Unpacking My Bags

I was recently reminded of a piece / note I wrote a few years back just before I left P&G. I had entitled that reflection "Unpacking My Bags" -- a symbol, really, of an intention to stay in a place for more than a moment. I started the piece by saying:

If you know me, you know I’m an all or nothing person. I live life and do things to the best of my ability or not at all. And if I’m somewhere, I behave as if I’ll stay there forever. P&G for me was no different.

I travel quite often. And, truth is, I don't really unpack my bags when I hit a hotel room. To me it's too troublesome and time consuming. But in life and in the things I do, I am-thankfully-quite the opposite.

Just yesterday someone asked me whether I saw myself still working in church in a few years or whether I would go back to the corporate world to find something more challenging.

I still smile to myself when I hear questions like this. Given the current climate in Singapore, I think the church probably has more challenge than the corporate world haha...

But seriously, the truth is, I have never been more challenged than where I am right now. I am not just challenged in the area of task or achievement, which I am; but I am challenged to be a better person not just when people are looking and to change my character and not just external behaviors.

Someone once said:

"The crime of youth is passion.  The crime of middle age is pride.   The crime of old age is prejudice."

While I am slowly growing out of youth into middle age, I guess you can say that I am still a pretty passionate person.

5 years after I unpacked my bags, I am glad to say that some things have not changed. I am glad that there is a part of me that is as child-like and faith-filled as when I started on this journey. I am glad that I am still as in love with the things of God and that the troubles of this life have not taken away the idealism of my teenage years. I am glad that I am still here.

That's not to say I have not changed at all - that would be... an abnormality--almost like the stunted growth of a child. (I have nothing against short or little people!)

But I am quite happy that I have shed some of my immature thoughts and I no longer just live by feeling, but amidst that, I have also found a balance that keeps the fiery passion that makes me, me.

No regrets. No returns.
The future is still amazing.

Happy to Find Kindred Spirit

My church posted this video on YouTube recently.
It is a video that was show on our Academic Excellence weekend.

Truth is I feel strongly when I hear these stories even though I came to Singapore to work and not to study. This is something that resounded in my heart even when I was studying back in the Philippines. I always believed, as Pastor How says, that we can do well and do good at the same time. I may not have put it in those words... but, well, I guess living it out is more important than using the same lingo.

My days in school are ones that I look back on fondly.
Doing well in school was always something I valued. I really did believe that doing well would glorify God. But I didn't want to go back on serving God. So, throughout my schooling days, I would be serving, organizing youth camps, heading youth fellowships, singing and acting in my church group. On top of that I joined Christian choral and theater groups to do outreach programs. Throughout my University days, I remember how packed my week was. Monday and Friday nights were were for choral group rehearsals. Tuesday to Thursday was for theater rehearsals. Saturdays and Sundays were spent for church activities. But true to HOGC beliefs, I always made time for family too - every Saturday morning was for breakfast/brunch with the parents and Sunday lunch and dinner was always with family. After school I would maximize the hours by either studying or going out with my mum. I guess... that's why when I came to Heart of God Church I felt such and affinity to what was being preached. The tripod of family, church and school is something that was lived out in my own life.

Oh, and sure enough, I graduated summa cum laude, overall 4th in my whole University, which was the top Uni in the country. I will share my misadventures of choosing a University one day - but let's just say... I didn't enter the Uni as a likely candidate for the top spot.

I believe in Academic Excellence.
Sure glad my church teaches it.

Love my life.

P.S. I haven't been blogging in a while, so I promise to get my blogging brevity back soon. :)

To find out more about Heart of God Church's Academic Excellence, you can visit www.heartofgodchurch.org or see some of the YouTube videos by Pastor Tan Seow How. These are the links: http://youtu.be/-VwbwUG7ohg ; http://youtu.be/wi5CZxj9o-s

Revival - Blog Revival

I stumbled upon this old blog that I had.
I realized that it has been 3 years since I blogged.
Truth is I got reignited to start again after reading the old stuff I blogged about.
The comments (albeit Anonymous) were encouraging too.
But I have decided to restart the blogging thing.

I was thinking whether to start a totally new blog, but I realized I still believe in changing my world.
Probably won't be creative enough to come up with another blog title (or maybe i'm just too lazy *grin*)

So... this isn't the virgin voyage back into the blogging world, but it's a written commitment that I will start again. No turning back, no turning back!