Transforming My Life

Dear Diary,

Supposed to be going out in the evening for my weekly run now… but just realised that I have totally forgotten that the soles of my New Balance running shoes had “dissociated” from the shoes when I attempted my physical fitness test two Wednesdays ago. Oh well… So I stuck at home without any exercise. Dad said that he would get some good solid tough glue to stick those soles back. My youngest sister also needed some “patching up” for her footwear too. Quite disappointed that my pair of running shoes did not even last past a year. Hmmm…Oh well, just type something online lor… haha….

Today’s Eucharistic service was good. I was able to concentrate throughout the service, noticing the intricacies of the liturgy and order-of-service in greater detail. Many times on Sundays, I was guilty of lapsing into just mechanically “going” through the liturgy. Somehow, today was a little different. The lighted-up cathedral with the candles, the parishioners and the air-conditioning painted a stark contrast of the same cathedral I visited 2 days ago in the morning. In those mornings, the church was silent without the modern facilities of lightings and air-conditioning. The few people there in church were usually just praying quietly. Yet the contrast seemed to dawn upon me about my own life.

Despite the stillness of the church in those weekday mornings, the illuminated stained glasses just behind the altar shining into the dark church building which lights up the Italian-made alabaster mosaic tablet (the Nativity Chapel) depicting the worshipping of Infant Jesus by the shepherds, seems to focus us to the primary reason and that is to God. On Sundays, the hustle and bustle of the liturgy may sometimes distract one from the worshipping of God unless one is focused. I need to keep God central in my life too but admittedly I am struggling with the lures of the working world.

I read the Eucharistic liturgy and said the prayer of humble access…. Then I noticed that the Dean of the Cathedral (who is a Canon and the Vicar also) actually knelt in front of the presiding priest to receive his communion before assuming leadership in the distribution of the sacrament to the communicants. I recalled how the bishop or archbishop would wash the feet of people during Maundy Thursday in imitation of Christ. Leadership in Christianity is about serving others.

Kneeling speaks a lot indeed. It speaks of one’s admission that one is not the Lord of one’s life. It takes away our pride. I left the church with the visual message more embedded in my mind than the preached sermon today. The sermon was on evangelism and preaching the gospel of Christ. Other than verbal evangelism we always associate sharing the gospel with, the way we live our lives can be a powerful testimony to others for God. May God help me in those areas…

On a lighter note, I am going to catch the “Transformers” movie this coming Wednesday evening… and what can it be better than watching it with a primary school classmate! =) Those were the times of the Transformers cartoon. I really love those cartoons and ever fantasized about transforming into a Dinobot (A transformer that changes into a dinosaur) by just leaping into the air. Ok, I was childish then. My favourite dinosaur was then the herbivorous Diplodocus, a sauropod! Yay…. Don’t think I have grown so much older since then although chronologically… it tells me otherwise, haha…

Guess what, I could see and hear some fireworks at my apartment last night because yesterday was the National Stadium’s closing ceremony. I remembered those days in 1999 when I spent many Sundays at the National Stadium providing medical cover for the National Day parade rehearsals and participating in medical drills as a combat medic. Many things in life really change over time. Today’s newspaper headlines was screaming out “40-years of National Service”. I remember that life was tough for those 2.5 years I had with the army. Then again, looking back… I am quite sure it made me a better man… a man who can defend his family and loved ones. I am not sure about defending the nation though, haha… joking. =P

I chanced upon this video clip and guess what... that super duper cute boy is called Andrew also and sings "Lonely" by Akon, haha... If I can get a son that cute when I marry, I don't mind. If not, I am sticking to an eldest daughter... that is if I have a choice. =( If I am not wrong, I was just as cute when I am a little kid before I became geeky with my spectacles, haha... ;-)

God Bless,

Andrew