reflections

Last Friday and the weekend was a thought-provoking time. It led me to reflect once again on what the world would probably term as the Unfairness Of Life, but to me, it was more about realising again - so clearly - that this life does not belong to me, and I don't belong to this world at all. My time on earth, my every day, whether I get through it unscathed or not, and whether I had the opportunity to spend it in a Good And Happy way or not... it really isn't in my hands. If I do, it is a blessing... an awesome, awesome blessing. (and that means i do something in response to the blessing too!)

My Friday started with doing something I love - going into the theatre. Not the drama theatre but somewhere else, for those who know what I do. That made me think of how sometimes, we're just at the wrong place at the wrong time, but Stuff Happens. Life goes on. The next patient I attended to... he isn't awake, and his wife was there, asking him to wake up, if he would? I had to fight some tears back on that day.

In the afternoon I was part of a family conference for another one who has stayed for a long time. So many obstacles lie between her and her discharge home. So many. Financial, medical, environmental, social... she's a woman like me, she is just yearning to be a wife, upkeep a house, raise her 3 kids... but Stuff Happened to her - namely, she fell ill.

Who am I to whinge about Stuff? Who am I. Matters that are within my sphere of influence, I jolly well do something about it... like being excellent in the responsibilities I'm given, being a good leader where I'm placed, building people up...

Saturday was spent introducing some newbies to handcycling as a sport. They needed some assistance to transfer into the handbikes and J and I were sweltering in the heat, but thoroughly enjoyed making new friends. It was great to see their eyes lit up at the prospect of being in a handbike, being able to be in the sun, exercising, etc. For these are people for whom exercise, as we know it, isn't as straightforward. I am glad for handcycling, and I am glad for Fung and the team. I'm sure the kids are too!

Sunday was National Day celebrations, with J's family. Simple, heartwarming, familiar (by now. hee.).

In reflection, I am acutely aware of how people's lives can look so different at the same given time, and how a straightforward, contented life can suddenly change drastically in a matter of seconds. Just like the people I came across on Friday.

Yeah I guess I'm in a pensive mood. But, as Socrates says, a life unexamined (unreflected) is not worth living.

Psalm 31:15 - My times are in Your hands...

James 4:13-16 - Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance...