. While both are crimes worthy of punishment (and the guilty are punished severely for it), the punishment is heavier for the premeditated one. That's because though wrongdoings should be punished, our intentions is doing the crime is also a big factor. Can we really condemn someone who did wrong sincerely believing he was right? Course, we do call these people deluded sometimes but that's not the point.
In short, there's a hundred and one reason why people do what they do. Not all the reasons are right, nor does the right reasons make the actions right. However, it does mean that we can't simply judge them and say they are bad people because of it. And how are we to say what is justifiable and what is not? Humanity has not reach a point where every action is in black and white. If anything, the rules by which we judge others are becoming grayer.
In retrospect of this, I decided that God's ways are better. I will forgive them if they intentionally or unintentionally anger/hurt me. Forgiveness gives me peace of mind and freedom of spirit. God, in all His power and greatness, knows whether they deserve to be punish or not and He will act accordingly. There's no need for me to take revenge. It doesn't help anyone. Certainly not me.
Thursday 21 June 2007
He give me strength when I am weak.
How great is God! Last week (due to my own issues), I have not been getting enough sleep and as a result; had a very tiring sort of week.
Firstly, I was quite tired out on Tuesday night. I had considered not going for the Prayer Service that night but boy, am I glad I decided to make it! During the actual event, God gave me the strength to not only worship Him and enjoy the night, He also gave me strength to participate fully in all the activities plus enough to get me home safely! He truly is great.
Reflecting upon this, I have to say that whenever I truly feel weary or tired, He will always give me the strength to carry on. Every time I go to church tired, I surely come out of it revived and having felt the presence of God. How truly great is He.
Furthermore, I received good advice that Tuesday night on how to overcome my tiredness plus helping me come closer to Him once again. Once again, I bow down at His mercy for us who reject Him time and time again. God, You truly love me and desire to know me. And I truly desire to know You more and to follow in Yours ways all of my life.
Firstly, I was quite tired out on Tuesday night. I had considered not going for the Prayer Service that night but boy, am I glad I decided to make it! During the actual event, God gave me the strength to not only worship Him and enjoy the night, He also gave me strength to participate fully in all the activities plus enough to get me home safely! He truly is great.
Reflecting upon this, I have to say that whenever I truly feel weary or tired, He will always give me the strength to carry on. Every time I go to church tired, I surely come out of it revived and having felt the presence of God. How truly great is He.
Furthermore, I received good advice that Tuesday night on how to overcome my tiredness plus helping me come closer to Him once again. Once again, I bow down at His mercy for us who reject Him time and time again. God, You truly love me and desire to know me. And I truly desire to know You more and to follow in Yours ways all of my life.
Wednesday 28 March 2007
Restart
Along with me starting work on Monday again, I've relayout my blog as well. Blogger has new templates so I thought I'd play with it and recreate everything again. So, you'll see a new template (too bad it's smaller though), and a new arrangement of all my details. In fact, the quote at the bottom has also change.
Monday 26 March 2007
I'm smart but I'm also stupid
According to psychologist Howard Gardner, there is 7 distinct types of intelligence. They are linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, musical, interpersonal and intrapersonal. To find out more about them, do check out some of this sites:
Professor Lamp
http://members.aol.com/adon/intell.htm
Everything2
I have receive many compliments in the past about how smart I am. To be honest, I have to say I am able to understand things easily and pick up knowledge quite well. The thing is, my intelligence is only in the logical-mathematical region with perhaps a touch of spatial and linguistic. The problem with schools (and the reason why I hate the education system) is that it only rewards 2 types of intelligence; logical-mathematical and linguistic.
Having said that, I'll admit that I can be considered stupid in the other intelligence areas. In fact, I envy those who are good in those parts. It frustrates me that those who are brilliant in other areas are considered as stupid, dumb or useless simply because the education system has fail to recognize their geniuses.
I admire those who are skilled at linguistic. Those who can speak multiple languages or those who create a story that's so engaging, it thrills me to the bone. I especially exclaim awe at those witty comedians. It is truly a gift and a special talent to be able to use mere words to create fantasies and grand adventures. I marvel at the people who can reach out to different people from different languages or those who bring joy and laughter everywhere they go. I considered comedians to be truly geniuses.
I marvel at dancers, at builders and constructors. I won't pretend to understand art nor to be able to discern what dancers are trying to say but I still admire at the grace at which they move across the stage. To be able to move about with both power and fluidity is mesmerizing. I gaze in wonder at the beautiful artwork I see around me. Even a simple handmade decorated ruler gets my wonderment. I guess it's because I can't build anything with my hands (my low grades in Kemahiran Hidup speak for themselves). The perfectionist in me demands pin-point accuracy so I end up overdoing the creation or by dampening it, forces me to accept haphazard work. That's why those who can shape and create art using their hands and bodies really should be recognized for the greatness they have.
As with most people, I like music. Unlike quite a number of people, I can't create music. I tried, and I failed. It's not in me. I can't write a simple jingle to save my life, let alone a complete song. I admire Bach, Beethoven, Linkin Park and all musical artist not because I like their music (some I just hate through and through), but because they can create music. It's a wonderful gift and one I often wished I had.
But the one intelligence that I really admire and sometimes, become envious about is interpersonal. I look up at the people who can easily talk to others, even strangers. To be able to get along with mostly anyone, to connect with others on a very personal basis and to be able to 'link' with people. Me, I find it hard just talking to the friends I have, let alone going out and make new friends. I'll admit I can feel a little jealous of those who can engage and hold conversations so easily and can make friends very well. It's a shame that their gifts are only recognized abstractly.
In a nutshell, you can say that I admire those who are creative and/or gifted in the arts side. I'm truly blessed that my intelligence is recognized by the schooling system, so I don't have the inferior mindset that I'm stupid. But I feel for those who were told that they were dumb simply because their skills do not match what the school is grading. To be able to paint the next Mona Lisa, to build the David, it's really a great shame that these intelligences are not recognize except through private institutions. I have always believe that the scores on a test has never reflected a person's true worth and it frustrates me that I can't change the world to make it recognize every human being for what they truly are in God's eyes: a person with a unique gift, an intelligence that will allow them to contribute to society in ways we could never imagine. I hope one day, people will not feel stupid, simple because a piece of paper says they are.
You really are smarter than you think you are. You just have to believe it.
Professor Lamp
http://members.aol.com/adon/intell.htm
Everything2
I have receive many compliments in the past about how smart I am. To be honest, I have to say I am able to understand things easily and pick up knowledge quite well. The thing is, my intelligence is only in the logical-mathematical region with perhaps a touch of spatial and linguistic. The problem with schools (and the reason why I hate the education system) is that it only rewards 2 types of intelligence; logical-mathematical and linguistic.
Having said that, I'll admit that I can be considered stupid in the other intelligence areas. In fact, I envy those who are good in those parts. It frustrates me that those who are brilliant in other areas are considered as stupid, dumb or useless simply because the education system has fail to recognize their geniuses.
I admire those who are skilled at linguistic. Those who can speak multiple languages or those who create a story that's so engaging, it thrills me to the bone. I especially exclaim awe at those witty comedians. It is truly a gift and a special talent to be able to use mere words to create fantasies and grand adventures. I marvel at the people who can reach out to different people from different languages or those who bring joy and laughter everywhere they go. I considered comedians to be truly geniuses.
I marvel at dancers, at builders and constructors. I won't pretend to understand art nor to be able to discern what dancers are trying to say but I still admire at the grace at which they move across the stage. To be able to move about with both power and fluidity is mesmerizing. I gaze in wonder at the beautiful artwork I see around me. Even a simple handmade decorated ruler gets my wonderment. I guess it's because I can't build anything with my hands (my low grades in Kemahiran Hidup speak for themselves). The perfectionist in me demands pin-point accuracy so I end up overdoing the creation or by dampening it, forces me to accept haphazard work. That's why those who can shape and create art using their hands and bodies really should be recognized for the greatness they have.
As with most people, I like music. Unlike quite a number of people, I can't create music. I tried, and I failed. It's not in me. I can't write a simple jingle to save my life, let alone a complete song. I admire Bach, Beethoven, Linkin Park and all musical artist not because I like their music (some I just hate through and through), but because they can create music. It's a wonderful gift and one I often wished I had.
But the one intelligence that I really admire and sometimes, become envious about is interpersonal. I look up at the people who can easily talk to others, even strangers. To be able to get along with mostly anyone, to connect with others on a very personal basis and to be able to 'link' with people. Me, I find it hard just talking to the friends I have, let alone going out and make new friends. I'll admit I can feel a little jealous of those who can engage and hold conversations so easily and can make friends very well. It's a shame that their gifts are only recognized abstractly.
In a nutshell, you can say that I admire those who are creative and/or gifted in the arts side. I'm truly blessed that my intelligence is recognized by the schooling system, so I don't have the inferior mindset that I'm stupid. But I feel for those who were told that they were dumb simply because their skills do not match what the school is grading. To be able to paint the next Mona Lisa, to build the David, it's really a great shame that these intelligences are not recognize except through private institutions. I have always believe that the scores on a test has never reflected a person's true worth and it frustrates me that I can't change the world to make it recognize every human being for what they truly are in God's eyes: a person with a unique gift, an intelligence that will allow them to contribute to society in ways we could never imagine. I hope one day, people will not feel stupid, simple because a piece of paper says they are.
You really are smarter than you think you are. You just have to believe it.
Wednesday 21 March 2007
Latest update
Ok, I know I've been procrastinating like mad (over my own blog no less!) but I'm just happy that things are moving along already...
I have serviced my car and in the process of catching up with everyone I know. I'm about to get a job so that's good too... am becoming more regular in church and best of all, not procrastinating as long as I used to 3 months ago!
Ok ok... it's not major significant changes since before Sheffield (heck, i doubt there's any progress anyways...) but I'm just happy I'm getting better...
I have serviced my car and in the process of catching up with everyone I know. I'm about to get a job so that's good too... am becoming more regular in church and best of all, not procrastinating as long as I used to 3 months ago!
Ok ok... it's not major significant changes since before Sheffield (heck, i doubt there's any progress anyways...) but I'm just happy I'm getting better...
Monday 5 March 2007
CNY
This was one enjoyable CNY for a long time, personally. Haven't been around to help bake cookies, hang up deco, buy stuff, etc. for 3 long years now. also, got the chance to meet up with almost all my cousins and be around for the entire 15 days! gotta love it...
sad thing is, been eating less cookies this year. still got leftovers needing to be finished. any takers?
however, think i've grown fatter since i've been gorging myself since the eve's dinner all the way. not to mention staying at home limits the amount of exercise i get. looks like i gotta start playing badminton again...
sad thing is, been eating less cookies this year. still got leftovers needing to be finished. any takers?
however, think i've grown fatter since i've been gorging myself since the eve's dinner all the way. not to mention staying at home limits the amount of exercise i get. looks like i gotta start playing badminton again...
Friday 16 February 2007
Of open boots, angpows and snake bites
Today, Tim Nam had to get his comp fixed so being the "good" friend I am, I went along. (cheh wah!)
First stop, Mid valley! quite a waste of time since they can't do anything there. Note: next time, buy computer all from one place otherwise big problem...
So no choice, had to drive all the way to LYP. well, i just sat there, Timmy drove. Muiahahahahaahaha...
Interesting notes: was driving by the Police Station near VI when we both saw this Police Kancil heading out. The best part was....
the boot flew open while they were driving!! High point of my day. (yes, i'm that pathetic).
at lowyat, took the idiotic lift (really, lift that goes down but not up?!) to the wrong floor so had to lug the mini tower up another floor. not me though, hehehehe...
ooo... Old Town was giving away angpows for patrons at their restaurants! plus some candy or so, can't remember liao...
at last, comp problem was faulty motherboard. so, have to replace and poor guy is without comp. oh well...
lastly, i carried the comp from midvalley shop to the car and accidentally scratch myself. Looked like a snake bite. Too bad my digital camera outta commission otherwise you'll be beenjoying suffering the view right now!
First stop, Mid valley! quite a waste of time since they can't do anything there. Note: next time, buy computer all from one place otherwise big problem...
So no choice, had to drive all the way to LYP. well, i just sat there, Timmy drove. Muiahahahahaahaha...
Interesting notes: was driving by the Police Station near VI when we both saw this Police Kancil heading out. The best part was....
the boot flew open while they were driving!! High point of my day. (yes, i'm that pathetic).
at lowyat, took the idiotic lift (really, lift that goes down but not up?!) to the wrong floor so had to lug the mini tower up another floor. not me though, hehehehe...
ooo... Old Town was giving away angpows for patrons at their restaurants! plus some candy or so, can't remember liao...
at last, comp problem was faulty motherboard. so, have to replace and poor guy is without comp. oh well...
lastly, i carried the comp from midvalley shop to the car and accidentally scratch myself. Looked like a snake bite. Too bad my digital camera outta commission otherwise you'll be be
Thursday 8 February 2007
It's all relative
You know success really is relative. The more successful you are, the more relatives you have! Wahahahahaa...
Okok... lame joke but success really is relative. Depending on how good one is, success can mean very different things. For example, football clubs. Big clubs like Real Madrid, AC Milan and Manchester United will only call a season successful if they win the league. Some smaller clubs might consider winning any trophy a good season. And then you have the just promoted clubs who consider not getting relegated a successful season (there's clubs that have been years in the EPL who still consider that a success too actually). Note here that in just ONE league (EPL for example), you can only have ONE winner but MULTIPLE successful clubs. Clearly winning isn't everything. More to home, students also find success in different scenarios. The top students would consider getting second not great while you have some students who are happy to just pass all their exams. Some will moan and cry all day if they get a B in SPM but others will go out and celebrate if they scrape passes.
The situation with success is not isolated. Even things that we can measure can the relative. Take distance between 2 places for example. In KL, I find travelling for 30 minutes to reach any destination to be quite normal but if I have to travel that long to reach somewhere within Penang island, that's far! Some consider having a shop 1 block away to be nearby while others might define 'nearby' as being further away.
The same with time. How often we've heard people say they'll be there 'in a while'. Or 'I'll be right back'. How does anyone define a while or when is it coming 'right back'? According to Dictionary.com, a while is define as 'a period or interval of time' but it doesn't define the period. So to someone a while could be about 5 minutes but to others it could be up to half an hour.
And that's not the end of it. We have set seconds to be the standard for measuring time. And yet, it doesn't make time any less of a relative measurement. In the world of IT, a second is too long while a second in the cooking world too short. Therefore we can do 2 things with the same amount of time but one activity is describe as taking a long time while the other is said to take only a short amount of time. Similarly, when anyone says 'I'll see you soon', the 'soon' can be interpreted to be any amount of time. Weird, huh?
The weirdness continues with distance. Meter is the standard length measuring unit. However, a car salesman's description of 'short' is longer than a computer tech's description of 'long'. Now, we all know that anything called long should be longer anything short but because both speakers are talking about different objects, that's how we end up with such an interesting conundrum.
In the Guinness Book of World records, we have records of both the tallest man and the tallest tower but do realise that both records have different measurements.
Other good examples of how relative measurements can be are such as:
In short, we may have standardize the units of measurement but we have yet to standardize our definition of those measurements. Science has help us define them but in no ways does it create a universal definition for what is actually long, short, fast, slow, far, near, loud or soft. So the next time someone says he'll be back in a while... time him.
Okok... lame joke but success really is relative. Depending on how good one is, success can mean very different things. For example, football clubs. Big clubs like Real Madrid, AC Milan and Manchester United will only call a season successful if they win the league. Some smaller clubs might consider winning any trophy a good season. And then you have the just promoted clubs who consider not getting relegated a successful season (there's clubs that have been years in the EPL who still consider that a success too actually). Note here that in just ONE league (EPL for example), you can only have ONE winner but MULTIPLE successful clubs. Clearly winning isn't everything. More to home, students also find success in different scenarios. The top students would consider getting second not great while you have some students who are happy to just pass all their exams. Some will moan and cry all day if they get a B in SPM but others will go out and celebrate if they scrape passes.
The situation with success is not isolated. Even things that we can measure can the relative. Take distance between 2 places for example. In KL, I find travelling for 30 minutes to reach any destination to be quite normal but if I have to travel that long to reach somewhere within Penang island, that's far! Some consider having a shop 1 block away to be nearby while others might define 'nearby' as being further away.
The same with time. How often we've heard people say they'll be there 'in a while'. Or 'I'll be right back'. How does anyone define a while or when is it coming 'right back'? According to Dictionary.com, a while is define as 'a period or interval of time' but it doesn't define the period. So to someone a while could be about 5 minutes but to others it could be up to half an hour.
And that's not the end of it. We have set seconds to be the standard for measuring time. And yet, it doesn't make time any less of a relative measurement. In the world of IT, a second is too long while a second in the cooking world too short. Therefore we can do 2 things with the same amount of time but one activity is describe as taking a long time while the other is said to take only a short amount of time. Similarly, when anyone says 'I'll see you soon', the 'soon' can be interpreted to be any amount of time. Weird, huh?
The weirdness continues with distance. Meter is the standard length measuring unit. However, a car salesman's description of 'short' is longer than a computer tech's description of 'long'. Now, we all know that anything called long should be longer anything short but because both speakers are talking about different objects, that's how we end up with such an interesting conundrum.
In the Guinness Book of World records, we have records of both the tallest man and the tallest tower but do realise that both records have different measurements.
Other good examples of how relative measurements can be are such as:
- a cable line having low current is somewhere along the line of 10s of Ampere but even 1 Ampere is too much for computer circuitry.
- a man running at 36 kph (about 10 m/s) is considered fast but driving a car at that speed is considered rather slow.
- carrying a 10 kg bag is heavy and yet the average adult is considered light if he/she weighs less than 40 kg.
- normal speaking volume differs from one person to another.
In short, we may have standardize the units of measurement but we have yet to standardize our definition of those measurements. Science has help us define them but in no ways does it create a universal definition for what is actually long, short, fast, slow, far, near, loud or soft. So the next time someone says he'll be back in a while... time him.
Friday 5 January 2007
Back in KL
Alright, I'm finally back in KL!! Hopefully for good too since I plan to find a job here. Well, now that I'm back in KL, it's time to sort out all my plans while job hunting.
Things I plan to do (in no particular order):
Things I plan to do (in no particular order):
- Apply to MENSA and take their IQ test.
- Become a member of MUSC in SS2.
- Meet up with all my friends in KL.
- Take Mandarin or Cantonese speaking classes.
- Find a job by March.
- Send my car for servicing.
Thursday 4 January 2007
Ferrari at Air Itam
Went for a dinner with church friends at one of their's place then go pick up CF from the bus station just now. Had half an hour before his bus arrive so just went round the island. Specifically, went to find the back road from Relau to Air Itam and back to Bayan Lepas. Quite easy actually. Very straightforward with many road signs pointing out turn offs.
Found a Caltex petrol station there so went to pump. Trying to see if I can find all the Caltex on the island before I leave, heheehhehe... Got quite a surprise when I found out that a Ferrari had parked in the next booth to pump petrol! That's probably the closest I've ever been to a on-the-road Ferrari. Took some time to admire the car while the petrol was being pumped into mine. Too bad the guy pump quickly and left so fast. But hey, the few minutes was still nice...
Found a Caltex petrol station there so went to pump. Trying to see if I can find all the Caltex on the island before I leave, heheehhehe... Got quite a surprise when I found out that a Ferrari had parked in the next booth to pump petrol! That's probably the closest I've ever been to a on-the-road Ferrari. Took some time to admire the car while the petrol was being pumped into mine. Too bad the guy pump quickly and left so fast. But hey, the few minutes was still nice...
Monday 1 January 2007
2007
First post of the new year. Off to a rather slow start but manage to get somethings done today. Hopefully, more things will be done by the end of the day. Ok, I gotta admit that having my housemate do his spring cleaning today did help me get out of the chair and on to doing something more worthwhile. Still... a good start eh?
Things I have accomplish are like washing the car (and it's cushion), sweeping the floor and packing up some stuff in my room. By the end of the day I hope to have start packing everything in readiness for when I move out. Also, gotta remember to call DiGi tomorrow. By the way, I've settled on a date to come back home. Gonna leave Penang about 12 noon on Friday afternoon to beat the jam so should arrive in KL about 4-5 pm. Next step, start planning yum cha sessions with friends I haven't seen in years...
Things I have accomplish are like washing the car (and it's cushion), sweeping the floor and packing up some stuff in my room. By the end of the day I hope to have start packing everything in readiness for when I move out. Also, gotta remember to call DiGi tomorrow. By the way, I've settled on a date to come back home. Gonna leave Penang about 12 noon on Friday afternoon to beat the jam so should arrive in KL about 4-5 pm. Next step, start planning yum cha sessions with friends I haven't seen in years...
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