Calmness (July 30, 2007)

Times of trouble are always abound. We are living in a world where people are constantly bombarded with great and depressing news or faced with the most difficult of all trials. Some have witnessed giving up while others had practiced perseverance.

I have yet to meet a person whose demeanour towards life's intricacies can compare to the calmness of a lake I visited. I might compare the tranquility with God whose ever strong presence in our lives is felt. He is always busy, the most busy of them all I suppose yet I know that He is always calm and persevering.

As humans, we are always perturbed when surprises come our way. Some of us are not ready, I am not, when I hear news of death, of conflicts, and of misgivings. I will react in a way that is not proper. I tend to over react. I tend to complain.

Our Lord has given us trials that we can carry. It would be great if we can face the load like the calmness of the water, stirred but not shakened.

My Friends (July 28, 2007)

There is a certain similarity in the quality of an old tree I saw in one of the botanical gardens I visited. Because of its old age, the caretakers have to put poles as support to the many branches that unfolds as it reaches its maturity.

I remembered my friends from way back high school days. We are still together despite our ups and downs for more than twenty years now. We fought, stayed, loved, argued, and challenged each other from time to time. We made our own paths but we are still together in moments of sickness, in despair, in times of troubles and in celebrating lives.

I am the tree, growing old, becoming weary and weak at times. My friends, though far away from where I am, are always there to encourage, to support, to listen and to love. They are the poles that support me, the poles that makes me stronger, the poles that make me stay living in a world full of surprises.

One By One (July 26, 2007)

After an exhausting but fruitful trip to Beijing, I realized that I am not getting any younger. My walk at the Summer Palace was the culmination of a realization that I am no longer in my best form. I went in the North Gate and traversed the entire ground going up and down numerous steps and walkways to admire the beauty of the Palace. It was a beautiful work of art showcasing the marvelous ingenuity of the Chinese people. I was drawn by the immensity of the ground. It was spectacular in scope and in its entity. It has a character of its own.

As I was standing admiring the man made lake at the Southern gate, I remembered that I made an appointment for lunch so I hurriedly went back where I entered. This was the biggest challenge. It was painfully tiring for my weak knees. While on the bus going back, I told myself that I have to do most of my travelling now that I am still strong. I will, one by one, explore the many places within these coming years so as to make myself a much fulfilled person.