Actually, I am talking about my growing up years, if you are wondering about my heading for this topic.
All of us have our own childhood experiences. Some of you may wish that the memories be best buried. Not me, though. I had a whale of a time when I was young. My childhood friends were a motley crew of youngsters like me who came from varied backgrounds.
There was one Indian boy by the name of Peter who took me fishing at a nearby river. It was actually located in some rarely visited part of our terrain. A bit wild, plenty of leeches and a fast-flowing river.
Now that I think of it, it was a bit dangerous for a young chap like me who could drown faster than I could swim. But nevertheless I had some fond memories of seeing a guy who caught fish by planting short stakes with a short line and a hook with a worm attached to it at the edges of the river.
The procedure was to check out the numerous stakes at the various points of the river the next day. There was a good chance that his hard work had produced a fish or two. It was a bit primitive (method) but at that age then, I thought it was certainly one of the most exciting things I had come across.
Then there were the Malay kids who taught me how to make glassed string by smashing blown-out bulbs into powder form. We misec the powdered glass with boiled glue in an used tin can and later run the big coil of string through the concoction.
The idea was to have this slightly stiffened ball of string that would "deadly" in the battle of kites. Even back then, when the windy season came, children my age gathered at the nearest field to fly our kites.
The unwritten rule was to challenge other kids' kites high in the sky. Those who were unfortunate enough to lose their kites in the air due to the "sharper" string (maybe ours) would have to give up their kites.
The other low-tech activity was to collect spiders from faraway environs. At that time, "fighting spiders" was a favourite hobby among semi-rural children. There was a particular species of spider that fights another one of its kind on sight.
We used to fan out into the furthest parts of the neighbourhood to search for these prized specimens. Occasionally, we wandered off further than we should but in the end, we come home, heavily tanned but none the worse for wear, other than being slightly tired but exhilarated for bagging a couple of "great spiders.
We kept our spiders in metal cigarette boxes and fed the spiders with houseflies. I don't see this kind of activity among children of the present generation. What a pity. They would have a great time.
Growing up also meant having a wild time with our imaginations. There was always the popular subject of ghosts. Children all over the world love what they cannot understand and fear what they cannot see.
As adults, I have found out, the rules have not changed since those early years. However, I recall that the older children loved making our hair stand on end by telling us exaggerated tales of ghostly sightings.
The fact that we told these stories late at night only added to the excitement of the occasion. Hearing ghost stories was one of our favourite and most feared pastimes. Imagine a young child whose strongest asset was an unbridled imagination of borderless proportions.
Now visualise the surroundings: wind blowing gently, perhaps an owl hooting at a faraway distance, shadows dancing on walls and rooftops of houses, insects' sounds in the bushes, and a bunch of kids doing what they did best, that is, trying to frighten one another to death.
It was a wild, scary pastime. We loved it. We would not want to repeat it every night but it was fun while it lasted.
Now on looking back, I miss those years. Those experiences didn't warp our personalities. We grew up more or less normal. We matured a fair bit along the way and we now feel sorry for our own children for not sharing the kind of games we used to play.
The world has changed so much while I was growing up.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
My heart bleeds for the holy land
IT HAS long been the sore point for all those who value their lives and staying in countries like Egypt, Jordan to Syria and Iran for ages. The heart of all that is holy should be the point of contention for people whose ancestors who shared land stretching from ancient Judea down the river of Babylon.
Even as I write these words, I wonder what's really the point of fighting over plots of dirt. I am sorry if I have trivialised this issue of territory but there's really no way to put it in simplistic terms.
Just think of it, two thousand years ago when that man from Nazareth walked the streets of Jerusalem and preached the urgency of love for our neighbour, a lot of people believed in the wisdom of his words.
For a while, the numbers of people practising what he had preached were heartening. His principles of a life-worthing-living spread across the continents and over the millennia.
But now, two thousand years have gone by. Millions had died in the march of time but lessons from the past have been forgotten. Jews and Arabs, people of flesh and blood, are fighting with each other over land that they will eventually be buried under.
I ask you what does it profit a man if all he gains is just dirt that will eventually be his resting ground? Nobody, I mean, nobody is going to take with him any of the land he so vehemently fights for and over.
The Jews or Israelis have called their present nation their home since the time Moses led them out of Egypt. The Jews have a very long and troubled history. Their descendants have scattered all over West Asia and the European continent for ages. The word "diaspora" has an exclusive reference to the dispersed descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel.
It is a fascinating story of how a "chosen race" has gone to the ends of the world, struggled and later returned to their beloved homeland. It took them 2,000 years. Those of us who have left our original homelands understand only too well the feelings of the Jews.
Then on the other hand are the other communities who have occupied the Middle East for eons. They too have as much right to be there. The question we ask ourselves is who has more right to be there.
The answer is always none has as much right as the other, for no one created that land. It was there before man first planted his feet on earth. What then is the answer? Actually, in this case, it is the question of what lessons are there to be learnt from this contentious issue?
When mankind finally learns how to answer the question correctly, then he finally deserves the peace he so desperately craves. Seek the answer in the deeper regions of your heart. Know that in the end, our life is limited in its length. In eternity, a lifetime of 70 years or even 120 years is but a blink of an eye.
What do you do with your life is more important than how many years you have spent on earth? People tend to equate longevity with good fortune. How wrong most of us are.
If a man lives for 33 years, like Jesus did, and the fruits of his labour are enjoyed by generations thereafter forever, then his life has got more meaning than a life span of 500 years.
In the holy land now, the battle rages on for pieces of land that is subjected to the hot desert sun for untold ages. The word holy may no longer be applicable to territory that has seen so much battles and experienced so much sorrow.
If Middle East wants the peace it seeks, the people who are fighting each other now must recognise the fact that bullets and missiles can solve nothing. These weapons of destruction can only spark off more incidents of woe and suffering.
Are we courageous enough to see the face of our brother in a stranger? Are we wise enough to embrace our sworn enemy, knowing full well that an embrace could lead to our death? Fear is our enemy.
Fear then is our greatest foe. We fear that we will lose all if we trust too much and share all that we have. It may be a cliche but we must conquer fear and invite back love into our lives. Without that, we will have nothing but fear and fear leads to hatred and hatred leads to hostility.
From then on, it is but a short path to war and from war, the gates of hell will be opened to all who partake in it.
Sometime and somewhere along the journey of life, man whether he be Jew or Arab must realise that all his beliefs will come to nought if peace and happiness will not be part of his rewards before his life ends.
For a better part of 2,000 years, the people who had occupied and are still occupying what was once called the holy land had bickered and quarrelled over the fleeting and the intangible.
The God that they pray to must be saddened by the ways of these people. We shall pray for the eternal wisdom that must surely be ours before we know everlasting peace.
Amen to you, my brothers and sisters.
Even as I write these words, I wonder what's really the point of fighting over plots of dirt. I am sorry if I have trivialised this issue of territory but there's really no way to put it in simplistic terms.
Just think of it, two thousand years ago when that man from Nazareth walked the streets of Jerusalem and preached the urgency of love for our neighbour, a lot of people believed in the wisdom of his words.
For a while, the numbers of people practising what he had preached were heartening. His principles of a life-worthing-living spread across the continents and over the millennia.
But now, two thousand years have gone by. Millions had died in the march of time but lessons from the past have been forgotten. Jews and Arabs, people of flesh and blood, are fighting with each other over land that they will eventually be buried under.
I ask you what does it profit a man if all he gains is just dirt that will eventually be his resting ground? Nobody, I mean, nobody is going to take with him any of the land he so vehemently fights for and over.
The Jews or Israelis have called their present nation their home since the time Moses led them out of Egypt. The Jews have a very long and troubled history. Their descendants have scattered all over West Asia and the European continent for ages. The word "diaspora" has an exclusive reference to the dispersed descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel.
It is a fascinating story of how a "chosen race" has gone to the ends of the world, struggled and later returned to their beloved homeland. It took them 2,000 years. Those of us who have left our original homelands understand only too well the feelings of the Jews.
Then on the other hand are the other communities who have occupied the Middle East for eons. They too have as much right to be there. The question we ask ourselves is who has more right to be there.
The answer is always none has as much right as the other, for no one created that land. It was there before man first planted his feet on earth. What then is the answer? Actually, in this case, it is the question of what lessons are there to be learnt from this contentious issue?
When mankind finally learns how to answer the question correctly, then he finally deserves the peace he so desperately craves. Seek the answer in the deeper regions of your heart. Know that in the end, our life is limited in its length. In eternity, a lifetime of 70 years or even 120 years is but a blink of an eye.
What do you do with your life is more important than how many years you have spent on earth? People tend to equate longevity with good fortune. How wrong most of us are.
If a man lives for 33 years, like Jesus did, and the fruits of his labour are enjoyed by generations thereafter forever, then his life has got more meaning than a life span of 500 years.
In the holy land now, the battle rages on for pieces of land that is subjected to the hot desert sun for untold ages. The word holy may no longer be applicable to territory that has seen so much battles and experienced so much sorrow.
If Middle East wants the peace it seeks, the people who are fighting each other now must recognise the fact that bullets and missiles can solve nothing. These weapons of destruction can only spark off more incidents of woe and suffering.
Are we courageous enough to see the face of our brother in a stranger? Are we wise enough to embrace our sworn enemy, knowing full well that an embrace could lead to our death? Fear is our enemy.
Fear then is our greatest foe. We fear that we will lose all if we trust too much and share all that we have. It may be a cliche but we must conquer fear and invite back love into our lives. Without that, we will have nothing but fear and fear leads to hatred and hatred leads to hostility.
From then on, it is but a short path to war and from war, the gates of hell will be opened to all who partake in it.
Sometime and somewhere along the journey of life, man whether he be Jew or Arab must realise that all his beliefs will come to nought if peace and happiness will not be part of his rewards before his life ends.
For a better part of 2,000 years, the people who had occupied and are still occupying what was once called the holy land had bickered and quarrelled over the fleeting and the intangible.
The God that they pray to must be saddened by the ways of these people. We shall pray for the eternal wisdom that must surely be ours before we know everlasting peace.
Amen to you, my brothers and sisters.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Coming to terms with Today
All of us without exception think of life in terms of tomorrow. If there's even one among you out there who says 'no' then you are not being true to yourself.
Perhaps you have understand the concept of Now and Today. If you have, then you will know what I am talking about. Without going into the philosophical arguments of what constitutes 'tomorrow', let me just say that if you are thinking of the good that is going to come out of tomorrow, then I will tell you to just forget it.
Tomorrow metaphorically never comes. When tomorrow comes, it will identify itself as Today. Yesterday just waves at you from a distance. In fact, it is like greeting a familiar face from across the river.
Greeting Yesterday is like seeing somebody you know but the chances of shaking hands or hugging each other is nil. That's Yesterday for you. So what is the best among the three: Yesterday, Today or Tomorrow?
Naturally, it is Today. Today, you can do anything you like and you can see the immediate results. If you were to buy somebody lunch today, you will hear the verbal expression of gratitude, or you will receive the words "Thank you very much."
Today basically is all you have. You don't have Yesterday because it has left the building. You can't get hold of tomorrow because it hasn't shown up. What's the use of pining for something that may or may not turn up?
Forget about Yesterday. You don't possess it. At best, you can learn from the past. At its worst, you are chasing after a dream. It's like trying to catch the mist.
Tomorrow is somebody else's dream. It doesn't really take shape. It holds the promise of Today when it comes. By the time, it appears before you, it would have transformed itself into Today.
So your best friend is actually Today. If you wish you could or would say something nice to your wife, children or parents, say it Today and be done with it.
Why wait till tomorrow. Before the day ends today, you could be diverted from your personal intention. Or worse, you could end up in sick bay. There goes your chance if that happens.
The opportunities of Today are only good enough for the day while it lasts. Now is all the time you have. You can feel it, you can revel in it and you can do anything and everything with it - only for Today.
Today, yes my friends, if only you realise that your best chances of success are embedded into Today's soil. If you plant a small seed of greatness in the ground of Today, tomorrow it will begin to grow. All that happens if you do it Today, not yesterday or tomorrow. Do it now, do it today and be happy with Today's deed.
Time is forever an illusion. It is made for our convenience and for planning our dreams. We really do not implement anything great or small tomorrow. We do all that Today.
For today is the day we take that first step. The journey of a million miles begins now, if you take the first step.
Many of us grow old wondering what we have done after seven or eight decades of living on earth. We reflect on the missed opportunities and the what-could-have-beens. Very few of us actually bask in the satisfaction of what have been achieved.
We can have that feeling, that kind of experience, if we stop wondering about it long enough to work our dreams.
Dreams will remain dreams forever if we don't wake up and do it. Once, many years ago, I came across this saying: "The best dream can only be achieved once you wake up!"
That is so true. People, human beings, are different from animals. A lot of animals survive by instinct. Man is the only member of the animal kingdom who has the luxury of dreaming. The secret that makes man great is that what we can dream, we can do. But we have to do it Today.
Today then is the key. It is the solution that leads to future successes. Once we implement our objectives today, we await tomorrow. When tomorrow shows up, we continue with our unfinished work today.
And so on it goes. We are constantly working - TODAY. We never work yesterday or we can't work tomorrow. It is today, today and forever today.
Once you understand the power of Today, you won't shed tears for Yesterday or harbour the ache of waiting for Tomorrow. For Today holds the master key to all the Time Vault.
Today is all you have. There's no other time. Make use of it before it slips away from you and is transformed into Yesterday. Yesterday and Tomorrow are distant cousins. They keep in touch but they never meet.
Today is your constant companion. It greets you every morning when you open your eyes. It follows you to work. It keeps you company in your loneliest moments. It joins in when you celebrate a major personal success. It is there for you. Frankly, you and Today are inseparable. You two are not twins. You two are one.
Realise that and you will never in want of anything for the rest of your natural life on earth.
Perhaps you have understand the concept of Now and Today. If you have, then you will know what I am talking about. Without going into the philosophical arguments of what constitutes 'tomorrow', let me just say that if you are thinking of the good that is going to come out of tomorrow, then I will tell you to just forget it.
Tomorrow metaphorically never comes. When tomorrow comes, it will identify itself as Today. Yesterday just waves at you from a distance. In fact, it is like greeting a familiar face from across the river.
Greeting Yesterday is like seeing somebody you know but the chances of shaking hands or hugging each other is nil. That's Yesterday for you. So what is the best among the three: Yesterday, Today or Tomorrow?
Naturally, it is Today. Today, you can do anything you like and you can see the immediate results. If you were to buy somebody lunch today, you will hear the verbal expression of gratitude, or you will receive the words "Thank you very much."
Today basically is all you have. You don't have Yesterday because it has left the building. You can't get hold of tomorrow because it hasn't shown up. What's the use of pining for something that may or may not turn up?
Forget about Yesterday. You don't possess it. At best, you can learn from the past. At its worst, you are chasing after a dream. It's like trying to catch the mist.
Tomorrow is somebody else's dream. It doesn't really take shape. It holds the promise of Today when it comes. By the time, it appears before you, it would have transformed itself into Today.
So your best friend is actually Today. If you wish you could or would say something nice to your wife, children or parents, say it Today and be done with it.
Why wait till tomorrow. Before the day ends today, you could be diverted from your personal intention. Or worse, you could end up in sick bay. There goes your chance if that happens.
The opportunities of Today are only good enough for the day while it lasts. Now is all the time you have. You can feel it, you can revel in it and you can do anything and everything with it - only for Today.
Today, yes my friends, if only you realise that your best chances of success are embedded into Today's soil. If you plant a small seed of greatness in the ground of Today, tomorrow it will begin to grow. All that happens if you do it Today, not yesterday or tomorrow. Do it now, do it today and be happy with Today's deed.
Time is forever an illusion. It is made for our convenience and for planning our dreams. We really do not implement anything great or small tomorrow. We do all that Today.
For today is the day we take that first step. The journey of a million miles begins now, if you take the first step.
Many of us grow old wondering what we have done after seven or eight decades of living on earth. We reflect on the missed opportunities and the what-could-have-beens. Very few of us actually bask in the satisfaction of what have been achieved.
We can have that feeling, that kind of experience, if we stop wondering about it long enough to work our dreams.
Dreams will remain dreams forever if we don't wake up and do it. Once, many years ago, I came across this saying: "The best dream can only be achieved once you wake up!"
That is so true. People, human beings, are different from animals. A lot of animals survive by instinct. Man is the only member of the animal kingdom who has the luxury of dreaming. The secret that makes man great is that what we can dream, we can do. But we have to do it Today.
Today then is the key. It is the solution that leads to future successes. Once we implement our objectives today, we await tomorrow. When tomorrow shows up, we continue with our unfinished work today.
And so on it goes. We are constantly working - TODAY. We never work yesterday or we can't work tomorrow. It is today, today and forever today.
Once you understand the power of Today, you won't shed tears for Yesterday or harbour the ache of waiting for Tomorrow. For Today holds the master key to all the Time Vault.
Today is all you have. There's no other time. Make use of it before it slips away from you and is transformed into Yesterday. Yesterday and Tomorrow are distant cousins. They keep in touch but they never meet.
Today is your constant companion. It greets you every morning when you open your eyes. It follows you to work. It keeps you company in your loneliest moments. It joins in when you celebrate a major personal success. It is there for you. Frankly, you and Today are inseparable. You two are not twins. You two are one.
Realise that and you will never in want of anything for the rest of your natural life on earth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
