There are many different ways to celebrate Christmas. This is merely one of the many.
Christmas is not just about friends, parties, dress-up, big noise, extravagant celebrations, presents, shopping, or feasts; it is also about family, love, and most importantly, Christ, without whom we wouldn’t even have Christmas in the first place.
In this consumerist, materialistic society, who remembers the lonely hearts; those without food, shelter, love, family, friends, and warmth?
Presents, money, friends, parties, grades, positions. They are merely material wants, not spiritual needs. He gives and takes away; I have no right to demand, to hoard, to cling on to, to expect.
I had no right to feel the way I did if I understood the true meaning of Christmas. So, thank you Lord, for my cosy home which shelters me from the ceaseless rain; for my family whose simple love is more than I can ever be grateful for; for a Christmas eve feast painstakingly prepared by Daddy including Turkey with cranberry sauce, vegetable stew, and okonomi-yaki; for log cakes, Old Chang Kee, pancakes, sparking wine, alcohol; for sacrifices, unity, harmony, and peace; for Winnie’s hand-made cards.
Did daddy complain when he had to cook a feast; did mummy complain when she has to work on both Christmas eve and Christmas day? Did Winnie expect reciprocity when she made beautiful cards for all of us?
Amidst my need to busy myself constantly, I guess washing dishes was the only way He could quiet me down and make me reflect and think, to speak to me and give me the understanding I needed.
For now, I’m in harmony with all the things in my life. I accept.
"But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance."--Luke 8:15
I've never felt so happy so many times a week. It is the kind of bliss which doesn't show on your face in a smile, but your heart smiles anyway... If we all knew how blessed we are, we won't be able to stop smiling either :)
Many things are revealing themselves to me in their own time. I still struggle with daily issues that trouble me, and question non-stop about things, but questioning is good, shows that I'm thinking, and that I care :)
Today at the adoration room, I finally understood what Henri Nouwen meant by solitude and the time with God. I'm learning how to silence my heart; like real silence. I still have a long way to go, and my current upward-moving curve will inevitably dip in time to come, but hey, at least I know this is a one-directional curve :)
I had an interesting conversation about heaven and the afterlife (amongst other things) today. We discussed how rain is angel's pee, so when it's yellower than usual, it means the angel didn't drink enough water! and we discussed how people in heaven still have schedules cos they still need to pray for us earthlings ("I believe in the communion of saints..."), and visit us from time to time :) it's all in jest of course... we'll never really know...
I wonder what heaven is like... :)
on another note...
what is the difference between opinion and judgment? or is there one in the first place?
are men innately bad? what makes some people so...evil?
so many questions, so little answers, such limited human understanding...
but I quote A: "not all questions need answers, but they need to be asked anyway" how true :)
I stepped out into a shocking sight: a night sky that is striking, unsettling, unreal. Then I realised that my dreams were nothing but an illusion, just like everything else.
The day begun with a quarrel in the car and thoughts of the times I gave up on myself; times when I failed to give myself that chance; times when I took the easy way out.
Midway, my thoughts took the middle-way, and I thought about causality, determination and free will.
Tonight, upon a star-strewn sky, I thought about the gray areas of life; about friendships; and about kindred spirits.
It was the alfresco dining, the disturbing film, the abs-inducing laughter and the hug that laced the day with mild sweetness.
I stand here before You in wide-open wonder Amazed at the glory of You. The power of heaven revealing Your purpose in me, As I'm reaching for You
in my 