Post

I seldom go to the post office ever since I came back from England. Well, my most remarkable business with the post office in England, was to send my TV to my aunt through post. Yes... I was posting my TV and my aunt received it too. Well, if you are speaking of faith and trust on post office, I guess, I trusted them almost 90%. That's obviously, in England. The only postcard I sent was never received by my parents was the one I sent in Rome. hahaha... the Vatican City to be exact. Well, I had many good memories with Post in England. Everytime, I moved, I went to the post office, to re-direct all my letters to a place for a few months, i.e. the post office or my aunt's place, etc. It's convenient and through those services, I never, NEVER missed any mail at all.

Since I returned and working as a lawyer, I learned about what is registered post, what is AR registered post, what is Certificate of posting, what is normal post and I know exactly how long it takes for those to reach a person and i do know frm the Rules that I need to serve certain documents through certain post and somehow, I still trust the Post Office.

Today, I experienced the first ever ... registered mail collection's tragedy. Well, a friend needs help to get her post from the post office as it's a registered mail and there's no column to be filled for anyone to collect on behalf of her, I thought she should at least make a call to the post office, at least to inform them that she is sending someone to collect. She did gave me the number and so on and asked me to bring along her photocopy of IC. That's on Monday. I was sick yesterday and so I didn't go. I went after lunch today. I went to the Courier service thinking it's a Post Express (a new service by Post office) but they told me, I didn't give them the full number, so I called my dear friend and she told me, it's "R" that I missed out. I told them it's "R" in front and they told me it's registered post and I have to go to the building next to it.

I walked to the building, went up to the first floor... and I found the counter. The person in the counter saw my notes and IC, asked me to wait, then he went and check on the computer and he told me the computer is offline and they cannot do anything. So, I asked him what's my option of getting this post besides coming here to check whether they are online everyday. He asked me to go and see so and so - "D". He told me where I can find him. I followed the instruction, went to a place... and wow... it's the POST OFFICE where postman are sorting out mails. I asked around to find where "D" is and I was asked to go into an office. D claimed that I am looking for him. So, I sat down, explain to him that it's very difficult to get the mail, etc... and which the only respond he gave me was, "jadi"? after EVERY SINGLE SENTENCES I said. To my frustration, I really shouted at him, asked him if he has the heart even wanted to help. He said, "Ya... itu lah saya tanya jadi?". I was wondering for a while, "so, how did it help when you keep asking jadi?" and of course I knew it's wasting my time if he continues to do that, so, I just stand up, looked at him and said, "is this how your attitudes should be when you provide services to your customer"? Again, he answered "I was trying to help. "Jadi?"". I then intervene his saying and asked him 3 times, "do you want to help or not?" He couldn't answer me and while I was shouting for the 3rd times, his supervisor came and asked me how can he help me with. I was furious and asked him what's my option and all and I was led to another room and things was done , I left and I went back to the counter to check if the line is back on. It was... and he checked, he looked for the letter........for 30 minutes... and another person came in, asked what happen, and then from the drawer, he took out the letter and said, ... "You should have come only when I am here" - jokingly. I was furious as you know... but I stayed calm... and smile at him.

Of all occassions, trust me .... all I saw, they were not working.. in fact they were shock to see me, simply .... they were just there, 'lepaking'... and the person who just came in after 30 minutes, just finish lunch... and it was 3:30pm. Can you imagine?

Oh well.... I was told later on that, this is our government. Hello?????? Government, are you there?????? ... is that how you want people to say about you????????? As a lawyer, I wanted so much to defend you, but can you give me some reasons to defend you?

- Post -

Gated Community!

That two words, was in-stored in my mind more deeply then I ever encountered it... since the day we had our Alpha Training some times in September. Well, to be exact, it's from a video clip of Veggieie Tales. It reminds me of course of many times, as a church, we are like a gated community, who just take care of people and things that's in our community and we forget, almost at all time, to open the 'gates' for others to come in and enjoy the fun we have in our community.

Well, ever since I came to this church that I am attending now, I realise there's a group of people, is always living in their gated community and worse still, they even asked their church leaders and/or spiritual leaders to stay away from the 'businesses' they are having. It amazed me of their attitudes. There's another group, which always claims that, their spiritual leaders, has not been doing their pastoral care too.... which, yes... very much conflicting...!!!!

As I was reading this book.... on the Chapter on community, ... I came across this story which I found it funny, true and meaningful and I would like to share with you. Reb is a Rabbi, and he was telling this story... :

"When I was growing up in the Bronx," the Reb said, "everyone knew everyone. Our apartment building was like family. We watched out for one another." "I remember once, as a boy, I was so hungry, and there was a fruit and vegetable truck parked by our building. I tried to bump against it, so an apple would fall into my hands. That way, it wouldn't feel like stealing. " "Suddenly, I heard a voice from above yelling at me in Yiddish, "Albert, it is forbidden!" I jumped. I thought it was God. " Who as it? I asked. "A lady who lived upstairs."

What Reb was trying to say is... "we are part of each other's lives. If someone was about to slip, someone else could catch him."

So as us, as members of our church.... we are our brother's keeper... Will you say a word if you see someone is about to slip? The answer of yes or no.... will determine somehow of what you understand of pastoral care is.... Does pastoral care only should be exercise by a Priest and/or Pastor? How many souls can a priest take care of? So, are you suggesting that a church shall not bigger than 500? It took me a while to ponder over this... and I am convicted that, not until we are ready to go beyond the number you have in mind, God will not give us that number of people on our church.

So, my challenge is, before you demand for pastoral care, can you be one of those who perform? Is that alright if you take care of just 20 of them in your cell group first? It's time..... to open our 'gates' don't you think?

- gated community! -

*quoted Mitch Albom's "have a little faith".

Calling?

I happen to went for a movie yesterday evening at 1Borneo and as we were walking around, we realise, there's a BIG BOX in the center of the shopping mall and it never crossed my mind that it's the World Vision's exhibition, not until I looked at it deeply at one point. I think we passed that BIG BOX for a couple of time and just before we are going up to the cinema, I told them that if there's not many people later after the movie, I will want to check that the BIG BOX out. So, we did....

I was given a set of audio system to listen to and I was being told of the life of Jorthy, from India. The moment I was told it's India, I was a bit shock... India... I always feel that God places India for me as a burden ever since the year of 1998. So, I followed the story of Jorthy... and I walked through places of Jorthy, I saw the place she's staying at, her struggles, her problems, etc. etc... and almost to the end, I was asked, to go to the 'clinic' to get myself checked to see if I am a HIV+ carrier.... which I was being certified as negative (they placed the 'negative sign' on my hand). Of course, there, I was asked if I will just walk away like that, or shall I leave my hand and ask someone who is 'certified' as positive to walk out of that place with me.

As much as someone who has burden for China or Cambodia or anywhere else, God has since 1998, placed India in my heart. I have of course learned about India and how they lives more when I came to know a wonderful India housemate. I thought her the English and Chinese culture and customs and she told me lots about India.

As I was asking God what's my AIM in my last blog, God reminded me on India... Hmm... Am I fully prepare for it, I asked!

- Calling? -

Aim?

I guess I am a bit lost lately.... of what to focus, what to aim for life, what to lives for even..... why is that so? Hmm... I used to be a person who has plan things ahead for myself to achieve. But lately, I guess, I am just running on the same spot ... doesn't want to move anywhere and yet, making myself tired. Hence, I am not moving forward to achieve anything at all. What I want to achieve? Well, that's even more difficult to answer... I simply do not know what I want ... as everybody has something to do, I am staying at home the whole day doing basically, NOTHING!!!! I guess, I am that LOST am I?

- Aim? -

Watch!

It was 7 years ago that my watch 'died' and that forced me to walk around the old Sunway Pyramid just to get myself another watch. The one previously, was given to me by my mother when I was in secondary school and it followed me all the way to university and back. This 7th years old one, was purchased after the previous one 'died' after the shop in SS2, PJ has certified it. Well... on last Saturday, just before a friend arrive to pick me up for a birthday party, the time stopped. It pointed 7:16pm (07.11.2009). Well, I have the practice to put my clock 15 minutes faster then the actual time. So, ... ya... it's 7pm that my watch stopped at. I thought it's the battery, but I doubted it as I have changed its battery a few months back. Unless, of course, I was being cheated and they have replaced an old battery for me instead. But that cannot be.

The next day, I went for checking and there I was told, my watch is 'dead'.

Hmm.... sad.... but that's reality. I told my dad by sms and he replied saying, nowaday, nothing last more than 7 years unless it's OMEGA or ROLEX.... well...

I guess that's true.... because when I went to get a new watch the other day, the shop keeping told me, if I want something last, it won't look fashionable. If I want something fashionable, it won't last. And he also pointed out that almost all the 'fashionable branded' watches are out from the same factory and they are basically just different from their 'look'.... if I want something last, it's expensive and it looks dull and even the shape, they are just round type.

It has reminded me so much of one's outlook of a person/a thing though. I was told, the divorce case I handled earlier on, I under-charged our client as the opponent was charged double of what I charged, even where he didn't manage to get what he asked for in the case and he was trying his very best to make things looks complicated. The price was high because of his firm's name, one of the well known law firm in town. It's not, really not about the changes of winning in the case.

Another instant I encountered of course is someone who has a good title, weathy, claimed to be devoted spiritually and drives a nice car, but has a very bad attitude and character. I was not only shocked, but disappointed to find out all these.

So, when the shop keeper told me of my choices of watch, somehow... the statements strucks me... to find out how 'worldly' people and things can be, in general. Nah, I choose something in between though... as I don't really like the 'process' of buying things... so, I wanna avoid going for watch again for the next 7 years. hahaha...

- watch ! -