Sunday, August 12, 2007

Days of our lives...

During lunch after a Secell Leaders' meeting last Saturday, a few of us were discussing about investments, mutual funds, CPF etc etc. And the day before, during a dinner at Plaza Sing's Crystal Jade Kitchen , some of them were sharing about how they wanted their wedding to be like. These are the people I grew up with, through our primary school years, secondary and now during our working lives. What will we be discussing in another 10 years time? What school to send our kids to?

I believe that all this just goes to show how faithful our God is, and how He has watched over us all these years, bringing us to where we are now. Recalling all our plans and desires, I was reminded of this passage:

Matthew 6:25-34 (New International Version)

Do Not Worry
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

10 things...

Rules of the game: Each player of this game starts off with ten weird things or habits or little known facts about yourself. People who get tagged must write in a blog of their own ten weird things or habits or little known facts as well as state this rule clearly. At the end, you must choose six people to be tagged and list their names. No tagbacks.

1) During primary 1, I hated being teased for my surname so much that I used my hanyu pinyin surname instead (zeng) for the entire year. Nowadays I don't bother to correct people who misspell my name, most commonly as "Jessie". Makes you wonder if people have ever heard of Jesse James, Jesse Owens or Rev. Jesse Jackson though.

2) I used to brood a lot. Whenever something unpleasant happened, I would tend to just be by myself and brood about it. Still do from time to time nowadays, but much less so.

3) Music means a lot to me. I didn't use to study without music, but I find I can't do so now. Even at work you'll most likely find me with my earphones on. I ride my motorcycle while listening to my discman as well. Now before you think "that's dangerous!", consider that most cars nowadays have powerful stereo systems, and drivers are permitted to listen to them while driving. So why not riders? Someday, I'll put a camera on my bike while I ride to work, and let you all see just how dangerous drivers can be. But I digress...

4) I shut down without enough sleep. That, and I become rather irritable. You've been warned, approach me then at your own risk.

5) I don't like kang kong. Or nattou (Japanese fermented bean) for that matter. Used to not like durian when I was younger, as it made me puke. Nowadays can tahan, but it's not exactly on the top of my favourite food list.

6) I used to do debating during my JC days. Then I entered the army, where my IQ dropped...

7) I have a condition known as "glaucoma suspect". Basically that means my eyeball pressure is exceptionally high, a possible symptom of glaucoma, although nothing bad has arisen out of it at this point.

8) A dream of mine is to get a bike in Japan and just ride from the North to the South for a couple of weeks, taking pictures and videos, and interacting with the folks away from the cities. Japan has some lovely views that you can only see away from the cities and on the roads. Can't exactly stop anytime you like on a train either, so for me a bike is the best way to enjoy the experience.

9) I do part time translation of anime and tokusatsu (Jpn superheroes) for a local firm. Some of the past shows that appeared on Kids Central included my work. Figured that it's a good way to improve my language and earn some money at the same time. That being said, my Japanese isn't fantastic. Primary school kids in Japan speak it so much more naturally, sigh.

10) I have a very poor long term memory. I've forgotten lots of details of what happened in my earlier years, and I'm terrible with names. Good news therefore, is that if I do remember a person or event, it means a lot to me.

Gah, took me a long long time to come up with those 10 points, so appreciate it. I'm going to take the liberty of not naming another 6 people. Most likely they've already been tagged to do so anyway, haha.