Just As I Am

When I first heard of the news, I did not think much of it. Not until I read for myself almost all the articles that were published which lasted about a week.

It's really tragic.

A father not knowing that his son had left the country, let alone take part in a race.

A couple, who lost their only son.

A devastated father not knowing about it until he heard about the son's death through the media.

A mother and children, supported by their (now gone) son.

Surely there are more which are unseen, untold of. Those of which are only experienced by the friends and family members themselves.

As I read, I could almost feel the grief - but none as close as theirs.

Surely there is an explanation for this.
Surely it could have been prevented.
Surely there was something that could have been done.

They need facts. Truth. Perhaps something to put blame on. Something...for them to find comfort for their restless souls.

No more What IFs, Should haves, Could haves anymore.
What's done has been done. Said, said.

For 2 of them, I know they've gone to some place a thousand times better than where they were before. But for all of them, they seemed to have left a legacy behind, made an impact through their passion in doing the things they love, and perhaps, even teaching us not to take our loved ones for granted.

Found a cool place to space out under the starry night sky the day before baptism.

Plus, I can do some pull ups to strengthen those 'bo luk' arms of mine... Let's see when I'll head back there again... It's really a cool place when it's pretty quiet, when the big area is unoccupied and not congested with a handful of people and couples at some corners, where one can cycle freely in circles looking like a dumbass when people do not recognize you, when the liberation arises when speed increases. When... Yeah i guess you get the point. The con is that it's a tad far by foot...


P/S: I'm baptised! (:

--

*Triggered.

And sometimes it seems all too real - the condition of a church or ministry can very well affect the spiritual temperature of an individual.

Should that have been a statement or question?

Perhaps we are able to sift out the persevering from the lot; the struggling but hanging on; the faithful ones. Where then do the rest end up? Each one slowly fends for himself; to each his own, thus perhaps becoming even more inward-looking. The only result is that while trying to help ourselves, we focus less on God, we depend less on Him leading us to minimize Him in our lives when He's our dear Big God who is right beside us.

Leading me to realise the importance of brokenness for one who believes in Jesus Christ. Without it, there wouldn't be yearning; longing.

Yet without it, faith can still exist. Probably mediocre. Lukewarm.

The condition of a church or ministry can very well affect the spiritual temperature of an individual.

If it affects the individual, will not other parts of the body suffer with it too? Maybe not all but some. What then would their response be? Would they be too caught up in their own world? Would they realise it and do nothing about it? Would they think of calling them up? Would they take action?! Or would they throw in the towel and join them?

This narrow path sure leads to a paradox. Those who lose, gain.

Shall end with what the Author of creation says:

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:4-5 (NIV)

*Whatever that was triggered are purely written by the perspective of yours truly. You may beg to differ; we may think alike.