位置

回来四个月了。
几乎完全重拾了过去的生活。忙碌的工作，侍奉，照顾家庭，享受友谊。
离开过，让我对现有的位置感恩。
曾和瑞龙聊起那种独自处在另一个社会的感觉。
在那里，我不是谁的家人，没有人和我有深厚不言而喻的友谊，没有收入，没有地位。
在教会，没有人认识我，知道我的过去或对我的未来有任何期望。
那时感觉很浮。深深知道我在那里的位置，很浅。像沙滩上的脚印，风一吹就散了。
从没有比那时候知道拥有共同的过去而建立的关系，是如此重要及难以取代。

很感恩，我在这里的“位置”没有因为离开过而改变。
我较懂得珍惜我在家中的“位置”和责任；
我庆幸在工作场所中，大家不止为我保留了职位，也在心中保存了我的“位置”；
我欣喜在教会，我仿佛回到了一个很了解我，熟悉我的社群。它仿佛知道，有些是就是该我做，有些事就是该某人做。它对我有信任，要求和期望，我对它也有某种依赖和责任。

我感恩拥有那离开一年的经历和历练。
它使我能够以一个较成熟的姿态来迎接我生命中的个个“位置”。
感恩，感恩。

Hugs

I hugged a friend today. Or did the friend hugged me? It was after I handed her a birthday gift that she gave me a hug. I believe that was a gesture of thanks.
But I believe, something is missing...
It was a brief one. I think its a culture thing. As Chinese we generally don't feel very at easy with hugs, maybe even a little shy. Though as a younger generation, we can do with a courtesy hug, and at times do find it meaningful, we generally do not immerse in the hug and feel it.

Something that I experienced differently in Vancouver was hugs.
First was when I first arrived in Regent to meet the International Student Coordinator. She's a Canadian, and she hugged me the first thing I entered her office. I nearly cried, because that was really a warm gesture when I felt all alone in a foreign land.
The second was on my last night in Vancouver. I remembered especially how a Japanese friend made me feel so different as she hugged me when I bade farewell. It was a gentle locking of arms and bodies PLUS an unexpected tight squeeze, to bring me really close to her. It was really warm and released the dam that was holding back tears in my eyes.
Those hugs were not formalities. Those were hugs that were not in a hurry. Those were hugs that seized and enjoyed the moment. Those were hugs that respected each other as beings created in God's image. Those were hugs in which love and messages were exchanged not through words.

Sorry that I didn't hug well today.
I'll replay when there's a chance. :-)

Hug hug...

最后第二份作业

很久没回来写写了。
今晚收到了我离开维真(Regent College）前所交的最后第二份作业。
最后一份应该也很快会收到。
那将是我完成维真课程，正式告别维真和温哥华的一个休止符。

其实回到新加坡也快两个月了。
可以说老早就告别了维真和温哥华。
但我始终还没有争气的为这一段如此特别的日子写下一篇总结来向自己交待。
就约定，在收到最后一份作业时写下一个回忆。

缅怀维真， 温哥华。。。

真，善，美， 之 美

歌舞剧对我来说， 有着很特别的魅力。
常令我血脉膨胀， 内心汹涌澎湃，久久不能自己。
特别是有机会观赏跨时代的经典佳作， 又在当中看到上帝的恩慈和荣耀。
心中的激动更是无法言喻。

羡慕，激赏，感叹，感恩。
这是我追求的美。



Lyrics | Enjolras, The Stude - Do You Hear the People Sing? lyrics




Lyrics | Eponine - On My Own lyrics


Drink with me to days gone by
To the life that used to be
At the shrine of friendship, never say die
Let the wine of friendship never run dry
Here's to you and here's to me


I must get the sound track!

A Dinner and a Breakfast

THE DINNER
Cheese, crackers and dips as snacks or prelude to the dinner as people sit down to chat.
A sit down dinner for all, each with a full set of cutlery.
Respect for everyone's choice of drink; red wine, white wine, juice, water.
Delightful desserts: soft sponge cake, with Jelly, plus fresh strawberries, and chocolate coated strawberries and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ending it with your choice of hot drink, be it Green tea, Chamomile tea, Cappuccino, Americano, Espresso, Latte, etc. Even if they have to make just one cup of that drink for you.
Good time chatting with the hostess who is the only stranger at the table, making a point to go round the table to know you personally.

This dinner, is free, hosted at one of my lecturer's home.
A beautiful expression of respect and celebration of each person's individuality. They take every trouble and every extravagance they can for every small details to make one feel comfortable. And this is not a restaurant. Its a home dinner.


THE BREAKFAST
When I was first invited to a friend's place for breakfast just to get together, I was like...why breakfast? isn't there a better time to get together than that? I would never invite anyone to my place for breakfast as that would mean that I have to get up early to make sure my place is in order, and to prepare breakfast.
But well, since am an invitee here, I gladly go, and thinking to myself that I shall make sure that I eat whatever that is served whether or it is to my liking (since this is a Argentinian friend who had invited me and I almost only like Chinese food).

It turn out that I totally enjoyed the breakfast! Since there was only 3 of us, we have lots of opportunities to girls talk, share about our thoughts, feelings dreams and aspirations. I appreciate such efforts to 'get together'.

I think it is not only the Chinese who got it. The Westerners are getting it too. That food brings people together. And it is not the food, but the people that is the focus.

Let's be aware

Long time ago, people think Christianity is about gaining political power.
For some time, they realized: oops! they were mistaken.
Then for a long time, Christianity evolved into some high and mighty kind of tradition and rules.
So through a period of time, some people protested, and Christianity became personal and engaging.
While at no time did Christianity advocated war and hatred;
At specific times, Christianity were the reason for much bloodshed and killing.
Perhaps many a times, Christianity looked imperialistic.
But there were times when some good were done through mistakes.
Slipping through time, Christianity somewhat slipped from the front stage to the backdrop of society.
But now come a time, when scrutiny is on Christianity.

So what is Christianity about?
Political control? power? traditions? rules? personal transcendental experience? a good social group? sacrificial love? life-givingness?

In such a time, it is especially important that we be aware indeed of what Christianity is all about.

Ooooh...Monastery

I had a course that brought us to Westminster Abbey Monastery for a retreat the previous weekend.
Before going, I was thinking...hmmm...Monastery...interesting...but perhaps, I've gotta be prepared for a less than comfortable stay, since its after all a monastery...
To make sure I had a clean decent place to lie in, I brought along my sleeping bag so that I can at least cocoon in it.

But well, to my pleasant surprise, the monastery is so cool in its quiet ways. Best of all, we were given a nice simple and clean room each! I think the beauty of the room is in its simplicity. No TV, no internet. Just the place to make me spend time with myself and God instead of escaping into the virtual world.

Stepping out of the building, the monastery is built on a hill overseeing a Frasers Valley. Its a beautiful sight. One can mistaken the place for Europe.

A little about the Monastery:
- there's about thirty over monks residing in the monastery (some old some young and handsome).
- they wear black robe, totally a fashion statement.
- the monks plant their own vegetables and rear their own animals for meat.
- their daily life revolve around five (or seven, can't remember. Confused with the Muslims) prayer times throughout the day. They arrange their work and activities around the prayer time. Not the other way round.

That's about it. Some photos for your viewing pleasure.




my simple little room.










a little cemetery for the monks. Once there, they are to be there forever. literally.













I cheated... this is a picture taken from a postcard.