tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post5610297704758571186..comments2024-03-22T04:12:44.008+08:00Comments on Breaking the Word: Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-9368211597509550122008-09-30T12:12:00.000+08:002008-09-30T12:12:00.000+08:00Ah! From "arrogance to perplexity"--how well I rem...Ah! From "arrogance to perplexity"--how well I remember that feeling, from being the cream of the crop at "O" levels in an all girls' school to the bottom of the ladder in a premier JC. Worse still, feeling extremely shaky in medical school amongst the many intellectually superior!<BR/><BR/>This isn't about the spiritual life, just the ego-dashing descent of a used-to-be bright academic star meeting intellectual giants along the way.<BR/><BR/>However, such a state of humility and humiliation does wonders for ones' prayer life for the fact that there is no one else but God to depend on for hope, even if it is only a prayer of desperation!<BR/><BR/>It was a near-failure (from oversight) in grad school that helped me travel from "perplexity to trust" , for without God's timely intervention and inspiration, I'd really be a dead duck!<BR/><BR/>Having tasted near-failure which translated to unexpected success by God's grace on many more occasions, I can only be thankful that He is ever with me all these years in areas more crucial than academic success. <BR/><BR/>He has come through for me over and over again through heartaches, miscarriages, SARS, bereavement, temptations, test of compassion, disappointments and grave spiritual dangers.....He IS my refuge and my everything...<BR/><BR/>Unlike the road to academic success, meeting spiritual giants is about finding their greatness in their littleness, and learning from them all about self-emptying of vain glory for a deeper walk with God.<BR/><BR/>Both journeys require trust, both depend on a greater Someone, but one is headed for the laurels, the other the cross.<BR/><BR/>Still, it is to God's glory that we live life to the fullest and make the best use of all the talents given to us to extend His Kingdom.<BR/><BR/>So for those of us still enjoying our studies, let's continue to trust and pray that all will be well if we can carry with us a prayer of gratitude (vs regret) for yesterday, a prayer of hope (vs anxiety) for tomorrow, and live today with a smile trusting that God is here. <BR/><BR/>Maybe then, it will be OK to peek out of our blankets in the morning to face yet another unknown day.<BR/>Amen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-20719203017569016052008-09-26T23:00:00.000+08:002008-09-26T23:00:00.000+08:00What a coincidence! Two comments posted at exactly...What a coincidence! Two comments posted at exactly the same time: 3:31:00am PDT! An online confirmation that we are not alone? ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-54649379518644315352008-09-26T18:31:00.001+08:002008-09-26T18:31:00.001+08:00It is comforting to know we are not alone, that we...It is comforting to know we are not alone, that we are all one in Christ. In church, I would imagine that each person present is one small part and the congregation is the whole. And I look at the man across the hall, the irritatingly noisy kid behind me, the young woman answering her mobile phone and remind myself, we are all one. And God love everyone of us, as I should try to do so. Grrrrr<BR/><BR/>Yet, we ARE alone, aren't we? When I die, I will go to Christ all by myself. I try not to think too much about this conundrum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-24913299171417199982008-09-26T18:31:00.000+08:002008-09-26T18:31:00.000+08:00Nowadays, I believe strongly what Jesus said in Jo...Nowadays, I believe strongly what Jesus said in John 14: <I>That the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is really within us</I>. So yes, we are not alone.<BR/><BR/>One key reason is a personal encounter a few years ago. The other reason is Fr Edwin Vaz's account of the attack on Fr Edward Sequeira in Orissa last month, <A HREF="http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=90820" REL="nofollow">as reported in ZENIT</A>:<BR/><BR/><I>[Some people came to Fr Edward's residence looking for the priest. He said, 'I am the one.' They pulled him out and about 20 people started beating him all over with sticks, iron bars, shovels and spades for about 45 minutes. Soon he had fractures on both shoulders, his right hand and the back of his skull. Meanwhile some went inside the house, set fire and came out. The assailants then locked him in the house.]<BR/><BR/>[As Fr Edward collapsed alone inside the burning house,] <B>he realized he was not alone</B>. There was Jesus with him. He experienced tremendous strength at this moment. He experienced Jesus not as a separate entity from him, but, 'He in me and I in him.' He experienced Jesus suffering in him...<BR/><BR/>He collected half a bucket of water and went and threw it in his bed room and the fire went off. Miracle?<BR/><BR/>He filled another half bucket of water and threw it in the office and the same result. Fire in the office was put off. He had a deep sense that God was with him. He went back to the bathroom and locked himself inside.</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com