Keep swimming

"Remember, the biggest fish gets that way by not getting caught"

-Big Fish (2003)

The seed 'dies' first

Remember that no man loses any other life than this which he now lives, nor lives any other than this which he now loses.

-Marcus Aurelius

Address

I have changed my blog address to

http://www.abelcheahszewei.blogspot.com

I've been inclined to do this in the past but never had the time to move the posts from a site to another until recently. There are several reasons to this, but they do not matter so much as the same writer and brains from which these thoughts are expressed, remain. Anyway, that's my full name :)

I have made it a point to keep the 'best of Beats' posts and retained their dates as they were originally posted (this was pretty ardous) because some posts are personally, timeless to me- and so nothing much has changed except the address.

Jottings

And so the week comes to a close. Many things have kept me occupied- from working on assignments in uni, to my involvement in some events , to leadership roles in several areas and being part of committees, to teaching tuition. This few months have been nothing short of eventful- and although they aren't all that I've been involved in, here are a few pictures I've received of some of these events.

Damai Beach- 3rd of July. Thoroughly enjoyed the kayak-ing man

The Speaker's Corner, which is basically an open space in Monash for anybody with something to speak about, situated in front of the cafeteria where students have their meals (some have to unwittingly hear the speeches)

Liang, speaking /singing at the Speaker's Corner, about God's love. Bless his heart

One has to mentally cope with the image of people leaving while you speak, though, because it is in front of a cafeteria- which is quite unlike the experience of public speaking in highschool/college.
The Street Party Carnival, in which the CF took the stage to perform 3 songs. 18th of AugustSome of the other band members not in the picture (there isn't a group picture): Lynette (keyboardist), Joanna (drummer), Anna (back-up vocalist)
From left: Ernest Khaw, Guang Yu, Han Sheng, Ian Han, Abel, Lit Rong, Satchid.

The last 'Jedi' gathering, incidentally, a belated birthday party for Ian (he has since left for the UK) and a Belian reunion. That's Ian before he was tossed into the lake.
The best band of brothers anyone could ask for :> 15th of September

________________________________________________

Perhaps one of the joys of leading a cell is the opportunity to impart the little you have obtained yourself, through the previous cell leaders during the course of the years. Apparent awkwardness was the initial response I received last cell, when the topic was "Christians and Sex", but it later turned out to be one of the more memorable lessons we went through. Great young dudes, in whom I see hearts of gold and have much hope for. In light of that, here's something scribbled on a piece of rough paper sometime recently, during a sudden surge of thoughts while studying in the university library.

A good week to all

.

One heart, each

Why do hearts change?

When we only have one heart, each.

Why do we dilute what only one heart can give?

How many times can there be a ‘first’?

How are some things meant to be done once- given, again?

Few can be offered which has not been given before.

Still, that 'few' is worth the thanksgiving!

For when, more and more in us grows a longing

that comes from this heart for the very heart that moved to form it;

and when, we realize we don’t quite know many things,

because of the state of our heart - it is quite plain:

We do not know how to truly love!

.

Except, till we have a heart like His

“Can you tell a plain man the road to heaven? Certainly, turn at once to the right, then go straight forward.”

-William Wilberforce

Never a cleverer, more succinct way in giving directions for (after)life ...

It's going to be a full week. Here's a good one to all :)

Yearn not for lighter burdens to carry, but bigger shoulders

A (special) birthday in the family

As a young boy with an imaginative mind, I used to cry myself to sleep by picturing how it would be like if something would happen to her. Innocently I had asked my mother if I could marry her - not knowing the difference between romantic love and my affection for her as a brother back then. As she grew up, the onus was on me to grow up even faster than I naturally would. I had to take care of the house at the age 4 onwards, sometimes crying at the grill door waiting for my mom to come home from work or doing errants, because I didn't want to. Growing up with her, I was given the task of disciplining her whenever she misbehaved or needed to understand certain norms- something I realized most brothers didn't have to do. Yet, when a cousin once bullied her I couldn't stop myself from kicking him where it hurt the most!

Today when I observe other people who share experiences like these and see how Claw is maturing from her own experience of being Abby's sister, I'm glad for all that has happened. Oh, she puts our patience to the test many times and still misbehaves - but I look back and realize my family wouldn't be where it is today without her presence in our lives.

She teaches me so much; that life is essentially simpler than the way we live it, that patience and humility are lifelong lessons, that tragedy can turn into blessing, that God will and can make a way, that joy is a natural thing- sometimes we normal ones look more 'Down'-syndrome than her. But perhaps on top of all these things, this is the most valuable lesson :

That she has taught me to be a brother...

And so it's been 16 years of blessing.

Cause>cost

I enjoy chancing upon witty/inspirational lines and this one got my attention today:

"The cause is greater than the cost"

The cost of a cause, whatever it is, must not weaken the will to see the cause ultimately fulfilled. What a challenge!

Full days sum up to full lives

My country

For everything it is and, isn't.

.

For all its beauty, glory and blessings. Many a place may be better than this, many may have more to boast about. But of no where else can I say, "This is my country", and more importantly, that "I love it", simply because.. I'm Malaysian. And no matter how little it may mean to others sometimes, it forms part of who I am, my identity. People don't change homes because someone in the family is sick , or an abnormal child is born to the family, or a misfortune happens or when there seems to be injustice. Let's learn to love this place- it's 'home', irregardless of its state.

Happy independence day to all!