BEHOLD A NEW DAY...

'This is the day that God has made.  I shall rejoice and be glad in it..."

The earth is His foot stool and heaven, His handiwork.

THERE IS A 'REASON AND SEASON' FOR EVERYTHING

You don't really forget, do you? 

The significant firsts in your life; the first time you stepped into a classroom, the first time you rode a bicycle, the first time you got your driving licence, the first time you flew; the first kiss ... the first job... the first boss?

Although these experiences are now buried in the deep recess of your mind, they are still there; locked and sometimes when you look for the key real hard, you will find it.

People come into your life for a reason and a season.

Some of them stay longer, and some others are snatched from you before you are ready to let them go.  Of course when that happens, it leaves you destitute and confused and you look on with wide-eyed blankness  and wondered, "what happened, why me?"

Every relationship deposits something into your life. 

You may not know the what and why at that particular time but sooner or later the 'mystery' will unfold.

Look around and you will find people with various stories to tell.  

They say that adversity qualifies you for a miracle.  Without hardship one will never know comfort.  Without separation, you would never appreciate togetherness.  Without discord, you will never know the importance of harmony. Without chaos, you would never choose to embrace order.

Without pain, you lose the ability to feel and react.

It's only natural that we reject pain, shun it at all cost.

You have a headache?  Take a panadol.  You are pained by anger? Drown it with alcohol. 

You can't sleep? Take a sleeping pill.  You can't get up?  No worries, there are drugs to pep you up. 

And so we manage quite successfully to keep pain at bay.

But is that really the answer to our (root) problems?

In the olden days when medical science wasn't so advance and cures were not discovered, leprosy was a wide spread disease in many parts of the world and lepers were regarded as the outcasts.

They were despised - the untouchables - and banished from society.  Looked upon with disgust and disdain.

Lepers are an ugly sight, I would imagine.  Parts of the leper's body are missing, bits of his nose, fingers, toes etc.  These would just drop off leaving unsightly stubs where once were perfectly formed fingers or toes.  In sleep bits of their bodies would be eaten away by rodents because the leper feels no pain.  Even if he touches fire there is no pain and in that condition the leper cannot save himself.

I believe this is one time that pain would be welcomed and desired.

I cannot begin to understand the sort of trauma that these unfortunate people had to endure just to survive but I did learn an important and invaluable lesson in reading about their plight. 

Pain has its rightful place in our lives.  Pain saves.  It has changed my perspective.

When I look at a situation that angers, irritates, frustrates or grieves me (and all these translate to pain in varying measures), I am now more incline to accept them positively. 

Difficult, domineering, insensitive and unreasonable people (who execute such pain) are thrust into our midst for a reason and a season.  I don't begrudge them anymore but instead look upon them as the apparatus to help make me a better person.  (I know I'll regret saying this just as soon as I've said it.  But it's said!)

This is the era of  'quick fix'  where patience is frowned upon.  We see divorce rates escalating, staff turnovers are high, white collar (blue collar) crimes increasing and scandalous deals rampant because people are constantly in pursuit of excitement, entertainment and amusement; the easy way to deal with pain.

The pain of boredom, the pain of loneliness, the pain of rejection, the pain of poverty ... the pain of a meaningless life.

Conscience is an old fashioned word and seems out of place in modern times but that doesn't make its pricking presence felt any lesser.

In conclusion we are very fortunate to have people who have (and continue to) accompanied us on our journey in life.  They are always with us at birthdays, anniversaries, birth of a child, his baptism, his graduation, weddings and funerals.

Our parents, our spouses, our childhood friends, our pals from the same village/kampung, how much they have enriched our lives and we, theirs.

And there are other friends who share a particular hobby or interest, a colleague, a member from your place of worship, a Face Book acquaintance, someone you meet on a holiday, friend of a friend; undeniably these are very special people who have entered your life (and you in theirs). 

I believe that nothing happens by chance.  In this context your paths crossed for a particular purpose.  The reason may not be obvious immediately and seldom is but it must mean something and sometimes, something significant.

It would be so interesting, enriching, gratifying and even exciting to know the reason for this unique and probably once-in-a -life-time appointment.

And no matter how long the season, it would leave a lasting impression, for these visitations are sacred.

How wonderful to have someone say to me (and you) some day, "You are the reason I can face tomorrow ..."

 That  is reason enough for me. 

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

Even in a room full of people, one can feel alone.  Loneliness is a condition of the mind and heart.  Seen the signs all too often ... the empty look ...glazed eyes ... fidgety hands ... a heavy sigh ... a desperate silent cry ... a broken spirit.  

You've experienced it too at some point in your life.  Not interested in anything.  Nothing seems worthwhile.  Sluggish.  Bored.  You are like a zombie. The heaviness in your heart wears you down.  Your constant irritability is replaced by unreasonable outburst of temper tantrums which you regret. 

You try to take your mind off it but it won't allow you.

The incessant gnawing eats at you bringing doubt and suspicion.  You lose your confidence and self-esteem.

If only you know what really irks you.  But you don't.  So, how do you deal with a problem when you don't even know what the problem is?  uh-oh.

I venture to think that your ego is hurt.  

You feel rejected rather than accepted; antagonism in place of admiration.  Perhaps you have fallen out and lost your place of prominence with some one who mattered? And so you are wounded in the heart. Under these circumstances, I guess you would either recoil or retaliate.  Unfortunately neither reaction provides the perfect solution.  

What could be more damaging than the feeling of being unwanted, unworthy?  Cast aside.

  

But hey, there is good news!  You needn't feel this way.  You can snap out of it. (Yeah, sure, that's easy for you to say!)  Okay, not in a jiffy but it can be done just as soon as you decide to do it.  That is how soon you can get out of your depressing state of mind.  

My seventy five year old mother was urgently rushed to the hospital  recently (gave us a terrible scare) with severe chest pain and grave difficulty in breathing. She thought she was having a heart attack.  After a thorough examination, numerous tests and a fat bill to show for them, it turned out that her condition was actually due to excessive worry, fear and anxiety. Her heart is as strong as a 45 year old!

The knowing specialist promptly referred her to a shrink!  (mental doctor!)  You see, she needed a different sort of help!  

Mother got the message and as soon as she made up her mind to 'be well', she was instantly cured.

There are so many 'sick', lonely and hurting people around us who need understanding, caring and giving  - of compassion, empathy, kindness and love...a listening ear.

The homeless, the down-trodden, the beaten, the abused, the rejected, and the outcasts.

Won't you reach out and 'touch someone' and spread some Christmas cheer this season?

You can make for "two less lonely people in the world" today.