They Don't Live In Both Worlds

In my younger years, I used to follow some adults rounding up a group of ducklings and baby geese, chasing them down to the pool.

I was curious as to whether the ducklings and baby geese could swim.

My heart throbbed for them as I observed the first one in the water....

With elegance and style, it glided through the water.

Then more and more of them jumped in with styles and confidence.

No... no.

They wouldn't drown in still water.

It was their nature to swim and play in water.

...And I was happy for them.......

*******

As I grew, I learned to love to chase after butterflies, dragonflies, ladybugs, grasshoppers, and crickets with my family, relatives and friends....

Sometimes moving around the garden and recreation park, chasing and catching them with bare hand....

Then one day I observed an army of ants tackling a grasshopper...

I was worried whether the weak and vulnerable social insects were able to get through the day.

Then I saw how the ants attacked the grasshopper and brought home their bounty reward.

No... no.

The weak and vulnerable would encourage themselves to go on.

They always worked in group and they helped one another, with one mind, one heart, one soul, one spirit, one hope and one strength.

They fought and won with style.

Even those that died were not died easy in opened country.

It was their nature to live and have their being.

...And I was happy for them.......

*******

When I grew up and was ready for my type of battle....

I was sad to behold the scheming and plotting of the weak and vulnerable....

I was sick of the bullying and harassment by the strong and powerful....

Then the adult would say, "Come out of your dream world into the real world."

And so I was taught to live in both worlds.

In my dream world....

Peter Pan beats Captain Hook in every way, shape and form!

The toy soldiers save and rule the world!

Rambo struggles against deadly odds and vows revenge on those who made him an enemy!

Robin Hood robs the rich to give to the poor!

And many myths, heroic epics, fairy tales, folk tales and legends that depict how the weak and defenseless stand up against the giants of their days.

Then the emphasis on scenic lots, beautiful homes, commercial spaces, quiet retreats, and island paradises that provide temporary shelter or permanent recluse for those who refuse to fight anymore.

Then the many romantic stories, with its cries of "love at first sight", "Never ending love", and that running and hugging... in the park... in open field... with slow motion, and its many incidents and accidents, many twists and turns, and its high emotions and vehement declarations..... Moving us with very strong feelings and mixed emotions of joy and fulfillment, confidence and motivation, pain and sorrow, love and endearment, confusion and frustration, laughter and tears.....

Then the many heroic stories of one against a million enemies, fighting with bare hands against many skillful and experienced soldiers with intimidating and sophisticated weapons and arms, then the many enormous explosions and bombastic chasing and fighting scenes, Then the bloodsheds... the many accidents, deaths, injuries and dismemberments...Then the good men win, and shout.... and scream.... in triumph and victory.... Then the happy ever after.....

Then back to the real world....

Now come the biggest loser....

Now come the timid and trembling...cowering in fear and awe.... awaiting orders and instructions.... relying on friends and family.... pushing away responsibilities and blames... heaping abuses and insults on others.... dominating the stage, the scenes, and the plays.... ever winning or losing.... with no shoulders to rest, weep or cry....

Then back to the dream world....

Then back to the real world....

Then back to the dream world....

Then back to the real world....

Life becomes a drag, a burden of responsibilities, a lifeless life.... when we begin to live in both worlds.

Then we look at the ducklings, the baby geese, the butterflies, the dragonflies, the ladybugs, the grasshoppers, the crickets, the ants..... and wonder what and how we have lost ourselves and our way......

With elegance and style, they glided through the world.

Then more and more of them jumped in with styles and confidence.

No... no.

They wouldn't die easy in the world....

It was their nature to live and have their being....

No... no.

They are not living in both world!

They are all living in their own real world, enjoying their lives, under the blessings and provisions of their God.

No... no.

They don't chooses to live in both worlds.

How I Miss My Friends

It was a nice and cooling morning after many days of heavy downpour and scorching sunshine.

The air was clean, pure, and fresh, as the wind whistled through the hairs and the ears....

Everyone looked cheerful, happy, energetic, lively, highly-spirited again....

The flowers, the plants and the grass all looked greener, healthier, livelier....

The day was again alive and filled with actions, events, celebrations, dancing and music....

And the morning sun with its warm and light brought more cheer, joy and delight on everyone....

*******

Walking down a road on a slope, I saw some colleagues in the school canteen.

Oh! They were ordering their breakfast items....

*******

The morning glory flowers looked especially beautiful today with its many shades of whites, yellows....

The palm trees grew taller and thicker, with its many beautiful green leaves....

*******

Suddenly I felt excited to join my colleagues....

A mug of Nescafe would be nice.... yeah, maybe some warm food.

*******

Walking down the canteen staircase took some time.

It was a bit too steep for my liking.

But then, I managed to walk down the staircase in one piece....

******

I ordered a mug of hot Nescafe and a plate of Jawa Mee, or Mee Jawa, a Nyonya-inspired noodle soup.

The food and drink were ready much sooner than I thought....

Slowly I took my first taste on my hot drink....

Oh! it's way too sweet for my taste.

Then I was attracted by my Jawa Mee, causing me to salivate a lot.

Oh! It was really tasty (and spicy) and appetizing.... and filling.

"The gravy was really good!" Quietly I said to myself.

*******

Then we were on some discussion topics.

No controversial issues, just plain and simple chat.

Yet it really built up our friendship and strengthened our bond.

Oh! We were really having a good time!!!

The meal was wonderful....

And the people were terrific....

How I had missed fellowships like this....

Under the scorching sun, I was busy building up my life and career.

With the heavy raining, I was lazing away the rest of the day doing nothing.

Life is so inward, so individual, so separate, so shut within the privacy of the soul, that I shrink from trying to share it with others.

Yet everywhere every place my friends there are waiting for me to come....

Oh! How I miss my friends.......

Have You Achieved Your Dream?

Watching children carrying plastic swords, toy guns and rifles, wearing Superman or Batman outfits....

Looking at them playing hide and seek, counting 1,2,3...20, occasionally peeping where their friends hide....

Observing the children frenziedly looking around corners, doors, closets, beds....to hide.....

Then the search begins and the fun is on...

Many shouting, screaming, laughing, giggling, whispering, yelling....

Occasionally we may hear some cry foul and... cry fair....

Some crying, whining and fussing....

Sometimes we may see them chasing after one another, fighting with their bare hands, kicking with their short legs....or with flying slippers and shoes....

Sometimes seeing them panting, sometimes almost falling....

Or seeing them stopping for a while, pulling up their pants or trousers, adjusting their dresses or skirts, pressing their caps atop their heads, blowing their noses, clearing their throats....

It's really fun and rewarding.

Children's plays always make me laugh with tears until my stomach aches.

Children's plays always help me break away, relax, and unwind a little....

Away.... from the hustle and bustle of works and responsibilities....

Away.... from the hectic and stressful day to day busy life....

Away.... from those who love plotting and scheming too much and backstabbing too soon....

Away.... from those who are bad tempers, bad attitudes and having foul and slanderous mouths....

Away.... and away.... from everything that makes me crazy, stupid, insane....

Looking at.... children's innocence and perceptions, children's tears and laughter, children's' joys and triumphs, children's struggles and problems, children's dreams and nightmares.... they are all too intense and exciting.... all too fun and engaging....all too true and funny...... and they will all come to a close at the end of the day....

Another day, another beginning of a brand new journey of adventures and fun.

All that has passed is forgotten....

No past grudges to settle....

No evil thoughts arise in their hearts....

Let begone be begone. ...

All of a sudden, the world seems so peaceful, so quiet, so real, so pure, so beautiful, so loving, so soothing, so wonderfully nice..... It is so fantastic and very mesmerizing....

*******

Vaguely remembering the story of a highly successful manager giving counsel to a young fisherman who was still resting at the seashore after the morning's catch....

The manager boasted about how he had climbed the ladder of success, how he had planned and strategized from the very beginning, how he had schemed and plotted days and nights for this end....

He elaborated, analyzed and evaluated his many success stories and failures....

He also talked about his many dreams and visions for the future....

He then counseled the young and energetic fisherman to follow him as an example or a role mode....and not to waste his life while he was still young....

The young man looked into the far horizon over the ocean of fortune....

He giggled and laughed to himself and gave the manager a broad and sweet smile.

Then he spoke to the manager, "You are very wise and knowledgeable. I presume you must have very high education and mass experiences. Have you achieved your dream?"

The manager looked into himself, hesitated a little, but kept his mouth shut.

He looked at the man bewildered.

The fisherman continued, "I have. Every day"

Then he walked slowly away, bringing along his provisions for the family....

Needless to say, the manager was dumbfounded. He walked away sad and confused....

*******

Some people achieve their dream every day.

Some never realize their dream even when they die.

Have you achieved your dream? Every day?

Paid But Not To Work

A colleague of mine broke down and cried after she considered her heavy workload and the seemingly endless stream of tasks and responsibilities she had in the workplace....

She tried her best to tell the rightful authorities about it, but was cruelly denied. The organization was badly in need of her services.... Nobody else was capable.... She was the best around... It was her duty to help the organization to progress.... and a whole lot of other reasonable excuses and justifications were thrown at her, wanting her to back off, stop talking and start doing all that she was told.

This was not the first time she had related her problems to the authorities. They had known her all along and had contemplated how to deal with her. And this was not the first time she was denied, and surely wouldn't be the last.

She had withstood increasingly great pressure from the workplace year after year, silently and diligently did all her share of the workload. Grumbling a little but never stopped giving her best.

But her helpful services were never really appraised, appreciated, held in high respect and acknowledged.

She told her friends about her problems, but no one seemed to be able to lend a helping hand, except the consoling assurance that all things would come to an end, and in due time she would be okay.

Then there were those who had told her not to treat things too seriously, just carried out all that's given half-heartedly and dutifully, then went home and totally forgot about them.

Then the advices from those who bragged on slogans like "I don't care", "Just do your own work", "Forget it", "Just do it slowly", or "Don't work so hard" attitudes..., adding more pain and heartache to her troubles and emotions.

She looked around and couldn't find anyone to her rescue... it was a cruel world after all.

She thought of her newly formed family... her beloved and helpful husband... her two cute little kids....the cozy home and the newly opened garden...the piles of clothes to wash...the kitchen chores...

Torrential tears of agonizing sorrow oozed out from her eyes, flowing freely down her face, and she bent down in agony and pain!

And in a distance, she could hear people laughing, cheering, jeering, sneering, congratulating one another, boasting of their cleverness and genius.... It was getting louder, harder and nearer... She could feel the shearing pain ripping her heart and tearing her soul.

She bowed down and prayed....

*******

All too often we hear stories like this....

There are people who do their share of the workload well.

There are people who have to carry the workload of others.

These are people who refuse to work....

They pay others to work for them....

They manipulate others to work for them....

They threaten others to work for them....

They claim that they are busy...

They are busy talking... joking... eating... having funs... not working....

They are busy directing... ordering... commanding... forcing others to do their works and claiming glory from the work of others....

They boast of their position, superiority and authority....

It is really sad to behold someones manipulate others, pushing them around like puppets, not even giving them a moment of rest and peace, and denying their promotion or transfer....

It is no different from a cat playing around and torturing a cockroach.

All would be well....

Let go and let God....

But it will never be easy....

2010, I Am Ready And Waiting

Standing in front of a group of students, I was thinking hard and deep, pondering about what to counsel and advise them on this first day of school.

They were my beloved students doing their high school studies.

They had returned from their long holidays, enjoying their reserved rest and relaxation, and their overwhelming joy and happiness, culminated in the celebration of the Christmas season and the New Year 2010....

There, they were sitting quietly in front of me, waiting patiently for me to open my mouth.

They still looked innocent and ignorant to me in their late teens.

Years of experience has taught me to be extra careful to put my thoughts into words.

These students would remember every word I said, which would bring great implications and repercussions to their lives and works.

I took a very good look at them and gave a few broad smiles....

Those bright and inquisitive eyes still brought me great joy and pleasure...

Those child-like personalities and plays still tickled my heart and caused me chuckled.

And those shy smiles and giggles still rang in my ears and made me want to sing.

Looking at them and their doings really inspired my passion and enthusiasm to teach them well; they were my hope for the year 2010.

Yeah, I am going to polish and shine them up to face the ordeal of the coming public examination.......

I slowly opened my mouth and stated my expectations from them, my requirements from them, my commitments and promises to them, and how together we could create a better tomorrow.

It was not a very good opening speech.

But it was definitely one that was sincere and true.

God has put me here this year for a purpose.

And all that is required of me I will do.

Come 2010 with the new beginning....

I am ready and waiting.

I smiled at my students and... they smiled back at me.