little too much

I'd rather love a little too much x

during the wait at the traffic lights

If you're in Melbourne this week, you would agree that it kinda feel like you're in London. It was gloomy, wet and thunderstorming the whole week. If you want me to put it in one word - Yuck!

So, we were on our way to dinner yesterday. It was still pouring and I was lucky enough to be in a car. I dont know how you feel on a wet day, if you're one of the pedestrian on the road with cars zooming past as you cling on super tightly on your umbrella. The umbrella and the wind always put up a good fight on a wet rainy day. Well, for me, as much as I love the rain, I would just have the destination in my head and focus on getting there. ASAP!

Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be picked up in a car to go for dinner. We pulled to a halt at the traffic lights. As the rain hit against the windscreen, and whilst I was waiting for the lights, I tend to look around towards the streets. People watching can be fun! They tell amazing stories without words.

Pedestrian 1

He must have just came out of work, judging from his smart working attire. Power walking, he seemed like he had his mind set on going to where he was heading towards.

15 m ahead of him was a domestic bin that had been pushed out earlier the day for the rubbish collectors. Its lid was opened and collecting rain. Not a pleasant thing to deal with when the rain stops and you're the one collecting the bin. This man came, saw, and just conveniently flicked the lid back on and continued walking towards where he was going.

Pedestrian 2

Random rubbish was clogging the main drainage along the road (yes, melbourne has rubbish floating around too on rainy days). Well, I was at Richmond, that kinda explained the rubbish a little. This man, was casually walking along the street. It was raining, he had an umbrella, but he didnt really use it. He was well groomed and he seemed really happy, there was just a big grin on his face. He came around from the corner, semi tapping his feet. Then, he bent forwards towards the drain.

First thing that came into my head - "DODGY BETUL! What is this guy doing!!!!"

Then, I realised, he was unclogging the drain so that there wouldnt be a mini flood happening on the road.

WOW! Within 2 minutes of waiting at the traffic lights, I've seen such amazing acts. Perhaps, this is really doing good when no one was watching. I guess they were genuinely not expecting in return.

They did it, just because.

Soon enough, the traffic lights turned green.

We drove ahead and continued on. It was still raining, weather was still yuck. But, I knew that the rubbish bin lid was shut and not collecting rain, and the drain had now been unclogged.

I came around the traffic lights, with a big grin on my face, happier than when we first pulled up. It wasnt that anything significant had happened. It was just me knowing and witnessing it for myself, there are still good people around :)

R.I.P.

This week, we said goodbyes to 2 amazing men from our church - Shaun Bergin and Dylan Hall.

Personally, I dont know them. I just know of people who are related to them but they both have definitely touched my heart.

Dylan is 6 years old, brother to Jasmine and Eric. These kids are absolutely fantastic and having them in Planetkids had always been so much fun! I went to Dylan's funeral the other day and I realised these kids are actually WAYYY stronger and bigger in spirit than i could ever imagined. The photos of how they walked along Dylan and loved their little brother despite of his condition really touch my heart. They came to church on Sunday after the funeral. I saw Jasmine lift her hands and still praise God with all her heart. That in itself was beautiful and it was so hard to not move me to tears. The other kids at church were so gorgeous as well. Aimee and Ryan uphold them in prayer and it was evident that the presence of God was so strong when the kids prayed.

I guess, this in itself was a testimony. To see that Jasmine and Eric, despite their pain and questions, still came to church and still worship Our Father, was indeed very moving. And for the other kids, to love them and to pray with them and to support them, just in their actions speak more than 100000 words.

Shaun is a 26 year old footy player. Husband to Jess, son-in-law to Geoff and LeeAnne from planetkids. He suffered from a sporting injury that had left him unconscious (head/spinal cord injury?) and was put on life support. Today, we bid him goodbye after the good fight that he had put on! Perhaps, one can argue, how could this happen? He was so young and everyone prayed, and everyone stood in faith. I guess, with a lot of things, we wouldnt know why God did what He did. And i guess we would never know why God didnt carry out the promises that we once thought we saw, until we reach heaven and finally see things from the eternity point of view and in a wayyy bigger perspective than our human earthly mind could try to percieve right now. But for now, we just need to know that God is still God and He is still good. As Bea said, surely, the greater testimony is yet to happen. Just you wait.

I was on facebook and was just scrolling on all the encouragement, prayers and thoughts that were posted on the Bergins and the Andersons' wall. I love how people stood around each other and encourage them. My heart breaks as i know that they are walking through this grief. Lee Ann and Geoff are such inspirational people in the PK team. But at the same time, it's touching, knowing that in this journey of life, there's all these people that are thinking about you and believing with you through tough times. To cheer you on and to cry with you. To declare God's goodness and the light of hope when it feel like its utter darkness.

I love how love is made real, especially at this time.

To the Halls, Bergins and Andersons,

thank you for showcasing your legends and champions - Dylan and Shaun, to the world. our prayers and thoughts are with you. God is surely working something tremendously good along your way. love you guys heaps!

1 Corinthians 15:54b-55

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

i LIKE

sookers had always been rubbing in and saying that i'm getting old. Well, i guess she is PARTIALLY right. I cant freeze time ok? hahaha so it is natural to grow old what!

I sleep early and dont stay up late anymore. 1 o'clock is the latest i am willing to toothpick my eyes open. I dont like going out super late and i rather movies than games!

BUT HEY! I'M STILL COOL AND I STILL LOVE TO HAVE FUN OK!

I rediscovered my passion and joy in meeting new people and having the opportunity to hang out with people i dont usually hang out with / people i dont see so often! It's in doing the little random things like travelling all the way to the city at 730am just for baseball, sleeping in someone's room in between service and dinner, getting shot by millions of paintball and still smile at the end of the day, catching up in the library, watching and cheering on a volleyball game and impromtu outings to jells park.

somewhere, somehow, along the way, i've learnt to prioritise. To put what is closest to your heart first. It is not hard to know who is important in your life cos they'll always be in your thoughts. And, i cant be like superman, fly across to the other side of the earth in 2 mins. I can only do one small thing at a time. As uncool as it sound, i rather turn down an invite to some extravagant party and just snuggle up next to my ex-housie. I guess with growing up, you learnt to appreciate people more, hey?

So, yes. Growing up is inevitable and who says growing up is growing old?!! I still giggle and laugh super loud (and yes, in my amazingly high pitch!) at the silliest of things. But i think after taking in 23 years of oxygen, you realised that little things go long way.

After all, they say best things in life are free anyway! :) and well, I think its ok to slow down as we grow older. (no, i'm not saying the energy of my youth has departed me! NEVER admitting that!!!) But i'm just saying that in slowing down and taking a step back, you will realise that you actually have time to smell the flowers!! Whereas, when you're all hyped and running around heaps, you miss the little things.

i like smelling the flowers.

i like going on food adventures.

and you know what? I actually really like it when it rains and i'm indoor.

i like the sound of rain as it hits the floor or the window.

I like how secured and safe i can be inside the house.

so who cares if i'm growing old and not as exciting as people think i am.

as long as i'm with the people i love, and doing the things that makes my heart go fuzzy, who cares!

i like!

NEW SEASON

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

You know how i was sharing bout new things are yet to come. I think it is here!

I've been meeting and hanging out with people that I usually dont get to as well, it's AWESOMMMEE! yes, it's true. i'm cant live without people. but it's just all so fun and exciting when you finally meet someone(s) new or even learning something new about an old acquaintance! The whole sense of curiousity, forming new friendship and stepping out of your comfort zone thing can actually be quite fun! [yes, i do love it]! And to be honest, it's nice to finally balance the scale of farewell and people leaving me vs making new friends and doing random things!

With camp, discipleship, uni and just this phase of life that i'm in now, it's all so exciting and all so new! God is speaking to me and just leading me to this place of TOTAL and UTTER dependence on Him. It's either ALL or NOTHING. and sometimes, it can be scary.

Through that also, I've learnt to lay my "except" and excuses down. and hey, i still make mistakes! i just made the stupidest one yesterday. (not quite appropriate to share) but i've learnt to deal with it and pick up my feet. Just when you thought, yup, i've got it all and then you find yourself in the most awkward spot!! HAHAHA

I think I sorta know how to leave the things of the past behind and pressing on forward to the goal that Christ has set before me.

At times, I hear His gentle whisper saying, "BE STILL and know that I am HERE".

And at times, I feel His gentle tug, pushing me to LOVE and KEEP LOVING.

Kristal once said this in urban life. She felt as though God is putting a white cloth over the things of the past and made everything white as snow again. What was once darkness, is now brought to light.

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