Yoshi’s Noteboard 2.0
Write About NowArchive for March, 2009
Missed
Frustration... "My Greek is bad."
1. Was fleeced today in Greek exam. I know I could have done better, but got bogged down with locating the meanings and then realised I did not have enough time for my final section. *sobs* Just when I was starting to understand things…
2. Earth hour: Why turn off lights when you can turn off air-conditioners? I’m still skimping plastic bags, paper and unnecessary trips to the washing machine.
3. STM condition: It has been raining a bit recently. Everyone is overcome with work: some even missing chapel to sleep, or were too sick to get out of bed, or just plain ’studious’. Missing chapel to study?
4. UMNO elections: KJ and Sharizat are in. I’ve heard rumours that this season marks the beginning of a dark age for non-Muslims in the country. Hmmm…
5. Working on an assignment to be handed up tomorrow. Studying the lives of Martin Luther King, Sunday Adelaja and Mother Teresa, but I lament my slow progress. To all the studious students out there, all z best and keep up the slogging. One day, all of this will be worth the while. Just don’t return everything to your teacher.
Happily misunderstood
I’m glad that most people misunderstand me. It gives me the opportunity to be creative and unpredictable. It also gives me the added option of turning an unexpected broadside on unwitting trouble-makers. The joy of seeing their faces- the jaws dropping, the angry eyes and the furrowing of the brow; I think that is enough to make my day. “I can’t believe Yoshua could have said that!” whether it was for good or for bad.
I’m not as ‘holy’ or ‘godly’ as some people perceive me to be. Nor am I as perverted or hypocritical as others might believe. I can remain invisible and insoluble to most, as you will only know me based on how much I divulge.
As most would know, things are not that complicated. Or are they?
There is no Right or Wrong?
Come on... You can't expect me to buy into your whole Absolute Truth rhubarb?
Some people argue that there are no absolute truths. There is no such thing as an absolute Right or an absolute Wrong. Let’s look at some ‘aggressive’ applications of this concept:
1. Imagine a day when students can answer technical subjects like Mathematics or Physics with whichever answer that they think is correct (including wonderfully subjective answers), and that the teachers will still have to give them an ‘A’? Think metaphysics, man.
2. That there is no such thing as Law and Order, since people can do as they think is best- what I feel is right is right; whereas what You feel is right, etc. Since humankind has the ability to reason and to think rationally, why should we be subject to illogical laws or things which we think are impossible to believe because we can’t see/hear/touch/smell it?
3. Incest, murder, rape, abortion and torture will not be ‘morally’ wrong, since man determines what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, therefore, if given the circumstances, these ‘crimes’ are no longer ‘crimes’, but ‘accidents’ or symptoms of psychological dysfunction, and all we need is a little rehabilitation. Victims? Life’s unfair. Get over it.
4. No one can charge me for anything. No one SHOULD charge for anything that I do, say or THINK, since I am my own judge and set my own rules. Whoever said that I should be bound to anyone’s self-imposed laws. Why should I listen to what you have to say or expect me to do? Even if you are very knowledgeable on the subject, who cares? Your voice/face annoys me.
5. A man can marry an elephant; a woman can have multiple live-in partners with dogs, cats, or any other animal. What’s so wrong about ‘loving the animals’? Its just a matter of getting used to, that’s all.
6. The environment is neutral. It can be destroyed. Or not. Up to you lah.
7. Do as you like. Do as you please. And no one can/should say anything against that.
From a Christian perspective, it is the Church that has failed in its role to show society what Truth really is. So in a way, we cannot blame people for thinking and believing in the way they do. God, have mercy on our saltless Church.
Smitten
Only one word comes to mind... the calm before the storm.
The cries of ‘Holy, Holy’ remind me of the cherubim encircling the Great Throne, and my spirit quickens. My hairs are standing on edge.
My being resonates with the worship resounding in the heavens, where lightning and thunder arc to glory and majesty incomparable.
As the storm begins to swirl on this boat of simple makeup, I look past the rain that will flood my tear-dried face. Everything will fade- my dryness, my anger, my anxiety and my petty worries. My boat will fill with water from the waves and will probably sink.
But how can I refuse the voice, “Come…” ?
Twenty Nine Years of His Faithfulness
On this day of all days, when an insignificant event made its way into the subconscious of a few score individuals and wonderful people of this blessed earth; the intentions in the heart of The Supreme Being became hidden, encapsulated in the tiny sinews of understandings that make up the fabric of this lesser being, which when fully formed in Christ, would never cease to bring Him the highest praise, seeking not its own glory, but to the One whom created the Heavens and Earth, that it may in some small way contribute to the chorus of glory that ascends to the Throne in daily worship.
Thank you... to those who contributed to the Wings of Yoshua, my deepest gratitude! You will see its use in days to come .
To the rest who sent sms-es and greetings, I know the responsibility of living brings with it its own hazards, but one can live hazard-ful and yet bring about greater good. May the Most High be glorified in all our futile efforts. Amen.
Historic Fight for Democracy Under a Rain Tree (3/3/09)
Man of the moment...The Speaker, Sivakumar, in full ceremonial garb. Click on photo for link to news article.
The Pakatan Rakyat Members of Parliament went ahead with an emergency sitting of the State Assembly, called by the Speaker Sivakumar and by the powers vested in the decision, the ‘ousted’ MB, Nizar, will now proceed to make another appeal to the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the State Assembly and to call for state-wide elections.
Tree that made history... the site of the State Assembly. Photo courtesy of anilnetto.com. Click on picture to go there.
See also the following links for onsite/live updates for this morning:
Malaysia Today
http://delcapo.wordpress.com
The Nut Graph: Perak Crisis Deepens
Life in STM
STM Student Council 2009... The Dream Team
The Bible College that I spend 80% of my time during the week is a representative microcosm that reflects the Malaysian Church in all its flawed glory. There is the clannish Chinese communities- fragmented, loud and critical; the indifferent and individualistic English-speaking Chinese; the ‘neglected’ and ‘marginalized’ Indian ‘minority’; the local bumiputra students that lend much mirth to our dreary and kiasu-istic lifestyles; and the foreign students, who remind us of a growing immigrant population in the country and its crying needs.
Inseparable...My former roomie (Jegadass) and me. Peas in a pod.
I believe this larger, more intricate family must be brought to a love-centered balance, not by sheer reason, persuasion or charisma, but by prayer and quiet trust alone. No amount of talk (and I have had heard alot of it since coming in to STM) will bring men and women together in harmony of purpose. Some quarters complain that the students are not mentored or discipled by the lecturers enough. In some sense it is true, but I prefer to seek for alternatives, rather than wait for the proverbial moon to turn blue. In the same way, I feel that the seniors should play a bigger role in mentoring and assisting the juniors. (And I guess I could complain that we have not been discipled and mentored enough!) However, after a year here, I have learnt to adapt and get my input elsewhere.
Growing up... the sophomores y'all!
But for the juniors under me, I have been seeking after a way to allow my current year to be more pro-active towards welcoming the freshies. So far, there has not been a concerted effort to reach out to them- much like what happened to my year- but I hope this will not be a norm in the days to come. May we learn what it means to love with greater sincerity.
Myself included.
