The Road Less Travelled

In view of my imminent move to Canada, I'd like to share this poem with all those who've journeyed with me thus far. I appreciate all the support, well wishes and prayers by friends and loved ones. This poem expresses very clearly how I feel although this is more like a well-trodden path rather than the road less travelled. Many have led the way before me and they now cheer me on as I take this step. I am grateful for their loving encouragement that has given me the confidence I needed to step out. Where will this lead to? I don't really know. All I ask is that it will lead me closer towards Him. For the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.


The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- By Robert Frost

Don't be fooled by low moods

I learned a very precious lesson today. Don't be fooled by your low moods. That's it. Simple. Often times our perspective of things is tremendously influenced and affected by the way we are feeling at that moment. Thus all things status quo, life may seem to be unbearably serious and difficult when we are feeling low emotionally. This is so true for me that I thought someone just turned on the lights in my head when I read about this!

I can wake up in the morning feeling so upbeat, confident and happy, that life seems like a breeze, so much fun and I can't seem to get enough of it! However in a matter of hours, I could be hit by something, most probably not too insignificant and my mood can be completely spoiled. If I should decide to take a look at my life at that moment, things can seem pretty bad. If I dwell on it, it can even get depressing. The irony is nothing much has actually changed in my life, except for that incident. But at the point, my perpectives can be so warped that I may decide life is not worth living or feel like every area of my life is falling apart.

Thus the lesson I learned is not to be fooled by my moods. They happen, like any other human condition, and they will pass. It always does. At those low points, I should not try to analyse my life. To do that is emotional suicide. Yes, if I have a legitimate problem, it will still be there when my mood improves and I will be in a better frame of mind to make sound judgment and handle the situation.

This thought was highlighted to me by Richard Carlson, Ph.d, the author of 'Don't sweat the small stuff - and it's all small stuff'. They have an entire site dedicated to the Don't Sweat series.

LIVERPOOL are Champs

Football is really an incredible game. With a 3-nil scoreline at half-time, Liverpool equalised in a matter of 7 minutes in the second half. They proceeded to beat AC Milan at penalty shootout. This is such an exhilarating game. Everyone has practically written off the chances of Liverpool carrying the Champions League trophy but now it's time for them to eat back their words! This is a dream come true for all Liverpool fans. Indeed a glorious end to this season ... Will take some time before we will get over this! We'll let the UEFA authorities worry about whether we will play in CL next year.




You Will Never Walk Alone
When you walk through the storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone


'No team had ever come back from a three-goal deficit in the final, but Liverpool did just that during a stunning sequence in the 50th Champions Cup final.'
Liverpool's Historical Moment

Go Liverpool!

Arsenal won the FA Cup much to the distress of many ManU's fans. I know my friend's eyes almost popped in unbelief at the final scores. It was heartbreaking for them watch all the near misses of the many opportunites they had! A painful lost I'm sure when the team seemed to have controlled and dominated the game for most of the time. I suppose it didn't help for my friend, that I was wearing my favourite 'Manchaster Untitled' T-shirt when we were watching the match!

Kimi Räikkönen won the Monaco race ... YES, my favourite track too!! I hope they'll keep up the good work . Go McLaren-Mercedes!

Altogether it was a good weekend. A long weekend too.

Keeping my fingers crossed for Liverpool's meet with AC Milan this Thursday.

Happy 20-05-2005

Yes, it's a once in a lifetime event. I know I'm crazy. Get excited over silly things like this. I guess there's a child in me (think there should always be one in each of us). Simple things that makes me smile. The weather for example is another source of simple delight. I love the sky when it's cloudy or overcast and with a cool breeze. The bright blue, cloudless sky is lovely too if I'm overseas where the heat is not unbearable. I love it when it rains or more like pours in Malaysia. It's a lovely feeling to have water falling down all around me (I can be indoor, in a car or even outdoor, if dressed to get wet - *wink*). As you can see I can really go on and on about the weather, which is something that can affect my moods.

Try to keep life simple. Here's a list of my favourite things (in some sort of weird categories but not in any particular order).
A hug from a friend. An email from a loved one far away. Intimate conversation with like-minded friends. Listening to people share about their experiences, and observe how God is at work in their lives to bring them where they are.
Freshly brewed cup of coffee, taken black. A nice bowl of red bean soup (odd as it seems!). Smell of freshly baked bread (no Rotiboy, thank you. Too rich for me).
Feel of water surrounding me when I go for a swim or even when I wash my hair. Sound of water in motion, like a waterfall or a creek.
Sighting a full moon. A sky filled with stars. Taking walks in a botanical garden or bush walks, surrounded by flora and fauna.
An awesome time of worship (better with some head-banging music) that lets me shout and sing my heart out to God!
Read a good book... no specific genre because I like too many books. Even working with and around books makes me happy. Writing my blog. Watching a movie that inspires me through great acting skills, coupled with an excellent story and plot. It will be a plus if it also has superb special effects.
Watching football, especially when Liverpool wins. Even better, watching Manchaster United get defeated. The list goes on and on. :D

Soul need to catch up

Do you ever feel that your life is moving at such a fast pace that your soul can barely catch up? Sometimes I believe we push ourselves to the limit in this respect because we equate busyness with productivity. At the end of the day, we're spent and our minds and bodies are completely exhausted, and that's the only time people feel good about themselves. I should stop speaking in the second person ... I guess for me, the busyness is helpful at times when I'm trying to avoid facing up to certain issues that are really bothering me within. I try to keep myself so busy so that I don't have to think of them or face up to them. This is especially when I don't have the courage or the energy to do so. But this cannot go on.

Having said that, I have often forced myself to take time off. I don't often get to do that as much as I'd like to in my daily schedule, not disciplined enough to do so. Life is usually so busy, with so many things I want to do and so many people I want to spend time with, etc. Thus what I do is take time off to enjoy seasons of doing nothing and just slowing down. This practice of taking time off to be alone with myself, I feel, is one of the best things that I've learned to do and has helped me keep sane. I learn to tune off and unplug, switch off my handphone, get away from my normal environment and even try to avoid getting online. Believe me, it requires a lot of discipline and sometimes may even experience withdrawals! Many people think it's a luxury they cannot afford but I tell myself it's something I can't afford not to do. It is absolutely crucial to allow my soul to slow down, spend time reflecting and I find my spirit rejuvenated. It has helped me gain new perspectives of the situations I'm going through, tune in to what God is saying and it's also an opportunity to remind myself that I'm not indispensable... the world continues to run just fine even when I stop! That may be a distressing thought but I think it is also a very liberating thought!

The past few weeks have been most stressful. The list of incidents, accidents, close calls, etc just seem endless. I think I've had more drama in my life the last month or so is more than what I've seen in the past one year or maybe even 2, added up together! I think my stress indicator score has gone off the roof, even my body is protesting. The latest is I lost my voice as a result of a throat infection. My family is appalled that I'm on another dose of antibiotics and commented that they've not seen me fully recovered in the past month or so! Sigh. As I see it, things can only get better....

Looking unto Him as my source of strength, protection, peace, grace... basically for everything I need.

Trademark of a Christian

I met up with a friend for lunch today. Someone who inspires me to love Jesus by firstly loving me for who I am. It is amazing to see how this elderly minister of God constantly affirms and loves those around him, especially people who serves us. Through this friendship I have been tremendously enriched and am grateful for such grace. This is a gift I cannot demand nor even imagine exist but only receive with humble thanks to God when He chooses to bestow upon me.

This friendship has confirmed my conviction that a trademark of a Christian is one who is Real and who Really loves people. Both of these do not come easily to me and nor do they come to anyone of us without a price. Many times God allows me to be broken that I may gaze upon Him and ponder on His love for me. My flesh, on the other hand, strives to find significance and satisfaction from self and my own achievements. It is hard and was never meant to be that way. The world does not, cannot, offer true peace, true love or true satisfaction. So I find I'm constantly disappointed and have to guard my heart against cynicism. I realise that it is only when I ponder upon His unconditional love for me and what He has done for me to demonstrate His love for me, that I can have true peace with myself and with Him; and true security and significance based on how I am valued in Christ. I know that as I allow God to deal with and heal me of my insecurities, self-rejection, perfectionist spirit, etc, He will set me free to be Real and Really love people for who they are. As a result of that, I pray others will catch a glimpse of Christ and get a taste of His grace through my life... may they see the treasures and glory of Christ, hidden in this broken, earthen vessel.

It's a journey, a long journey, that will probably take a lifetime but it's all worth it. I can't wait to see the finished work that will last for all eternity. Makes the pursuit of happiness for this life alone seem like a much lesser goal to live for. Yet I don't doubt for a moment that pursuing God and seeking Him with all my heart can only result in true happiness! Happiness is not the goal or else it will be just chasing after the wind or a mirage. My attitude is, and should be, to seek the Giver, and not just His gifts.


Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt 6:33)