Reflections on Christmas 2008

What's the message of Christmas 2008? Today, we reflect on its original purpose of bringing "goodwill and peace to humankind".

Our world has been and unfortunately continues to be flooded with tragic news of devastation, human suffering and conflicts. The experts are predicting a less than favorable economic climate for next year or two. The pessimism is creeping into every conceivable corner of our world already. How is the Christmas message addressing these realities?

Although the message of Jesus , the Holy Child of Bethlehem was first received by the shepherds and the Magi from the East, the task of communicating the message retains its relevance and urgency today. The challenge is to share the message of goodwill and peace to the individual person who seeks peace from the bombardment of stress all around him/her and to the harsh struggles and alienation of the marginalised peoples of the world.

This Christmas, the writer has been blessed as in the past, by numerous people who shared their love,prayers and greetings via Christmas cards, electronic cards, SMSes, gifts and in person. The pix shows a portion of these blessed gifts. The light reminds us of the True Light of the star that shone over Bethlehem two thousand years ago. The table clock on the extreme right reminds us of the time that we have and challenges us to use our time wisely in embracing the message and sharing it across the lands and across the seas.

May you experience God's goodwill and peace!

Make Love

Saint Paul in his letter to the Church in Corinth said, "Make love your aim..." He was writing to the  early  converts about the necessity of keeping love as its primary aim in the pursuit of the variety of spiritual gifts and cautioning them against strife and disunity. He added that "all things be done for edification." (verse 26). 

Today, we read with horror, shock and sadness the "9/11" of India in Mumbai. 195 people from more than 10 countries including Israel,  Japan, Thailand, United States and including one from Singapore were killed and hundreds injured by terrorist attacks. We share the grief and suffering of the families affected by such acts of brutality.

Where is love, freedom and respect for humanity? 

Today marks the first Sunday in Advent. It marks the beginning of the celebration of Christmas where "love came down".  In the light of the tragic act, can the world experience the purity of love associated with Christmas season?   Can we make love, instead of hatred, our aim?  

Another bonus

I thought that the heavy rain had destroyed the three pretty water lilies yesterday. But this morning, the sun was shining brightly and I was given a pleasant surprise. The three lilies not only "resurrected" but another lily emerged from the shallow flower pot. The photograph shows the four lilies arching towards the light! Here again, I thank photography for being able to "freeze the moment in time" so that we could admire and share its beauty indefinitely. In addition, if you examine the picture more closely, there are several buds that have the potenitial of blooming into flowers again! O what a bonus!

The beauty today

After I had repotted the plant, it took several weeks for these three beautiful water lilies to emerge together. I appreciate the process of sowing, pruning and flowering. Apart from adding fertilizer, time and patience are necessary ingredients.  The process cannot be rushed! In its own time, it will  bear much fruit! This morning, I took several photographs from different angles, including macro shots. If you would to view them, I shall be happy to share them with you.  By the early afternoon, it was raining cats and dogs.  Naturally, the flowers "closed up". Will I see the flowers again the next day? Probably not. What lessons can we draw from this? Learn to appreciate the beauty that is around us today. What you've got today, you may lose it altogether when the unexpected harsh rains come! Would you like to share your thoughts?

3D

Most of us are familiar with the term WYSIWYG i.e What You See Is What You Get. What do see in the picture on the right? On the surface, it is blurred and out of focus. But if we put on a pair of 3D glasses, you can see the picture gradually popping out! And in my personal experience, you will feel like reaching out to touch it!

A third dimensional perspective offers new and fresh views/insights. The new light can liberate us from the danger of feeling like being trapped by the mundane things in life. This is especially so when we are dealing with difficult issues around us. A 3D perspective may instead help us to reach out. What are your thoughts?

Quaint Chinatown

In the wake of the growing political uncertainty in KL, the hustle and bustle of the street was thinning in the quaint Chinatown. Noticeably, business was quieter than usual for the stalls. Nevertheless, the fragrant aroma of the roasted chestnuts would easily attract prospective buyers. But sadly, the traditional personal greeting by the seller is now being replaced by an automated machine.

Bubble surprise

Surprise, surprise! The pix was shot yesterday after I had trimmed a withering leaf stalk of a water lily plant. Bubbles just oozed through its remaining stem located just beneath the water surface.  It continued for about twenty minutes. It gave me the opportunity to capture the discovery of a rare beauty from nature. A pleasant surprise indeed! If you zoom in, you would discover a whole range of nature's beauty too! (of course excluding the photographer at work! ha! ha!). Enjoy the surprises. Savor the moment. Look out for other surprises! 

You'll love it or hate it!

There is a fever in this tropical South East Asian country Singapore . It's not dengue nor chikungunya. It's the craze over the King of the  jungle! Durians! There is a bumper harvest in Kelatan, Johor, Segamat (West Malaysian States) etc... They are brought into our country daily by the lorries!  (almost 25,000 tonnes were imported in 2004) Durian connoisseurs love the bittersweet taste. The colour of the flesh ranges from yellow to orange to red. It has a strong pungent smell and you either love it or hate it. A caucasian once described it as, "smells like hell, tastes like heaven"!  The price is between $5 to $25 per kg, depending on its grade. Some are sold as low as 50 cents per fruit.  Since 1934, 190 varieties have been registered by the Malaysian Argicultural Research and Development Institute. Have you tried it? Do you like it? 

LOST

There is a sense of emptiness when you have lost something dear or precious to you. Two days ago, I had carelessly dropped my PDA outside my house. Within 10 minutes of driving to work, I realised it and went about to comb the area. You're right, it's gone! All the data that I have painstakingly stored and the GPS disappeared in  the wink of a eye! I suffered grief! The pix depicts the emptiness associated with loss. But, when I reflected more deeply, I felt that it cannot be compared to the painful loss of lives due to the disasters in China, Myanmar and more recently, in the Philippines. Have you lost something lately? How are you coping with it?  What does it take to empathise with someone who had lost a dear one? The telephone rings !!! Oh dear, a call from my sister-in-law who had lost her mother due to a long term illness.

Do you want wealth?

The largest fountain in the world, the Fountain of Wealth attracts numerous people everyday. Nationals and tourists from all walks of life stroll around the mini fountain in the centre to touch and feel the water in an almost  ritualistic manner. It is claimed that visitors to Suntec City, who walk around the central base of the Fountain three times and touching the water at all times, would gain some good luck of their own (cf.  Wikipedia).  In the hot and humid afternoon, I was attracted to a group of seven ladies marching around the fountain. The leader (hidden by the one dressed in red) was a pregnant lady perhaps hoping that by her act, her new born would bring her wealth. The picture of the last woman was cropped for obvious reason.  While most of us recognise that wealth in itself can be our friend as well as our foe, but the relentless pursuit of it usually carries severe consequences. Some may argue that the problem of our world is the disproportionate distribution of wealth. What's your view concerning wealth in today's context? 

Earth Day 2008

Today we celebrate Earth Day. Let's join all human inhabitants of the earth in protecting, preserving and enhancing its limited and depleting natural resources. Can we have access to fresh air, clean water, sufficient fresh food, good climate etc...? Or have we abused the earth's resources so much so that we are close to reaching the point of man made disaster and destruction! On a practical note, everyone of us can make a difference by practising the 3Rs i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Governmental bodies can enact legislation and pass laws to prevent further abuse. And together as a global community, we can support the common mission of addressing crucial and urgent environmental and ecological concerns of this world. Since our Creator has made the earth, the natural resources, people, animals, insects etc..., we ought to be responsible stewards of all that is entrusted to us. Happy Earth Day!

Water Lily

The water lily is pretty, isn't it? Once the plant is placed in a pot/container, it needs very little attention apart from adding fertiliser once per week. It flourishes very well under lots of sunlight and stagnant water (but don't forget to add consan, a special solution to prevent mosquito breeding!)
Personally, for most part of the week, I would not have the opportunty to admire its beauty as it withers by the late afternoon. So, during the weekends and day offs, I would take time to admire its beauty under the rich sunlight. Similarily, there are beautiful things in life that are already there but due to work or other commitments, we may not have the opportunity to enjoy it. Therefore, we may like to give priority to appreciating the beauty of nature including relationships that are around us and learn to say NO, firmly and yet gently, to a full and unrealistic work schedule. It is about achieving a work life balance or integration.

Almost a perfect shot

"Hey, look here!" You might be wondering why is it so difficult for the bird to move a little for a nicer shot? "It does not really take much of an effort," you thought. But it remained at its position, oblivious to your suggestion/hope. But if you try hard to push it such as prompting it to the point of agitating it, you'd probably lose the shot entirely! Similarly, do you sometimes feel that people are not responding to your sentiments that you had tried to convey? The issues could be ineffective communication, lack of understanding, faulty expectations, inappropriate timing, inconducive environment etc... On the other hand, if you unwittingly exert your values, you may have adverse reactions. Then, how can you better convey your thoughts and feelings so as to obtain your desired outcome? Can there be a perfect shot afterall? Your thoughts?

Changing Landscape

The pix snapped in less than a month ago shows the calm, serene and peaceful environment in a lake in Shangri-la, Yunnan, China. However, in recent weeks, the severe weather conditions in some parts of the world such as China have created havoc and disrupted the lives of thouands of commuters, delivery of goods etc... In other words, we encounter change. Change is inevitable and unavoidable. We need to know how to cope and manage the changes that are taking place within and around us. It's almost a month into 2008 already. In the New Year, some of us would have to manage the transitions in terms of change in career, marriage, additions to the family and including the tragic loss of loved ones. As I write this, I share the grief of a couple who had just lost their 5 year old child yesterday. Their son had fits last Wed, then developed fever on Friday and within 2 days, lapsed into coma. Then he passed away on Tuesday! How do the parents and loved ones cope with such a loss (change)? It's certainly painful and difficult. What kind of message or word can bring comfort at such a time like this? For the rest of this year, will we focus on being sensitive to the changes in and around us and resolve to face each change with hope and courage and to help those around us cope with change by offering our prayers, a listening ear or a helping hand?