23 October, 2005

The sky is really glommy and overcast today. It has been like this for the past few days, rained and drizzled in the morning and the rest of the day is filled mostly with clouds, causing grey sky. It is really depressing sometimes. And it certainly provides inspiration to write, to paint, to do something meaningful. I think the condition is known as melancholy.

In about ten days time will be the feast of All Souls Day. I decided to visit the graves of my moms parents and relatives to pary for their souls. The sun was hot even with the clouds. The annual exercise is necessary to remind me that we are here for a finite time only. There are so many people in the cemetery. The place has its sense of gloom and foreboding but it is reminder that we will one return to the earth, from ashes to ashes. Yet at the same, in deep meditation we are connected to these people whose lives are interconnected in the small town of Mantin. They were someones son, daughter, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, granduncle, grandauntie, great-grandparents, and so on. Each lived their life as it is, some seems so short while others seemed so full. This exercise is not necessary to be glooming but rather a light that enlightened us of our true heritage and future hope.

There, I renewed my acquintance with the mother of my maternal grandfather. Her name was Anna Choong nee Pan. She had adopted my grandfather to be her son as it was a custom of most woman in those days; that sons are important. He was a quick temper person, quite childish too, in fact he sulked a few times after quarrel with my grandma. My grandma has a mother feature in her. She had a proud and regal bearing in her. There is a hint of graciousness and independence too. In fact she would have had married the man of her own choice if not for the onset of the Japanese invasion during the second world war in Malaya.

Blogging is made for man, not man made for blogging

Sometimes reading/writing a blog is such a hassle, especially if there is a lot of distractions. Blog is a means to write something, not an end itself. It is not necessarily to be obsessed by it.

The problem with blogging is that whenever there is something great to write, it comes like a breath of the wind. It does not really stay there like a burning candle whereby I can slowly observed the wax being consumed and the wicker wiltered away.

Welcome home!

It is amazing what a four and half months old boy can do!

Joshua was so high on expectation of both of us as we come home from work yesterday evening. He didn't want to go sleep even though his grandma try to get him to sleep early. Instead he was so excited at the thought of both his parents were back from work even though we were late. He was so full of joy as he welcomed us back with his joy and enthusiasm. The sound of the car coming to the gate, the opening of the gate and the driving into the driveway, all maked him excited with happiness.

His smile and laughter is really infectious that even his maternal grandma starts to miss.

Yes indeed, he makes our day meaningful. Such a blessing from God.

The Assumption of Mary into Heaven.

The Canticle of Mary

MY SOUL proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call
me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant
of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,
according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and his descendants
forever.

[The Gospel according to St. Luke Chapter 1, verses 46 to 55]

Salt and saltiness...a prayer

Lord, I'm a tasteless salt. Give me your taste.