The problem with choosing which field to harvest, first

A big shout-out to the 3 brethren that I spoke to concerning this site yesterday. Yeah, you guys, you know who you are.:) Welcome, and be not expecting anything remotely as funny or articulate as Mr Sia. You know the toll our profession takes on our brain cells lah and by the time I get to writing here (on the rare occasions that I’m able), my thoughts are about as comprehendable as soft butter. See, even that sentence hardly made any sense. Oh, do try not to spread the word very wide if possible. You know how The Boss views these sorta activities by The Employee.;)

Anyhows, been tasked to share at this Friday’s cell group meeting on the current problems plaguing the Church. Something about mission trips is bothering me right now. Should the focus of mission trips be domestic or international? Should there be a difference in priority between reaching out to those in your own backyard over those on the other side of the fence? Or does it not matter where you go, so long as you’re reaching out to people in need?

Arguments can be made for either point of view. A tough one…hope it doesn’t cause a ‘war’ tomorrow night at cell if I do bring it up as a discussion topic.:P

Huang2 Hun (Dusk)

 

Guo4 Wan2 Zheng3 Ge4 Xia4 Tian, You Shang Bing4 Mei2 You3 Hao3 Yi Xie

(The entire summer has passed, but my deep sorrow has not lessened by one bit)

Kai Che Xing2 Shi3 Zai4 Gong Lu4 Wu2 Ji4 Wu2 Bian, You3 Li2 Kai Zi4 Ji3 De4 Gan3 Jue2

(Started driving on an endless highway, but I feel detached somehow)

Chang4 Bu4 Wan2 Yi Shou3 Ge, Pi2 Juan4 Hai2 Sheng4 Xia4 Hei Yan3 Quan

(I can’t even finish singing a song, without it leaving me fatigued and with dark circles under my eyes)

Gan3 Qing2 De4 Shi4 Jie4 Shang Hai4 Zai4 Suo3 Nan2 Mian3, Huang2 Hun Zai4 Mei3 Zhong Yao4 Hei Ye4

(In the world of emotions, hurt is unavoidable, and whilst dusk may be beautiful, it too will eventually turn into the darkness of night)

Yi Ran2 Ji4 De2 Cong2 Ni3 Kou3 Zhong Shuo Chu Zai4 Jian4 Jian Jue2 Ru2 Tie2

(Nonetheless, remembering how you said goodbye, how you were as firm as iron)

Hun An4 Zhong You3 Zhong3 Lie4 Ri4 Zhuo2 Shen De4 Cuo4 Jue2

(In the darkness, I have the illusion of being burnt by fierce sunlight)

Huang2 Hun De4 Di4 Ping2 Xian4, Hua4 Chu Yi Ju4 Li2 Bie2, Ai4 Qing2 Jin4 Ru4 Yong3 Ye4

(Dusk’s horizon, is a picture of a verse in farewell, of love entering into the perpetual night)

Yi Ran2 Ji4 De2 Cong2 Ni3 Yan3 Zhong Hua2 Luo4 De4 Lei4 Shang Xin Yu4 Jue2

(Nonetheless, remembering how the tears dropped from your eyes, how you were so broken-hearted, as if you had lost all desire to live)

Hun4 Luan4 Zhong You3 Zhong3 Re4 Lei4 Shao Shang De4 Cuo4 Jue2

(In the confusion, I have the illusion of being burnt by your hot tears)

Huang2 Hun De4 Di4 Ping2 Xian4, Ge4 Duan4 Xing4 Fu2 Xi3 Yue4, Xiang Ai4 Yi3 Jing Huan4 Mie4

(Dusk’s horizon, cuts away my life’s happiness and joy, melts away our love into thin air)

 

(With thanks to ALH and GLYY for their help )

Lina Joy / on being a lawyer in Msia

So, Lina Joy has lost her case at the Federal Court. There are already plenty of blog postings and comments on this topic. Some reasoned and rational, others inflammatory/extremist/racist. Religion is a funny thing, isn’t it? It brings out the best AND the worst in humans. Why is that, when the underlying message of ALL religions is essentially peace, love, understanding, respect, tolerance? Brother, I’m not out to get you. I just want the freedom to profess what I believe in. Your faith, my faith…ultimately, it’s between us and the divine we choose to call God. Not as between man and man. So can’t we just sit down and work out a win-win situation for all?

Anyway, back to the Federal Court’s decision. I’ve yet to get my hands on the grounds of their judgment so it’s perhaps wise to reserve comment on its legal soundness for now.

Isn’t it sad though that even before the ruling was delivered, the general consensus was that the FC would rule against Lina? What does that say about public confidence in our judiciary’s ability to be impartial in upholding the rule of law?

Which brings me to some thoughts I’ve been having lately about my vocation. Am I really assisting in the dispensation of justice? Or, am I actually helping the crooks get away scot-free with their misdeeds? What if the system itself is rotten to begin with? Am I merely helping to perpetuate it?

Let’s not forget the occupational hazards too. Threats of defamation. Professional negligence constantly hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles. Backhanded remarks that we’re heartless/spineless/gutless.

Litigation…is a constant battle always. Of wits, of words…. What if I’m starting to become battle-weary though?

Note: just obtained copies of the FC’s grounds of judgment

Majority judgment

RM’s dissenting judgment

The thousandth man

One man in a thousand, Solomon says,
Will stick more close than a brother.
And it’s worth while seeking him half your days
If you find him before the other.
Nine nundred and ninety-nine depend
On what the world sees in you,
But the Thousandth man will stand your friend
With the whole round world agin you.

‘Tis neither promise nor prayer nor show
Will settle the finding for ‘ee.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of ‘em go
By your looks, or your acts, or your glory.
But if he finds you and you find him.
The rest of the world don’t matter;
For the Thousandth Man will sink or swim
With you in any water.

You can use his purse with no more talk
Than he uses yours for his spendings,
And laugh and meet in your daily walk
As though there had been no lendings.
Nine hundred and ninety-nine of ‘em call
For silver and gold in their dealings;
But the Thousandth Man h’s worth ‘em all,
Because you can show him your feelings.

His wrong’s your wrong, and his right’s your right,
In season or out of season.
Stand up and back it in all men’s sight –
With that for your only reason!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine can’t bide
The shame or mocking or laughter,
But the Thousandth Man will stand by your side
To the gallows-foot — and after!

~ Rudyard Kipling

To Li, who was unknowingly my thousandth (wo)man last night.

Ps. This was the foreword to Jeffery Archer’s A Prison Diary Vol II: Purgatory. Archer’s Prison Diaries are a recommended read.

Ctrl-Alt-Del

No man is an island………

But I fervently wish, right this moment, that I was/am an island.

My eyes are tired, my brain is tired, my soul and spirit are tired. I am tired of tears, of words, of pain, of anger…….of emotional shite in general.

I am fed up with people….and fed up with people affecting me. I wish I could tell them to go to hell, and take their problems with them. And leave me fucking alone, thank you very much.

I’ve had enough of fighting and arguing, twisting and turning, convincing the arbitrator that it’s grey when it’s actually black (or white). Who cares what colour it is anyway? What about morality, justice, mercy and compassion? That’s what matters afterall….isn’t it?

Enough of doing my job, doing my duty, playing my part. Enough of it all. Enough.

I crave rest, peace, love, harmony. But they have gone into hiding, and I have not the energy to conduct a hunt.

I sit quietly, hoping to hear God in the stilness. Maybe He can give me the comfort I need? But….nothing. And that in itself, comes as no surprise.

I wish I was/am an island.