Mental Fragments

… a lesson that I’ve learned from one of my favorite artist, James Taylor. I grew up to be an uptight person; who holds back my emotions; who put up walls from other people to prevent myself from getting hurt. I think that it’s been only just the past year or two that I started opening up to people. It’s not an easy thing to do for me. I’m doing it slowly and deliberately. 

By being vulnerable, I’m opening up myself of the possibility of getting hurt. But I realized that by being cold / stoic also separates me from the people who truly cares and loves me. And I think that it’s better to experience hurt, pain & rejection rather than alienating myself from experiencing love. After all, the hurt that one can experience can be healed in time with God’s help. 

I think I’m making a lot of progress. I’m taking it one step at a time :) 

Shower The People

You can play the game and you can act out the part
Though you know it wasnt written for you
But tell me, how can you stand there with your broken heart
Ashamed of playing the fool
One thing can lead to another; it doesnt take any sacrifice
Oh, father and mother, sister and brother
If it feels nice, dont think twice

Youll feel better right away
Dont take much to do
Sell you pride
They say in every life
They say the rain must fall
Just like pouring rain
Make it rain
Make it rain
Love, love, love is sunshine.
Oh yes
Make it rain
Love, love, love is sunshine
Yeah, all right
Everybody, everybody
Shower the people you love with love

After watching a documentary about poverty (malnourished children, homeless people) and hearing the experiences of a friend who visited Thailand and ministered to kids with AIDS; I just thought of how blessed I am in life.

What are the things to be thankful for?

• Healthy and able body - I’m thankful that I’m physically normal with no disabilities; that I can enjoy playing my favorite sports fairly well; that I have a 20 / 20 vision even if most of my working day is spent in front of a computer; that I no longer experience asthma attacks that was frequent during my childhood
• Skills and Abilities - On the top of my head, I can say that I’m good in these three things: Listening, Encouragement and Leadership  
• Material blessings - I’m not rich but I’m thankful that I have more than enough of what I need; that I have a good job; a nice car that was hard-earned; that I have the means to enjoy life and travel; that I have something to share to others.

Where do these gifts / blessings come from?

For the healthy and able body, I can attribute it probably to good genes and the care that I received from my parents and family. For my skills, abilities and material blessings; I can attribute it to my parents who brought me up well, a good education, opportunities that came along the way and my natural gifts.

But thinking about it further, all of these: my parents / family, genes, education, natural gifts and opportunities can be attributed to one source. The source of all of these is God, the Creator.

What’s the purpose of these gifts / blessings?

The wisdom of the world tells us that success is measured by money, power & fame. To be successful we must be able to acquire all of these as much as we can. But I’ve realized that its pointless to base my life on such things.

If I will make these things the basis / measurement of success it would just be an endless cycle. I imagine that even if I become the richest, most powerful and most famous person in the world, there would always be something that I want that I cannot have. Not to mention the fact that all of these are temporary and that we can’t bring these things with us in our graves.

With all the blessings that God is giving to me, surely there has to be a purpose. I’ve realized that I should not keep all of the blessings to myself. I should share it to others so that they will in turn realize that our Lord God wants to bless them as well. I want to be an instrument of God’s blessing to others. My purpose is to be God’s light to other people.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” [Matthew 5:14-16]

Gods wants to bless all of us because He loves us unconditionally… no questions asked. We just have to be open and accept His love in order for Him to do great things in our lives.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” [Jeremiah 29:11]

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” [John 3:17]