It’s December!

The weather is getting colder as we're reaching December.
The rain becomes heavier. And most of the time I can see and smell the wet soil that I love so much.
Yes, it's December again- one of the months that I always look forward to.

Last year I was still in Vietnam.

I enjoyed the beautiful Ho Chi Minh City's decoration in welcoming the Christmas. As I was experiencing Christmas for 3 times there, of course those memories were still in my heart and mind. All around the city district (especially in District 1) was full of lights and decorations. I can still remember the warmth and the simplicity there. From Dong Khoi to Nguyen Hue, in the centre of the city near Thuong Xa Tax (Saigon Tax Trade Center), city hall area, Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, Vincom Plaza, and even in the Crescent Mall in District 7 (Phu My Hung area), all the surrounding was just so merry!

This year, I thank God for December again.

And this time, my December is in Singapore again.

I had been experiencing some Decembers in Singapore last time before moving to Ho Chi Minh City and I have to say that it's still as pretty as ever!

The decorations and the Christmas atmosphere in big shopping malls and along Orchard Road are still the best ever! The huge Santa's sleigh in front of Tanglin Mall, the big green Christmas tree in ION Orchard packed with purple colour decorations on it, and the sparkling golden-orange decoration in Paragon are definitely breathtaking and made me smile.
Thank God for everything!

As much as I want to enjoy all the things in front of me, deep down in my heart I keep reminding myself to remember Christ as the centre of Christmas celebration.  Of course it's kind of hard, not to get distracted during the festive season, but I try my best to wait on the Lord. Preparing my heart to welcome Him is the most valuable and important thing to do in this Advent seasons. Not only the Christmas Carols, not only preparing Christmas programs, not only preparing Christmas gifts for the loved ones…

But more than all of the things, I remember one more time…

Christmas won’t be  complete without CHRIST.

Then, I came across a wonderful writing of Friar John Soh, OFM from the parish of Saint Mary of the Angels in western part of Singapore in the form of parish bulletin, which was very inspiring. I also found that He did mention about the modern and contemporary interpretation of St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians as follows:

Love, 1 Corinthians 13 Style

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime: but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity; but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love does not envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust; but giving the gift of love will endure.

~ written by Sharon Jaynes

As Fr. John says, love is the essence of what Christmas is all about…

The question is: have we managed to bring the love into our family?

God so loved the world that He gave His only son to this world.

And how about us, have we prepared ourselves and fill our hearts with love in this Christmas?

We still have some time.

Hope that this Christmas will bring more joy and love into our family and the people surround us. And more importantly, hope that this Christmas will be a new beginning for us to share God’s love in this world. So that the people who meet us will find that everyday is a Christmas day (quoting Fr. Richards Ambrose’s homily from Church of the Holy Cross), because they could see the Christ in us.

Greetings from Singapore.

God bless all of us.

December 19, 2012

-fon-

Past, Present, and Future

Look at the past with gratitude, look at the future with confidence.

(Fr. Richards A., 2nd Sunday of Advent ‘s Homily).

Ini bukan pelajaran Grammar (Tata Bahasa) dalam Bahasa Inggris, lho:)
Sekali lagi, bukannn:)

Namun, ketika mendengar homili dari seorang Pastor di salah satu gereja di Singapura ketika Misa Minggu Adven yang kedua kemarin, mau tidak mau, judul ini yang terlintas di kepala saya.

Sebagai seorang melo alias melankolis, saya sungguh tahu betapa saya suka bermain di masa lalu. Masa lalu yang indah dan menyenangkan. Yang terkadang begitu sulit untuk dilupakan...

Juga atau bahkan terutama masa lalu yang begitu menyakitkan. Bagian yang 'sakit' itu sering diputar entah disengaja atau tidak oleh pikiran saya dan membuat saya senang berkubang di dalamnya. Termasuk dengan orang- orang yang pernah begitu menyakiti saya di masa lalu itu seolah akan tetap menyisakan luka yang begitu sulit terobati.

Saya sadar itu bukanlah hal yang patut dibanggakan. Dan saya belajar untuk melangkah, keluar dari lingkaran amarah, luka dan dendam. Yang tentunya jika saya lakukan sendiri amatlah sulit terjadi (bisa jadi merupakan hal yang mustahil), tetapi hari ini saya kembali diingatkan bahwa bersama Tuhan, itu semua pasti dimampukan oleh-Nya asal saya pun menyerahkan semuanya kepada Dia.

Gemilang ataupun suramnya masa lalu kita tetaplah mempunyai sisi baik. Homili Fr. Richards hari ini membuat saya tersadarkan bahwa masa lalu jangan melulu dipandang dalam bentuk 'luka' melainkan harus tetap dipandang dalam kerangka syukur. Sebagai umat beriman kita percaya bahwa Allah turut bekerja dalam segala sesuatu untuk mendatangkan kebaikan dan itu berarti termasuk di dalamnya masa lalu yang mungkin bagi kita penuh kepahitan. Bukan berarti masa lalu itu tiada gunanya, melainkan segalanya pasti terjadi untuk sesuatu tujuan. Dan tujuan itu adalah baik di dalam pandangan-Nya.

Dengan demikian, saya menjalani hari ini dengan penuh sukacita.

Saya percaya bahwa Tuhan sudah siapkan segala sesuatunya, bagian saya adalah tak henti mencoba dengan pantang menyerah.

Dan mengenai masa depan kita?

Di dalam iman kita kepada-Nya, kita percayakan semuanya.

Percaya bahwa masa depan kita aman di tangan-Nya, lagi-lagi tanpa dalih untuk berhenti berusaha karena itu tidaklah bijaksana. Terus memberikan yang terbaik itu akan menyukakan hati-Nya.

I surrender my past, present and future into Your hands, O Lord.

Because I believe that everything works together for good in Your hands..

Amen.

9 Desember 2012

-fon-

Di sebuah café tradisional di sini, ditemani secangkir milk tea dan kaya toast di sore hari:)
still@sg