Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Through a glass, darkly

Time slowly approaching 2008, another new year. Sad to say, i'm not eager or looking foward to the starting of this very new year at all.

It has been quite difficult for me for the last couple of days, received a news which really turn my world upside down. My mind is in chaotic stage and i have to think very hard about the past incidents in my life to relate myself to the news, to convince myself that its true. Deep inside me, i hope that i have never received the news in the first place and continue to live blissfully in ignorance. I cant really characterized that as a great ending to close the chapter of 2007. I doubt that anything good will come out in this last 6 hours before the clock hits 0:00. Guess it wont be a good start for 2008 either.

I begin to believe that i will never understand what life is all about. finishing the last stage, i thought i have learned something, gained some experience and its time to move on. Hence, i ran eagerly to the next stage, with all the purpose and courage.

Along the journey, i realized 'something', a lesson, a truth, or even something about myself which i never knew before. I may not comprehend and fully accept that something, but i know from that moment on, i have to carry that something until the end of days.

Along the journey, i lost something. a friend, an innocent part of me, a moment or even a memory. However the balance of the nature is always true. I do gained something as well, a new friend, a dog, a new perspective of viewing things, a new direction etc.

This time, its kind of slow that the realization finally come to me, how similar the last stage is compare to this stage, or maybe there isnt that much difference from the last last stage as well. I am just repeating the whole cycle again. The thought really makes me feel reluctant to try to make any resolution for 2008. Cuz i know, i may achieve certain things by the end of the day, but there are certain thing which i can never achieve no matter how hard i try, or there are something which will be lost no matter how strong i'm holding it.

I will never understand what life is all about, cuz its all through a glass, darkly....... (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Happy 2008.

craziivan wrote on Jan 1, '08
Cheer up, 10 years from now you'd probably look back and not even remember what brought you down in the first place.

I'm not belittleling what you're going through, just that we grow through hardship, and at the end of the day, we come out stronger.

The worst thing anyone can do when faced with adversity is to get bitter and jaded
susanjade2 wrote on Feb 18, '08
Well it seems to me that you're not making N.Y. resolutions like me....but for different reasons. I just don't make them....full stop. At this moment (well back in the last days of 2007) you were feeling there seems no point in repeating yourself - what's the point eh? But that's natural. It's like any pain...most types of pain eventually go. Either that or you die....but then it won't matter then will it? It's not wonderful to hear at the low & confusing times....and doesn't even seem possible. But it's happened on a number of occasions. Just when you think there's nothing ahead but a blank wall - bumpf - there it is - an arrow pointing to a direction - where once there was no way of figuring how to get from here to there.

I don't know what it is you're going thru - but taking time out to reflect on it - and what, where, and how of where to go from here & what it's all about - this is where time on your own - just you & the Lord - is a time to refresh that acquaintance.

By the way....since I only read this today several weeks after you wrote this - and you're feeling on top of the world now - just ignore everything I've just said!
atlantisian wrote on Mar 5, '08
well, life moves on... no matter how bad it is, life moves on. like i said i may have to carry this for the rest of my life, but i have my way to deal with it, in His will.
susanjade2 wrote on Mar 10, '08
didn't know it was that bad......"may have to carry this for the rest of my life"..... it must've been hard whatever it was.

Whatever it was - if you feel somehow responsible for the whatever - then make amends as best you can - at least say sorry. If it's not your fault - then in time....in this case a very long time....in time if you trust & rely in little things in little ways on our Lord....then surely a light will glow in your life. At first you may not even notice it....but bit by bit....it will happen. Then when you look back you'll see there's a reason why that situation/matter was left behind. Maybe things to learn how to deal with a similar situation in future.

At the moment it won't feel that way....the days will seem dead and/or heavy....but they'll only continue to be like that - when we don't have/know G.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Delicate

今天,你哭了。。。
看见昔日挚友经社会的洗尘,清澈无垢的眼眸已不再;
那些曾经只有在电影电视里才会看到的场景,如今已悄然走近友人身边;
颓废,沉醉于人性的污浊中。
“ How did they sunk so low?"
你哭着问, 不了解,更不明白,
人的灵魂掉进黑暗的深渊里,却越坠越快乐。

一个十九岁的男生, 淌着男儿泪,
我的字句梗在喉咙里,一句话也吐不出来。
眼眶湿了,
为着你爱灵魂的心,也为着自己许多身旁的朋友忧伤,
他们平日谈笑风生,却在夜深人静时被孤单寂寞深深侵蚀,
像一只困兽似的挣扎,打钻,却怎么也出不来,
城市的寂寞,有时比毒药更要伤人。

或许他还不能明白,但我却明白,
那种空虚的滋味,无法自拔。
偶尔我也还是会这样,刹那间被无名的空虚所吞噬,
所有思绪被情感所主宰,胸口闷的好像要窒息似的,
逃亡似的一头栽到网络虚拟世界里,寻找温存,寻找安慰。

突然想起Damien Rice 的那首歌-Delicate,
两年前的自己差点崩溃,
绝望之时,心中不断地重覆着歌里那一句话
"Why do you fill my sorrow with the words you've borrowed?"
现在偶然听见这首歌,胸口仍会隐隐发疼。。。

Saturday, August 20, 2005
I feel my soul had emptied completely,
the emotion turmoil drained me of all strength,
numb and stone cold, sensation no more,
but the ironic thing is I still can feel the throbbing pain inside.
lying on the bed starring at the ceiling,
I'm waiting for the pain to subside,
But in the silence, my tears dropped.

I cried,
I cried,
And I cried...

Until my tears dried,
until I felt that I can cry no more.
I bent down my knees,
Silently, words by words,
I voiced it out.

Heavenly father,
why did they fill my sorrow with the words they've borrowed?
what did Iove done to deserve such a disgrace?
i have nothing to give, how can they ask for more?

I'm the worthless clay in The potter's hand.
mercy me.........

I finally slept,
and rested in The father's arm.

今夜,你睡在父的臂膀了吗?

craziivan wrote on Dec 19, '07
Waaaaa?
susanjade2 wrote on Feb 25, '08
did you write this yourself....I know you typed it physically...what I mean is - did you compose it & not copied it from somewhere else?
atlantisian wrote on Mar 5, '08
nah, its not a song or anything. so you cant really said that its being composed. except the sentence 'why do you fill my sorrow with the words they've borrowed?' is extracted from a Damien Rice Song called 'Delicate'. Its just my personal feelings towards the sadness and emptiness of the so called city people, and i used to goes with the flow until one day being hurt badly by my own words which 'the accuser' had borrowed.

anyway, those time....
susanjade2 wrote on Mar 10, '08
......are gone right?

Monday, December 10, 2007

Christmas isnt Christmas



It was early Tuesday morning, the angels woke me up as i dream of an old Christmas song.

"Christmas isn’t Christmas
Till it happens in your heart
Somewhere deep inside you
Is where Christmas really starts

So give your heart to people
You’ll discover when you do
That it’s Christmas, really Christmas for you!"

The KLCC shopping mall was excessively packed with last minute shoppers last sunday night, the area where the parking ticket vending machines located were so crowded that the queque looks like a maze to me. Well, its not like i have any issue with it cuz its vain just to say things like that and then swim right back into the sea of shoppers (opps!).

Although christmas has been commercialized nowadays (to the extent i'm quite agree with that). However, i always think that Christmas is not just about gifts and christmas party. Its about the SPIRIT of christmas!! How the christmas songs can lighten the mood, how the sight of the shinning christmas tree able to make your inner child running out, how the surprise christmas gift will makes you cries out in glee, and how the Christmas Mass draws you so nearer to the baby Christ.

Christmas time these days really stir up a lot of my emotion, it really reminds me that growing up is fun. I brought up in traditional Christian family, and as a child, i've always love Christmas season, cuz its my once a year 'happening' moment where i get to wear up my shinning white dresses and become the angle who declared the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ during the caroling. it just oozes such a warm fuzzy feeling everytime i reminescence on those innocent days. Although now i have jumped out of the traditional frame of the Christians, I still harbor a lot of these similar feelings for Christmas.

While i'm writing these, my heart is singing with the excitement of wanting to share all of these feelings out bluntly with no reserve. people asked me shouldn't we do these at all time instead of only once a year, people also criticizes those consumers who falls into the fake Christmas tranquility putting up by those smart business man. what i really wanted to say is whether we like it or not, living in the city itself makes us get too caught up in our lives and forget about what's the thing which matters the most. So is it that bad if we have some nice holidays to remind us what we should be doing more often, and if not, the purpose of what we celebrate? The civilizations had created special occasions to bring people together, and why not we take full advantages of it instead being defensive and critical?

I was reading a friend's blog yesterday,

"以为我能习惯 一个人的安全感
圣诞节即将来令 我还是讨厌一个人度过
我还是讨厌在新加坡度过
无话可说。。~Lyon"

my dear friend, you will never get used to celebrating Christmas alone, cuz its never Christmas until you celebrated and share it with someone. I wish that someone will be there for you during this season and tell you what, don't let it slip away as soon as the 24hour occasion is over.

Merry Christmas in advance to everyone!

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Things i have done in 2007

Just wanna drop a line to a very dear sister of mine.

"Welcome Back, JV!!!"


Having JV back here again makes me suddenly realized how fast the time flies. 11 months ago, it was me the one who waved goodbye to my dearest churchmates in Manchester Airport, leaving behind my spiritual green house in Liverpool. And now after nearly one year, when i saw her standing in front of me and knowing for sure that she is back for good, the feeling of gratitude flooded me, cuz i finally understand that as long as we stayed in christ, the sisterhood, the bond which once hold us so tightly will never be loosen no matter how long the time had passed.

Anyway, the gifts which she brought back for me really touched my heart. Thanks to Susan Kam for the aromatic Earl Grey Tea, Lydia for the yummy chocolates marshmallows and Lorna, Wang Yue, Kohyee and JV for the English Bible which i've always wanted. Ky, thanks for being so sensitive to my needs *touched*

Anyway, another month to go before waving goodbye to 2007. yeah, THE 2007, the year which signify the end of my carefree student life, the year which i have started the new chapter of my life as a working adult, supporting my family, loves ones, and more importantly supporting myself. The road towards the independence wasn't really a bed of roses, I have to say everything which happened to me in the past 11 months comes with a lot of struggle, uncertainty, effort and decision. However, the recognition as a women of independence is the best reward out of it. I wont say that I am 100% independent though, physical or financial independence doesnt means anything, the maturity of able to manage one's financial, spirituality, emotional (EQ), relationship, social, career stabilization, decision and resolution etc. are much more matters than just 'i-dont-take-parents-money', or 'i-am-driving-my-own-car '.

By the way, back to the main topic of this blog. Below is the list of what i have done so far for this year:
  • Play guitar in the church again
  • Having teh tarik session at 12am (first time after 2 years)
  • Learning what IT is all about than just replying emails and writing blogs
  • Become a software Quality Assurance
  • Travel to Greece on my own
  • wandering around in Vienna with no specific plan for 5 hours
  • Cook Spaghetti Carbonara for >20 people in the church
  • Enter a mortuary
  • Attending Charity Dinner while being harassed by a cocky self-claimed Dato for the whole night
  • Fry spaghetti with Bacon
  • spending my birthday alone at home eating da-bao rice
  • Sleep together with the doggie
  • talk to strangers in Business Cocktail dinner
  • flying more frequent than the past 23 years of my life (Sarawak, UK, Thailand, Vienna, Greece)

susanjade2 wrote on Dec 4, '07
I tried to write this reply...but I think I've got to do it again.

So you finally got round to joining me on Multiply eh? No wonder....you've been so buzy (as usual).

Some questions from this blog:

1. What's a "teh tarik session"
2. Why did you have to visit a mortuary? This is another thing I have in common with you. As an art student (doing Fine Art degree) - the first bldg I was based - the basement was originally a mortuary! The actual bldg was a former specialist hospital. Each floor where students had workplaces - they were called something something ward - which gives a clue that it was a hospital once a long ago. The basement was always cold - and it was probably not just due to heating situation! A student used to base herself down there - all by herself.....we had our lectures down there as well....yes in the mortuary.

4. Birthday on your own......?? What happened to your P.....??? Is he OK now?

5. Sleep with the doggie?? No way do I have this in common with you. No sleeping with doggie....or catty....or birdy... They have their kennel, basket, cage....I have my bed. No sharing.

6. What's a "self-claimed Dato"??

Any answers to clear up the above mysteries...will be appreciated. By the way the weather is very rainy and coldish - whereas I'm sure Carmen is enjoying warm weather over there eh?
atlantisian wrote on Dec 4, '07, edited on Dec 4, '07
hehe. all the mysteries is actually what i called as malaysian culture and 'slang':

1. Teh tarik is a local tea which during the preparation they will pour the tea from one cup to another cup repeatedly.its like 'tarik' the tea, which means 'pull'. so teh tarik session is basically 'have a cuppa' in British term, or 'yum char' in cantonese.

2. One of my company products is with respect to the forensic application in which the technology enables digital post mortem. So i have to constantly visit the mortuary to meet the end users- Forensic Pathologist

4. He is fine. just that my birthday falls on Monday, and we celebrated the day before, so nothing 'big ' happens on the birthday itself.

6. Dato is a title which is given by the Malaysian Government to some of Malaysian who have significant achievement/contribution towards the country. Nowadays, even singer/actress can become Dato.

Its 30 over degrees everyday in Malaysia! i cant say that its enjoyable though, hehehe.






susanjade2 wrote on Dec 12, '07
So!.....you really celebrated your birthday the day before....eh I think Susan O you're trying to court sympathy there aren't you - by saying you spent your birthday alone eh???
susanjade2 wrote on Dec 12, '07
By the way it was minus 2 last night....and the day feels like it too!