Sivin Kit’s Garden

SURRENDER IS BOTH a definite decision and a lifelong process that happens day by day. It starts when we consciously decide to hand over our will and life to God. But it does not end there. It is never a one-shot experience. Each new day we will need to renew our act of surrender and offer ourselves to God again. Shifting from a self-centered lifestyle to a God-centered one takes a lifetime.

- Trevor Hudson
One Day at a Time: Discovering the Freedom of 12-Step Spirituality

(via Upper Room Daily Reflections)

It’s not to be energized when I’m with people who embody what the quote above is talking about. In the midst of some conversations whether it’s younger Christians or older Christians, I get the sense that learning to "surrender" as well as the actual practice of "surrendering" is a great battle.

We tempted to rationalize our choices and preferences.  We judge one view as less valid as we justify our own as having a better conscience. In short, in all honesty we pick and choose our "rights and wrongs". In reaction to rigid moralizing, we easily slip into a self-appointed moral code where we are the center.  This is a understandable move since in our context, we have tended to be under pressure to fit into other people’s expectations, so there is a drive to differentiate ourselves from those who we perceive to be exerting themselves.  So the poles are between ourselves and others, and thus for our own sanity better flowing ourselves than forcing to live for others. 

This God-centered talk lifts us from these seemingly opposing poles of self and others. It breaks us our of the endless cycle of pleasing ourselves or pleasing others. The kind of "surrender" I’m talking about is not a mindless one.  It’s not blind faith.  And yet, we also don’t want to be too calculative and paralyze ourselves by too much measuring.

So in the midst of this definite decision of surrender, and day by day surrendering … it’s more about freeing ourselves from our greatest enemy ourselves and our prejudices, and also freeing ourselves from the imposition of other people’s agenda, towards the One who truly has our best interest in mind.  It’s faith posture, I admit. Still, to me it’s the better bet. Perhaps, some initial rewards has convinced me … There’s more to come.

Nurul Izzah For Lembah Pantai

This will be one constituency many eyes will be watching. Last night, I managed to catch her speak in Malaysiakini.tv for the first time. After hearing Nurul Izzah speak, I can see she is no pawn or pushover, and can pretty much stand her ground.  The little leaflet going around Bangsar has a number of points which I thought stood out (BTW, the way the content is written balances the more personal dimension of a candidate as well as the bigger pictures in which they operate in):

SHE HAS THE CHARACTER AND COMMONPLACE VALUES

She is very down to earth and without airs, respectful of others. She is humble and always ready to learn. She feels deeply for victims of poverty, discrimination and abuse. She is very approachable, pleasant and a pleasure to meet with.

SHE IS YOUNG, ENERGETIC AND THINKS GLOBALLY

She will be a diligent MP, attending parliamentary sessions and attending to the plight of her constituents. She will rigorously promote her party’s manifesto to create a vibrant economy for all; “For Malaysia to stand again amongst the giants (of Asian economy), we must play by the rules of the global game as well as eliminate corruption and wastage.”

The Bigger picture closing wraps up with an educational flavor:

LET US NOT GIVE ANY GOVERNMENT THE LUXURY AND TEMPTATION OF A TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT so that they can

• act with impunity without adequate accountability to the People
• amend the Federal Constitution any time or anyhow they wish
• become arrogant and usurp the rights and position of the People
• suppress freedom of assembly, association, speech, and information
• muzzle the press and media
• create economic monopolies as they wish

LET US SEND NURUL IZZAH TO PARLIAMENT to be a voice for women and youth and the people of Lembah Pantai articulating our concerns about

• the direction, resources, and future of our nation
• abuse of power and resources
• rising cost of living
• crime and public safety
• national unity and harmony
• fundamental liberties
• the independence of the judiciary

Kelana Jaya get an MP : Take your chances with Gwo Burne

Following the comments and discussion over him has helped sharpen the issues for many.  And yet, Haris closing comments probably represent the general consensus of many who were caught at first by surprise and puzzlement. I noticed Gwo Burne’s website has a needed facelift … click here

Farida’s closing question led me to the question ‘What are the negatives that make Gwo Burne an incurably unacceptable choice?’

For me, those negatives were neutered by the responses I got to my questions during the interview that I had with Gwo Burne day before yesterday, and which I shared with you in a post entitled ‘The People’s Parliament catchs up with Loh Gwo Burne’ together with the impression I formed of him even before nomination day, having had the opportunity to observe him in the witness box during the Commission proceedings.

That impression which I formed of him earlier I will share at the ceramah later tonight.

For now, let me just say that I think Kelana Jaya voters should give this man a chance in Parliament.

More cheap shots

One of the side excitements during this election season is the rise of the younger candidates mostly from the opposition.  Hannah Yeoh has been making waves slowly but surely.

Question time: PJ Utara’s Tony Pua vs Chew Mei Fun

Tony Pua is the same age with me … I was tickled when a church member said he’s a Tony Pua fan … wow.

Agenda Utama: Pemerkasaan Rakyat untuk Masyarakat Madani

I heard Nik Nazmi take the mic a few times at some forums and he left a deep impression in my view. His youtube video is really good.

(NOTE: I’m sure there are also younger candidates from the BN who have been given a chance and also have much potential, but since they already get so much exposure in the mainstream media, I thought it would be nice to focus on the opposition and all the candidates above each have their own unique way of generating excitement)

Looks like the “Bersih Buzz” prevails …

Guarding an empty field

Plan A, B, C, D … ?

Can we really “not be part of it”?

Supper for tonight?

“If reading about how some people selfishly criticised the rally is astonishing, then this has got to the mother of it all… someone told me this today…

“Ya’ know, I was caught up in a bad jam last Saturday. Dunno why the traffic was so bad”

I shall skip the part about how I royally admonished that person. At the end of the conversation, I got the usual remark…

“Oh, I am not involved in all these politics and I am not going to be part of it”

Friends, honestly speaking… can we really entirely distant ourselves from politics? Is that truly possible? “

The BERSIH Rally - The Reconstruction of Reality and the Second Phase of Collective Movement

A genuine hope …

“I also hope that those who did not participate in the rally will speak to their family and friends who did, to get their personal accounts of what happened. They need to hear the stories of everyday Malaysians about why they demonstrated peacefully. I hope some truth pierces through the song-and-dance that the mainstream media is conjuring.

As it was with the BERSIH rally, it is likely to be the voices of ordinary people - through blogs, websites, letters to the independent media, personal phone calls and casual conversations - that share the truth of what happened, and which call, again, for reform: the reform of mainstream media in addition to the reform of the electoral system.”

 CIJ: Misinformation Reigns on the November 10 March

Strong words here:

“Our country is in serious trouble in so many ways, and rather than face these issues properly, courageously, and with concern for the dignity and human rights of people, we are just supposed to pretend that everything is fine. More gloss and veneer to hide the shaky foundations and widening cracks in our society. Pretense rather than honesty, misuse of the law rather than justice, studied ignorance rather than courageous reform. Let us tackle social problems rather than avoid them! Let us rebuild the foundations of our nation and mend the cracks in the walls, not pretend that nothing is wrong!!!”

Of Public Protests, Pondans and a Pea-Brained Minister

This may sound personal but then again …  the personal and the public is closely related.

 An Inconvenient Walk

 Love the title ..

“It was inconvenient for many. For both the interested and the disinterested. But it was no less a call to our conscience. It was an issue of legality - and to some, defiance. Even denial. Fear and conscience can bring out the best or the worst. “

A Democratic Sacrament

A little bit dense for an opening … but appreciate the effort.

“Any form of civil disobedience is often preceded by a process of deterioration in the part of the state. As such, civil disobedience serves as a restitutive symbol in the initiation of a reparation process. Thus, the manner and intensity in which we interact with this symbol is a constituent part of the reparation process and crucial in the determination of its outcome.”

The yellow wave and its durian effect

Nice use of the King of the Fruits  …  Delightfully suprised to read some Liberation Theologian names

“Will the yellow fever, like the River HuangHe does, bring sorrow to the current regime? Is the nation seeing the seeds of destruction germinating? Will the Krakatau of the Malaysian rumbling and grumbling finally erupt?

I don’t know. You and I can only make informed guesses. Man proposes, God disposes.

We can only predict and plan for the translation of theory into practice. That’s what praxis is - the marriage of idealism and action to produce “cultural action for freedom”, as Latin liberation theologians such as Gustavo Gutierrez, Denis Goulet, and Paulo Freire would say. Or like what the brave heart Che Guevara would embody.  “

 WIKIPEDIA: 2007 Malaysian electoral reforms rally

Let’s see how this evolves.

10 November 2007 Foto Galeri

More Pictures

When I was young I always wanted to learn piano, but somehow it never happened. So, I just enjoy the piano playing of others. I will add more tracks when I’m free .. for now, the combination of the notes helps me settle down.

Amazing Grace … amazing!

My votes are for the guys in the clergy collars and not with the ones with the suits and ties!

Lord have mercy.

listening to this reminds me of Michael Hedges

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I made a new discovery today … our wedding anniversary falls on the World Environment Day. What’s also interesting is that it was established on the year I was born in 1972. More info here.

I remember when this song was making it’s rounds in our local churches, Christian fellowships and conferences, it almost lost it’s meaning and “punch.” Not sure whether it’s still popular now. For me, it’s still one of my favorites. Good simple prayerful lyrics and singable tune. A good song to keep me in check during this Chinese New year season