Blessed Be!

Ok, the title was taken from a book I just finished reading and it is about a fictional world where vampyres lived alongside with humans. It's something like HP but different...oh well, just for entertainment, not to be taken seriously because it speaks against the Lord.

Ok, so I was reading Angel's post and thought I should type this entry up...

I feel very fortunate to be living here, in Singapore. True, the country isn't perfect. There are comments like how Singapore is too rigid, how Singaporeans are kiasu, uncultured or snobbish even, how the government (PAP) is not a true democracy etc etc...

But I feel fortunate here. We're a small country and we've been taught from young that "Singapore has no land, no oil, no natural resources...She only has her people". Somehow I feel that our size and lack of everything is made up for by our lack of natural disasters. We have no cyclones, no earthquakes, no floods (unless you count the knee-level flood after a heavy rain as one), no storms, no seasonal worries, no locust...And because we're small, it's easier for law to operate. I feel safe here. Sure, crimes happen (Low crime doesn't not mean no crime) but overall, I feel safe here. I'm someone who likes things to be in order (although sometimes I hate such a personality) so I don't mind trading in some of my human rights for security. I don't have huge aspirations or whatsoever to bring a change in the political arena; so long as the government provides for a secured and stable environment to live in, I'm fine with it. Anyways, I don't think there can be a comparison...one may think greater freedom of speech, for example, is better but there are surely instances of countries where this greater freedom brought new problems. Humans are like that. We're never satisfied, always wanting more, wanting better. The grass on the other side is always greener. My relatives were always saying how the government gets too high salaries and how we're taxed like crazy. Maybe. I don't really know since I don't pay taxes yet and I'm not exactly interested in political stuff so I don't pay much attention. Maybe I'm ignorant. Maybe at my stage in life, all these don't matter. Maybe my view will change later. Maybe.

Anyways, I've gone totally off tangent. Back to the topic. Yes, it's easy to say "We should stop complaining and appreciate the simple fact that we're alive with our loved ones around us" but it's hard to act on it. Horrible events like that Boxer Day Tsunami, Sars and of course the recent Sichuan eartherquake and Myanmar's Cyclone Nargis push these words onto my mind. But as time heals wounds, it pushed that thought to the back of my mind as other 'more interesting' incidents demand that premium space. I don't know about you but I'm scared. Looking back at the last few years, i feel that pain seemed to hit us more frequently and on a larger scale than ever. Is the earth on the way to destruction? Is there any way to stop it? Personally, I felt the change in weather. Was it my own imagination? Here in Singapore, the weather in the previous few months was different from the years before. It was so windy and rainy, unlike in the past where that period seemed to be dry and hot. Well, that is from my rusty memories so I may be wrong. I certainly hope so. Or maybe it's just part of the earth's natural cycle.

In times like this, it's best to turn to God for spiritual guidance, for spiritual peace and for a non-physical answer to such questions.

But yet...

and yet...

Even as such heavy issues weigh down on our minds, life still goes on. Admist all the suffering, laughter saves us all from despair. There are laughters from performing a good deed, from receiving a favour, from indulging in our favoured activities, even shallow ones of which I am guilty, and also from the simplest things like being able to breathe fresh air.

I sincerely pray for those affected by the recent two disasters. To those in need of help, may help be given. To those offering help, may strength be given. To the survivors, who live on to handle the pain and aftermath of the events, may the Lord walk with them along this tough road.

I find this following verse quite encouraging.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Take care, people. :D

PHEW it has been a while since I typed something this serious.

( Transfered comments under the cut )