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Life and Turtles

Life isn't always easy. Life is not meant to be easy either.

When life is especially low, there are options to choose from. These options are not exhaustive but are the ones that I feel like pointing out:

(1) disregard what is 'right' and indulge

(2) distract yourself with things you have to do or want to do

(3) keep hoping

(4) forget hoping

(5) compare your current state with your original state.

I want to focus just a bit on option #5.

Sadness is usually the result of the discrepancy between a current state and a past state or future 'wished for' state. It is interesting to think that your original state and your future state may be exactly the same, but that the emotions can differ so dramatically. Let's give a quick example here:

(a) Man does not have turtle, man is content

(b) Man buys pet turtle

(c) Man has turtle

(d) Turtle dies

(e) Man does not have turtle, man is not content

What is it that changes from step a to step e? Is it possible for one to think of their original state and be content during the 'after' process?

That's all folks,

Cheers,

Joses Wong

The Boy and his Sensei - Disclaimer

Disclaimer:

As wonderful as my literary skills are, and as creative as you readers view me to be (I wish), I did not make up the story in my previous post. Rather, it was taken from a sermon I heard in North Toronto Chinese Baptist Church by Pastor Ted. Note that everything I wrote was indeed translated from my ear to my keyboard, and I could have easily missed important details (and I also probably added plenty as well).

The main lesson of the story is that God can turn your weaknesses into strengths.

The secondary lesson (so I think) is obedience and discipline to God though you may not understand at the time.

The Boy and his Sensei

Once upon a time there lived a little boy around the age of twelve. Now one thing you should know about him is that he was involved in a car accident just a couple of years earlier. This accident resulted in him having to amputate his left arm. However, the boys spirit was not lost and was a great spirit as most boys spirits' are, resulting in a desire for the boy to learn Judo.

So the boy began to look for a sensei (master), but this was a harder task than it seemed. For who would want to adopt the little one armed boy as a student? For although the boy lacked his left arm, he was also smaller and thinner than most others. Not very impressive at all I would say.

After weeks of searching, the boy finally found a sensei who was willing to teach him judo. As the classes began, the sensei took him aside from the rest of the students, and, as if discriminating against him, told the boy to stand off by the side and wait. Once the class got into their practice routine, the sensei finally approached the anxious boy.

"Why does everyone get to do all sorts of activities while I am stuck here in the corner?" the boy asked the sensei. He replied: "there is only one move I am going to teach you, practice it well". For the next couple months while all the students engaged in their judo training, the boy practiced that one move. At times it seemed monotonous and at other times unfair. But despite the thoughts that went into his head, the boy continued, with practice and perseverance, in order to perfect this one move.

Then, one day, the sensei approached the boy and said: "I have enrolled you into a Judo tournament". Needless to say, the boy was shocked. And the day of the tournament arrived.

Round 1: Nervous and shaking the boy entered the ring. The opponent, although not impressive looking, had tons of experience under his belt, while the boy had none. The opponent charged, and the boy, using that one move, pinned him down and won the match.

Round 2: This time, his opponent was a lot bigger. With muscles the size of the Eiffel tower, he rushed towards the boy. Again, the boy, although fearful, performed his one move on his opponent, and won.

These easy victories continued on and on again until the boy reached the finals. Throughout, the boy was wondering, "how could these victories be so easy? All I know is one move while others have a lot more experience and a lot more tactics!"

Final Round: His opponent was as tall as a seven and a half foot tree, with muscles the size of two Eiffel towers. As the match began, the frail little boy stood his ground. How could he ever win against such a monstrosity? Their feet shuffled back and forth. Many times his opponent would get him into a hold, but the boy was barely able to get out of it. Hopelessly one-sided, the audience all wondered how the boy got to the finals. Then, with a final blow, the opponent ran towards him, with his arms grasping out in ferocity. But the boy, with his one move, was barely able to grab him, and pin him down for the victory. The crowd went wild, and in disbelief the audience roared. How could this boy who was missing his left arm possibly win?

On the way back to the dojo, the boy could not resist, and finally humbly asked his sensei. "Sensei, I only knew one move. How did I win?".

The sensei replied: "There are two reasons you won.

The first is that the move that I taught you is the most advanced move there is in Judo.

Secondly, the only known defense against it is to grab your opponents left arm".

Cambodia: 2003

The manner in which my discourse is presented in these blogs is often a reflection of the music that is surrounding my current atmosphere. Currently I am listening to Jade Kwan's "We Will Worship" song, (for those fans of Jade Kwan out there, me and her used to go to the same church back in Hong Kong). Anyhow, the lyrics and tonality of the song when mashed with my current state of (internal and external) being produce a moment of reminiscence. So here goes:

For those of you who have been talking to me over the past while, you probably would have heard me mention my trip to Cambodia last summer. But what you probably didn't hear me talk about much is my trip to Cambodia in 2003. I remember when I was back in 11th grade, still young and foolish (and of course now the only difference is I am old and foolish). Back when all that mattered was the company, when food was mysteriously cooked and put on a plate in front of you each evening, and when a ten page essay was considered long.

I remember sitting on the plane to go to Cambodia. No one was on the plane except for our group of people which consisted of two teachers and approximately 15 students. Thus, I clearly recall the pilot coming out and offering to showcase the cockpit to us.

I remember meeting the students at Logos on the first day. Unbounded, unrestrained, and free, what usually starts as an awkward silence instead started with roars of laughter and poking fun of each other. Surprisingly, Chinese chess was a great "interaction" starter (I hesitate to use to the word "conversation" starter because back then we weren't interested in merely conversing, but instead we were interested in interacting).

I remember climbing up Angkor Wat early in the morning (5am?) with the eerie musical instruments being played by locals on the side as we went up.

And most of all, I remember being on top of Angkor Wat. The fresh crisp morning air dancing about the morning rays of the sun. As if God was holding the universe in his hands while the radiance of his being shone through the clouds. This was a space where each person was free to be who he was. Each person was able to be attuned to nature and be free. The children skirmished around the rocks and challenged each other to see who could perform the greatest stunt. The monk sat on the broken pillar beginning his day with cigarettes and beer. The tourists smiling and posing for pictures on top of Angkor Wat, declaring their accomplishment for making it up.

And us? Well, we sang.

Forrest Gump

The feather traveled far and wide,

Through the winds of Autumn breeze.

There it landed by my side,

as I looked upon the trees.

There existed a most beautiful name,

the times i thought of her were plenty

Showing my love I am not ashamed,

Oh oh oh the name is Jenny.

For her I went to play football

and went to war in another country

I caught some shrimp in my overall

after I joined the worship ministry

My name is Forrest i'm not from Hong Kong

I went to play some hardcore ping pong!

And so the story came to an end,

the feather left my side again.

Poem by:

Jasmine Tong,

Salina Chan,

Jacky Chang.

(and Joses... sorta)

AKA: I watched Forrest Gump today

God's Will

What is God's Will for us?

People these days "spend money they don't have to buy things they don't need to make impressions that wont last on people they don't care about". - Tim Jackson

The above quote, in it's entirety, is a description of the average American, presented at a TED talk by Tim Jackson, a professor of the "Sustainable Development and Director of the Research group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment (RESOLVE)".

Although not quite an adjective for the common folk within my circle of friends, the quote isn't completely untrue either. In my peripheral and in my life as well, I often see a lot of truth in the 2nd and 3rd points. In other words, we buy what we don't need to make impressions that wont last. The problem is: more often than not, we don't know it.

A merchandise which serves as the epitome of the two points is buying clothes. We always "need" clothes, and always have a reason to buy more. Here are some of the excuses I have used in the past:

(1) I am out of fashion.

(2) Need some nicer clothes for semi casual events or casual interviews.

(3) My shirts are my limiting factors to do laundry, but buying more shirts I can save money by doing less laundry loads.

(4) I need to impress that girl!

(5) My mom would want to see me in new clothes and look nice.

Needless to say, of course there are situations in which purchasing certain items are indeed necessary. But too often our desire creates a reason (instead of reason creating desire) which leads to a conscious decision of throwing more money away for the sake of a temporary boost in image (as is mostly the case).

As Romans 12 puts it: Therefore, I urge your 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.

The answer to the question is right there: to transform your mind so that you live in a world higher than the earthly world. To no longer live, but to have Christ living in you. That then, I believe, is how you can figure out God's will for yourself.