The Misadventure in BullehLand

I amresting at home today; the doctor gave me a day off for the fever I developed since yesterday afternoon. I took a nap after my medication, and there my boss’sname appeared on my phone screen. Pressed the Accept button and there hestarted to ask me how am I doing.  I saidnothing serious just needs some good rest and thanks for asking. Immediatelyhis tone sounded like he wasn’t happy that I am on MC, another guy on MC andthe rest of them having tough time in office.  He asked me if I could be able to come back towork tomorrow, what?  Is that yourconcern my good boss?  I shot him back,asked him how many days of MC I took since the last 4 years I work with him! IfI am not mistaken, it’s fucking less than 10 days! Do you call me or spend me agood cup of aromatic hainam kopi- o when I was the one working dead shit andothers were on MC? Hell no!

Okay, that’sit! I wish I could continue but better not to waste my brain juice and wouldn’twant it to explode; else I have to take another few days off and boss keepasking why always on MC!

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I just finished reading a book, Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom, which so happen he is one of my favourite writer since I read his book 5 People You Meet in Heaven few years ago. His best selling non-fiction "Tuesday With Morrie" was an instant hit and was adapted into a movie as well. His latest project "Have a Little Faith" is another wonderful non-fiction, no doubt. Although the story might be almost the same like Morrie but faith was all about in this new book.The book is really heart warming and a story told by a writer with soul. Here is what the book is all about;

Have a Little Faith begins with an unusual request: an 82-year-old rabbi from Albom’s old hometown asks him to deliver his eulogy.

Feeling unworthy, Albom insists on understanding the man better, which throws him back into a world of faith he’d left years ago. Meanwhile, closer to his current home, Albom becomes involved with a Detroit pastor – a reformed drug dealer and convict – who preaches to the poor and homeless in a decaying church with a hole in its roof.

Moving between their worlds, Christian and Jewish, African-American and white, impoverished and well-to-do, Mitch observes how these very different men employ faith similarly in fighting for survival: the older, suburban rabbi, embracing it as death approaches; the younger, inner-city pastor relying on it to keep himself and his church afloat.

As America struggles with hard times and people turn more to their beliefs, Mitch and the two men of God explore issues that perplex modern man: how to endure when difficult things happen; what heaven is; intermarriage; forgiveness; doubting God; and the importance of faith in trying times. Although the texts, prayers and histories are different, Albom begins to realize a striking unity between the two worlds - and indeed, between beliefs everywhere.

In the end, as the rabbi nears death and a harsh winter threatens the pastor’s wobbly church, Albom sadly fulfills the last request and writes the eulogy. And he finally understands what both men had been teaching all along: the profound comfort of believing in something bigger than yourself.

Have a Little Faith is a book about a life’s purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all. It is one man’s journey, but it is everyone’s story.

From a Sermon by the Reb,1958

"A little girl came home from school with a drawing she'd made in class. She danced into the kitchen, where her mother was preparing dinner.

" 'Mom,guess what?' She squealed, waving the drawing.

"Her monther never looked up.

" 'What?' she said, tending to the pots.

" 'Guess what?' the child repeated, waving the drawing.

" 'What?' , the mother said, tending to the plates.

" 'Mom, you're not listening.'

" 'Sweetie, yes I am.'

" 'Mom', the child said, 'you're not listening with your eyes'. "

You know what, I almost cried reading this during my train ride back home after work. There was a part where it reminds me of my late dad, when he was in the ICU and how also the eulogy that I've prepared for my dad's funeral service.

This is one of the greatest book that I've read so far. Give it a try.

I watched the movie Know1ng few days ago, I do not agreethat Know1ng is a very good movie but the story really catches my attention. Tomake it short, I dissect the plot from wikipedia

“In 2009, the time capsule is opened and the drawings aregiven to the current students. A boy named Caleb receives Lucinda's envelope.

His father John Koestler, a widower and professor of astrophysics at MIT takesnotice in the paper, and further examination makes him realize that part ofthese digits form dates and death tolls of every major disaster over the pastfifty years, in chronological order, and suggests three disasters yet to come.”(Souce: Wikipedia)

Well, just as the movie ended something caught my mind andit kept pondering about it. Are we living fragile on earth, not knowing whatwill happen tomorrow or day after that. Coincidence on that day I saw themovie, it was the 2nd year that something major happened to myfamily. There were unexpected events that put me on a major shocked andsetback, does not know what to do being the pillar of the family together withmy sister. All the while, we have been hoping that our parents will do somethingwhen we have encountered a problem. Things got worst when dad passed away twomonths later; we were all unprepared to take over the charge from our latedaddy. Unprepared – that’s the word.

Back to the plot and reconnecting it with our daily life,what will it be if we can read or predict the future. Are we going to fully makeuse of the supremacy and change the history? Thence I don’t need to worry aboutthe future, just like working on something by knowing the root cause andpermanent solution prior fixing it. Simple, even kids can do it.  

On the other hand, I think God himself is a real joker…therecould be no such thing as a person to predict the future. Even a fortune tellerdoes not guarantee anything about that. God just want us to encounter and learnfrom the torment moments. It is our human nature to learn from the hardship, asnothing comes like just a spur-of-the-moment of your finger. I am not sure ifyou do believe that but I’ve learnt life hardest lesson in lieu of the hardshipthat I’ve been through.

Yesterday early morning, I got a call from Mary “John’sheartbeat stopped” and it just made my life stopped for a moment not knowinghow to responds to such news. Although I personally don’t know much about Johnbut being Mary’s brother I felt like losing someone close to us. Like the wholeposting is all about…things happen unprepared. May his departed soul rest inpeace. Amen.

"I think that, with age, people come to realize thatdeath is inevitable. And we need to learn to face it with serenity, wisdom andresignation. Death often frees us from a lot of senseless sufferings."  Paulo Coelho (TheDevil and Miss Prym: A Novel of Temptation)

Have you ever feel guilty, when you know you can avoid illtreated to someone else. Something happened today, between me and a disabledperson that needed my help. You see, I am the type of person who concentrateson my work and I disliked being disturbed when I am doing my work. I feel irritatedeasily if someone just tries to disturb me. So what happened when I was helpingout this person, she kept on asking me about this and that! I tried to be niceto her but I think after a while, I lost my patience and I told her to let mesettle one thing at a time. I felt so bad; I know with her condition she desperatelyneeded a helping hand. At the same time, I found out that she is beingdemanding as well! Sometimes I think it is not cool being too helpful, at theend it might not bring any happiness to me or the other party. Ignorance isbliss. I had many encounters whereby my help wasn’t appreciated at all! Someeven just walked away from my life. Well, possibly it is just us – a true humannature. Back to the story of me and the disabled person, I helped her and atthe end I just try to get a quick job done and walked off. I did and I justhope that I don’t make any one sided judgments.

           Of late, I have been having aconstant conversation with a dear friend of mine ? we talked about life, careerand crossroads. With mind filled with doubts, we ended up with constant worryand emotionally unstable.

            I used tothink a lot, even now! From the moment I wake up in the morning, I have to makedecision from what to wear to work, what I should have for breakfast and itcouldn?t stop just there. Maybe I do think a lot, once a friend suggested Ishould write a novel. Back to the topic about life and crossroads, which we arepredisposed them when lives treating us like a bed of roses ? we don?t carewhat life is all about. I was once having a big crossroad myself; my mindfilled with doubts and does not even know how I shall start. Countless nightsof awake in between, asked for guidance from the Almighty and of courseopinions from precious friends do helped me a lot. Eventually I?d decided totake things flow as it is; God would have probably moulded my life even beforethat! I think that?s the mystery of our perpetual life.

            My dear friend, life has many waysof testing a person?s will, either by having nothing happen at all or havingeverything happen at once. Don?t you worry so much, be like a child. Imagine ifwe live each day like a child, I am sure our daily life in this world would befull of happiness. Yes, we have endeavor but while we are trying to reach forthe peak of the mountain ? we must also enjoy the climb.

I would like to state a quote from Dalai Lama; he said that the purpose of our lives is to be happy.

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life(from Monty Python) 

Some things in life are bad

They can really make you mad

Other things just make you swear and curse.

When you're chewing on life's gristle

Don't grumble, give a whistle

And this'll help things turn out for the best...

And...always look on thebright side of life...

Always look on the light side of life...

If life seems jolly rotten

There's something you've forgotten

And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.

When you're feeling in the dumps

Don't be silly chumps

Just purse your lips and whistle - that's the thing.

And...always look on thebright side of life...

Always look on the light side of life...

For life is quite absurd

And death's the final word

You must always face the curtain with a bow.

Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin

Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

So always look on thebright side of death

Just before you draw your terminal breath

Life's a piece of shit

When you look at it

Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.

You'll see it's all a show

Keep 'em laughing as you go

Just remember that the last laugh is on you.

And always look on thebright side of life...

Always look on the right side of life...

(Come on guys, cheer up!)

Always look on the bright side of life...

Always look on the bright side of life...

(Worse things happen at sea, you know.)

Always look on the bright side of life...

(I mean - what have you got to lose?)

(You know, you come from nothing - you're going back to nothing.

What have you lost? Nothing!)

Always look on the right side of life...