Tuesday, April 07, 2009

It's a heart problem

Every year, around 32 million people world wide suffer from heart attack. Around half of the fatal attack victims die before reaching hospital. So many people with the heart problem.
After sometimes, I become aware about heart problem with people around me. Different from the first heart problem, the cause of the second heart problem is something (read: someone) from outside of our system. I saw many friends crying or shouting. They are immobilized, tormented, paralyzed by their heart problem.
In many times, we still can live without vision or objectives for our life. At least we can pretend nothing's wrong with our system and we can continue with our 'beautiful regular repetitive days'. But when our heart is attacked by issues and problem, many of us cannot stand it. We want to get away from it immediately, we want to be healed as soon as possible because usually it hurts like hell. So some of us go for instant medicines, which are proven only can give a temporary fake solution.
What counts is who we are. This fast new world always tells us about changing. But I guess, we need something unchangeable inside. The stable core to be an anchor in raging sea of life.
I read a story about $100 note. In short, although the money is new or has been dumped to dirt, the value is still $100. I believe our stable core is our value. So it is important to make our value in line with the principle value. It is not what we say, what we wear, or our fake smile *sincere smile is ok :)*, or our money which are important.

No one can predict what will happen in the future. But I'm sure, the happiness and sadness are all in our heart. We only have one heart so we must be brave to embrace the future. I always tell a story about some one who crosses the road. He knows when he reaches other side of the road, he can eat a super dooper terrific delicious mouth watering ice cream. But as he crosses the road, the possibility of him being hit by a car also becomes real.
Every one wants to eat the ice cream. But some of us decide not to cross the road, some of us cross the road and hit by a car and after that don't want to cross again or even worse, some of us hope the ice cream guy will deliver the ice cream to us. But whatever our decision is, the fact will remain the same, happiness and sadness stays in same box. You cannot find happiness if you reject your sadness.
Again, what inside is important. It will need a big heart to forgive, it will need a secure heart to trust someone. We need to love and respect ourselves before we can love and respect others. Fill your cup first before you can fill some one's cup.

It is almost one month since the new year and 6 months since I left my family. For some, maybe it is not a big deal go somewhere alone and start things over again. For me, well... I never imagine I can go here by my own, with no one's help. Still many to adjust and compromise, hopefully everything will go well and nice :) I will be brave to embrace the upcoming but this time I will let Him stands by my side, be my might and my high tower. I won't make the same mistake again!
The Phoenix has reborn from the ashes...

2007 New Year Wishes



Be Thou My Vision

Traditional Irish (8 AD)

Be Thou my wisdom and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Be Thou my breast-plate, my sword for the fight
Be Thou my armour and be Thou my might
Thou my soul's shelter and Thou my high tower
Raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever be fall
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all!

If we could choose...

Many books and movies try to say that life is beautiful. The person in the story usually suffers from heavy burden and sorrow. Then things will slowly work out so he/she can life happily ever after.
Why people continuously tell these kind of stories? I think because these stories can inspire and make us stronger. But then why we need to be strengthen? I think because life is not as beautiful as those people are telling.
In Christian's faith, God gave His child so we can get an eternal life. He gave His child because all people are sinner and need to be saved. The question is 'if He is so powerful and has all the knowledge in the world, and He knows all people will sin, why He still created us?'
Despite of how Calvinism has shaped European countries, it offers the predestination concept, the concept on which my presbyterian church holds. In brief, this concept says we have been predestined or predetermined to be saved merely by His grace.
Following above thoughts, I wonder why people celebrate Easter and Christmas. If He decided not to create us, there will be no people in hell who will burnt by eternal fire. He knew but yet He still did it. Then He came to save us and so many people praise and thank Him. Think about the others who are not predestined to be saved.
In more practical way, if I could choose to be born or not, I would choose not. I am not saying I don't value life. I am not saying that I want to die now. I am just tired working, doing the routines, suffer from pain and sickness, getting old, break up, etc.
But I am alive now, He decided to create me in this world, so there is no choice to live to the fullest. My priest said He loves us until He gives us free will to love Him or not. Wow... the grace of free will, but what is "free will" if in the end, people who didn't live by His rules will be banished from heaven? You are not as free as you think...

Who is Phoenix?

Phoenix has been found in many ancient civilizations. From all the ancients, Phoenix has been considered holding a great value and high virtue.

Perhaps the most well known Phoenix is Arabian Phoenix. The mythical bird said to live for 500 years, 540 years, 1,000 years, 1,461 years, 12,994 years (according to various accounts). As he approaches his death, Phoenix would set the fire, which will consume himself. After three days, he will re-birth (rises from the ashes).
In Egypt, Phoenix is called Benu/Bennu. It resembles immortality and associated with the sun.
The Chinese Phoenix (Fenghuang) is the symbol of high virtue, grace, of power and prosperity. It represents the union of Yin and Yang. Its feathers were of the five fundamental colors: black, white, red, green, and yellow. It was said to represent the Confucian virtues of loyalty, honesty, modesty, and justice.
In Japan, Phoenix (Hou-Ou) very much resembles the Chinese Phoenix in looks. The Hou-Ou has been adopted as a symbol of the royal family, the Empress (similar in China). It supposed to represent the sun, justice, and fidelity.