Adam Sandler thought me some things

Who could imagine I'd cry in an Adam Sandler movie?

Well I did.

Twice.

I'll just mention one here - the relatively-unknown "Reign Over Me" that starred Sandler and Don Cheadle. I'd not read the reviews, so I'd no expectations whatsoever of it. I expected a funny movie - just the thing to destress me, rather than distress.

Synopsis went along the lines of how Adam had lost his family in the 9-11 incident and was in denial mode on it - refusing to talk about his grief but showing nonchalance in its place. It seemed heartless, uncouth, cold somehow... so his best friend Don tries to get him to come to terms with the harsh reality.

It wasn't a funny movie.

Later, we discovered why Adam refused to talk about his loss. And it was because he didn't want to face his regret - that his last words to his late wife weren't kind, and that he had no way to take them back.

That stunned me. Shook me to the core.

On that day, before I came home, I'd fought with a friend. Had said some harsh words and we both went back angry.

If either one of us had been taken away that day, what would our last words have been?

Since that day, I've resolved not to go to bed angry; to do whatever it takes to end the day well. I've tried to take every opportunity to remind the people around me how much they mean to me, how much I appreciate their being in my life.

Today is one of those days.

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Huh?

Pulled double-duty on keyboard and vocals for the TeenStreet 9-to-9.

I'm overwhelmed how everything came together beautifully.

I beam, even now, recalling how each band member had a smile on their faces even whilst playing the instruments or singing their hearts out. So much joy that radiated from within.

So beautiful.

Just before our group shot (photograph, not injection), one of them came over and said, "Nice pipes you've got there."

Huh?

No I didn't play any pipes on the keyboard this time.

He takes in my quizzical expression and touches my throat, repeating, "Nice pipes."

Oh. *Hehe*

"Praise God," I say. And I mean it. Praise Him who enables me to do these things to bless His people, and glorify Him.

Indeed, Lord, everything is from You. All the praise goes out to You.

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Enough with the Emo already!

Got "swiped" the other day by a well-meaning friend that my blog was dead. It's one part choice, and the other part circumstance... On one hand the ballooning work pile meant that I was getting less free time to spend on myself; and at the opposite end, I HAD things to blog about, but decided not to, for fear of exposing too much to the online community.

I read my recent posts, and kinda got worried myself. Gosh, why so emo? Awhile filled with hatred, awhile reaching out, awhile consumed with deep sadness. Whoa.

But that's me, I guess. No apologies for that, in a way. You bleed to know you're alive; you justify the presence and expression of extreme emotions by saying you still have a conscience and are not robbed of the capacity to feel, not numbed by the depression of this world.

oh no there i go again....

In 2 hours, the TeenStreet Band will have a reunion at the TeenStreet 9-to-9... We did the soundcheck last night and it just brought me back to December last year when we led the teens into the Throne Room, where the teamwork just awesome, the atmosphere of the nightly gigs extremely electric, the presence of God completely overwhelming.

Yes, I'm the oldest and the only female musician in the band, and sometimes I feel really old next to them young ones. (Unfortunately that's what work does to even the strongest of us.)

But the stage is a great equalizer (as Ian would put it) - and when we're there, playing our hearts out, giving our best to the One who deserves our all... all feelings of inadequacy vanish, all traces of fatigue ebb away, to be replaced by the sheer joy of coming together to worship Him and give Him the loudest praise we possibly can; to glorify the King who has come to take our burdens and cleanse our sins, the Saviour that grants us hope for eternity, the true GOD who was, who is, and is to come.

I look at the young musicians with pride, amazed by their ability, grateful for the way that they have grown up and living now. I respect each one tremendously, and pray that each will find his joy within His will.

One and a half hours to go. Can't wait! =)

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