Mumbo Jumbo

Dear Diary,

Still having that “backlog of drowsiness” from last night. I was practically dozing off in the bus on my way home this evening. When I hastily woke up and tried to alight the bus, I accidentally dropped my mobile phone and that expected “sickening dull” sound did not happen. Instead, the rubber casing (which my sisters always criticise as bulky) cushioned the phone comfortably. The little school girl who sat beside me, volunteered to help me pick up my phone and gave a smile which I thought deserve a place on the world-wide web. =) So I type this statement about her, haha…

Anyway, yesterday was a long, long day indeed. I woke up early in the morning to have breakfast with my parents before proceeding to church to pray. However, it turned out that there was actually an early morning Eucharistic service in the Nave of Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. I went in and attended the service which lasted from 8am to 8.50am. Despite the fact that the singing of hymns was done without any musical instruments, I could feel the awe of it all… it is just so hard to explain. I really need some encouragement on certain doctrinal issues. In recent days, I am actually wondering why the Protestantism’s stance on “sola scriptura” and private interpretation suddenly seems so fragile. During the Reformation some time in the early 16th century, the new movement Protestantism converted almost half of Europe and left the Catholic Church in tatters. The “sola scriptura” doctrine came about from former German Catholic monk Martin Luther.

Despite claiming to be catholic and apostolic, the Anglican Church which broke off from the Catholic Church because of some absurd divorce between the English king and his concubine, eventually adopted some of the Protestant ideologies (eg. “sola scriptura”) and doctrines. It suddenly just occurred to me that if God had intended the scripture to be interpreted individually and as the only source of reference, then why are there so many denominations around the world today? Each claiming to interpret the bible correctly to the best of their capability, their sincerity, their truthfulness and even continue to say “through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit”…. Then why is there no consensus? Is there no absolute truth? Surely, the Holy Spirit can’t be giving different interpretations of the bible and many contradicting each other?

I don’t know how I should be feeling…. Thankful to God that He allows me to see that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Lord… But yet there must be a protected treasury of truths in order for the gospel to survive the ages. I know the Catholic Church claims to be that institution. The rock of Saint Peter. I really wonder…. Anyway, yesterday early morning service was the first I ever attended on a weekday. After the sermon, the small congregation broke up into small groups of 2 – 3 people to pray. A middle-aged man joined me to pray. I had this feeling that he is probably a priest or vicar of an Anglican parish. In fact, when I saw my former church’s priest (now he is a Canon) from afar, I had this feeling that most of the congregation were priests from many parishes. They need absolutions too I guess… not just always giving absolutions and conducting the Eucharist for their church “flocks”.

Had a good long prayer with that middle-aged guy or priest (if I am right). Took the Holy Communion and left to attend a training lecture at 9am. Somehow, although my questions were unanswered still… I left the service with a much peaceful mind and heart. Had the meeting… went to have a short breakfast with a colleague and my student at the nearby “Jolly Bean” outlet in Funan Centre. My colleague lent me yet another novel. This time it is “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes. Quite sure that it will be another good read, haha… but I don’t think I will complete it in time to lend my student to read again! Hee…Then it was back to work till 6pm, after which I rushed home. =) Little did I know that the highly anticipated Dinner & Dance (D&D) would be such a disappointment.

Casually wearing a striped shirt and a dark navy coat, I hopped into my car and drove off to Meritus Mandarin Hotel. Locating the hotel’s car park was tricky. Eventually, I manoeuvred into some taxi pickup lane and into a basement car park which had a sign saying “Please use another car park as it is full”. No other motorist seemed to follow me down that EMPTY car park. Yes, it was obviously a trick!

Meritus Mandarin is, no doubt, a more exclusive hotel compared to last year’s venue at the Orchard Hotel. However, somehow… the ballroom looked smaller, the decorations looked poorer, the emcee was plain “lame”, the food was mediocre in taste and small in portions (I was still hungry after the last dish in that 10-course dinner), the lucky draw prizes were few… okay, maybe they set too high a standard last year and it was hard to match it this year.

By the time I left the hotel, it was already 2am in the early morning. I drove a colleague home… and she led me to some deep recesses of some place… I thought I was lost when I alighted her but my male navigating instinct swung into action and I was home very quickly. By the time I retired to bed after bathing, it was past 3am. I had to wake up at 8am today, in order to rush to a branch to cover duty for 1.5 hour before rushing to my own outlet to do some stock-take preparation…. Life is just busy, isn’t it?

Sometimes, I just wish I could just laze away an evening… maybe check out a lounge or a bar… drink a little alcohol… I’ve never done that in my life but I just feel that I need to try something new, haha… Maybe I am thinking too much… with all the love-career-religion mumbo jumbo. =) Okay, that’s all for the night!

God Bless,

Andrew