His Airness, and of readings and writings

I received a wonderful wonderful gift. :)


Fan Girl - this was exactly what Stevey said I was, when I was savoring the last dance and all it had to offer. And today Ernest gave me this beautiful shirt. So happy. It's a sweat shirt. A boy's M-size, and it is comfy and cushy. I can imagine wearing it on a plane, though strangely, the concept of a plane ride does seem a tad foreign and remote, for now.

And Robert promised that one day, I'll get to shake MJ's hand. Haha. I will see if that comes to pass.

And his airness aside, this week was one filled with some good conversations. Mainly about writings, about passions and some readings.

On Tuesday, it was just incredible.
A friend had given me a book for my bday and I had put the book into my book stack on the work table. It had a pretty blue book cover, and I've not really taken a good look at it, until Tuesday. There was a magnetic guidance to pull out that book (and I had no idea why) in the middle of a skype meeting, and when I took it out, the words stared at me outright - the things you can see only when you slow down. Gasped. It was the same word I saw over the last weekend.

Steve asked me if I was bored at the meeting. The answer is no - I was quite fully concentrated. Yet, for some strange reason, I pulled the book out. I knew God was good to me. The content was beautifully written, and the illustrations were clear and soothing. It's written by a Zen Buddhist Korean writer and teacher, who sought to help others walk their lives' journey.
Again, a mini-me exploring the mega-world, and a journey to understand myself better.

And then I read some stuff about the negative somatic marker, about the amygdala matter, and how we tend to veer towards some levels of fear and anxiety especially during uncertain times (like in this pandemic).  The author Martin Lindstrom wrote in his latest pocket book that 3 things are likely to happen out of this pandemic - that we will get fat, divorce rates would increase, and... we will question more the value, meaning and purpose of life. So, it's aligned to my latest thoughts and musings. I am glad I am also a normal being like the billions here who might be asking the same question too. However, for me, I don't think this is only a thought during the pandemic. It's probably a question that remains one of life's greatest questions and pursuits - to understand the value, meaning and purpose of life. Nonetheless, the "Buyology for a coronavirus world" book was a good, easy read.


And, again, the Saturday has gone by, quietly and quickly. The constant really is that my Saturday would come and go, super sonic speed.
Last night, I was looking forward to a good run this morning, and the run too, came and went.

Today, I am thankful for the Jordan sweatshirt, and thankful for the good lunch together. :)

Seeking to understand the mysteries of life

So much to dig in, to try to understand the mysteries in the WoG. 

Since the covid curfew, every Sat has been a most intriguing time where we listen to at least 2 sermons, study the Bible more in depth, and discuss the mysteries of God. 

The last few Saturdays, I was 陶醉 in Genesis, Revelations and 1 Cor 13 - Creation / De-creation, People, Provision, Blessing, Land, and then End Times and Sufferings, Love. 

And the patterns you can discover in the Bible of God's character. I am definitely trying to understand, seek-knock-ask, and I mulled on 1 single take-away today. 

The Salvation story is so so intricately complex and woven. God Himself is such a masterminder, and this is such a mysterious web to entangle, understand, study, and probably still, we would have only understood just that bit of the whole. So why? Why is God such a masterminder and grand architect and for what purpose? Why can't it be simpler? Is that why, if we are also made in the image of Him, that we also mastermind, and some, to the wrong extent, the wrong things. Maybe that's why we are all so complex beings too?

And this morning, after my run, I watched a clip on "Life after Death", and to understand again what the Bible says about eternal life and death. I have been pondering about this topic, a bit more recently, including the topic on suicide. 

I love Saturdays. Consciously, I have to tell myself not to think about work. I have worked out a good plan thus far in Covid, to dedicate my Saturday more to the Lord, including a run every Sat morning to stay physically alive and healthy, and as I do my boring runs round and round (today being the stadium), I confess and pray. Then, it's my coffee, some readings and tuning in to sermons and bible studies. I really felt strengthened. 

Last week, when I felt very under-the-weather and stressed by work, God gave me a really deja-vu impression. I saw this sign as the car turned - and it was a red sign that flashed "Slow Down". Many years ago in Japan, as the bus was on a winding road up the mountains to my home, I was pondering and thinking about buying a bike for commute. as the bus turned, I looked out of the window, and saw a red sign - 死亡. Of course, I did not buy the bike in Japan.

It was just .... dejavu, to have that flashback to the sign in Japan, and then in Abu Dhabi. I was so comforted and touched by God's goodness. There is no direct answer, but knowing that He speaks to me already reminded me of His love for me. 

And, increasingly, in this covid, I ask myself the value of life, the value of time, and... have all sorts of other incomprehensible thoughts. Even translating thoughts into words might not be such an easy thing. So, mini me in this mega world is in a sense-making journey. :)

And I saw this frame recently, and I think this is probably so true. Even many things I want to express - I haven't quite yet found how to do so, intelligibly. I went to look at mindmap tools yesterday - wondering if drawing could help me express better?

And the fact that the pastors were able to draw so much insights from the Bible, and to translate that into a study that would help people understand... wow... it is treasure trove seeking, learning, understanding, God giving more to those who earnestly seek, and then that framing of concepts, patterns and thoughts to help one understand. 

I just felt so blessed this blazing Saturday afternoon. Reading the word and understanding, and meaningfully applying it and translating it in my life is not so easy, and I will continue to endeavour to try. 

All my musings aside, I am just thankful that this is a longer weekend. 

Time to catch up with loved ones and laugh myself silly, read the Rosie Project, savour the Last Dance, to laugh and have our own commentaries over Tokyo Terrace House, to do my 3 runs these 3 days, to walk K a little longer, watch clips on dogs and architect and interior design, to have some nice wine and champagne. These are the pleasures and moments of life and I truly give thanks. :)

心情诉说

Google is really very cool. So, my husband and Zeal did a google translate on the previous post. Laugh Die Me. Maybe 80% accurate? :-D

I also downloaded Google Lens. The whole suite of useful Google Tools makes life easier.

It's been a fun weekend and I am thankful.

The shops are re-opening slowly (though... numbers are still not dropping). The challenge is to ensure health and safety and allow for some economic transactions. 2 malls are open here, but there's really not much crowd. It's still pretty empty, and I don't think the crowds will be back so soon. Still, we were glad to be able to take a walk and have a sense of the new-normal. Car-parking requires social distancing too; shops are allowed X number of people, and in the restaurant, customers sit far away from each other. 

At Yas, and at Madang with my first beer outside.

So yes, we bought the guitar yesterday, and I thought I looked so unglam, upon further careful assessment of my own jamming session last night. Ha. But. :) As long as it encourages a dear friend, and as long as my mummy likes it too. 

And with a little bit more movement allowed, we have been sending little loves to different ones, and us receiving them too. 

Bubble Tea, Quick short chats, Viven-on-the-guit, on a quick visit to our place :)

So lovely. 

And today, I remember my mummy and truly appreciate all that she has done for us. 

I love how cool and logical she is, her positive attitude and her faith in God. So today, we did a first zoom with her, and with the sisters, and with Maki too. And the English exchange between Maki and my mum was really 好厉害。English is the common language. :)) My mum said she can learn, and is never too old to learn, whether to learn English, or to learn how to use zoom. 好棒。 

We also sang together... for a bit. Ha ha! :-D

今夜ギターを弾いて賛美した

なんか。。。最近ちょっと混乱した。時々も悩んでいる。確かに仕事でいっぱい考えばかり。。。それ以外将来のことの考えもどんどんどんどん。

もちろん自分の考えは感想から毎週の気持ちからあふれる。心配とか不安とか人間にとって誰でも同じように感じると思います。けれど最近こんな感じちょっと増やす。

今日ギターを買いました。特に私が落ちいこんだ時いつも神様のことぼを聞いて、礼拝をしなければならない。ギターのこと数年前初めて。。。その時十分に練習していませんでしたが、自分でギターで礼拝できる感じが大好きです。神様に感謝です。

仲良く友達にこの賛美を。💗