a BETTER of anything.

Often times, when it is the new year, someone's birthday, a person who had just changed job, when you are in a mess, there is one thing we always hope for.

A BETTER __________________________________. 

We desired for a better life, better nation, better working environment, sometimes better friends, better family, better boyfriend/girlfriend, or dare I even say it? A better spouse.

'Better' here is described as a verb. To improve - amend - mend - reform.

To be a better, there's a price to pay. It's not merely just uttering it out with words. The words need to be put into actions. To be a better athlete, there's a need to train. To be a person who watches the language, there's a need to be conscious and to train to hold your tongue when you are about to curse. To be a better boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse, there's a need to learn to be sensitive to the feelings of your closed ones. There's a need to learn to be sensible.

When I was in my University years, I wanted to be a person who have a stronger stamina - a better person at playing sports. I first realized I have a need to do so, when I was playing futsal with my churchmates, only to realize I couldn't keep up with the other players. So, I trained. I woke up earlier, before class, to run few rounds in the court. After class, I ran again in the stadium. Honestly, the first few attempts, I just want to give up and move on with life that I am no good at sports anymore. But, that desire to be better, pushed me to continue my routine. After few weeks, it was not so hard anymore. After a couple of weeks more, I eventually could keep up with the other players when we played futsal. It was a great achievement.

Let's switch our mind to our nation now. We want a BETTER nation. A BETTER MALAYSIA, where peace and harmony roams. But, most of us are being bench warmers. We wait to see a BETTER nation. Friends  it doesn't work that way. If it does, our nation should have already be BETTER. It takes courageous men and women, who would stand and speak for the voiceless. It takes men and women, who are willing to lay aside their pride, ego and self goals. It takes you and me, who are willing to step up and say this is our nation, we are placed here for such a time like this. Wake up, Malaysia need you! (although how cliché it may seems).

My friends stood up for a young girl who were tormented by a group of teenage boys. They were surrounding the poor girl. My friends were in the car, and it was difficult to go down to stop the boys, as there was 15 of them. So, they start making a commotion by pressing the horn of the car. Eventually, the teenage boys left. They walked away laughing and feeling proud (their actions speaks). But, that day, my friends stood up for the girl, though they were strangers. That day, my friends chose to be the helping hand towards a stranger.

If you called yourself a Malaysian, better wake up and live like a malaysian. A true Malaysian is one that do not see colors, hospitable heart and willing to lend a helping hand anywhere. That's a Malaysian. 

Every blocks represents you and I.
Though we are diverse in cultures and languages, we must embrace the diversity to find unity among ourselves.
You and I are different.
It's in this diversity, we find unity!

Must customers always be right?

CUSTOMERS ARE ALWAYS RIGHT

Have you heard of this saying before? I couldn’t come to term with this saying.

Why? Because in my perspectives, customers are also humans, the seller is also human. Human are not perfect. Human cannot be RIGHT all the time.

I found out:

Meaning

The trading policy that states a company's keenness to be seen to put the customer first.

The Origin

Several retail concern used this as a slogan from the early 20th century onward. In the USA it is particularly associated with Marshall Field's department store, Chicago (established in the late 19th century). The store is an icon of the city, although it is set to lose its name in 2006 when, following a takeover, it becomes renamed as Macy's. In the UK, Harry Gordon Selfridge (1857-1947) the founder of London's Selfridges store (opened in 1909), is credited with championing its use. The Wisconsin born Selfridge worked for Field from 1879 to 1901. Both men were dynamic and creative businessmen and it's highly likely that one of them coined the phrase, although we don't know which.

Of course, these entrepreneurs didn't intend to be taken literally. What they were attempting to do was to make the customer feel special by inculcating into their staff the disposition to behave as if the customer was right, even when they weren't.

[Taken from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/106700.html.]

Working in my parents’ shop gave me first hand experiences. Of course, not all customers act this way. However, few customers do or think so. They are the ones who get on my nerve. They need not say ‘customer is always right’ policy but rather the way they talk or treat another. Sometimes they are rude and selfish. They used the power of money to belittle another. The vibe of arrogance and cockiness comes from their actions of treating another.  

I think these people had not truly grasped the meaning of the phrase and they had misused the phrase. This is how I look at the phrase 'Customers are always right' – we put customers first. We are service provider who goes out to look at the interest of the customer. We serve the customer at our best, but that doesn’t mean we give you the leeway to treat badly or belittle us. Through observation, I sometimes wondered what complexity this person has to be acting as such? A person who can’t accept to be wrong at times? I don’t know the person as a whole. But, I could sense the insecurity of the person even in a short encounter. 

Especially in the age of IT now, many thinks that the information found in IT is DEFINITELY RIGHT. Some of them come to the shop as a Mr/Ms Know-It-All. What is more valuable? Life experience of another person or the information you get from the internet? Which is tested? My family learned to let the person learnt from his/her mistakes. There’s no point to argue it out because the person is not even willing to listen and learn. We said what we need to say, then we leave it for the person to decide which information he/she deems right. 

Well, it’s not easy to work in the line where we provide service to people, because we meet all SORTS of people from different generations. Many may had lost the understanding what it really means by the phrase. They had taken to the extreme that they are RIGHT all the time and not willing to learn anymore.

When a person reaches that stage, the person is STUCK! Ears, heart and mind are totally closed to incoming information. A stuck person will not grow and learn. 

I am also not saying that we as the seller are ALWAYS RIGHT. We are all humans. We do make rights and wrongs. If we all decide to give each other the space to be right or wrong, then that already make a different. 

This applies to life as well. You and I can’t be RIGHT all the time! We are beings who learn throughout life. Mistakes. Wrong choices. When we made mistakes, we learned from it. We also need to have a listening heart and ears and minds that is open for criticism. The people who are around us see things at a different perspectives that we maybe can’t see. So, why not listen from their perspectives, understand it and learn from it? It’s perfectly fine if you still want to maintain your way. But, at least you made a different. You listen.

If one is right all the time, then there leaves no room for growth.

Brownish black and wet

I started off my month of Nov doing the lowliest social work of all – cleaning place full of shit. No one would think in their right mind that this is their dream job. I remembered this show on National Geographic that talks about the dirtiest jobs. It showed jobs from cleaning sewage to cleaning the rubbish and etc. I remembered few responses I heard about the show: what if my kids grow up and want to do something like that? What if? It seems like the most horrible job that your child might be doing in the future in the eyes of a parent. I had the opportunity first hand doing the WORST job as the world views it.

No one wants to be NEAR shit!

No one wants to TOUCH shit!

No one wants a job that TOUCH shit!

No one wants to be DIRTY!

When my hands and feet dipped in shit, I remembered telling myself that I need to just CLEAN this. Don’t think about where it came from. Don’t think of what it really comprises of. I just need to DO this and CLEAN this. So, I did. I actually could stand the smell of it. One reason is not fresh! The other is I was exposed to shit before this! – bat poop, cat poop, dog poop, fish poop, baby poop. Now, adding to the list is human ranges from child to adult’s poop. Even when I told my parents about my experience, I remembered their first response was like ‘What? Again?’ They agreed it’s a disgusting job but someone needs to DO it.

Because of this, we found out Indah Water had not been servicing the area for quite some time because they said it’s not their responsibility to clean the sewage system this area. MPK also had their hands off this case. Nobody wants to be involved. They are pushing the responsibility away from themselves. Imagine how many years of poop not being flushed out. Because of  this, one of the resident brought it up to Putrajaya and fought for this. The result, finally Indah Water came and pump the years of poop out!

All this poop experiences also got me thinking of how it relate to our society today. There’s so many unsatisfying issues happening in our country till the extent sometimes I feel helpless. The system is corrupted. There’s injustice in our country. When I look at the political state, it’s just heartbreaking. Nobody wants to be involved. Nobody wants to get their hands dirty. Nobody wants to stand for what is right. So, like the poop experiences. If all of us are just going to take the backseats and not advocate or be a voice, we are all like the poop that’s underground that no one will hear or care about. Underground unforeseen materials cannot be contain for a long time. One day, everything will blow out! Then, people will start pushing their responsibility away. Some people would be the ones that have to clean it up.

If we all recognizes our rights as a Malaysian citizen and make this country our own, then we will be willingly put our hands in shit, dirt, undesirable situation to stand for the people of this nation!

The HOOD, yo!

I was talking to my guy friend the other day, and we were discussing about this. We had a rather interesting chat discussing this from the girl point of view and from a guy point of view. 

Have you ever come across the term 'brotherhood' or 'sisterhood'?

According to The Free Dictionary, brotherhood means the relationship between brothers and the feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of people or all people. Sisterhood means the exact same thing. The relationship between sisters and the feeling of kinship with and closeness to a group of women or all women. 

Today, the fine distinctive line between the relationship of girl and guy is blurred. Generally, in our community today, guy sharing to a girl and vice versa is perfectly FINE. 

Not that I am against it. 

I shared my life experiences to both genders, as well. I found out that both genders do give different angles to a subject - the way they view, their opinions. 

Sisterhood had always existed because we girls are generally more in touch with the sharing of our hearts. Girls generally finds it easier to open up to another girl - there's nothing to hide. Most of my guy friends also finds it easier to share to a girl rather than a guy. This is because most girls give that assurance and support to another person who is sharing their life experiences. 

My friend told me when guys come together, all they talked is very surface level and don't usually open up (in short, crap!). In his words, he said guys fear of being looked as weak. Many guys have been brought up in their family background to be STRONG, to be TOUGH, don't CRY in public, don't look weak. It's sad that many of them who had issues do not know where they should be turning to.

I also have been thinking is there true brotherhood out there? I have been pondering about this for quite sometimes. When I see guys, there's a longing to see the formation of brothers who are willing to open up and share their inner most fears. 

However, on ONE occasion, God showed me the light that THERE'S STILL HOPE IN THIS. I witnessed four guys on campus who keep on the look out for each others. They are genuinely caring and willing to journey along with each other. Carrying each other. They shared with each other from their perspectives, which is something the girls may not be able to. They supported each other. At these age, they had learned the simple truth of journeying with each other. 

What a bliss! 

We can only bring someone to where we are. That is, if a guy shared to a girl, a girl is only able to share from the way they view the world. While if a girl shared to a guy, she is only able to get the perspective of guy. 

Till today, guys are mysterious creatures to understand from a girl's point of view. Guys said the same things about girls too: we are difficult creatures to understand. 

So, don't try to UNDERSTAND the opposite sex, just ACCEPT who they are. 

Having your own brotherhood or sisterhood is IMPORTANT. 
They are your safe place. 

A true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress

Proverbs 17:17

The Year of Jubilee

The year 2012 had been a significant year for myself: The year of Jubilee! 

Leviticus 25:10 - 13

Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan. The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines. For it is a jubilee and is to be holy for you; eat only what is taken directly from the fields. In the Year of Jubilee, everyone is to RETURN TO HIS OWN PROPERTY.

What does this mean to me and you? What does this got to do with us? Does it mean we don't work throughout the year and shake legs and just use what we have in our bank accounts? 

It goes BEYOND that, my friends. 

It's a SPIRITUAL JUBILEE!

JUBILEE in Hebrew literally means the TRUMPET BLAST. What trumpets do: arrest attention! They pierce the noise. They dominate. 

God is TRYING TO GET OUR ATTENTION. In this fast paced world, where there are so many things that captured our attentions so easily! This is the only way we can listen. The only way God can captured our attention to start our life anew with Him. 

Truthfully, when I first heard the shofar blast sometime last year, I find rather irritating, especially during worship. This year, I had learned what it really meant by the shofar blast. And now, everytime I hear the shofar being blown, my heart humbly bowed before my Lord. I remembered it was Jesus Christ whom I was attracted to during my university years. He brought me out of my 'slavery bondage'. It is Him who brought me back to where He wants me to be. It is Jesus Christ who I am attracted to. Since then till now, I am hooked by my God. 

MALAYSIA JUBILEE and Student Movement(FES) JUBILEE

The word 'PRIVILEGE' came to mind as I remembered the celebration of both Jubilee in Malaysia and also the student movement. How many Jubilee can one celebrate in one's lifetime? For myself, I have been given that PRIVILEGE to celebrate two Jubilees. 

Malaysia came to birthed in the year 1963, where our forefathers had fought for this country. Because of the radical decision made by our forefathers, I can proudly say I am a Malaysian. As I prayed for my country, I began to hope to witness a better Malaysia and to live out 1 Malaysia theme. My heart was deeply moved as I stand in the midst gatherings of different generations - young and old coming together to pray for Malaysia in the Klang Valley Combined Prayer Meeting held in Damansara Utama Methodist Church. I was moved to tears as I heard the cried of young orang asli kids at age of 8-10 praying for God's forgiveness upon their parents. May this continue to burn in our hearts to move us from being indifferent to passionate people who desire to see a change in Malaysia.

Fellowsip of Evangelical Students (FES) Malaysia too have celebrated their 50th year of student movement in Malaysia on the 6th October 2012. It was indeed a CELEBRATION with a difference! Many different generations of people came that evening - raging from as young as 4 years old to the vibrantly elders. What a great representation of people that came. Like how my friend had put it, it's the holiest festival thus far. It was for me too! The same God who work throughout different generations piercing from 60' to the 2000'. That evening, again I was reminded by the goodness of God. How He had waited patiently for me and shaped me to the person I am today. My God who never let me go also had not let go any of the ones that had gone before me. It is through them that I now lived a testimony of His goodness in my life.

Psalm 145:4 

One generation commends your work to another; they tell of your mighty acts.

Mazmur 145:4 

Perbuatan-Mu akan dipuji orang dari satu generasi ke satu generasi; mereka akan memberitakan perbuatan-Mu yang hebat.

I look forward for the days ahead, to experience Jubilee in my personal life. It's truly a life-changing spiritual renewal. As Mel Lawrence wrote, 'I know that if my life becomes one long blur, it won't be good for me and it won't be honoring to God. I need to stop, to experience Shabbat. I need to ask God to teach me again about forgiveness and redemption and liberty and justice and about all the things that really matter. 

And maybe I will learn that everything really can be different.'

This is God's way of helping His people to start over. It was a time to stop everything that normally happened, take a look around and set things right. God gives new beginnings! 

Will you say, "I need to get back to the important things, the essential things"? 

I did. And indeed it made a difference! 

Breaking the society state of mind

One day, I was just sitting outside my parents' shop and just observing different ones that walked up and down the lane. My eyes caught sight of these two persons - aged lady on a wheelchair and man in his 40s pushing her. They looked like mother and son. They came up to the curb and had difficulties of getting over the curb. The auntie could stand and move her legs but it was painful. It seems like she got gout on her feet. She is also very big in size which didn't help her much.

Then, auntie decided to stand and try to get over the curb. The man could barely hold her to get over and trying to put the wheelchair as well to the other side. So, I decided to break the norm (Norm is Chinese would usually stand by and see from aside rather to get their hands dirty - this is what I observed so far). I went near them and asked whether they needed help.

They nodded graciously. I held the auntie's arm and got her over. She kept saying thank you. Then, after that the next challenge came that is to get into the clinic. There's a level of step to get into the clinic. The man and I tried to lift the wheelchair and her on it to get into the clinic, however we failed. We made the auntie fell out from her chair. I got hold of her arm. And a man standing by also decided to come and lend a hand. So, the auntie stood on her feet and with all her might took the step into the clinic. It was difficult for her but thankfully she made it successfully and safely into the clinic. I remember her face. She looked up to the man and I and said thank you. Her son was also grateful that we came and helped.

I guess sometimes breaking the norm of the society also helped changed people's mindset. Though they may not expressed it in words that they had changed the mindset about certain norm in the society, but at least I did my part to stand out to be different.

Changing the world is everyone's dream, but how many are willing to get your hands dirty?

Christ had first show us how much He love us. Would we not also reciprocate that kind of love He had?
He said in His words:

Matthew 25:35-36, 40

For I was hungry and you gave me somthing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.... 

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for me of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me. 

From the eyes of a parent

Once upon a time, there was a family that is wealthy. Then, one day the youngest son told the father, 'Split my half of inheritance and give it to me'. The father agreed and gave him his half of the inheritance. So, the son took the money and spend it as he wish. He was living a WILD life. At that time, he had lots of friends around him. But, as soon as he spent all that he had, his friends too disappeared along with him.

He was money-less and hungry. He went to search for a job and a countryman hired him. The countryman sent him out to his fields to feed the pigs. *Can you imagine a Jew in the midst of the pigs?* He was so hungry that he eat what the pigs were eating.

He came to his senses, 'Hey, my father's servant gets better treatment than I do and I am here starving to my death'. So, he decided to go home and ask for his father's forgiveness. He played the apologize that he wants to tell his father over and over in his head : Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.

While he was nearing to the house of his father, he was still reciting what he wants to say to his father. His father saw him from afar (your parents will recognize you even if you don't look like yourself, how so? Through your gestures and the way you walk), he ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him (only your parents will do this when you are dirty).

The youngest son said, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But, the father quickly called his servants to bring the BEST robe, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the FATTENED calf and killed it! Let's have a FEAST and CELEBRATE!

Luke 15: 11-24

This story may ring a bell to many of us. I have a story of my own that is almost similar to the experience of the lost son.

When I was young and wild, I have my own principles that I hold onto. I never put the importance of my family as one of my principles. I went on to do things-I-feel-it-is-right. I dated a guy and hid it away from my parents. My parents eventually found out about the relationship. Many times, they talked to me and told me to break off that relationship.

Because of my rebellious attitudes, I never take to account to what it is said by them. Something had happened between the guy and me, we broke off. Instead of facing the music which I thought my parents would give, they received me back as their daughter who had strayed away. They were overjoyed and comforted me. I never thought my parents would celebrate that day with compassion, love and joy.

Just like the lost son, I also recited many times in my head what should I say to them. How should I ask for forgiveness. My parents forgave me long before and was waiting for that ONE SPECIAL DAY that I'll turn back to them.

That day came eventually.

My parents were happy and grateful that the LORD had brought me back into their arms.

Like the father of the lost son, he waited for that SPECIAL day. My parents waited!

All the waiting is worth it in the end of the day. I am grateful my parents waited patiently and prayerfully.

Nothing is more precious than a child that runs back to the arms of her parents. 

Our Father in Heaven also wait patiently for that 

One Special Day. 

The power of 10

Ever wondered what you can do with a saved RM 10?

When I had a meal with my friends, they paid for my lunch. *Thinking to self* at the moment, I saved RM10! Then, when I entered my car, I placed the RM 10 into my coin box, thinking to self again that I'll keep it someday when I am short of money. 

On Friday, I was walking by across the carpark to go for Christian Fellowship meeting. I noticed this Malay uncle with his kid and he looked as if he was looking for something. He spotted me and approached me. He then told me that he is short of money and need to fix his punctured motorcycle tire for an amount of RM 25. He only had RM 10 with him. So, he asked me to help him.

I put my hands in my pocket and realised I took the RM 10 from the coin box in the car. Then, without hesitation I just gave him the RM 10, and told him sorry I didn't have the extra RM5 to help him out. 

After that, he said thank you and even asked his son to shake my hand. We parted ways after that. 

Then, thoughts started to flow into my mind: What if he was lying? *But, he looked quite honest when he told  me his story* I thought to myself, hey my saved RM 10 helped another person today. I should be thankful! :)

Something stayed with me from that encounter: the uncle said 'haiizzz, mau raya sudah tapi tayar motor pancit....' - It's not easy to live in today's time. 

A lot of things we owned is what we bought with MONEY. There's something that don't need money is to show kindness in our own ways. 

An act of kindness lasts longer than material objects! :D