Another year has passed..

Despite all the joy, heartache, sadness and anxieties, I’ve managed to survive 2007. It was an eventful year that has thought me many valuable lessons in life:

Chance
When I was growing up as a Christian, a significant teaching I most vividly remember was “Confess your sins and God shall forgive you”. As a child, I interpreted it as: admit your mistakes and you would be given a chance.
But like most children, you forget your mistakes and keep forging new ones right into adulthood. And in adulthood, mistakes that you make become so severely self-forgiven that you self rationalize each time you make one.
As I aptly remember a famous quote by Shaw, quoting:
“Youth,
Forgives itself nothing, is forgiven everything
Age,
Forgives itself everything is forgiven nothing.”

Many of us tend to forget that we are not young anymore. We are now most accountable for mistakes and wrong doings we have done. And no matter how small or significant they are, we are answerable. We have the responsibility to own up to it, face it and move on.
Also in times like this, we most naturally turn to God. Sometimes we make vows and promises in hope that mistakes can be erased. But as time passes and heals our wounds, we also forget to fulfill our promises to God.

In 2007, I’ve been given several important “chances” that I must make right. During this course of time, I’ve learnt that I can either take these chances for granted or I can truly appreciate them and show gratitude by making the best of it.
I have chosen both options to carry forward to 2008.

Faith
What art thou?
Is it blind?
Is it pure?
Is it omnipresent?
Or is it character?

It’s all the above and more. While it is right to place our faith in God, what about faith in ourselves?
Faith in our own character, our own strength and our own perseverance – how often do we practice these?

Most of the time, I fail to see what I can be. I see what others see me. I don’t see what I can potentially be. I loose sight of me. I loose faith in me.

And so the hardest part is to pick up and internalize strength towards what you can achieve and create. Most often when you’re being pushed down so much, you forget how to stand up again. But the greatest achievement in life is to rise up from failure.
And the only push you can get to standing up is having faith – in yourself.
Wholly, truly, completely.

As I welcome 2008 with apprehension, my heart is also filled with hope and light.
I believe and foresee renewals of hope and dreams.
2008 – I take you on!