Journey mercies

I used to raise an eyebrow a little whenever I read someone's blog where they say they are just simply too busy to update it, or when a friend takes simply ages to reply a mail I sent because of the same reason. How busy can they be to not spare 20 minutes to write a blog entry or an email?!

But, now I know. My weeks are packed and my weekends even more so! I've got just enough energy to check my mail but very little to respond to them.

I had a blessed weekend!

It was an amazing time spent with friends, and Sunday was simply beautiful because I woke up nice and early and spent time reading the Bible, journaling, praising God and praying. It's one of those days you wake up and you want to thank God and praise Him for every single thing. As I wrote in my journal notes of what to pray for, one of them happened to be for a flat that was "clean, accessible, reasonable rent and people I get along with and can be a blessing to".

I went to church after that without thinking much of it. After the service I was speaking to one of the church elder, and he mentioned that there was a couple from church who was interested of renting out a room from the house and he could speak with them if I'd like.

But for some reason, I felt unenthusiastic with the idea and told him that I would like to hold on that offer. I felt I didn't want to live in a house full of Christians. Ironic huh.

I just didn't want to live with people who might have expectations over me and my conduct in the house. Sometimes, Christians can be the most judgmental lot. But more importantly, I wanted to be with non-Christians who I could interact with on a daily basis and pray for them and be a blessing to them.

That same afternoon I went to view a flat near the church. I found out it was on top of some shoplots, which initially got me worried. Having viewed a flat like that on Saturday, which turned out to be a little nasty, I was just a little worried it would be the same. But when I stepped in...

I fell in love with the flat! And the two girls!

The room was big and spacious with brand new mattress still in its wrapping! The toilet beside it was small but incredibly clean! And trust me, all the other places I've viewed was quite nasty. And the two girls... I love them. They were sweet, sincere, lovely. Can you imagine living in a house where you don't like and even worse, don't respect the others living under the same room?

Within 10 minutes talking to them, one of them said that there were a few people who had come to view the place, but they think they would like me to move in because they felt they could get along with me (AC afterwards dryly commented about how flattery get me anywhere :P).

But Saturday, when I went to view the other flat, I knew within the first 10 seconds I didn't like it. And something within me told me that when I find the perfect flat, I will have something click in my heart that will tell me that's the flat. And that's how I felt when I went to see the one on Sunday.

I was a little hesitant to commit to anything because the cost of the flat was just a little higher than I originally budgeted for. And told them I would let them know the day after of my decision. As I walked back to church for lunch, I asked God in my head whether I should choose this flat or not, and it felt like He was saying go for it. He will provide the finances for it.

Then I spoke to my parents after lunch and my mom was telling me to go for it as well, which was very encouraging. As the day wore on, I got more and more excited thinking about living in the flat. By night time, I was quite convinced that I should do it and commit to it, but waited just a while longer to sleep over it and see how I felt about it the next morning.

Woke up, and it was one of the first things in my mind. At 7.30am, I texted one of the girls and said, "I take thee and Anne to be my new flatmates!"

Really, what more can I ask for? Lovely flatmates, lovely flat, close to the church, close to 52 and some other friends from church, close to the tube and train station and bus stops, and close to supermarkets and convenient stores. And to boot, nice, leafy neighbourhood and a few lovely parks for recreational purposes. It's perfect!

This weekend I'm going to be staying over at 52, the house where 7 young adults from the church I'm attending, live in and is one of the main meeting points where people are always welcomed to drop by anytime.

I'm staying over because I've got some plans with the folks from church throughout the weekend, so I might as well stay over rather than commute 2 hours over everyday. I'm going over to a church member's house for a dinner party and after that we're going to the Moscow State Circus! Should be fun!

I'm surprisingly experiencing a lot of new things. Things that are common to English people, like trampolines, toffee apples and circuses, I feel quite a bit like a child, experiencing these things for the first time!

This is West Hampstead Thameslink station. It is where I change trains to and from Gunnersbury, where it takes me 5-10 minutes walk to and from my office. It takes me over an hour of train commute one way.

England has taught me to be more time-conscious, because though there are times when Silverlink trains disappoint me by having its trains delayed, it is for the most part very reliable in following its time schedules.

I usually leave the office to catch the 6.41pm train because that gives me time to close off the day without having to rush to catch the 6.21pm train. The problem however with the 6.41pm train is, I have exactly 1 minute to dash from the West Hampstead station, which is a 5 minute walk away from the West Hampstead Thameslink station, to catch my connecting train back to St Albans from the latter.

It means, I have to be among the first to jump off the train, dash up the stairs, run through the streets (carefully - don't want to be falling and hurting myself) to reach the stairs at West Hampstead Thameslink station in time before the flood of people getting off the train I want to get on, reach the stairs themselves. Because if I am 3 seconds late, they will crowd the staircase, barring me from going down the staircase to reach the doors of the train in time, making me miss the 7.04pm train back to St Albans and make me wait another 20 minutes before the next one comes along.

And the reason why I like to catch the 6.41pm train is because this way, I don't have to waste time waiting for my connecting train when all it takes is a mere 1 minute run in between.

Mental note to self, "I am no longer a child with boundless energy."

Must. Memorise.

Must. Remember.

Went to church this morning fully rested from a quiet Saturday where watching the rugby finals with my cousin and his wife being the only exciting and straining activity.

After church service today, I went to one of the home of a family from church for lunch with AC. Who by the way cooked an excellent meal. Healthy, delicious and non-fattening! Jess and David's two daughters was simply endearing, and I was just amazed how the entire family was so quick to open their house and hearts!

The first thing the two daughters did was to pull me and AC to jump on their trampoline. It was lots of fun, but I think both AC and I forgot we aren't kids anymore.

After lunch, the two of us took Hannah and Naomi, the two girls, to watch Ratatouille, giving their parents a quiet afternoon. When the movie was over we took them home and had tea with their parents, where shortly after that the girls grabbed us to jump on the trampolines again.

It was only when we were sitting in the evening service when the day's heavy activities caught up with both AC and I and we looked clearly worn out. The girls are like Energizer bunnies! When it was time for me to catch the train to go home, they were still asking if we would go back to their house for supper.

Oooooppphhh... I'm looking for a quiet and restful week at work now! ;)

When my non-Christian cousin commented about her doubts on whether material wealth to propound a religion should be accepted, I was a little surprised. After all, the message seemed to be, gain a spiritual life and material wealth, it's a win-win situation, shouldn't people readily jump at that? I have never agreed with propounding a prosperity gospel. I think it theologically wrong to do so. But I'm not going into a whole essay on this.

I emphasized that material wealth is not important, but admitted I have been blessed abundantly in material wealth nonetheless.

The last few days I reflected quite a bit on my life. By Malaysian Chinese standards, I can be considered quite fortunately blessed. Was it always the case? I'll be the first to say no. Has life always been gentle on me? Again, I say no.

Maybe some pains and darkness in my life was self-inflicted. Maybe I allowed myself to feel more hurt than I should have. Everyone has their own tears to shed in their lives, mine no less.

Even as a Christian, there were times when I felt that if I had truly known what the cost was to be a Christian, I might have hesitated. There were so many times when I wished God had allowed me to go silently into the night. But time and time again God refused quietus. Three times by my count, how many more stayed?

I look around me now and I see the whispers of greater blessings to come, more than I have already received. And I am once again struck in awe in the good God I have chosen to serve.

I have sufficient material wealth. I have family that so strongly support me. I have a church now! Yay! I have friends and people I count Special to me. I have a sense of belonging, I have a sense of purpose. I know who I am, I know what I am, and I know where I'm going. I have assurance of peace.

Looking back, I've come a long way. Looking ahead, I have eternity to go. I will have it no other way, my friend.

No more Pizza Hut for me either. Even when I'm in UK. Because by the lack of action by Pizza Hut Corporate is an of condoning by them.

If you're a Malaysian residing in Malaysia, I suggest you also keep away from Ayamas and KFC, because these brands are owned by them.

Pure racism, discrimination and stupidity.

I've never had so constant a flow of activity throughout the entire week including weekends, so have been quite busy and tired out everyday.

This passage stuck on my head since last night till now:

The Beatitudes

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 15:22-28

Was reading some of my previous post and smiling over things I've already begun to forget. The best thing about blogs is that you can put your thoughts on it, with pictures to accompany and easily retrieve and reminisce about it without having to dig out the hard copy of your old journals.

I'm sometimes surprised at how my predictions for the new year can be sometimes. Beginning of this year, I felt 2007 was going to be a good year. I know I mentioned sometime before that the last 4 years had been challenging, the post last year in 2006 was a glossing over. Give and take, ok lah, 3 years. But really, the technicality is not the point. The number of years was a rhetoric.

The first half of 2007 was a bit challenging, but things picked up in the second half. Really quite happy at the moment, even if I continue to be tired most of the time.

Then reading this post reminded me of this post. I remember when I saw the 12th picture on that page, I thought to myself whimsically... if and when I fall in love, I need to be able to gaze that lovingly into the eyes of The One. Siiiiigh...

As I was rushing after work through Old Klang Road to get to a cell meeting at church, I was thinking about that picture. As I waited for the traffic to turn green, I looked heavenward and told God that if He ever blesses me with a guy, I need to be able to gaze into his eyes and lock our eyes together in love...

And I was feeling all lovey dovey and blurry eyed...

When I looked forward beyond the traffic, I saw this.















It was a big-ass billboard on the wall of the building ahead.

And I tell you, I really think I heard God guffawing at my reaction as He said, "Nah! Look lah! Look lah!"


-_-



Who says God doesn't have a sense of humour?

I went to my friend's church in Ealing last Sunday and it was small, the service a little more traditional and we sang hymn songs, which flows of rhythm are so erratic, my voice is always left trying to catch up with its changes making me sound quite the singer.

The message was interesting enough, and the minister leaves unanswered questions unanswered to focus on the main message of the passage, and it left me wanting to discover a little more.

Nothing that made me say, WoW! I want to be in a church like this!!

When the service ended, my friend disappeared somewhere and I started talking to a guy who sat on my left. We got along so well, we were the last few who remained in the main hall before we decided we should join everyone else for tea outside in the kitchen.

I was never left alone for a minute the entire day in the church! When one left, another stepped in to smile and talk to me. It was incredibly warm and welcoming. Some of the young people at church cooked lunch, which everyone shared as we spent time getting to know one another. And it was about 3pm when some of them started to leave did my friend who I followed to church step in and pointed out that we never did spend anytime together at all the entire day.

I didn't even realise it until he mentioned it, because I was so busy enjoying myself getting to know everyone else. I glared at him afterwards and called him mean.

Mean because in one afternoon I've gotten to know so many people, and when I go to the church in St Albans, where I only know a handful of people, I'm going to sorely miss his church and the people from there and I will quite likely now think of moving to Ealing. His cheeky smile confirmed that that was his plan of getting me to go to his church all along.

The hymn singing and strong exegetical preaching may not have wow-ed me. But the people certainly did. I'm sooo going to move to Ealing now.