I need a time machine, - Friday, December 30, 2011
2011 is ending in two days! Can you believe it?! In just a short couple of hours, 2012 will be here! Damn!
2011 was a pretty good year for me. :) I am thankful for all the times I got to spend with my family, friends, and most importantly, God, for the whole of this year.
Wonder what awaits me in 2012!
Looking forward to that, yet rather afraid. Haha. Guess it's like that every year. ;)
Written @ 1:19 AM.
I will testify the love, - Thursday, December 22, 2011
Hello!
Back from retreat, and I have this strong urge to blog!
This is going to be a post-retreat reflection.
I had such a good time during the past two and a half days man! I really did! Thinking that it's over, it just feels kinda sad! I felt like I wanted to spend more time with the people there, and learn more about God, and more about myself, and more about my friends!
This is soooo unlike me. I'm the type who'd usually dread stay-in events, like camps and chalets (yes, even chalets!), but when it's a year-end retreat with STAC, I don't really give it a second thought.
I can vividly remember in 2007, my first year in STAC, I didn't wanna go to the retreat initially, but was pressed into going by Uncle Sam! In the end, I did not regret going for the retreat. I won't say that I wouldn't have regretted not going for the retreat, but it would've been more like, till today, I may never know, because I missed 2009's retreat... From then on, I just really had a good impression of STAC retreats, and I want to be a part of every one of them if possible!
I feel so blessed to be able to make it for this one. I actually almost couldn't. I attempted to lie to my lecturer in charge that I could not go for the Public Speaking workshop, but in the end I didn't have to, at all! What's more, Ms Clyda (the lecturer) insisted that I have FUN at the retreat. Wow! What words from a lecturer man! Why are my existing lecturers not like that? Damn! Haha.
Shit, I feel so bloody emotional writing all these! But I guess it's a good thing, ahaha. I haven't really felt this much for quite some time now... So yeah, good! :)
I'm so thankful and grateful for this retreat, for God being in my life. Without God, I wouldn't have gone to church, I wouldn't have met this awesome choir which feels like family to me, apart from my real one of course, haha! Wait... Without God, I may not even be here.
Truly, God is beyond awesome. Like when Bryan's godmother shared earlier today, even 'awesome' can't describe God. That's how amazing He is. He loves us so much that He gave us the freedom of choice, to live as and how we like. That really struck me. It never really crossed my mind, that, He IS the King of Kings, and he could have just drawn us to Him by himself with all His power and might, but He didn't. He just gave us the freedom of choice. Also, many of us feel like we are unworthy of His love, and yet He still takes us in. He draws us close to Him. He reaches out to us when we feel like we are alone.
We just cannot always see it. Selene shared that majority of us Christian-Catholics will not experience God through our eyes, cuz that's what most of us want to do. We want to see God face to face, not through the wind, etc. But come to think of it, shouldn't we feel glad and honoured that God has appeared to us in ways we cannot see?
Simply Amazing.
Another really memorable session would be when we were watching the show "Touched by an Angel". The whole show itself was so emotional, especially the ending. No, I didn't cry. But if I watched it again, who knows? Hahaha. If the show was still showing on Channel 5, I'd definitely catch it! I recommend that people watch this. It's just so meaningful.
Then we have the other sessions by the priests: Father Francis, Henry, Fred, Irvine, Kenson... Ya. They all taught me something different. Something new. All of which, I can hopefully apply in my life, or perhaps come into realization of them one day... The most interesting session between the priests, in my opinion, was Father Fred's. He really gave me a sense of realization on the day itself. I didn't have to wait to experience anything to understand, because most of what he said has already happened in my life so far, ignoring your loved ones for example. I still have patience issues with my Grandmother, but now I will definitely try to take into consideration of her feelings, and also gotta remember that, it is out of old age that she is like this (no offense intended okay!). I have to learn to understand, and to be more patient... I'll work on that.
I'll also work on my relationship with God. I really will. I think that without the retreat, I may not have realized that my relationship with God is not that great. I used to think it was okay, but I had the sudden realization (again) that it wasn't so! Yes, I pray. Yes, I go to mass. But I don't feel like I give more time to God. Like just talking to Him personally, alone in a room or something. Maybe it's because I haven't had the chance, I don't know... But I'll really try to do so, ASAP!
I believe I had more to write when I first thought this out, but after moving here and there for quite some time, I just cannot recall lol. ><
Yeah, I'll never forget this retreat. Ever. I wanna specially thank Selene, Jason, Bryan and Beatrice for putting in all their hard work into planning this retreat: from the games, to location, to speakers, thank you soooo much for bothering to do this retreat, for the sake of the choir. Thank you for your commitment! :)
I also want to thank everyone else who attended and participated in the retreat! My bunkmates: Sean, Yendall and Matthias. Though I don't speak to you guys so much on Sundays, I feel like we more or less bonded throughout these few days, and I am so glad! :) Of course, the rest of the people too! Shirin, Isabel, Priscillia, thanks for coming, and growing with the choir. Hope you guys enjoyed the retreat! Of course, not forgetting Anthia, Suzette, Berenice and Uncle Sam for coming to the retreat despite your busy schedules! Anthia and Suzette, thanks for coming for the first day. It really shows a lot about you guys because honestly, one could've just decided, "Since I'm only going for 1 day, might as well not go!" but you guys DIDN'T! YAY! :D Berenice, thanks for coming in and out everyday, because you have school. And also, Uncle Sam, for coming for a few hours! :D
Those who didn't/couldn't make it for the retreat, it's really sad. You guys missed out! :( But oh well, life goes on and you can always look forward to another retreat in two years. I pretty much predict a concert to come next year, where it's more appropriate.
In short, I just wanna thank all those who came for the retreat, making it possible! :D
Hahaha!
Okay, shall go watch the ending of "Touched by an Angel"! I don't know why, I just feel it's appropriate to watch this before I sleep! :D
So I guess that's it.. Any edits, I'll just do them here. ;)
Looking forward to uploading close to 600 photos! Don't really need editing, I guess, cuz the majority is FLASH ;D HAHAH!
Yeah, with that, I sad GOODBYE ! AND GOODNIGHT ! :D
Written @ 2:16 AM.
