Happy Weekend

Yup, 'cos we're going down to see our precious 'bee!

God's Many Kindnesses

So many are God's kindnesses to us, that, as drops of water, they run together; and it is not until we are borne up by the multitude of them, as by streams in deep channels, that we recognize them as coming from him. We have walked amid his mercies as in a forest where we are tangled among ten thousand growths and touched on every hand by leaves and buds which we notice not. We cannot recall all the things he has done for us.
There are so many.

-Henry Ward Beecher

I remember a scene in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves where the huntman decided to abandon Snow White in the forest instead of killing her. It was a nightmare come true with all the trees and roots and overhanging branches tried to grab and capture her.

That is how we usually perceive evil but the quote from Henry Ward Beecher gives us a totally different perspective. As believers, we are tangled and touched on every hand, not by wickedness or evil but by God's mercies, love, kindness and goodness.

He is the One who said, "I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love" (Hosea 11:4).

White Hair

We started talking about white hair after I saw a few stray ones on hubby.

For me, it's an inherited trait. Both my paternal aunts started to grey from a young age. My sister is more fortunate. She took after my mom who was blessed with nice black hair until she was very advanced in age.

Actually having white hair is not a problem if they all turn white at the same time.

Believe it or not, it can happen due to sudden or exteme shock,
in which case it'll only be a temporary phenomenon.

If the whole head of hair turns white you can still flaunt it. I remember my paternal grandmother looking good with a lovely head of soft cotton white hair.

The problem is a mixture of black and white hair. Neither here nor there.

Anyway, we began discussing various possible causes of white hair. Scientifically, white hair is caused by diminishing pigment in the hair follicles. But what causes the pigment to stop production?

I said it could be the result of stress. After all, if sudden or extreme shock can cause hair to turn white, can you imagine what daily doses of little shocks can do to the hair? That seemed a plausible explanation to me.

Or maybe lack of some vitamins or minerals in our diet.

Hubby, as usual, came up with a brilliant explanation. He said that we have white hair because we think too much. And how did he support his hypothesis?

Just take a look at...

Einstein!

For The NMGs

It was the ending of Tan Sri Lin See-Yan's article "Najib's New Way Forward" in yesterday's Sunday Star that caught my eye.

Tan Sri Lin was addressing the Newly Minted Graduates (what a nice term) or NMGs of Universiti Sains Malaysia which celebrated its 40th convocation last Wednesday and he concluded his article with a saying by Confucius.

As I end, I am reminded of the wisdom of the great Master Kung-Fu-Tzi (Confucius): “There are nine things which a new graduate should be mindful – to see clearly as he uses his eyes; to hear distinctly when he uses his ears; to be gracious in expression; to be respectful in demeanour; to be sincere in speech; to be serious in the execution of his duties; to seek advice when in doubt; to consider the consequences when he is angry; and to think of what is right and just when he is faced with advantage or gain.”

To these, I should add a 10th – to be ethical and act with utmost integrity when dealing with the enterprise and society in which he serves.

In my entire public life – as in private – I have insisted on these 10 things for myself. And now, as the NMGs and many others take up the challenges of Najib’s New Way, I wish them for you.

Former banker, Dr Lin is a Harvard educated economist and a British chartered scientist who now spends time promoting the public interest.

There would be great Malaysians in the making if any of the NMGs were to embrace the wisdom offered by Tan Sri Lin.

Law of Kindness

Pastor Ann is in town. In her message today she mentioned the law of kindness which is on the tongue of the Proverbs 31 woman and I was reminded that that was the prayer/declaration she prayed over me the last time she came to TOP.

Steve Sjogren in his book "Conspiracy of Kindness" shows how unassuming acts of kindness are more persuasive than words in convincing people of the love of God. It's true, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

So in the words of the song "Try A Little Kindness" by Glen Campbell,

If you see your brother standing by the road
With a heavy load from the seeds he's sowed
And if you see your sister falling by the way
Just stop and stay you're going the wrong way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

Don't walk around the down and out
Lend a helping hand instead of doubt
And the kindness that you show every day
Will help someone along their way

You got to try a little kindness
Yes show a little kindness
Just shine your light for everyone to see
And if you try a little kindness
Then you'll overlook the blindness
Of narrow-minded people on the narrow-minded streets

If there is any conspiracy that will surely be blessed by God, it'll be a conspiracy of kindness.

Personality Type

Melinda,

As an INFJ, you are hardworking, committed to your ideals and pride yourself on your integrity. Very perceptive about people and a good listener, you are skilled at generating creative solutions to people's problems. A thoughtful and careful decision maker, you prefer to have plenty of time to let your ideas "percolate" before taking action. And you tend to be a perfectionist, and quite driven to accomplish your goals.

I never cease to be amazed at the spot-on accuracy of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Amongst all the personality tests, and I've almost done all of them, I still prefer MBTI for its accuracy and simplicity.

Crocs

I was given a RM30 voucher for Crocs. It was such a blessing because time and again I have thought of purchasing a pair but have been put off by the price tag.

Paying more than RM100 for rubber shoes seemed a bit ridiculous to me. Would Phua Chu Kang pay that much for his yellow rubber boots?

Anyway, I was persuaded by the discount voucher to buy this pretty pair on Saturday and I have no regrets 'cos they are so comfortable. In fact I abandoned my shoes for the new Crocs at the point of purchase and I've been wearing them on three out of the past four days.

The colours are a bit 'jeng' but I decided, for once, to be adventurous instead of sticking to the safe and boring black or brown, which are the other two colours available.

Hmmm, I just realised that this kind of out-of-the-ordinary behaviour has been surfacing a lot lately. Could it be a part of mid-life crisis?