A Piece of Patriotism

About 2 weeks back, I'd observed that there weren't many of the usual signs that heralded the impending arrival of Malaysia's National Day on 31st August. You know what I'm talking about: the mini-Jalur Gemilangs on cars, the larger-than-life flags unfurled across skyscrapers in capital city KL, billboards congratulating Malaysia for all her achievements, sappy heartwarming Yasmin Ahmad-style Petronas ads...

Strange. It just didn't feel the same this year. Like, there was nothing to celebrate. And even the message from the obligatory Petronas ad didn't seem to shine through as clearly - I was left wondering, "huh?" (To be fair to the ad icon, perhaps it wasn't Yasmin's doing at all...)

Why is this? Is it because we had a huge bang for our 50th birthday last year and haven't come up with anything else more spectacular this time round?

OR, horror of horrors..., are we less patriotic now?

Maybe it was because all the nation's attention was on a rural area in the northern state that was to determine the re-entry of a prominent figure into the political scene. In the days leading to Aug 26, what amazed me wasn't so much that he garnered that much ground support, but the fact that the OTHER side had the WHOLE battalion camped and campaigning in that tiny town! Name them - they were there! Prime Minister and deputy, and various Ministers across portfolios. (Too bad International Trade guy couldn't join the fun; he was attending an ASEAN meeting in a city-state and was almost forgotten there, what with all the media attention over HERE...)

So... one man versus all of them? I thought it was one man versus one?

We all know what the outcome was. For all the confidence expressed at both camps, there could only be ONE winner. And win he did; convincingly at that.

Coming back to the question: Are Malaysians less patriotic?

I don't think so. In fact, I think the outcome of the Permatang Pauh by-elections demonstrated our TRUE patriotism - the love for country and fellow Malaysian; the desire to spur the progress of the country through righteous justice, economic empowerment and uncorrupt practices; the dream of seeing this country rise to heights it once attained - and perhaps, God willing, even higher.

Call me idealistic? Yes, I admit it is a tad ethereal. Dirt so deeply entrenched will take some time and lots of willpower and determination to uproot. But we have to start somewhere... the journey can't take the right course unless we point it thus. If it took 50 years for all these seeds to germinate, it may take 50 years to unearth it all, and 50 years to plant new seedlings. I realize that the pretty picture of a truly-prosperous Malaysia may not happen in the span of my lifetime.

Yet I will not waver from my stance, and do what I can to set things in motion. For I am not doing it for myself, but for the younger generation I see today - that THEY and THEIR CHILDREN will have a fair chance at competing in the local and international arenas, and be proud to be called a Malaysian.

It's not about anti-Government. It's just about being pro-Malaysia. THAT is PATRIOTISM.

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A Time to Grow

I'd never once imagined that the book of Esther would be so relevant in the social and political aspects in a modern world. Perhaps it was because the Sunday School version portrayed Esther's story as some sort of a Biblical fairytale - where things get rough, but in the nick of time, everything ends happy ever after.

Only now when I delve into the beautifully-crafted story do I realize that there is so much more to uncover...

... Esther epitomizes a gentle yet strong woman, who won favour of those around her by her humility and gentleness, apart from her beauty. In the course of the book, her naivete was replaced by a growing maturity - demonstrated in the careful execution of her plans, patiently laying each piece of the puzzle in place. There was no hurry; just taking it step by step; waiting on the Lord for wisdom and patience.

... God truly works in the background, and His timing is impeccably perfect. It is no coincidence that God granted Esther and Mordecai favour of the king at every opportune time, that the plans of 'vile Haman' were 11 months delayed, and that the king overruled the evil decree exactly one year after it was first dispatched. It was just God at work. Amazing.

It is comforting to know that God is working in the background even if we cannot quite see Him. At the same time it can be downright exasperating when the way forward isn't as clear as we'd like it to be... but then again that's probably because we're too impatient to wait upon Him. (I know that's my problem.)

My Lord knows my heart. Help me to see You at work in my life.

When fears arise, this world distracts, whisper aloud,
Set my heart aflame, grant me the faith, be with me always...

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Bob Dylan - Times Are A Changin'

Come gather 'round people

Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters

Around you have grown

And accept it that soon

You'll be drenched to the bone.

If your time to you

Is worth savin'

Then you better start swimmin'

Or you'll sink like a stone

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics

Who prophesize with your pen

And keep your eyes wide

The chance won't come again

And don't speak too soon

For the wheel's still in spin

And there's no tellin' who

That it's namin'.

For the loser now

Will be later to win

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen

Please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway

Don't block up the hall

For he that gets hurt

Will be he who has stalled

There's a battle outside

And it is ragin'.

It'll soon shake your windows

And rattle your walls

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers

Throughout the land

And don't criticize

What you can't understand

Your sons and your daughters

Are beyond your command

Your old road is

Rapidly agin'.

Please get out of the new one

If you can't lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn

The curse it is cast

The slow one now

Will later be fast

As the present now

Will later be past

The order is

Rapidly fadin'.

And the first one now

Will later be last

For the times they are a-changin'

Harrowing! Exhausting! Absolutely exhilarating!

The words describe the past 2 weeks for me...

One of the weeks saw me facing a seemingly-unending crisis in office from Monday to Wednesday... It tested the limits of my patience and stress... It consumed so much energy from my being that it felt like a whole week had past; and indeed when I woke up on Thursday, my first thought was: "Oh! It's Saturday!"

... I know God sustained me.

Another weekend saw me being on piano at church, and playing with the young people just brings me so much joy. They're blessed with so much talent, and have so much potential to grow further!

That Sunday a big bunch of us went to the Passion Conference Kuala Lumpur - where Chris Tomlin and Charlie Hall led us in AWESOME worship... Am so privileged to see Chris sing "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" LIVE... and have him introduce the powerful "God of this city".... Louie Giglio brought us God's word so clearly, based on Isaiah 26:8 - the verse that Passion is based on. And from their blog ( http://www.268generation.com/blog ) it's quite clear that they are proclaiming GOD in every city they go...

... Indeed, God is the hope for a world that desperately needs Him. And He's working amongst the youths IN EVERY CITY for His purpose.

This past weekend was one of the fullest I'd gone through in some time... Cell group brought a bunch of 10 kids to the zoo as part of our reach out to the poorer community... Each kid is special in His sight, and we sought to show His love to them that day...

... Thereafter I headed to Sarah's place for a power nap and then to church for worship practice and Saturday service... And after that I had a band audition that kept me in church till 10.30pm - but again, being with the young people invigorated me! And the months of our playing together showed in the tight band we had. More so, the laughter and smiles that shone through belied a deeper sense of belonging within.

... It is God who has sustained and kept me; God who has blessed me with so much, that I gotta give it away. Thank YOU.