And the Journey continues……………

Joshua had invited both Darius and me to this musical concert on Sunday and as usual, Darius let us down with excuses. Hmph! ‘And the Journey continues….’ was a charity musical concert in aid of the Dr. J. Earl Gardner Fund. Dr. Gardner was the founder of the Penang Adventist Hospital and the fund is used to help well-deserving patients.

The concert was an eye-opener for me, although Joshua’s sister was one of the ballerinas. There were so many gifted young talents performing for FREE in aid of a good cause. They gave their time and talent unconditionally and the people who came gave their support unconditionally. In a world where we always say “I’m busy”, “No time!”, and I’m one of them, there’s so much to life besides studying, working, earning more and more money…etc. One thing I learnt from this concert is that money cannot buy love, hope, joy and the gift of life. And also for me, friendship, good friends and family. There is a world out there where people need people, care and attention. TLC (Tender Loving Care). It gave me FOCUS! Also, although in the beginning it felt like a chore and a tiring affair to get dressed for the occasion but when I looked at the photo taken that night, I realized that for the whole of this year I had been slacking in this department, always in pants, t-shirts & sneakers. Hmmmm………=)

At the concert, there was this guy, Chong Soo How, 25 (Anthony’s age) who suffered from prolonged joint inflammation of the hips since he was 15 years old and could not bend but only stand or lie down. He lives with his family in a rubber estate with no water and electricity, with no means of communication except from a tiny radio. Under the Dr. Gardner fund he received financial assistance and underwent 3 successful hip replacement surgeries. Today, he is able to work and with what little he earns, he gave so generously back not just in money but time and support of the Fund.This touched me!

Because, practically everyday, in college I hear such moans and groans of some of us college kids who are able to be here in the first place instead of a public school, who have a car at our disposal, who can dine at fancy outlets, buy what we fancy and yet are nothing but melancholic or just annoying. Not contented and not appreciative of what we have and are. Often so focused on the wrong sort of loving and giving.

Sheesh!

In Remembrance of Anthony

My weekend began on a down note with news of the death of a friend, a former neighbour who had moved back to KL. Anthony was an Indian, a few years older and he used to play the guitar at our BEC meetings. On the whole he was a very friendly guy who I used to terrorize as a kid. I was into books about riddles, jokes and disgusting facts at the time and I used to corner him into being a victim of all my riddles. Whenever he annoyed or bullied me, I would step/sometimes jump even, on his feet and run off, leaving him screaming. Haha! ^^ Sorry Anthony, I was so much smaller then and you seemed so big and tall then too.

I guess you could say he was careless. His car broke down on the emergency lane and as he got out, an oncoming car hit him. He died instantly. One moment here, next moment gone! Like me, he was an only child. Anthony had a tendency to be very rash in doing things, always getting emotional and doing things before thinking things out through first. That’s how I always won! J I remember how as a child I used to sit quietly and listen to the times he got himself into scraps because of this nature of his. He tended to get himself into knots. Too much emotion for his own good! What do you expect? He was only 18 then. Well, as I said, this time he just was not so lucky and got careless.

It really does rattle something in me to think that Anthony was someone I knew and so young, so close to my age, and now he is gone! LIFE……..so fragile…..so uncertain………so…….well, Anthony is with the Lord now. After all that studying…..(sigh)

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Things lighten up as I had dinner with family and two very dear people in my life, Fr. Jean Claude, who I used to tie up with his long seat belt in his car, and Fr. Pat, my cousin, my spiritual mentor. It was so good to eat and relax in such company after such a tiring day at college and such a tragic story. Sooooo much to study too!

NEVER GIVE UP

NEVER GIVE UP

You are beaten to earth?

Well, well, what's that?

Come up with a smiling face.

It's nothing against you to fall down flat.

But to lie there - that's a disgrace.

Edmund Vance Cooke (1866 - 1967)

*This quote has been annoying me again today!

So, NAH, here's my smiling face! =)






P.S. I'VE GOT MY JOSH GROBAN 'AWAKE' MUSIC SCORE BOOK!!! *SCREAMS! xD