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| My life in a snapshot:
Wake up around 5am or before
Drive to work
Arrive at work around 6am or thereabouts
Work
Finish work around 7pm or thereabouts
Drive home
Eat
Sleep around 10.30pm or before
And repeat.
I'm a bit amazed that I've managed to sleep AND wake up early. I guess getting paid is a pretty big incentive in changing lifelong habits (I've never slept that early even as a kid). On the other hand, that's the sum of my life in the past few weeks, what does that say? It's a good thing I actually enjoy my work!
I guess the other thought I had (well, not the only other thought, obviously, but the one I wanted to share) is how it's easy to become disillusioned. Like, at the past Sunday's service at church, we were singing "Forever, God is faithful; forever, God is strong; forever, God is with us" and so on. One of my favourite songs (for me, always associated with New Year's Eve service at FGA KL back home). However, I found it rather difficult to sing the song wholeheartedly in light of knowing what my patients are going through or have went through. Like the sweet elderly pastor who found out he had gastric (stomach) cancer that has metastasised (spread, i.e. incurable) right after being successfully treated for bladder cancer.
Of course, God is faithful, and strong, and with us. But how do you show that to people who are sick and dying? I can't, only God can. One of the challenges of being in my profession is to confront the reality that in the face of illness and disaster, we humans are so often helpless and powerless. Although, in truth, we have always been that; it just needs us to be in a very uncomfortable position to realise that.
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| Another possibly controversial post, this time prompted from the worldwide celebration of the death of one Osama bin Laden.
I recall reading a comment from an atheist a few months before, remarking on how it isn't honourable to take delight in the death of one's opponent, however much one disagrees with him or her. And I think that's spot on. It's actually an attitude that all Christians would do well to espouse. And it's Biblical, to boot. Read the following and tell me if this doesn't strike a chord within yourself:
Ezekiel 18:23,32 "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" say sthe Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?" "For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"
Ezekiel 33:11 "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'"
Even if the person in question is the head of Al-Qaeda, or a paedophile, or a serial killer. Would that person's death turn back time and bring back the innocents harmed? Granted, I have no personal experience...but if I ever did, may God give me the forbearance and grace to forgive. By myself, I can't. There are many times when I have lashed out in anger and hatred, believe me. However, the hard truth that I myself am a sinner desperately in need of God's forgiveness comes back time and time again to admonish me that the person who wronged me is also in exactly the same position. If he or she deserves punishment, suffering or death, then so do I! We are all fallen. We are all wicked. What righteousness can we claim of ourselves?
If we should celebrate at all, it's if and when the war against terror has ended. But it hasn't. So why the joy and jubilation? Rather, one more soul has gone beyond our reach to eternal damnation.
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| The following post may be rather controversial, but since the number of my readers could be counted on one hand, that should be all right. I hope, anyway.
Let me preface this by saying that I'm not Caucasian or Anglo-Saxon in any form. I'm Chinese, and proud of it. As part of my medical training, we were required to attend a one-day workshop focusing on Aboriginal health. For those not au fait with Australian history, its indigenous people are named Aboriginals. These unfortunate people were oppressed by the white colonial settlers who "discovered" Australia in the 18th century, so much so that there apparently are no longer any "pure-blooded" Aboriginals left. All natives in existence today are from a mixed lineage.
This fact was very much evident throughout the one-day workshop. There was a tone of bitterness and anger from all the presenters, not withstanding their natural humour and friendliness. I get that. There are no words to express the injustice that was dealt to them and the destruction of their culture via - at best, mistaken, and at worst, malicious - attempts at forcing them to be like the English convicts who were sent out here. Many Aboriginal children were taken from their families to live on supposedly Christian mission stations so they could be "civilised".
I'm just not so sure that dragging this up every time "Aboriginal culture" or "Aboriginal history" is mentioned in the same breath is going to do anyone any good in the long run. If you know what I mean? Those who are not repentant for the wrongs done by their ancestors to another race are not going to change overnight just because this issue is repeatedly brought up. Isn't it more effective to focus on the positive aspects of one's history and culture?
I was just irked because one of the presenters mentioned that "if an Aboriginal cultural gathering is taking place, don't go. It's none of your business". Seriously? I understand that she was being cautious since apparently a previous medical student who was invited to such a gathering ended up blogging about it without asking permission. But if you're going to be so reclusive, how do you expect anyone to cultivate respect for your culture? It's more like a clandestine cultish following.
And to claim that it's "the oldest culture in the world"...I'm not so sure about that, mate. It may very well be one of the oldest, but the oldest, is a very big claim indeed. What about the Mesopotamians? Ancient India? Egypt? Or the Chinese?
Although they may have a very good reason for it, I can't say that it's healthy carrying such a huge chip on their shoulders. Some day, they have to move on. History will remain history, and it's important to remember what happened in the past, if only to prevent it from happening again. But the present is where we live, and the future is where our children and grandchildren would be. Aboriginal health lags behind that of mainstream Australia, and the average lifespan of an Aboriginal is 50-60 years. We are not going to change that by demanding that every person who has wronged you or your forefathers apologise and give recompensation. We change that by looking at the factors preventing you from living an abundant life in the here and now. And God willing, the past will finally then remain where it should be, i.e. in the past.
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| I was glancing through a Christian bookstore catalogue just the other day and the title of a children's book caught my eye: I Am Amazing!
Belatedly, I noticed that it was followed by ...Because God Loves Me! However, the damage had already been irreparably done. Is that what our world has come to? That we need to bolster our children's self-esteem? That this is what God's amazing love amounts to, making us feel "special"? I expect that these were not the author's intentions at all, but I guess it's the subtle difference between showcasing the majesty and grandeur of the love of our Lord Christ, who would come to this earth and be reduced to human frailty, all for the love of us wretched mortals, and putting the spotlight on the very ordinary and humdrum human life. Why do we need to feel significant, for that matter? From dust we came, and to dust we shall return. The world would turn without us, and who would notice the difference were we gone the next second? Ah, the existential dilemma!
God notices, though. Why should He? For absolutely no reason other than that sheer, unfathomable, uncomprehensible love He bears for us! It is for this love Easter happened. It is for this love a Man trudged up Calvary with the weight of the world on His shoulders two thousand years ago. Are we amazing? No, not by any measure! But God's love is! God's grace is! Sometimes, I need to shake myself in order to feel that wonder again. Without that wonder, our world will remain exactly as it is now, ashes and dust, soon to be blown by the winds of the ages to leave nothing in its wake.
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| I know practically no one reads this blog any more (and I'm ok with that), but seeing how I'm stuck in the countryside over the weekend due to being on call and my co-intern is back in Melbourne; i.e. I've no one to physically talk to now...
Bella Swan has got to be one of the most idiotic characters ever! Just got to say that again. I just finished watching Twilight: New Moon, and it reminded me once more why I regretted buying the books. The relationship between Bella and Edward is downright unhealthy on her side, almost parasitic, even. Her treatment of Jacob is so selfish I can't believe no one else comments on it. Anyway, this doesn't affect anything in real life. If such a hypothetical scenario as that in the Twilight series ever arose, I'd point to the example of Jane Eyre as to what one should do if one found him/her-self in a situation where it is impossible (morally, ethically, physically or otherwise) to be with one's other half. And not go trying to kill oneself in order to hallucinate and tip over into psychotic depression.
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