Creating our day

I recent came a cross a show called "What the Bleep Do We Know!?" There was this section where this guy... Dr. Dispenza discussing the idea of creating your day.

I wake up in the morning, and I consciously create my day the way I want it to happen.Sometimes…it takes me a little bit to settle down, and get to…where I am actually intentionally creating my day…[then throughout the day] out of nowhere, little things happen that are so unexplainable, I know they are the process or the result of my creation. We’re consciously, from a spiritual standpoint, throwing in the idea that our thoughts affect our reality or affect our life.
I have this little pact…I say, “I’m taking this time to create my day” and I’m infecting theQuantum Field. Now, if it is a fact, that the observer’s watching me the whole time that I amdoing this, and there is this spiritual aspect to myself, then “show me a sign today that youpaid attention to any one of these things that I created. Bring them in a way that I won’texpect, so I’m surprised at my ability to be able to experience these things and make it so I have no doubt that its come from you.” And so, I live my life all day long thinking about beinga genius…and as I do that, during parts of the day, I’ll have thoughts that are so amazing,that cause a chill in my physical body, that have come from nowhere.”

Interesting article... live to create... life is full of surprise and mystery.

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances that they want, and if they can’t find them, make them. —George Bernard Shaw

LOVES INTENT and PURPOSE

I guess I’m feeling tired … tired of doing what I’m doing at work… and just not sure what direction I’m heading is right. And recently in this lent period I have been thinking and discerning on the change that I wanted to do and always fail to carryout what I plan to do. I guess maybe it is what a friend had mentioned to me… “the spirit is weak…”. So far none of the goals that I set out this year have not been achieve. Adding to that this lent I been trying to be good or improve myself and being light of the world… more Christ like or standard. But feel further drain and sometime fail to do it. So I guess the below song “LOVES INTENT and PURPOSE”, is asking me to refocus back to love… God’s love is quite a good thing.

LOVES INTENT and PURPOSE

I was still a young one, no more than nine or ten
When thought's of life's great mystery's began to enter in
One day in contemplation, of the wonders to behold
A voice within me whispered search your heart, and you will know

Through Loves Intent and Purpose,life's expanded from the start
Shining light in darkness, the reflection of lifes heart
As it is in the beginning, Love forever holds the key
One of Pure intent and purpose, creates life, eternally

It's all intent and purpose, as our life wills to unfold
The freedom to make choices, is the builder of the soul
Keep your eye's on wisdom, In understanding you will grow
For all intents and purposes, you will reap just as you sow

In time I've not forgotton, the simple words I heard that day
Teaching me discernment, as I travel life's highway
Grace is freely given, What you seek is what you find
Your intent and purpose, shows your heart and soul, and mind
Keep your eye's on wisdom, With understanding you will know
LOVES intent and purpose is the ONENESS of the Whole

Through Loves intent and purpose, Lifes expanded from the start
Shining Light in darkness, the _expression of lifes heart
As it is in the beginning, LOVE forever holds the key
One of Pure intent and purpose, creates life eternally
As it is in the beginning, LOVE for ever holds the key
LOVES Pure intent and purpose, is the TRUTH of you and me

In LOVE with LIGHT,
Mahara Smith 8/98

Dad helping mum

Got a chance to go back home again to visit mum. Took this photo of dad helping mum. It shows a dutyful husband taking care of his wife. Makes me wonder whether in the future if I do get marry will I be as good as him... being faithful and caring in good time and bad times. 

Raymond’s wedding

On the morning of the 18 of March 2006 11:15am I found myself in the Church of St Mary of the Angels. It was one of those rare occasions that I got invited to a Catholic wedding with the Sacrament of Matrimony. This time it was Raymond’s wedding, one of my Choice weekend friend and my Choice group use to call him “Honorary Member” as he use to join our group discussions. After a year plus of courting he and is girlfriend Nancy decided to marry. I don’t know much about Nancy but the impression that she gives me is that she is a very strong will person (from the inside).

As for the best man… well it was none other then our dear brother Eugene (who was preparing for the first reading when I reach the church). The celebrant of the ceremony was Father John Paul Tan (Fr JP).

The readings for the wedding were:
1st Reading: Genesis 2:18-24
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
Gospel: John 15:9-12

Fr JP gave an interesting homily. He mentions that as human there are two basic things the God calls us to. That is the call to love and life. We are call to love and life once we are conceived in our mother’s womb. Love is in service of life. As a couple one has to ask how can I make my other half a fuller and better person? … How can I complete my spouse?

I guess these questions pose are an interesting thing as few months back at the beginning of the year, I was trying to lookup on advices and articles on courtship as I was planning ask a friend out on a date and ask whether she would be interested in a more than normal type friendship (well basically you can call that starting a courtship although not many of my friends will say that). Due to the lack of articles on courtship at that time I had turn to articles written on marriage for couples and there one interesting article written by Fr. Peter deSousa (Redemptorist priest from Mumbai) titled New Beginnings which talks about a couple life getting into routine and how one has to rediscover his/her spouse & children. There is a part where he touches on courtship and the issues similar relating to the questions of Fr JP, as below:

“In courtship one is open to learn, listen and discover who your partner is. He or she does not have to conform to your expectations, but rather complements and challenges you to grow and develop your potentialities as a person, with the encouragement of someone who cares. In a good marriage, this will continue.”

So in courtship other then finding out whether we are right for each other, the other aspect is to encourage and complement one another. So this an interesting area being nurtured since the season of courtship and all the more needed in marriage life.

As a single and not in any relationship ( hei! Wait a minute… what happen your friend that you plan and wanted to court?... well she has other plans for her life at this point of time… and I guess it is God’s way of telling me that I’m not ready for courtship at this point of time).

Ok, now as a single this call to love and life… which I felt ministering to me during the wedding, is how can I serve the people around me, my love ones, my friends, the ministry that I’m helping out (Choice, Mission trips,...) and my career vocation. I guess I have to ask myself how can I help and show my care better to my parents?, how can I better help and courage my friends to be better person? How can I help the ministries that I’m involve with the little time I have? , How can I help myself in my current career which I see not much of a future in it and the joy of it is fading? And how can I be a better man?

I believe these questions will be a common thing that is in me and my single friends will also have to face. With hope, with faith, with prayer and God’s help we will be able to find a way to them in this fast pace life and world.

As Raymond and Nancy start their journey as a husband and wife taking on the challenges that comes their way and growing as a couple and as a family which show the Oneness of God just like He does in the Oneness in the Trinity (The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit), I wish them that the faith, hope and love of God will be with them always. And I dedicate the below John Lennon song to them:

Grow Old With Me
Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time has come
We will be as one
God bless our love
God bless our love

Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun
When the day is done
God bless our love
God bless our love

Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end
World without end

Grow old along with me
Whatever fate decrees
We will see it through
For our love is true
God bless our love
God bless our love

God Bless! Both of you.

Pater Noster - translated into English

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.
In name of-Father and of-Son and of-Spirit Holy.

Pater Noster
Pater noster, qui es in caelis,
Father our who are in Heaven

sanctificetur nomen tuum.
may-be-hallowed name Your

Adveniat regnum tuum.
may-come kingdom Your

Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.
may-be-done will Your as in Heaven and in earth.

Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
bread our daily give us today

et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
and forgive us debts our

sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
as and we forgive debtors our

Et ne nos inducas in tentationem:
and don't us lead in temptation

sed libera nos a malo. Amen.
but free us from evil Amen

Going home to visit mum...

Last Saturday finally manage to make my way back to my hometown to visit mum. Had been planning to go back but had been suffering from cough & block nose for the past 3 weeks plus! The causeway was jam on the JB side in the morning (just only found out it was Singapore school holidays had just started). The 170 bus manage to travel about three quarter of the bridge. Had to get down and walk the remaining length.

Back in Kluang visited mum at grandma place (the most convenient place she can be at with her fracture leg). Seeing mum stuck in the chair sadden me as she likes to move around. I guess she is quite irritated too by her condition. The doctor had change her leg cast to a fiberglass type which is lighter then the previous one. Hope it helps to relieve her a bit. With mum having difficulties to move, I had to go to church alone that evening. Brought back some church bulletin news and the Catholic News paper for her to read. I pray and hope she will get well soon. Sometimes I wish could be there fore her. Sigh…

Had some time to hangout with dad the at the Kluang railway station coffee shop. Ordered teh si and their famous “Roti Bakar” - toasted bread. Dad mention that a relative of the coffee shop owner open a coffee shop branch in KL call Kluang Station. Manage to find a write up on that branch by Star news paper below:
http://allmalaysia.info/news/story.asp?file=/2005/11/5/eatingout/12327071&sec=Eating%20Out

The address is:
Kluang Station
LG337, Lower Ground of New Wing Oval
1 Utama Shopping Centre
Bandar Utama
Petaling Jaya
Business Hours: Daily (10am-10pm)

I wonder how is the coffee / teh si and the Roti Bakar taste like over there?

Lent... Pray we must...

First Sunday Lent, part of the gospel looks at Jesus going into the wilderness and being tempted. It was interesting that Father Stephen at Christ the King Church mention about him and the other priest entered into priesthood not because they could not find girlfriends or to escape the pressures of the world as at the end of the day they will still have to live and serve in this world (this wild world). So I guess even the priest themselves will have to face the stress, the pressures and the temptation of this world.

Father caution and ask us to be aware that the devil will also try to promote or instill (other then temptation) a 14 letter word call discouragement. Jesus also went through that when he was in the wilderness. Avoid letting it overwhelm us. Have faith.

“Pray we must”… said father, even in this wild world where people will enter a house and pump 5 bullets into a husband and leaving the whole family in trauma… even when a father will kill his daughter and stuff its body under a flyover. If we do not pray who will then?… if we do not pray who will?.

Also other interesting things that was shared:

· Globalization tells us that there is enough for all our needs but not enough for our greed.

· Wealth is meant to be share.

God is love (Deus Caritas Est). With God's love we are able to change, with God's love we are able to face the "wildness" and live in this world and with God's love we are able to defeat the devil.

Wisdom and Maturity - What's worthwhile is worth waiting for

Recently I came across an article by Father Ronald Rolheiser on the matter of love and chastity call “What’s worthwhile is worth waiting for”. In these days the church promotes chastity among young singles and asking them to wait for that special person that they will marry “save it for that one special person…”.
He mention that there will come a time when one is not so young or our real dream for love is over… when day by day we become more unsure whether we on the side of life or not. So then waiting tends to become foolish to one and temptation set in, we start to bend the rules.

Rules…
We all know that rules will be rules. Like in physics the rule of the force of gravity, will never change (well… not in outer space… but we won’t go into that). So he said that rules stay constant and what changes is our feelings, feelings towards chastity and waiting. So then How do we wait? Or in a somewhat more anxious context, How do we wait when, then it seems, there is no longer much worth to waiting for?

The two extremes…
Father Ronald mention about two extreme models the people could go into. The liberal way which is to compromise and the conservative way which is to deny it. But I guess that is not what God (God is love) want us to be (humans with no control nor humans who have no feelings). So he said when we lose heart for this ideal we need to get our hearts in touch with what deep down inside they really want. How one do that? By committing ourselves to what will give us real life in the long run.

Jesus story…
He brought up a low point of Jesus in his discipleship. Jesus told the people “unless you eat my flesh, you will not have life within you!” now this upset and confuses everyone. So everyone walk away and Jesus then asked his disciples “Do you want to walk away too?” And Peter answered “Yes, we would like to, but you have the words of everlasting life” So what basically is saying is that “We don’t get it, but we know that we are better off not getting it with you than getting it with somebody else!” Now this response speaks through of real maturity. Why? Because sometimes in life what gives us life it calls for commitment even when our hearts are not onside.

In marriage…
He then shared an example of marriage “ …who ever been married or committed in a relationship knows that there are times when the relationship will be full of tension, disappointment, and even coldness…might feel dead, but you are smart enough to know that, for you life lies there, not elsewhere. …long-range, life means staying in that relationship even though, on this day, it seems lifeless…”

So what is it all about?
So what is the issue here? It is clearly not just chastity and waiting until marriage, but wisdom and maturity that gives us the big picture and know that what ultimately brings life is not just what helps us make it through a bad season.

I love what father mention “Love is a decision, not a feeling. …long before we decide for love, we first fall into love. Initially it chooses us more then we choose it. But that changes, as we know, and real maturity comes at that exact moment when, like Peter, we commit ourselves to something beyond what feels best in the present moment. Maturity waits, even when it’s 39 years old and not sure any more what it’s waiting for.”

My take away (lessons) from this…
This article was very meaningful and encouraging to me. As I could identify myself being very feeling or emotional towards a friend of mine that I like or interested in for quite sometime (especially when I came back from Banda Aceh … after seeing many people losing their loves ones in the Tsunami). And I made a resolution this year to approach her to ask whether she would be interested in a more than friend relationship type of relationship (some people call it courting).

Well, I decided to take the risk and I asked her and was turn down as she was unsure about where she was going in life. I guess God has His plan. She also said to me “I see no purpose in going into…. exclusive kind of relationship unless they contemplate marriage.”. Interestingly after that, it got me contemplating and discerning about it more. And I found out I was not ready for marriage at this point of time. So I believe (wisdom & maturity) the best thing is to be a good friend to her and also brother in Christ to her. That is the best way to serve God at this time.

What about you feelings towards her? Yes I do have feelings towards her and because wisdom and maturity tells me to avoid going into a relationship when one is not ready, I’m committed keeping a good friendship with her and not just any how ask for a more than friend type of relationship. It is the best way I can serve God and serve her as a friend. And yes it can be a tall order but with God I believe I can do it.

The feelings that we have, have to be guided with wisdom and maturity that God has given to us. I believe we have to daily seek God’s wisdom and maturity in every area of our life. As an engineer if I don’t seek His wisdom and have the maturity and just base on my feelings or passion (which might be blind) to make, create or do things… it might have bad effect on other people (or sometimes to my own self).

Lastly as what father Ronald said “Patience, waiting, chastity, and commitment are, in the end, worth it.”