life, love, *motherhood, and then more
Archive for September, 2007
Amen means yes, so say yes.
Sep 21st
I recently got to know someone from a Charismatic church lately. She was cool and normal when we said hi, and then when I told her I attend church too, her character somehow transformed into an overwhelmingly loving and adoring sister-in-Christ, saying Amen to everything I said, as if suddenly some veil had been stripped off and Christianese was the common language between the two of us.
I'm not wanting to be provocative by writing that. I have my roots in a Charismatic Church. My dad's Charismatic, his family's very charismatic (there are pastors, counsellors and all). And yet even though her husband's Christian, my mum, well, my mum wouldn't have anything to do with Christianity thanks to the overwhelming emphasis on living the Spirit life, and was driven to the very last end of the backsliders association board room, arms folded with pursed lips. Sort of the reason why my parents are not together anymore.
Anyway before I get tempted to play the blame game, I must admit that I do adore the Charismatics, and by nature I am very charismatic. To put it mildly, had I not have my roots in charismaticism, I probably wouldn't have been able to relate to the figure of God as a real person, the presence of the Holy Spirit as utterly real and that Jesus Christ really lived, died, lived again. All of those stuff just would have been very textbook to me, just information for me to digest… so for me, being Christian requires a good fistful of charismaticism in order to truly embrace and welcome the heavy weight that comes with all that persecution that Christians are required to endure.
But being Charismatic in nature doesn't explicitly mean there is a requirement for me to attend a Church that embraces the Spirit only when it is bursting in flames. This is where I choose to deliberately become provocative, so if you're attending a Church that claims to be 'more spirit-filled' than another, be warned. You can stop reading now.
Stepping up.
Sep 20th
Had this written down yesterday after a mini-session, here it is.
I need to.
Learn to listen to instructions.
Learn to open up.
Lean to be clear in my communication – when I'm not sure, ask for clarity, then answer.
Be focused on the NOW, in the process, rather than checking out for what-ifs in the future.
…
Fasting month…
Sep 19th
Sometimes I wonder if Ramadhan is all about rushing off earlier so that you can beat the jams.
…
I work near Pantai Hospital, Bangsar. To get home, or to get to PJ (so that I can rush in time for the recent AsiaWorks meetings — yah I junkie, can?), I have to get past the Hockey Stadium, over the flyover and turn right into Lebuhraya Persekutuan.
On normal pre-fasting month days, no matter what time I get out of the office, the average time required of me to get back to where I live is about 20 minutes.
These days, if I don't leave the office by 5.00 pm, fat chance I can get to PJ within 45 minutes. On Monday I drove out of my lot at 5.30, and I only got to Crystal Plaza at 6.43 pm.
Traffic congestions caused by people rushing to get to the Pasar Ramadhan near Kg Baru — not very nice or holy right?
Actually, technically, since 'holy' means 'set apart', I support that's what being holy is all about lah. Being different, outstandingly so. The early off time is supposed to allow people to get home ASAP so that they can be with their families as they prepare to break fast kan?
So why on earth is the jam necessary?
Sorry if I'm sounding a mite insensitive here, but causing a jam kind of defeats the purpose of fasting kan?
…
Ok as usual I know I'm being overwhelmingly judgemental and generalizing. Better shut up now. Ta!
Diary-like
Sep 18th
A long time ago when I was Ms Little Bitchy I used to be evil enough to park my car in a manner that would block whoever was idiotic enough to take up another person's lot. Doesn't help that my lot happens to be just next to the Visitor's parking area, which probably results in the situation I have now.
OK usually the saint in me also chooses to place my name car on the dashboard so that whoever comes down can at least call me on the phone and then I can head on over to move my vehicle away.
These days I choose to not bother and park my car somewhere illegal and closer to the building, so that I wouldn't have to leave my work hanging just to get down to the parking areas and allow the accident law-breaker to rectify his mistakes.
Today was interesting though. As usual I came to the office to see that someone had taken my parking lot again. I drove around for a bit and then I saw the owner of the car at the boot area, taking some stuff out (presumably) and then stopping to chat to a friend who was on a bike. This time I chose to wait. Ah, strange things people do, I pointed to the lot as she was locking up her door. She smiled at me and shook her head, indicating that the lot was hers.
I sat in my seat frantically pointing at the sticker on my windscreen that proved right of way.
Oh hoh woman who took my lot smiled and shook her head and started walking away.
So I wound down my window and said, 'Hi there, can I have the lot back?'
She started looking very angry and glared (!) at me, then she said, 'I have my car parked here you see…'
Then I said, 'Erm, I've been meaning to tell you for days, but this is my parking lot, see the number on my sticker, and it would be nice if today I can park in it rather than find an illegal spot elsewhere… that okay with you?'
…
So that's how I got my lot back.
Felt like a lousy bitch anyway. Sigh.
Oh so busy.
Sep 17th
The weeks to come:
- ALI coming and the Basic Guest Event for September is this week…
- A party on Friday
- Another party on Saturday
- (Fingers crossed here) Going back into the training room sometime next week
- And then a wedding to attend next week
Plus that complaint letter to PTPTN and a whole lot of photocopying to be done.
…
Speaking of PTPTN, damned idiots have me writing in EVERY DARNED year to tell them that their stupid requirement of getting students to have 1st class honours prior to load-to-scholarship conversion is not ever going to work if they never actually keep a record of who qualifies and who does not. HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO KEEP PHOTOCOPYING AND CERTIFYING THEIR XEROXED PROOFS OF CGPA ACHIEVEMENTS TILL YOU ACTUALLY STOP HUNTING DOWN THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP TELLING YOU, STOP BUGGING ME?
HOW MANY TIMES IS THE HEAD OF PTPTN GOING TO SIGN THOSE DEBT-COLLECTION LETTERS THAT GET SENT OUT TO US STUDENTS, WITHOUT ACTUALLY READING WHAT'S WRITTEN IN THEM?
Sheesh!
