|
| Clothes shopping Mum and dad took me shopping last Sunday. We were looking at some nice clothes, which they wanted to get for me. I liked them too, but I stubbornly argued that they were too expensive. I felt that I should only buy what I can afford since I was earning this year. After lengthy debate, I reluctantly agreed to let them buy the two items. I felt that I had held out for long enough. I was now sure that they would be useful, and I was sufficiently appreciative. It took an entire afternoon! On the flight back to London, I realised that I have a similar problem with accepting God's gift of forgiveness for my sins. I try to earn it by doing good deeds. When I realised that there is no way I can afford it, I hold out on accepting the gift until I feel that I am sufficiently appreciative and deserving. When I finally reluctantly "accept" the gift, I feel no joy. In fact, I have not really accepted the gift. I am still trying to earn it, and I know that I am undeserving. How stupid of me for holding onto my pride. I just need to admit that I cannot earn salvation. Then I can be free to say thank you for the gift and enjoy it the way God wants me to. In the same way, my parents want me to enjoy the clothes - not to wear them with a sour face! | | |
| Another month, another issue I am flying back to Hong Kong tomorrow, but I wonder if I will get any rest there? Press day for the February issue of Student BMJ is next week. It will be interesting with the distance and time difference! Because I am too lazy to write...here is something far more entertaining - what happens when a train is cancelled and you wait two hours in the Scottish winter: "Show me the way to Edinburgh" "Merry Christmas everyone" | | |
| The better man On new year's eve, a good friend asked whether anything significant happened in the past year. In the next thirty seconds, I paused to take stock of 2007. I fixed my eyes on things that are seen and neglected things that are unseen - relationships, eternity, and God. These are the metrics that matter; this was probably my worst year since moving to London in 2003. My failings became more apparent as I heard about my friend's struggles. Through pain, he experienced the reality of God's presence while I dashed through the year with tunnel vision like a blinkered race-horse, oblivious to people around me. During our school days, I always thought that I was superior. But he is blessed with what really counts in God's eyes - a humble and teachable heart. For the first time, I realised that I needed to learn from him. But I was full of thanks, praise and joy. His testimony is a real encouragement for me to keep running the only race that truly matters. I must humble myself before God's throne to ask for grace. For I desperately need his forgiveness for yesterday, his strength for today, and his trustworthy promises for tomorrow. | | |
| The missing piece I travelled from Gleneagles to Edinburgh, transitting via London, to get back to Hong Kong on Christmas eve. But by God's grace, I am back after a cancelled train, two cancelled flights, two delayed flights and one missing suitcase. Sure enough, my family were waiting at exit A of the Chep Lap Kok arrivals hall. But I was rather less pleased by the sight of the Krispy Kreme doughnut stall behind them. Take over America, London, Australia, the world - but leave Hong Kongers alone to eat real food! As always, the high rise buildings were brightly lit on the drive to Clear Water Bay. I felt the usual warm, fuzzy feeling of returning in my city to be with family and friends. In all the rush and relief of getting back, it is easy to forget the ultimate reason behind the season. The birth of baby Jesus is truly worth celebrating. 2000 years ago, God became one of us because he loves us. | | |
| The perfect stir-fry I think I'm one step closer. I've always followed most of the conventional advice of using a hot flame, chopping stuff into chunks of a similar size, and not putting too much into the wok. That's all well and good, but I could never manage to serve up the dish dry - water always leached out of the vegetables. After four years of soggy stir fries, I finally decided to use corn starch. It solved all my problems, thickening the liquid to a sticky sheen coating the ingredients. Delicious! But James knows the price I paid for tonight's dinner. I broke off three stalks of celery on the counter top and dropped them into the sink to wash. A piece of dirt remained and I reached over to pick it up between my right thumb and index finger. My heart leapt as it moved. The realisation that I touched a worm incapacitated me for two minutes. I thank God he didn't make me a biologist. I can't see myself getting very far with insect dissection even as I'm perfectly fine with human anatomy. | | |
|
