Well, this is a prayer and fasting movement that is held every single year to commit our nation, Malaysia to God in prayer. It spans over 40 days but as we pray, we must also fast. Fast from what? Some fast food, some fast computer and even some fast coffee! But after all this years that I've done it, I'm gonna change a bit this year.
On Facebook and Twitter, I wrote this status.
"(Wai Leem Au Yong) is gonna fast FB and other social networking sites. =) Want to know more? Read my blog! There's too much too tell here, so check it out there. =D "
I think this year, I'm not gonna try fasting food, I think its time to do my very regular social networking sites, which are just 2, Facebook and Twitter. Fasting is to train one to realize that we CAN live without it and all we really need is God, and the idea of this prayer and fast, is to pray for the hours when we use those "things". So if supposing we fast lunch, then instead of eating lunch, we use that one or two hours to prayer.
I was a bit unsure of what to fast, so I prayed, and somehow, when I was in church this morning, I felt God saying just 'do it la' Do what? I had some doubts should I try social networking sites and TV, or perhaps also blogging or maybe literally the whole computer or something. But at the same time, reluctant to do so. But God said, do it la.. I was like really ah? okay la, can!
But I'm not fasting blogging and computer, because if I have things to share that will help someone, I want to share it, so I post it and its edifying. Secondly, I'm not like addicted to blogging as I am to FB or Twitter. I'm not fasting computer because something I get important and urgent emails or sometimes emails of people needing prayer, so I would need to read those.
To conclude, I'm fasting Facebook, Twitter, TV. I'm telling everyone because I want you'll to do a reality check with me, and to have accountability with someone so that I stay on the right path. When I fasted FB for exams, Chun Yeen always like to tempt me or joke with me about it, but I'm glad that I can say "I did it" and that there is someone to constantly remind me. So there FB or Twit that I last posted, will be the last until this is over, and until my exams are over too la.
Its probably going to be a bit tough, but never mind, I'm up for the challenge. And if there's anything urgent that you need to ask/tell/whatever me, electronic mailing, e-mail!
Less time for me, more time for God, I decrease, He increase.
p/s: oh, I'm also fasting recess eating, cause I know that surely I can use that time for praying with my CF fellas.
Biology class! Oh how I love it! Today, we carried on with the reproductive system in flowering plants and as we were learning, this fertilize with that will produce this and that, and one of which of course is the radicle and plumule. The radicle will grow and become the root, and the plumule will become the shoot.
Lesson 30#:
Radicle radical
Probably in blogs like Jo Fan, you would see the word radical appear a lot, and basically what it means, is just going ALL OUT and doing everything possible and anything probable to achieve a goal, really, anything, and that's what makes radical people radical.
In biology class today, as teacher was mentioning radicle, the thought suddenly struck me, something I never thought of before. For that moment, I actually thought that the both words were spelled the same, but nah, the word 'radicle' isn't even in the computer's dictionary.
So what's a radicle radical? What hit me in class today was that to be radical, we need to learn to be like a radicle.
What does the radicle do? It is the very beginning of a plant, when a seed starts to germinate, the radicle will appear and grow downwards. Then after awhile, it continues to grow and grow, obtaining water and nutrients for the plant, then it will be time to name it root. Then on, as the plant increases in height, the root will grow even deeper and lay a greater hold on the ground. Probably nothing new to you, but its basic science.
For me, to be radical, firstly, we need to be in search for the truth and facts that will help us. Imagine going all out without basis, just doing things for the sake of doing, and in fact, not even knowing why we do what we do, isn't that a bit too irrational? Imagine crowds of people protesting and people joining for the sake of joining, not knowing how to solve the issue but just to protest and cause havoc. Radical movements? surely! But have they gained enough knowledge to believe that what they do is worth it? So firstly, to be radical, go in search for greater understanding.
Secondly, when a radicle finds water, does it stop and enjoy? No! It grows no matter what, why? Not just does it find water, it's other main responsibility is to provide support for the young little plant. Some people sadly, know a lot, but because they don't face real life situations they don't end up performing well despite their knowledge. Its like "katak di bawah tempurung" (frog under a coconut shell) just that that frog got books to read, and probably knows a lot, but have not actually experienced and faced the real world. What many people also need, is not just water as to knowledge, but firm support as to the grip of a root. Being radical but fall later on? Rather be grounded and founded on firm ground with deep roots, then we will really believe why we do what we do.
Thirdly, radicle will continue to grow, and of course it will soon be called a root. It goes from one stage to another, from one level to another. I said earlier that being radical is going all out, so how can a radical person go 'all all out'? All out is a superlative already right? There can't be an extra to that! So if may, some people start radicality (level of radicalness) in their mind, and if I may alter the meaning again to make it a bit more practical, being radical is to believe in what we are doing, and make every effort to achieve the goal.
Meaning that it can be hard to be radical overnight, sometimes quite unimaginable. Yet first part as said earlier is to go in search for truth, and so everything starts with the mind, we need to believe in what we are fighting for. But is just believing good enough? Believing in something great should drive us to action. Yet sometimes because of indifference and unfamiliarity, we don't seem to be able to do everything, yet we try. And as we slowly progress on, we obtain greater skills to go further, and that is moving from one level to another. Yea, the radicle turns into the root changes its name no more, but yet, the root will still continue growing. So we should go from one level to another.
I'm going to use 3 colours to identify the 3 parts.
So let me give a conclusion, but in a form of an example. I'm using Recess Revolution as the main example. Before we start RR, we don't just do do do and do, and not even knowing why we are doing what we doing. So what we firstly do know is that God loves us and asks us to love others just like Him. God says its time to do it, we know that's God's heart, we do it! Yet as we do, we don't just do and forget the purpose and we never should forget God who initiated all this, so we still need firm ground, like attending RR gathering to find support and encouragement from others and to look to God for strength and wisdom to do more. So that when people question us, or sometimes despise us, we will not fall, we will be able to stand firm and not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ! And finally, we will, should and must not be stagnant, rather move from one level to another. Supposing at the start we only know how to bless the guards, its okay, bless them! Then as we grow, we learn to bless the teachers, bless them! Then we continue to move another level, we bless our friends and share the love! Sometimes it may be hard to do some stuff, but nothing is impossible with God and we move from level to another!
So are you a radicle radical? =)
Kid's version of the radicle!
And this would be my last Bulan Penghayatan Kemerdekaan is CHS. Oh the memories..
What a beautiful day today, with all the extravagant traditional costumes and beautiful make up, everyone was spectacular. Yet sad to say, thanks to Elecom, AGAIN, they fail to produce good sound and screw up a lot of stuff. But on the other hand I also don't blame them so much, cause the speakers itself is horrible. Oh well, still, a much more interesting and full of laughter of this year.
I also want to thank Melissa, Karen and Yee Ern for representing Christian Fellowship, and though they didn't do much, still, took time to get all the clothes and help out. Thank you!
What more can I say? The 3 main emcees were from my class, and practically half of my class has people involved. So by the second period after recess, they all got out getting ready for the afternoon session performance, and in class, there were practically half the class. My BM teacher didn't bother teaching. Because of that, more fun! A group of us started talking about discipline teachers and how they used to terrorize us and did things to us whether good or bad.
Not too long, school is over, and what a way to start off the Independence month with a beautiful celebration! Also with a whole group of Japanese! Which I hope they didn't get confuse whether they are in Malaysia or not, cause in one of the performance, they played the waka waka song, which at the end of the chorus says "This time for AFRICA" No Japs, you're in Malaysia, don't worry. =)
Also! In year 2038, we can call an emergency number for any medical problems, Press 1 (giving birth), Press 5 (Mental retardation) and the rest I forgot, but how cool is that! Such vision!
Have a great month of celebrating independence people! Although exams is going to start!
Was in the bus coming back to school today, saw a guy and two other girls got off at one of the bus stop, I doing what I usually do, watch them walk off or sometimes look blur, but this time, something caught my eye.
The guy's shirt, in front, wrote "IMPOSSIBLE to change the world", then I took a closer look because of my disbelief, then I noticed it was actually "IMPOSSIBLE to change the world", amazing!
Isn't that what it really is? A lot of times, things just seem so impossible, we don't see any point doing it, so we just give up and don't care anymore.
Changing the world is a HUGE vision, some say sure impossible! or What can I possibly do to change the world? True enough, we are just one in 6 plus billion people!
Yet, to do something extraordinary doesn't depend on extraordinary people, all we need is ordinary people to do extraordinary yet simple acts. Ordinary people just like you and I, and that's why changing world, or just changing the things around you, starts with us ourselves believing that we can do it, and also making a clear effort to achieve it, surely then, though things seem impossible, yet, I'm able to find possibility in the impossible to change the world, we all will be able.
Now, you believe or not?
p/s: On FB, I wrote, "is going to do less facebooking and more blogging", and I will! HOPEFULLY!
On many circumstance, many times we hear people say that a house is just a building but a home is where one belongs. True enough, a home to me, is just like having a family, a place we belong. Sometimes, supposing we spent a lot of time some place else, we tend to say, 'our second home', and we wouldn't say 'our second house', simple because its a place where we feel the sense of belonging.
Lesson 29#:
Have you got a home?
I'm taking this lesson from a song by Switchfoot, called "This is home", which happens to also be one of the many soundtracks for the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian".
"I've got my memories, always inside of me, but I cant go back, back to how it was. I believe now, I've come too far, no I cant go back, back to how it was" I feel its like some of us, sometimes the place where we felt belonged suddenly turn against you, you seemed like an outcast, it just doesn't feel like home anymore. But as time goes by, it all becomes just a memory, and you know that all the times, the homely times, you can't seem to have it anymore, you can't get back to that place.
"Created for a place I've never known. This is home, now I'm finally where I belong, where I belong. Yeah this is home, I've been searching for a place of my own, now I found it, maybe this is home, yes this is home." Now we call a new place home, a new place that we found belonging and we probably have been searching for that place for quite some time and found it! But sometimes we doubt a bit, is this really home? Yea, this is home! But where is this place?
Today in church, my Pastor was sharing on the hope of our salvation, and I believe many can testify, that being with God, we feel belonging, we know and experience that love and care, grace and mercy that he has given us. And that is surprisingly amazing, because we do not need to have many people who care around us just to feel like a 'home', but just believing in Jesus gives us comfort and indeed a home! A home is where feelings are also poured out, because its people you trust. Likewise, countless of Christians look to God whether in joyful or depressing times, and we all pour out our feelings, isn't this like home? This is home! By simply abiding in God. Yea, sometimes we might doubt, because we don't see him, and question whether is he really there? But experience will confirm it to us, that He really is!
"Belief over misery, I seen the enemy, and I wont go back, back to how it was. And I got my heart set on what happens next, I got my eyes wide its not over yet. We're miracles, and we're not alone." In the 2nd verse, it doesn't just come, its about believing, and the enemy wants us to dwell on our past, on our failures, on how people outcast us, because he doesn't want us to believe and find comfort in God. Yet, when we experience God's loving grace and mercy, there ain't going back to how it was. Then we always will anticipate what God will have for us in the future, whether good or bad, we know we can trust God! And remember its not just you, God loves everyone! and it is indeed for EVERYONE!
"And now, after all my searching, after all my questions, I'm going to call it home. I got a brand new mind set, I can finally see the sunset, I'm gonna call it home." We search and search, question and reason, we will surely call it home, the relationship we have with Jesus. And abiding in Christ will allow us to see things from His point of view, we get a new mind set, we see beauty in God's eyes even though it may be times of suffering, and because of all this, no matter what we go through, we know and can call it home.
So, have you got a home?
Just wanted to add on one factor.
I mean, being a Christian, its obvious that despite how much we strive, technically, without the help of God in every way possible, we will still fail.
You know why?
Cause just like how STAR is Striving To Achieve Results, but the most basic question in, when we look into the sky, have we asked ourselves who created those brightly shining beautiful stars?
GOD!
So if God created stars, how much more we need him as we strive to achieve results, because a STAR is not formed without the CREATOR. We can strive, but without the source, we strive towards and for nothing.
So yea, add God, Jesus into the picture and the picture is PERFECT!
p/s: and I want to add one more, a song by switchfoot called "more than fine", just like my second point, don't settle for mediocrity and so so.. in the song, there's one part which goes "more than bent on getting by.... more than just okay" That's how it should be! Strive!
Wow, its really been awhile since I wrote any lessons here, but its not like I've been blogging much for that matter.
But anyway, somehow finding it harder to be able to think of things to share, but I believe this will be my lifelong commitment, and in life there is so much to learn, so yea, check in once awhile, I just might have written another lesson post.
Well for today,
Lesson 28#:
Aim for the stars, but if you still don't get the moon, its not the end..
You know as kids or even at teens, sometimes people tell us go aim for the stars, to aim far, high and wide? And then they say that if you don't get it, at least we got the moon? Well, to some extent, that is in fact, true. But what if we don't even get the moon?
Let me illustrate a scenario here. Let's take a school club/society for that matter and everyone in that club wants a post. So now many would do their best, aim high, go all out, reaching for the star or in other words getting the top job. Then there will those who did all those yet didn't get the top job, still they got the moon, still got a part in the committee. Sadly, there will be some who did so much yet got nothing.
Let me go part by part. First of all, aim for the stars. I would personally believe that many times people say it, or use it as an encouragement, we should take it to heart. Aiming for the stars for me, is not aiming for what you cannot have, but aiming for the best, beyond what we can imagine. The difference is when we aim for what we cannot have, its called daydreaming, but when we aim for the best, we will do all it takes, we strive to achieve it, and sometimes, we end up getting the stars, getting a result beyond what we thought was our limit.
The problem is sometimes a lot of us do not aim for the stars. A lot of times we psychologically tell ourselves that we cannot make it, there is no chance, or perhaps it is impossible. We never really took that step of faith and effort to act upon it. Sometimes, it could also be because of past experiences, that when we aimed for the stars, we went no where, so the disappointment haunts us, that we have a fear of failure. Isn't it so?
Ah! Oh well, at least we got the moon, still something good, not great, but better than nothing. But don't stop there! Don't settle for good, aim the best! No, I'm not promoting that we should be proud or ungrateful for what we have, but just like Mr WongKK loves to say that we must keep on learning to always improve and become a more better person. Likewise, even if we aren't the top, just mediocre, do not settle for it, strive to be better! Sadly, a lot of people get comfortable with their mediocre life, just so so, they never continue to aim higher. So aim higher! and most importantly strive to be better in all you do!
What if you don't even get the moon? Do you sometimes feel like people start to look down on you, all the moon and stars is way up above, high in the galaxy, and we are just so small, we don't seem to matter in people's eyes anymore. The stars shine beautifully and the moon reflects the glow splendidly for everyone to see, their skills, their power, and what are we now? People sideline us, left us just to watch and admire them when we are not even looked at.
You know, I've been in that situation before. I used to be arrogant years before, always thought that I had the leadership ability, had the ability to motivate and unite people, and though I knew I wasn't the best, but I acted as if I knew I was the best in school. So I did all I can, aimed for the stars and thought that no one else could possible make it like me, yet on that very same issue, I ended up not even getting the moon. Wow, what a big blow for me, taken aback by the result, such a grave disappointment.
I learn to live with the fact, but as days gone by, I always asked myself, that since I couldn't even get the moon, what else is left for me? Then I realized the fact that, no one is never nothing when he wants to become something.
People sidelined us? sure. People look down on us? probably. But the real issue is, are we looking down on ourselves? Are we letting people determine who we are? People may sideline us, despise us, look down on us, but if we make a firm choice and choose to be something, to be someone of use, then we have become something, though others say we're nothing. Back to the top, about aiming for the stars, sometimes its not just letting people determine who we are, sadly, sometimes we let the past hinder us for achieving the stars.
See, the cool part about this, is that, when we look into the sky, the stars are just so many, so indescribable. The truth of the matter is, we can always aim for the stars even if tried and didn't even get the moon, and someone else did reach the star, we still can aim for stars, because there isn't just one. Yes, of course there isn't 2 Presidents for that matter, but who is a President or a committee, without their members? Members do not have to be in top jobs, or people do not have to be millionaires to be a star, to be the best. We can learn, do and be the best no matter what position or what status we have.
All in all, a S.T.A.R. is ultimately, Striving to Achieve Results. Yea, the journey of becoming the top, all the effort, it was great and deserved to be a star, but if one does not continue to strive, they just become TAR, which is bad for health, bad for the wellbeing of that particular group.
So, Are You Aiming For The STARS? Are you Striving to Achieve Results? Or are you sitting back in mediocrity?
Aim For It!
Of course not me, cause my hair will forever be the same!
But my new blog layout! I was very undecided whether to change, cause it usually takes long to choose one that I like. Surprisingly, it really didn't take long! Found this less than a minute and I have currently no problems with it! Also, thank God for saving my time, cause even the blog theme says it, this theme is called "Amazing Grace", cool eh?
So with the new look, sure got new stuff la! First of all, its the chatbox! I've always wanted this kind, but could never get it to work. Now its here! No need for me to moderate bla bla bla, its easy for you and me!
I also thought since blogging is like a diary, I added my "BIG things to do". These things are things that I really really want to do in the future, or really really want to achieve. Nevertheless, these stuff are BIG things to me, and surely cannot be done overnight, its long term.
Finally I also added my wish list. Was talking to a friend quite a long while back, and she said so and so wants this, then I asked how did you know? And she said, "because he wrote it in the blog la!". No la, not that I want anyone to buy it for me (though that would be cool! *hint*) But my birthday is over and all, so it doesn't really matter. Its just stuff I would really be happy to have, but as of now, I'm very contented with everything that I have. I also noticed this, WISH (What I Should Have) That's why its only a wish, because sometimes we get it, sometimes we don't, cause in the end, is what we should have, but not really what we need right?
3 things only la, but probably more to come, who knows? Blogging suddenly became more fun!
Wai Leem
There's just so much stress going on in my mind right now.
Mainly its about the passing over of the baton to the next batch to continue serving God in CHS.
Leadership had never shown me this side before, and I'm in a huge process of learning and understanding many aspects of leadership. So much to a point that I believe leading the Board of Prefects would actually have been easier than this.
Anyway, all this discussion, complaints, people commenting on other people, sometimes perceived as judging, and just so many things have been coming along my path. And honestly, I really don't know what to do with all this.
Yet I know, and I know well in my heart, that whatever the case is, God will somehow continue His work that he has started in CHS over 30 years ago.
How? I really don't know, and because of that, at this moment I also do not know what's the next step, but I'm taking it easy, one step at a time, praying, seeing how God will lead one step on to another. I never expected it to be that tedious.
"God, its up to you man.. My hands can only do so much, but the problem is, I don't even know what should my hands do!"
Wai Leem
I want to be ordinary, yet extraordinary. 5 years ago, my eldest brother was in the finals of a public speaking competition and he spoke on being ordinary extraordinary. He talked about various individuals of ordinary talents and ordinary lifestyle, but they exemplified extraordinary character, and he got first runner-up.
When I first saw this competition, “My Success, My dreams”, immediately thought of writing my undying desire to become a doctor, pediatrician to be specific. I even wrote a fiction in a commonwealth essay competition about that dream and got highly commended! Unlike some friends who are wavering between their future job opportunities, as for me, I never had that problem since primary 3. Even if the news says that in 5 years time there will be an overflow of doctors, it will not matter to me. Indeed, I thought this would be my dream story of success until I actually got down to start thinking, the more I realized that to inspire people, its not about writing the greatest career that one could achieve, but rather, how to be extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary.
As I pondered on the reason of becoming a doctor, I came to a conclusion that success for me is not in becoming a doctor, but to give back to society, to aid the needy, to provide a home to the homeless, to treat the sick and mend back the broken hearted. In order to do this, becoming a doctor is merely a stepping stone, having an ordinary job, but practicing extraordinary movements.
A friend came up to me once and said, “Wai Leem! I read on the newspaper that a pediatric clinic is offering
RM250,000 per month! I see your successful future!” To me, I stared at her and bluntly said that I’m already intending to work in a government hospital. No amounts of cash can deter me as ultimately becoming a doctor because of the lucrative income, to me, that is not success. Rather, to serve the people no matter their social status is what really matters.
Everyday we see beggars all along the roadside, mothers carrying their little children in their arms, yet there is no one to pick them up, to buy them some food, to at least reach out a helping hand. I grew up unable to help these people because my parents would stop me, but instead of getting me to refrain from caring for them, all the more I cannot bare to see them pushed down to the ground like dirt, as if their lives are dust on the road. My days as a teenagers are limited in what I can do, but one day when I can stand on my own 2 feet, I will do something for these people.
I feel that my current days though physically not being able to help the helpless, yet it is a preparation stage. It is like the process of cell reproduction by mitosis
, the cell in its first stage will decide whether or not it should multiply, and if it decides to multiply, does it then straight away undergo that 4 stages of multiplication? No! It still goes on preparing itself through 2 more stages, only then it is ready to multiply. I’ve made my decision, and I am now preparing myself to meet what may come by in the future. I do not know which stage of preparation am I in, but I do know that whatever the case is, blurring me from being ready to help a life is something that cannot be done.
Who knows? From starting small in helping these homeless people, to entering other countries with low medical facilities, I just might be able to be a part of the world’s leaders congress
to find a way to end world hunger, and once again, I will share my very story and my very own definition of success, and that the world will understand that love, care, kindness and every other positive attribute is the key to solve all these mysteries. If everyone will put aside their selfish and greedy mentality, and look from within, they will see the world in a whole new perspective, and though a population of 6.7 billion (as of year 2008) one life will never be a mere dust on earth.
One day, after all the hard work, realizing that there is less beggars, less homeless children, decrease in world hunger, my work will not yet be complete, but I do know I’m on a lift of success that will continue to rise higher and higher. Indeed true success is being extraordinary, to step out of our comfort zone, to do things that help these type of people down here.
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