Read the special report which offers a glimpse of the lives of HIV/AIDS patients in the Straits Times this morning. Would encourage all those out there to get your hands on a copy and spend a few minutes of your time to read it.
I've never clerked a patient with AIDS in the wards before, neither do I know anyone who has HIV. They may have contracted HIV in a moment of folly, but they deserve our empathy no less because the price they are already paying the price and bearing the consequences, physically, emotionally, financially and socially.
Very frankly, I don't know how I would respond or interact with a patient with HIV. As it is now, I'm still not very apt at interacting with people, or even friends, who are hospitalised or are undergoing treatment for illnesses. I don't know whether they would want to talk about their illness, or whether I should just babble on and update them about the things going on in my life. Even for friends whom you've known for a substantial amount of time, the silence may not be totally comfortable, and could be a tad awkward. "Just being there" doesn't seem so easy when you don't know whether that's what your friend really wants or needs.
"Sometimes things happen without any reason. When there are no explanations, let God show you the way."
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Death
For 2 days in our Family Medicine posting, we have a palliative care programme, where we are exposed to palliative medicine, visit a hospice and make a house visit to a patient requiring palliative care (both to be done tomorrow). To get us to think about certain issues, we were shown this movie - "Wit", starring Emma Thompson. Powerful it was, to the extent that some of my male classmates teared at the end.
Essentially, the movie depicts the journey taken by a literature professor from the moment she was diagnosed with advanced metastatic ovarian cancer, to the point when she passed away. Not only did it give me a glimpse of what a terminally-ill patient with cancer goes through, it also exposed, albeit exaggeratedly (hopefully), some short-comings of health-care providers and (supposedly) professionals. As much as professors in medical school and doctors in the hospitals belabour the point that one must view a patient as a human and as a whole, how easy it is for us as medical students to view them as 'interesting cases' with good histories or physical signs to elicit; and possibly as doctors in future to look at them as diseases to be managed and treated, instead of people whom we should be caring for holistically.
There was this particular scene when the doctor was just shooting questions at the patient, some less relevant than others, showing no concern or interest to her as a person, in the process of clerking her. I laughed. How ironic in retrospect, when I realise that sometimes, this seems to be the way I'm clerking patients at times, especially when time is short, and there are many other patients to see. I asked myself, "Is this who I'm going to turn out to be?" I pray not.
A dying person loses many things, as brought up during the discussion after the movie.
One loses his physical appearance - hair, eyebrows, etc.
One loses the roles he used to play - the one being cared for, instead of the carer; the one being provided for, instead of the provider; roles at work and in the family.
One loses freedom when one is hospitalised - Fixed timings for meals, medications and bedtime; having to wear the same garb as everyone else; having to do what the doctors, nurses, therapists tell you to do (and you can't really say no); having your movement restricted within the confines of the hospital.
One loses independence.
One loses control - not only of his situation, but many times, of his body.
One risks losing his identity if his identity is dependent on the people who used to surround him.
One risks losing his value if his value is based on the work that he used to do.
One risks losing his self-worth if his self-worth is established based on the roles he used to perform.
There is only so much one can hold on to at this stage. Some people are motivated to live their remaining days doing something meaningful. All very well. But what if one is so weak, to the extent of not being able to do anything, what is going to sustain him till the day he has to go?
If one must look for something to hold on to, it had better be something that never changes, and that can only be one thing - that God loves you, and you are His beloved child.
"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, Death, thou shalt die.
~ John Donne, Holy Sonnet X
Life, death, soul, God, past present. Not insuperable barriers. Not semi-colons. Just a comma.
Essentially, the movie depicts the journey taken by a literature professor from the moment she was diagnosed with advanced metastatic ovarian cancer, to the point when she passed away. Not only did it give me a glimpse of what a terminally-ill patient with cancer goes through, it also exposed, albeit exaggeratedly (hopefully), some short-comings of health-care providers and (supposedly) professionals. As much as professors in medical school and doctors in the hospitals belabour the point that one must view a patient as a human and as a whole, how easy it is for us as medical students to view them as 'interesting cases' with good histories or physical signs to elicit; and possibly as doctors in future to look at them as diseases to be managed and treated, instead of people whom we should be caring for holistically.
There was this particular scene when the doctor was just shooting questions at the patient, some less relevant than others, showing no concern or interest to her as a person, in the process of clerking her. I laughed. How ironic in retrospect, when I realise that sometimes, this seems to be the way I'm clerking patients at times, especially when time is short, and there are many other patients to see. I asked myself, "Is this who I'm going to turn out to be?" I pray not.
A dying person loses many things, as brought up during the discussion after the movie.
One loses his physical appearance - hair, eyebrows, etc.
One loses the roles he used to play - the one being cared for, instead of the carer; the one being provided for, instead of the provider; roles at work and in the family.
One loses freedom when one is hospitalised - Fixed timings for meals, medications and bedtime; having to wear the same garb as everyone else; having to do what the doctors, nurses, therapists tell you to do (and you can't really say no); having your movement restricted within the confines of the hospital.
One loses independence.
One loses control - not only of his situation, but many times, of his body.
One risks losing his identity if his identity is dependent on the people who used to surround him.
One risks losing his value if his value is based on the work that he used to do.
One risks losing his self-worth if his self-worth is established based on the roles he used to perform.
There is only so much one can hold on to at this stage. Some people are motivated to live their remaining days doing something meaningful. All very well. But what if one is so weak, to the extent of not being able to do anything, what is going to sustain him till the day he has to go?
If one must look for something to hold on to, it had better be something that never changes, and that can only be one thing - that God loves you, and you are His beloved child.
"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more, Death, thou shalt die.
~ John Donne, Holy Sonnet X
Life, death, soul, God, past present. Not insuperable barriers. Not semi-colons. Just a comma.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Transformed by the Renewing of the Mind
It is ironic, as one of my friends commented, that the number of my blog posts usually increase in the middle of a posting or near an EOPT, but dive immediately after it or when I'm in a relatively slack period of my posting (e.g. during Family Medicine). Maybe it's that blogging, as mentioned in my very first post, is cathartic for stress-relief. Maybe when I have more time, I choose to spend it doing other things, like playing computer games, watching movies/DVDs, reading, etc. But anyway, quite a lot have transpired over the past 10 days or so. Hopefully I can update more over the next few days (:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:1-2
For some reason, "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" keeps appearing in my head recently. Once a couple of weeks ago, once just last Monday, and once again today. And I'm still struggling to comprehend the enormity and significance of the meaning behind this 2 seemingly very loaded verses.
During a rally last Monday, the speaker used the example of some churches who do not really advocate the use of drums and electric/bass guitars during worship. So on one hand, they read Psalms 150 but on the other, frown upon the use of any instrument besides the organ and piano. We shouldn't be judgmental, bearing in mind the style of worship should be acceptable by the congregation in the context of their culture. But we have to constantly reflect whether our traditions are becoming a burden to us, getting in the way of renewal.
Just today, during singing practice, a question was asked, "Can Christians sing seemingly-Christian songs written by non-Christians?" It was then noted that a few composers of sacred music, past and present, were not actually Christian. Do we then say that we must not sing these songs? One of us shared, if I may paraphrase, "God is beyond limits. Let us not limit what He can do with our own inadequate and rigid understanding."
To sum it up, as my Pastor shared, music in itself is neutral. The distinction between sacred and secular boils down to the person who sings/plays it. A person singing 'sacred music' without the intention or heart of praising God is not worshipping. A person singing a song without any overt mention of Jesus or God, perhaps even a 'secular song' about love, but directing it towards God and praising Him, is truly worshipping. At the end of the day, it is the heart of worship, and that, is all about Jesus.
True transformation can only occur when we allow the Holy Spirit to renew, reeducate and redirect our minds. Not that we have a blanket disregard of traditions, 'conservative thinking' or rules and laws, but rather, to understand, adapt and apply the spirit of the law, rather than the letter of the law. (Romans 2:29)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Quote-worthy:
Our complaints are not over the lack of necessities but the abundance of benefits. The source of our problems is our blessings.
~ Max Lucado, Six Hours, One Friday
Do our wealth and talents cause us to indulge in spiritual vanity and stand in our way of worshipping God?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:1-2
For some reason, "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" keeps appearing in my head recently. Once a couple of weeks ago, once just last Monday, and once again today. And I'm still struggling to comprehend the enormity and significance of the meaning behind this 2 seemingly very loaded verses.
During a rally last Monday, the speaker used the example of some churches who do not really advocate the use of drums and electric/bass guitars during worship. So on one hand, they read Psalms 150 but on the other, frown upon the use of any instrument besides the organ and piano. We shouldn't be judgmental, bearing in mind the style of worship should be acceptable by the congregation in the context of their culture. But we have to constantly reflect whether our traditions are becoming a burden to us, getting in the way of renewal.
Just today, during singing practice, a question was asked, "Can Christians sing seemingly-Christian songs written by non-Christians?" It was then noted that a few composers of sacred music, past and present, were not actually Christian. Do we then say that we must not sing these songs? One of us shared, if I may paraphrase, "God is beyond limits. Let us not limit what He can do with our own inadequate and rigid understanding."
To sum it up, as my Pastor shared, music in itself is neutral. The distinction between sacred and secular boils down to the person who sings/plays it. A person singing 'sacred music' without the intention or heart of praising God is not worshipping. A person singing a song without any overt mention of Jesus or God, perhaps even a 'secular song' about love, but directing it towards God and praising Him, is truly worshipping. At the end of the day, it is the heart of worship, and that, is all about Jesus.
True transformation can only occur when we allow the Holy Spirit to renew, reeducate and redirect our minds. Not that we have a blanket disregard of traditions, 'conservative thinking' or rules and laws, but rather, to understand, adapt and apply the spirit of the law, rather than the letter of the law. (Romans 2:29)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Quote-worthy:
Our complaints are not over the lack of necessities but the abundance of benefits. The source of our problems is our blessings.
~ Max Lucado, Six Hours, One Friday
Do our wealth and talents cause us to indulge in spiritual vanity and stand in our way of worshipping God?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Partnerships
Ran the Nike 10k Race yesterday, clocked a time of around 56 minutes. I guess it's acceptable and not too bad, since I never really do train much for my runs. But I really expected better. Funny how we (I) always expect more than what we put in. After I finished my race, I hung around the finishing line for a while, watching the other runners coming in while catching my breath and cooling down.
Many of them, in the last 100 metres, came in hand-in-hand. Many were couples, pretty sweet. (: Some of the other pairs were ladies. I didn't see 2 guys come in hand-in-hand though, (fortunately).
I've never run a race with someone else's hand in mine, but I can imagine how it much it takes both parties. The faster one (let's assume it's the guy in this case, and no, I'm not being sexist. Just for convenience's sake) would have to be willing to slow down his pace to accomodate her, not to get fed up halfway and leave his partner behind. She would have to be willing to try her best to match up to his pace and not to slow down or give up. There has to be so much willingness by both parties, so much resolve and determination to say, "Yes, let's try to make this partnership work out. Together."
It is no mean feat, I have to admit. There were times when I was running with some friends and I do get a little irritated, (even though I'm willing to slow down) that they (in my perhaps skewed and biased perpsective) do not seem to be trying hard enough. There were also times when I was running with guys faster than me, and find it extremely challenging to catch up.
What drives this willingness, resolve and determination?
I think it's love. As one of my friend rightly told me "When you love someone, it's not about you. It's about her."
Nobody said loving someone would be easy.
Whenever I think of how my mother would prepare breakfast for me every single day, never bearing a grudge when I have almost never thanked her for it;
Whenever she has to wake up earlier than me everyday before 5:30am so that she can wake me up and I won't be late, even when she does not need to;
Whenever I tell her that I'm not free to have dinner with her because I've something on and yet she never revealed her disappointment at not being able to have dinner with her own son;
I'm reminded of what love is.
It was always about me and never about her.
And if you fall before you cross the finishing line, I promise to carry you across it. Together.
Many of them, in the last 100 metres, came in hand-in-hand. Many were couples, pretty sweet. (: Some of the other pairs were ladies. I didn't see 2 guys come in hand-in-hand though, (fortunately).
I've never run a race with someone else's hand in mine, but I can imagine how it much it takes both parties. The faster one (let's assume it's the guy in this case, and no, I'm not being sexist. Just for convenience's sake) would have to be willing to slow down his pace to accomodate her, not to get fed up halfway and leave his partner behind. She would have to be willing to try her best to match up to his pace and not to slow down or give up. There has to be so much willingness by both parties, so much resolve and determination to say, "Yes, let's try to make this partnership work out. Together."
It is no mean feat, I have to admit. There were times when I was running with some friends and I do get a little irritated, (even though I'm willing to slow down) that they (in my perhaps skewed and biased perpsective) do not seem to be trying hard enough. There were also times when I was running with guys faster than me, and find it extremely challenging to catch up.
What drives this willingness, resolve and determination?
I think it's love. As one of my friend rightly told me "When you love someone, it's not about you. It's about her."
Nobody said loving someone would be easy.
Whenever I think of how my mother would prepare breakfast for me every single day, never bearing a grudge when I have almost never thanked her for it;
Whenever she has to wake up earlier than me everyday before 5:30am so that she can wake me up and I won't be late, even when she does not need to;
Whenever I tell her that I'm not free to have dinner with her because I've something on and yet she never revealed her disappointment at not being able to have dinner with her own son;
I'm reminded of what love is.
It was always about me and never about her.
And if you fall before you cross the finishing line, I promise to carry you across it. Together.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
'Tis the season for concerts and theatre
As we enter the 4th and final quarter of the year, we always find that December is the month when the number of concerts, theatre productions, musicals explodes. Perhaps the season of cheer is also a time when people are more willing to spend, give themselves a break and a good laugh, well, in general, relac a lil bit. :P
Navigating through the SISTIC website, there are so many attractive productions that I'd wanna catch, but due to limited time, and more importantly, the limited size of my wallet, I'd have to be discerning as to what I'd wanna catch. Just to list a few:
1. Broadway Beng - Jiak Liu Lian! (3-12 Dec): I watched the previous one. Not that I totally understood everything, since I'm highly deficient in my Hokkien proficiency. But with the limited bit I understood, I had a good laugh. Tickets aren't unreasonably priced, but no student discount ):
2. Happy Songs for a Great Recession by Budak Pantai (17-18 Dec): Have always heard about Budak Pantai, but never heard them before. They're supposed to be real good though. Student tickets are $25. Sounds good to me.
3. Soweto Gospel Choir - African Spirit (22-23 Dec): I haven't really heard a live African choir before, and this one's a 2-time Grammy Award winner. The tickets are a little on the ex side though.
4. The Inaugural Choral Elite (Victoria Chorale, The Vocal Consort, VJC Choir)(30 Dec): Haven't heard a choir in some time. And I would dare say these choirs are solid choirs. Ticket prices reasonable too.
Maybe, maybe I can catch all of them, but it may cause a perforation and hemorrhage in my wallet, resulting in diffuse walletitis. You may also see free air in the coin compartment if you take an X-ray of it.
Anyone out there wants to catch any of the above? =)
Navigating through the SISTIC website, there are so many attractive productions that I'd wanna catch, but due to limited time, and more importantly, the limited size of my wallet, I'd have to be discerning as to what I'd wanna catch. Just to list a few:
1. Broadway Beng - Jiak Liu Lian! (3-12 Dec): I watched the previous one. Not that I totally understood everything, since I'm highly deficient in my Hokkien proficiency. But with the limited bit I understood, I had a good laugh. Tickets aren't unreasonably priced, but no student discount ):
2. Happy Songs for a Great Recession by Budak Pantai (17-18 Dec): Have always heard about Budak Pantai, but never heard them before. They're supposed to be real good though. Student tickets are $25. Sounds good to me.
3. Soweto Gospel Choir - African Spirit (22-23 Dec): I haven't really heard a live African choir before, and this one's a 2-time Grammy Award winner. The tickets are a little on the ex side though.
4. The Inaugural Choral Elite (Victoria Chorale, The Vocal Consort, VJC Choir)(30 Dec): Haven't heard a choir in some time. And I would dare say these choirs are solid choirs. Ticket prices reasonable too.
Maybe, maybe I can catch all of them, but it may cause a perforation and hemorrhage in my wallet, resulting in diffuse walletitis. You may also see free air in the coin compartment if you take an X-ray of it.
Anyone out there wants to catch any of the above? =)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Of Expectations
First of all, I would like to thank all the readers of this blog, who have given me comments, suggestions or criticisms, whether personally, via msn or the tagboard. Believe me when I say these comments are all precious to me, and that I really enjoy the exchange of opinions and mutual sharpening of each other's minds.
At the end of the day, I can only pray that what I write and what I think can be used by God to provoke the thoughts of my readers, and that in His own way, they will be edified and ministered to.
So once again, keep the comments coming (:
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A couple of weeks back, my mum told me my uncle from Australia bought iPhones for my sister and I. Since he's coming in December, I was pretty nonchalant about it.
Last week, my uncle asked me for my address and said he was going to courier the iPhones over. I was post-call and in the middle of my slumber, and I thought he was going to take his time to mail it over. So I didn't think much about it either.
A few days ago, my mum told me that my uncle had already DHL-ed the iPhones over. And since that day, I've been asking my mum whether the DHL man came by everyday, even though I knew that yesterday was a public holiday and today was a Sunday. I am an impatient person, I know it and I know it too well. Because my expectations have been raised, I seem to can't help but think about it day and night, even though I know that eventually, it'll arrive at my doorstep.
I think one should have expectations in life, because expectations drive us toward an eventual goal to be achieved. If one does not have expectations in his work, he will have nothing to work towards. But can the same be said of people? Are we given the right to have expectations of people? If parents don't have expectations of their children, will they motivate them to improve? Similarly, I would think that one will have different and stratified expectations of acquaintances, friends, good friends, best friends, boy/girl-friends, husband/wife, etc.
Thing is, when do expectations become unrealistic? Moreover, very often, conflicts and struggles come when various expectations don't agree or are not reconciled. What if your perceived-best friend did not ask you to be her maid-of-honour on her wedding day when you were almost dead sure that you're gonna be the one? (Using this example, just because I was watching the episode where Izzie's getting married to Alex on Grey's. Yea I'm lag. -.-) I guess, then, modifying and compromising one's expectations may just be the only way. Maybe to the extent of having zero expectations? But then again, how easy is it to do that? Is it even achievable?
I wonder whether God has expectations of us. No doubt His love and grace is unconditional, but do that carry expectations? If they do, for sure, all of us fail terribly. Does it make sense to say that, I love you, I do have expectations of you, but even if you fail to meet these expectations, no matter how many times, I will continue to love you, to the very end. Is this how it works? If seeing this seems to be how it works between parents and their children, I'd think that this is how it works for God and His people. And I guess this is probably how it should work between us and the people we truly love.
At the end of the day, I can only pray that what I write and what I think can be used by God to provoke the thoughts of my readers, and that in His own way, they will be edified and ministered to.
So once again, keep the comments coming (:
-------------------------------------------
A couple of weeks back, my mum told me my uncle from Australia bought iPhones for my sister and I. Since he's coming in December, I was pretty nonchalant about it.
Last week, my uncle asked me for my address and said he was going to courier the iPhones over. I was post-call and in the middle of my slumber, and I thought he was going to take his time to mail it over. So I didn't think much about it either.
A few days ago, my mum told me that my uncle had already DHL-ed the iPhones over. And since that day, I've been asking my mum whether the DHL man came by everyday, even though I knew that yesterday was a public holiday and today was a Sunday. I am an impatient person, I know it and I know it too well. Because my expectations have been raised, I seem to can't help but think about it day and night, even though I know that eventually, it'll arrive at my doorstep.
I think one should have expectations in life, because expectations drive us toward an eventual goal to be achieved. If one does not have expectations in his work, he will have nothing to work towards. But can the same be said of people? Are we given the right to have expectations of people? If parents don't have expectations of their children, will they motivate them to improve? Similarly, I would think that one will have different and stratified expectations of acquaintances, friends, good friends, best friends, boy/girl-friends, husband/wife, etc.
Thing is, when do expectations become unrealistic? Moreover, very often, conflicts and struggles come when various expectations don't agree or are not reconciled. What if your perceived-best friend did not ask you to be her maid-of-honour on her wedding day when you were almost dead sure that you're gonna be the one? (Using this example, just because I was watching the episode where Izzie's getting married to Alex on Grey's. Yea I'm lag. -.-) I guess, then, modifying and compromising one's expectations may just be the only way. Maybe to the extent of having zero expectations? But then again, how easy is it to do that? Is it even achievable?
I wonder whether God has expectations of us. No doubt His love and grace is unconditional, but do that carry expectations? If they do, for sure, all of us fail terribly. Does it make sense to say that, I love you, I do have expectations of you, but even if you fail to meet these expectations, no matter how many times, I will continue to love you, to the very end. Is this how it works? If seeing this seems to be how it works between parents and their children, I'd think that this is how it works for God and His people. And I guess this is probably how it should work between us and the people we truly love.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Of Questions and Answers
I was back from a 45 minute-run, and while waiting for the lift (Call me lazy to take a lift up to the 3rd floor, but well, I doubt the 3 extra flights of stairs will help me lose that many more calories :P) I saw 2 empty plastic takeaway Starbucks cups, one on each side of the lift landing. There was chocolate all over the interior of the cups. And if my memory doesn't fail me, they have been lying there for the past 3 days. (As a responsible citizen of the country, member of the constituency and resident of the neighbourhood, I should have just thrown the cups into the rubbish bin 2 steps away. If the cleaner doesn't beat me to it, I'll do it tomorrow.)
But anyway, my question is, how come there are no ants swarming the cups; when my metallic snoopy cup will be harrased by these crawlies if i happen to leave my finished cup of coke overnight?
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I was at a Christian Acapella group this afternoon. It was our first meeting, and were still discussing the basis, reason and rationale for our existence. I have to admit, it has been very long, probably since my last choir concert, that I have sung with a such a talented and gifted group of musicians. And I really miss that feeling. I had trouble following while sight-singing, and I almost felt inferior. Almost, because I know that the extent of gifting for everyone in this area is different. All of them, as far as I could sense, were really focused on using music to glorify God, and wanted to be very clear that the purpose of this group was to glorify God with high-quality sacred music.
At some point in time, a question was raised: What does it mean to glorify God through music? Does it mean that by putting together a bunch of good Christian singers who sing Christian music, God will be glorified? Conversely, does it mean that by having a group of Christian singers who are less musically-inclined, God will be less glorified?
We are all certain of the fact that God doesn't need us to sing for Him, because He can command the rocks to sing out for Him and glorify Him. But the reason why we want to achieve such excellence, musically and beyond, for Him is because our God is a God of excellence and perfection. When He impressed and inspired a composer to write music, it was intended to sound a certain way, and what we all want to do, is to achieve that intended standard. Not that by singing a perfect piece is God glorified, but by our intention to give Him our best, the best that can be achieved, are we given Him all the glory. There is no question that the Spirit can minister to people through a lousily-performed piece. Nor is it necessary that a well-performed piece will minister to many.
Ultimately, I would think that we can never know whether God is glorified and whether people are edified, but we can glorify Him when our hearts are right with Him whatever we do for Him.
------------------------------------------------------------------
We can have a lot of questions: theological questions, medical questions, scientific questions, life's big questions. However, many-a-times, there may not be an answer to them. Even if there were, they may not be satisfactory, and the search continues. At which point in time do we come to accept that we may never find out the answer, but exercise our faith in God such that we don't need to answer to move on?
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“我站在你左侧，却像隔着银河”
~ 《你不是真的快乐》 后。青春期的诗，五月天
I always felt this is one of the most beautifully written lines in Chinese pop music. (:
But anyway, my question is, how come there are no ants swarming the cups; when my metallic snoopy cup will be harrased by these crawlies if i happen to leave my finished cup of coke overnight?
------------------------------------------------------------------
I was at a Christian Acapella group this afternoon. It was our first meeting, and were still discussing the basis, reason and rationale for our existence. I have to admit, it has been very long, probably since my last choir concert, that I have sung with a such a talented and gifted group of musicians. And I really miss that feeling. I had trouble following while sight-singing, and I almost felt inferior. Almost, because I know that the extent of gifting for everyone in this area is different. All of them, as far as I could sense, were really focused on using music to glorify God, and wanted to be very clear that the purpose of this group was to glorify God with high-quality sacred music.
At some point in time, a question was raised: What does it mean to glorify God through music? Does it mean that by putting together a bunch of good Christian singers who sing Christian music, God will be glorified? Conversely, does it mean that by having a group of Christian singers who are less musically-inclined, God will be less glorified?
We are all certain of the fact that God doesn't need us to sing for Him, because He can command the rocks to sing out for Him and glorify Him. But the reason why we want to achieve such excellence, musically and beyond, for Him is because our God is a God of excellence and perfection. When He impressed and inspired a composer to write music, it was intended to sound a certain way, and what we all want to do, is to achieve that intended standard. Not that by singing a perfect piece is God glorified, but by our intention to give Him our best, the best that can be achieved, are we given Him all the glory. There is no question that the Spirit can minister to people through a lousily-performed piece. Nor is it necessary that a well-performed piece will minister to many.
Ultimately, I would think that we can never know whether God is glorified and whether people are edified, but we can glorify Him when our hearts are right with Him whatever we do for Him.
------------------------------------------------------------------
We can have a lot of questions: theological questions, medical questions, scientific questions, life's big questions. However, many-a-times, there may not be an answer to them. Even if there were, they may not be satisfactory, and the search continues. At which point in time do we come to accept that we may never find out the answer, but exercise our faith in God such that we don't need to answer to move on?
------------------------------------------------------------------
“我站在你左侧，却像隔着银河”
~ 《你不是真的快乐》 后。青春期的诗，五月天
I always felt this is one of the most beautifully written lines in Chinese pop music. (:
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