'Tis so sweet...to trust in Him

Song of the month.

'Tis so sweet, just to rest upon His promises...

A quick thought:

I received very constructive feedback from a professional trainer and that kinda 'opened' my eyes to see beyond all the fluff and oraditory abilities of a trainer. More than mere charisma or the ability to capture attention lies the keen interests in:

1. Education with empowerment

2. Effective Learning

2. Essential contextualization

At a glance, some can 'tell' that you are an educator. Some might just comment that you are 'good' at handling students. Some might even remark at how you gain rapport with them. But that's not enough. It's too minute a thought and narrow a view.

Instead of feeling condemned or lousy after receiving such feedbacks, I felt not just challenged but also motivated to grow and sharpen in the area of providing both value-addedness in the learning process of students and the effective journey of delivering content. Man, I feel so inadequate. No, that's not a sign of low self-esteem or looking down at myself. It's simply an acknowledgement of how low a depth my level of educating is. And I'm looking forward to growth!

Is it just a question of mere balance between expectations and the realistic learning curve of an individual? Still, that is so subjective and dependent on every person's gifts.

Students that crossed my path this afternoon were a bunch of monkeys mixed with students with dreams, ambitions and aspirations. I have only 3 hours with them. I should always give my fastest sprint lest I look back in regret.

You too, should you be a fellow educator, ought to run with great stamina so that we never short change these 'monkeys' who are nonetheless, still potential agents of change in the future.

I can only trust that during that 3 hours, something takes place from the inside.

Wendy's Spice Hut

Yeap, dropped by Wendy's Spice Hut for dinner w the foodie runner. Nope, am not about to do any free advertising for them although they do have pretty decent stuff there.

I got to say it was both a fruitful and enjoyable dinner. A conversation worth having over again. That which took place over the short bus ride home was inspiring too. Now, that's about changing lives.

Well, a quick update here:

No more angry adults or kids on lousy and sad menus when they do outdoor cooking.



No more angry mobs.



And we'll be eating something even better too!



Impossible? Nah, not likely. As long as you justify your actions reasonably.

I left the dinner table feeling not just full from the mutton, chicken, naan......etc etc, but also full of ideas just waiting to be filtered. Good good, when two brains of the same interests gather together, there we have some common sparks that trigger ideas.

Happy like bird.

Oh, how can I forget.... quote of the month:

"Mr. Ang is a lonely man....you can join him during recess." - One of the two at the dinner table. (Not me)

Have a gd week everybody!

Room!

The word "Room!" brings me back to fond memories of my recruit days. The almost starched looking uniformed Sergeant walks into the bunk, sets the section to ease and proudly makes his announcement or routine while the blur recruits stand like stiff barrels. It was fun. Only the recruit portion.

Room also reminds me of always making room for people in my life. Now, that's subjective as the

reader thinks about how there might not be room for him/her then. Well, that does not mean you were not within the consideration set... it just meant that yours will come later. Don't you think that there might be a possibility that others need it more?

Room is also the place where I'm having this post typed. It reminds me of a messy looking yet well organised cozy dwelling to the user. In this case, I would like to think that although the room looks perculiarly messy, it is actually neat and well organised since I don't lose things. It also reminds me of the place that I'm mostly stucked in the house since the hall is either noisy with the Nintendo Wii, the extremely unappreciated music blowing from the speakers of another being's desktop or the everlasting mahjong tiles that clang and rub against one another. I particularly am so displeased with that fact taking place at home. I need to sleep.

Room also reminds me of a rented room I was once in search of. You may read and attempt to interpret that in whatever manner you wish...be mindful I'm not some juvenile anymore. Just don't be in shock when you come ask me "eh, you ok or not ah?", I'll get you juggernauted.

Of late, I spoke to someone regarding 'giving up'. I think I said something that made sense then and for some reason, whether divinely crafted or not, things seem to be picking up. I need to know what I said. I did some calculations, renting a room is expensive. It would include you handling the laundry. Managing the change in environment when you don't have a roommate. Best of all, you get plenty of questions from others, and later on from yourself. By then, it's too late. History has been written.

At the end of the day, you see the load weighing on the scale and it only makes sense to bury everything. Yet we all know there's no good outcome when people simply brush things underneath the carpet. It will only come back to you again.

So what's the correct way? What is the right response to matters of the heart that thug and pull and leave us in a state of discomfort, frustration and even anger?

A simple conversation of the same topic led to tears welling up in the eyes and I had to start pulling tissue papers out of the bag (not for myself). Further clarification cleared things up and I understood those tears. Those were not tears of sadness.

In such a helpless situation, He still remains sovereign.

period.

Glide into 2008

Alas, 2008 has come and it's time to bid good bye 2007.

Allow me the freedom of speech in this webspace. Afterall, it's a blog and despite all the debatable arguments over contents in a blog, I'm still gonna speak, outloud. Yes, it's time.

It has been a great year. 2007 has proved to be exciting and indeed it was.

1. I'm probably the only SMU student who interned as a Teacher-Aide in the school where Boys become Men, Men of grace and kiwi polish. That term was good. I learnt Quoridor. I learnt how lacking I am. I learnt that there's so much more to youth work.

2. 'Coincidentally' I went back to HA, and aha! I literally went back for good.

3. I graduated. NIE rejected me 5 times. I still can't figure out a humanly possible reason except for one that was divinely planned. Heng ah!

4. 2 months of waiting for HA and another 4 months before confirmation. This has proved to be a God-given income generating career. No, do not get the wrong idea. I am certainly not earning much akin to the average graduate from SMU. Yes, I can and definitely receive more else where. However, I can't guarantee the satisfaction of both my spirit man and in my heart. I am grateful for a team of vision filled Coaches. O how can I express my joy..

5. Pledge. The new building. I can't wait to see it up and filled. We may be small in numbers but we can certainly give from all our hearts and still find ourselves unable to outgive the Giver. I want to shout outloud that by some magnificient measure, my pledge was met. On top of that, I got a little more than what I would receive from the job. That came as a surprise. Beyond just the pledge, I remembered I had an insurance premium to meet. That came as a killer. BUT, it was all met. Sufficient. Pressed down, shaken and there's space for more. Oh, there was no one time I went hungry nor thirsty. I ate, I drank. And it was sufficient. I almost teared in the office (actually I did) when I saw how finance was topped up within a month.

6. I'm a Coach, a Christian Coach. I'm excited for Jaunary 08, Q1.

7. I am also thankful for someone supportive. To me, that is key.

I want to glide.

A glider has a smooth skin. Constructed with fibreglass, seamless and rivetless structure. There's minimal resistence. It's designed for the most efficient flight.

3 types of rising air the glider uses to increase flight times:

1. i-Thermals

2. Ridge Lift

3. Wave Lift

I have:

1. Friends

2. The Word of God.

3. 3rd party. (This is the best of the 3)

Oh I am excited! I await the challenges that would only strengthen me. It's scary in the face of it, but it always turns out good. I am no longer a kid, I can no longer feed on milk. I cannot but get those muscles moving.

It sounds like I'm some ultra driven power and authority monster, but no. I'm simply excited to be stretched and stretched and stretched. Only to return stronger both in the mind and in the inner man.

Whoopido!

And I want to create that Ripple Effect, to be an A.O.C. This sounds like TLLS.

For Freedom!