DAD

Last Saturday marked the 7th-year of my dad’s death anniversary, which incidentally falls on the same weekend as “cheng beng.” I was reminded of the song ‘Wake me up when September comes’, which sings…“like my father comes to pass, seven years have gone so fast”. Indeed, how fast time passes us by. Here’s just a little reflection of the man who means so much to me (and my family).

1. Dad is one of the humblest persons I’ve ever known. He never boasts about his successes. He’s a ‘do-er’ rather than a ‘say-er’; a man of little words. He always maintains a low profile, but yet gains the respect of many.

2. Dad is a very handy man; the ‘inspector gadget’ in the family. His skills range from carpentry to electrics to piping, painting and even botanic. If we lose him in the hypermarket, the best bet to locate him would be the hardware section. At the age of 60, he’s still climbing up and down, fixing things along the way. This is something that my siblings and I have yet to fully emulate.

3. Dad cares to do the little things that count for much. He often comes into my room in the middle of the night to reduce the fan speed and pull up my blanket. Even if I am still awake, I would voluntarily allow him to do that. After all, it’s good to feel loved.

4. Dad gives me ample opportunities to develop myself at a very young age. He stresses on all-rounded development and allows me to express myself in an array of activities such as taekwondo, organ, art, badminton and chess. It must have cost him a lot to pay for all the lessons.

5. Dad takes interests in my welfare and delights in my successes. He would come and give his support when I am involved in any sort of competitions and performances, whether it’s public speaking, chess or taekwondo. His very presence makes me feel important. What a child really longs for is to gain the parents attention, and I certainly had the chance to experience that (defying the middle child syndrome).

6. Dad likes to use reverse psychology to challenge and spur me on. Even if I score a 99 for my exams, he would pull my legs and say, “I won’t sign your report card, because you never score a 100”. While he meant it as a joke, I sometimes take it as a challenge to do better.

7. Dad may be small in stature but he has always been my security blanket. With him, I feel safe and protected. He is usually quite composed and exudes a lot of confidence in the midst of calamity.

8. Dad is also quite funny at times. He’s a bad dancer; but yet he likes to entertain us with his badly choreographed moves. Well, the good thing is…it brings laughter to the family.

9. Dad is my most faithful chauffeur (besides mum). Despite having to run a business, he tirelessly fetches me to school, tuition, church and for other extra curricular activities. Complains and grumbles I hardly hear of.

10. Dad works hard to provide for the family. He puts the family above himself. He would willingly spend on us, but for himself, he would not waste a dime.

Here is only a little excerpt of the story of a great man. When dad was called home on the 5th April 2001, he has left behind a lot of things; and so carved the writings on his tombstone…

 

 

 

Have You Ever?

Have you ever wondered what are the motives and agendas of the multitude of people who swarm to church every Sunday morning? Are they there for social networking? Or is it to merely seek attention and find companions?

Have you ever become sick of outreaches which have turned into performances; and servants, artists?

Have you ever wondered if those who come up to share the Word or pray every week actually know what they are saying? Are they merely regurgitating what they’ve become so familiar with?

Have you ever been frustrated with lukewarm Christians/pew-warmers, who only know how to suck up the church resources, but not lifting a finger to contribute?

Have you ever been turned off by overly-pious people who only know how to judge and condemn; like a 24-7 watchdog that is ever so eager to pounce on you for the slightest mistake made. Even their unspoken gestures make you grimace in disgust.

Have you ever been offended by over-zealous Christians who can’t wait to force their beliefs and convictions into your throat; as though your voice and opinions do not matter at all?

Have you ever seen people who on one hand profess to be a Christian but on another live a life filthier than a scum?

Have you ever witnessed people lifting up their hands and voices to worship God, but as soon as the worship ends and ‘reality’ strikes again, they are back to their old self and the weight of the world overwhelms them once again?

Have you ever questioned the practices in church and wondered if the lines between traditions and the essentials have been blurred?

Have you ever wondered if the truths have been distorted by human’s fallibility; from the compilation of the Bible to the interpretation of it?

Have you ever wondered why you believe in what you believe?

Have you ever doubted your faith, and questioned its credibility?

Have you ever been to camps, only to come back feeling more lost than before?

Have you ever wondered if you could ever be touched by God as much as the drug addict who had his life transformed inside out?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you wake up the next morning to find that the entire value system to which your life depends on is wrong?

Have you ever wondered if the parting of the red sea and the resurrection of the dead are but a fraction of the humans’ imagination?

Have you ever been so distant from God that you no longer feel Him anymore? And you begin to question his existence or relevance.

Have you ever challenged the current belief system or the dogmatic views of Christianity, as Martin Luther did during the reformation?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you were brought up in a non-Christian family? Or what would happen if you decide to take a month off from being a Christian and allow your sinful nature to reign?

Have you ever wondered what your family members and church friends would say if you backslide and turn atheist?

Have you ever wondered what kind of attention you would draw from posting something like this in your blog?

Have you ever been ignorant?

Have you ever been cynical?

Have you ever?