The last few days were filled with people. Young and old, and very old. Yes the oldest being 96 years' old.

The usual Chinese New Year rounds led us to meet family and friends whom a majority we don't see on the normal days. The most meaningful moment for me this new year up till now - my conversation with this 96 years' old grand aunty. She has lived almost a century and so ready to leave earth. She had been widowed since young and left with an only daughter whose life was robbed away by an air crash when she was still young. It has been a long lonely journey. I am amazed by her strength and alertness. Life is like...hmm, I am still processing her words of sharing.

Forrest Gump in the movie's famous line - "life is like a box of chocolates..."

What is life?
Life seems temporary. Yet it is full of different sort of baggages.
Where does it take us? Why we believe what we believe?

My wise mum always tell me to respect old people for we all will grow old one day too. I always take heed of that. I love hearing their stories. These stories teach. They inspire. Many made me think and reflect. This encounter will cause me to think further. She was also young once and full of dreams, but life took an unforseen turn and...she is still grappling with all these disturbing issues which I pray she will make peace with God and all.

Life is like...
I would like mine to be "like a box of colour pencils" - and the artist, Creator of all, who will colour it as he loves - even if it is black and white...may those who look at it will see the beauty of it and trace to the Artist.

The long months of silence in this blog speaks volume of the lack of time on my end...yikes! I hate that excuse. But that's a fact. Yes, we are all given equal share of 24 hours a day and it is amazing how every second ticks off so quickly and before we all know it, we step into a new year.

Here I am looking back at 2010 with no regrets despite many trials and difficulties. God's sovereignty reigns. Now facing 2011 with much excitement and anticipation I know I cannot do anything apart from being rooted in God. The discovery journey into the heart of God continues...I seek to "see the king in his beauty" (Isaiah 33:17).

I thought it only happened in the movie. Perhaps not just movie, they are real. I read about them in the news. Hear of them in distant manner. The brutality of humankind towards another human - children. Child abuse. For a long time the society is fighting against this amongst other rights. Children - these little people...they have rights. They have the rights to live - to breathe like any other, to love and be loved. To know life is beautiful. To know the beauty of being known by his Creator. To know his destiny.

Oh, today my heart aches and cries out for mercy. Other times I did too. That's why reading the news is traumatic to me. But today - this happened in my family...to a relative. News reached my ears. A typical stepfather beating up the helpless child.

He sat on the road, curled up.
Shaking in pain and bruises all over.
Worn out.

Today this child lies in the hospital.
Case taken up by authority.

The wounds on his body is treated by the medical staff. The pain will be eased by some analgesics. I wonder how his heart is. There will be no medicine to help. No one at this moment to whisper love. I closed my eyes and prayed as my tears dropped. I see angels flapping their wings and guarding his bed. Surely the Father of all creation sees and knows. He still cares. He still loves. Jesus said, "It is finished."

I prayed this little boy will know Jesus settled for him on the Cross.
I prayed tonight he feels a touch from heaven.
Tomorrow is a brand new day. I prayed though the wounds may not be healed instantly but a hope will arise within his heart and spirit. I prayed he will forgive. He may not truly know how but may God erase this agonizing dark moment of his life in his spirit and let him learn to love.

In a little while, I will bring him the good news if he understands. Otherwise may my gestures bring a touch of love in some ways. Pray with me as we love every child, for Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me."

Everyday is a gift...
Celebrate this week...

22 April is World Earth Day!
23 April is World Book Day!
24 April is World Health Day!
29 April is World Dance Day!

All of these so close to our hearts because they are God's gifts to us.

Come, celebrate the Penang World Dance Day today at Pelenggang Cahaya & Katasila, Pengajian Seni, USM from 10am-5.30pm (free workshops) and 6.30pm-7.30pm evening performance followed by a Improvisation Jam session at 8.00-9.00pm.

Life is always changing. Seasons change. People change.

October 8 is always doubly special. My mum and my father-in-law share the same birth date. As we rejoiced and celebrated this day, it also reminded me with every birthday we grow older. It thrill our hearts to see the children grow. On the other hand, I am thankful for our parents but as I traced their obvious aging signs, my heart aches to face the reality that they are no longer as strong and energetic as they used to be. Their faces bear increasing lines and sagging muscles. Their gait is no longer as steady. Their pace slower. They need to rest in between during outings. Their lives draw closer to the eternal home each moment. It is a fact I have to face and I am so grateful for our parents to know they love me so much and raised us all to live a full life.

I thought of my children's plea every now and then, "Mum, please don't grow old. Please stay young and beautiful (beauty is in the eye of the beholder and ahem, this could be a biase statement from adoring children :) And I will always reply to each of them, "I wish I could, honey but we all grow old." Then I will ask them, "Will you love me just the same?"

Now I stand in my children's shoes and wished our parents won't grow old...but it is a fact I have to face. Change is inevitable. As I looked intently at each of them, I can only say, "I love you just the same."

Old is gold :) May God's grace and countenance be upon them as they age.

Merdeka Day is here again.
The noise of celebration begins...
Jalur Gemilang berkibar...

As a nation we have our ups and downs.
The political scene never interest me but can I ignore totally and be indifferent, I sometimes ponder...
I was born and bred in this beautiful rich land. At a glance, it's easy to overlook the true beauty of this nation especially for people who have lived here too long and taken for granted the blessings upon this land. As I mature through the years, my eyes are open to the splendour of Malaysia - a land of great potentials.

How many talk about change? Yet refuses to be a part of it. While the migration rate is increasing, my eyes look further in and deeper to this nation.
I see opportunities.
I see a generation rising up to rebuild the country.
I see great things coming...

I bless Malaysia, tanahair ku!
Biarlah Cahaya menyinari Mu, sekarang and selamanya.

Early this morning, my hand phone rang...
No, it wasn't my alarm.
I saw the name...I knew in my heart it was probably bad news.
A friend called...informed me of our mutual friend's ill condition.
My heart sank though I had anticipated this day will arrive.
I had planned to visit him soon but haven't managed to...
We hadn't been in touch for years. He was based overseas. Just married 2 years' ago. Diagnosed with brain tumour. The malignancy spreads. Came back recently to his hometown. Wheeled chair bound. Poor physical condition with a grim outlook.
Last night, deteriorated further. Admitted to ICU, comatose.

Ed just rushed off with the friend who called to pray for him.
I am seated here with a heavy heart filled with emotional pain for his dear wife and parents. The last image of his face with a sleek smile when we last communicated flashed in my mind.
My prayers go forth for him and his family.

Life...
who can explain it all?

I used to confront this issue of life and death everyday working in the hospital.
The intensity heightened during my posting in ICU.
Death confronted my patients. The pain of the loss was excruciating to their loved ones.
The urgency of the gospel of truth was intensified in me. I went to work every shift armed with a mission and compassion for the lost.

The intensity of that urgency can sometimes tapples off when the norm of life takes over...
We all know life is full of uncertainties.
Yet death is a certain route - for "even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..." but the Good Shepherd is our comfort - "I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

The certainty of death confronts all of us.
But each of us have a choice in our destiny.
My comfort for my friend lying in the ICU bed now is he knows Christ. He reconciled with his Creator. Heaven is welcoming him home.

Life is fragile. That's why we are asked to "watch and pray".
Today I heard my wake up call from heaven.