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On Saturday, April 28, many Malaysians will converge at the historic Dataran Merdeka in support of BERSIH’s call for a free and fair electoral system in Malaysia.

Even as I write, the authorities are preparing to lockdown the Dataran in their effort to thwart the plans of the BERSIH 3.0 supporters.

If this standoff continues until 12 pm tomorrow, there will only be one outcome, i.e. a repeat of the violent crackdown on the protestors by the police which happened in July 2011.

Many have asked whether I will participate in the BERSIH sit-in at Dataran Merdeka. Well, many are also aware of my personal conviction as far as BERSIH is concerned.

This message is neither to encourage our pastors and members to join the sit-in nor to discourage their participation. Rather, this is a humble call to you, as members and friends of the Lutheran Church, to say a prayer for our nation comes April 28. Malaysia is in dire need of your prayer support as she faces many uncertainties in the near future.

So, whether you are sitting on the manicured lawn of Dataran Merdeka, or stretched out comfortably in your sofa at home watching the events of the day unfold, I hope you will intercede for our country. Pray that goodness, justice, and peace will always prevail over extremism, racism, discrimination and other forms of evil. Pray for a better Malaysia.

Finally, I urge those who plan to be part of the human wave washing towards Dataran Merdeka tomorrow, please keep safe at all times. Also take care of the wellbeing of those around you.

May the risen Lord grant us the faith to face the challenges and the grace to love others.

Bishop Philip Lok

April 27, 2012

The coffee is ready. It’s good to return to some random thoughts.

The sun is rising on my right behind the tree. It’s a new week ahead with quite a few “new” experiences lined up.

But first, before I leap ahead, I’ll dwell a little longer in gratitude for a lovely “Mastralian” weekend. It was nice to reconnect with “home” through multiple ways. From conversations on simple topics to updates on friends and family, then there was also the very early in the morning Skype session back to Bangsar Lutheran Church.

A lot of walking on the weekend for the whole family with our guest So, an extra physical workout bonus indeed. But the extra “sunshine”, whether it’s the weather or from “rat girl” was indeed a blessing.

It’s just over six months since I’ve first arrived, and about two months for the rest of the family. The clock at the same speed, but the experience of time is indeed relative. It feels so fast. At times I wish it would slow down, but then again, we aren’t in control of the rhythm of the clock, we are only in some degree of control of how we will savor the moments, and decide on the next steps forward, with a dose of memory documentation.

I’ve been thinking about how we live in multiple “worlds”. We start somewhere we call “home”, then often, our pilgrimage opens up doors for us to have “second homes” (or more), then we walk around different zones outside of our “homes”, some comfortable, often surprising, occasionally remarkable and interesting. Not for forget, some bumps along the way with growing pains to mature us.

We embrace the local languages as much as possible, then a kind of “hybrid” moment comes. We can never be the same. But when could we? Even when we’ve been located in the same “geographical” area all our lives, we’re never in the same “chronological” space. Wise men and women would add, there also these “kairos” moments too.

It’s also easy to let them pass quickly without attention. We miss out the extra gems to add to the jewelry of our memory and personal formation. So, it’s good to have some coffee with the sun now rising a little higher, to “recollect”, to contemplate – to have a look again.

There’s so much to reflect upon, so many lessons to draw from.

The strange and yet surprising way we move beyond the surface of language and culture to dig deeper into our humanity.

New people who begin to brighten up and make a mark in the ever unfolding narrative of our existence.

Ideas that come and go. Knowledge which opens doors to new ways of thinking. Old ways of thinking either retrieved, reworked, or released, I have in particular found the joy and struggle with playing with “ideas”. The pursuit of “knowledge” is tremendously humbling. “Thinking” while is very much a “head” thing, but it’s beyond the “head”. Perhaps, some biological perspective can explain how all these impulses work in the brain. It’s pretty amazing. But reducing it to electronic “ping pong” movements does make it less artistic.

Watching my kids has always been a way into new discoveries. Seeing the world through their eyes makes me connect and reconnect again and again to what is important, and what is less important, and for the so called “Adult”, makes me wonder what the struggle is all about. We can’t chuck away the struggle, unless we want to “exit” a little faster. Perhaps, in some ways the perspective of a child clarifies significance of things, events, people and relationships, while the struggle of an adult is an indicator of life and growth in a messy and broken world.

How we wish our world can be a better place for our children. And often, the “powerful” adults are responsible to make that possible. We fail so frequently. Some of us blame those before us too. There’s always a place to do some accounting at some stage. But since the whole notion of “wish” is here, then to make a “wish come true” needs loads of imagination added with the necessary steps towards what we “wish” for. “wishful thinking” is when we are full of “wishes” and “thinking” but lack the courage maybe and perseverance to make those wishes become a reality in our world.

The coffee is finishing soon. The sun is really shining brighter now. Looks like it’s time to “zone out” from this moment of hopefully cultivating some “wisdom” so that one is not running around in circles “wishing” only. The road from wishing and wisdom isn’t that far I suppose, when we know when to stop and simply check on the direction we are heading. The way to folly is broad indeed. There are lots of “folly” fans ready to drag us into the mob of “foolishness”.

However, though the way of wisdom is narrow, and often hidden, you might spot the trail, or if you are lucky, and often we’re more than lucky and a little blessed, whether it’s a fellow pilgrim or a sagely master, we’re join in with a little more confidence we’re on the right path.

Hip hip hurray to all of them!

HIp hip hurray to all the children …

HIp hip hurray to our loved ones, those whom we often take for granted, and those whom we look forward to see one day.

And yes, one more!

Hip hip hurray to the one who made it possible to enjoy this coffee with all the factors needed to make it possible, and the assembling this awesome world we live in warts and all.

It will be evening and then morning, another week begins.

I can hear the clock ticking on my left, and time is moving on quickly. I arrived in February, and then the rest of the family landed with me end of May. Now it’s already the middle of July. Almost 5 months and counting! There are moments when I hope it can trickle along slower.

* * *

Stillness and silence are previous in an age where we are bombarded with messages all the time. Even in a quiet place where we live now, our children give us enough messages to keep us quite occupied mentally. So, when there was a gap this afternoon, I felt a momentary "zen-like" escape that I needed. The added bonus was that Anja had a "zen-like" nap uninterrupted as I carried her with my right hand.

It was short but it was necessary. The rest of the family needed the "time out" literally. Gareth could go for cycling while Elysia and Ewan could follow mummy to the local shop. Any excuse to get out of the apartment since the whole day was raining, and the sun just "came out". So, it was a win-win for all.

Some need to get energized out with fresh air and nature. Others, simply need stillness and silence. Both at the same time, tomorrow likely at different times.

* * *

I’m surrounded by lots and lots of words, and sentences. Piled with paragraphs over paragraphs, having imaginary conversations with a few dead people, while other dialogues with living ones whom I have never met face to face. So, I’m not surprised that I’m drawn to a graphic biography of a so called revolutionary. I’m actually quite intrigued why the word "revolution" has become a little sensitive in some quarters. But it wasn’t too long ago that the phrase "quiet revolution of hope" resonated with many of us back home. In fact, I think it’s more relevant than ever today especially since July 9, 2011, where a significant number of people, many I would count as friends, were not only awakened, but also initiated to a new mode of existence.

Back to pictures, well, a graphic biography is understandably a short-cut compared to reading the wordy stuff. But then, I do need a different genre, especially when I’m juggling quite a few at the same time. I think perhaps the one I’m least in touch is poetry. Today’s slight excursion to music and lyrics was as close I’ll get to anything poetic for now.

I do realize my natural tendencies to stories, and pictures. Then there’s also the historical attention to design, and frames probably due to Dad’s influence. So much of who we are has had seeds planted within us, in times past, not by our own choosing. Now, the first step is not so much of choosing the seeds or whatever that has grown out of it, but more of choosing to acknowledge what has been planted in us for better or for worse.

* * *

The children chose two hymns today during our "home church" session. "Amazing Grace" and "This is my Father’s World". Two very familiar songs to the children, and personal favorites of mine. Somehow singing This is my Father’s World while being surrounded by what the lyrics describe, and hearing the sounds of the birds loud and clear does breath extra life to the song. And yet, it’s the phrase, "And tho’ the world is oft so wrong, God is the ruler yet …", has always been the one which anchors me, and refocused my attention for a moment.

There’s so much wrong in the world. There’s loads that’s wrong with the way we respond to the wrongs in the world. And to make things worse, there’s this weight of wrong mindsets and attitudes thrown in the mix. And wrong timing, together with wrong turns,… in short, a lot that’s wrong.

So, it’s difficult to get back on the right track, at least in quickly. And we are, at least I am, often impatient.

But this is where I’m drawn back at some level to the sacred and divine dimension, The "God" factor. I confess, I’m slower now to be too fast in assigning absolute attribution to specifics as if we have a "superman" solution to our wrongs encountered and experienced. But I’m also not willing to exclude that sacred dimension in our very secular earthly worldly existence. The question perhaps is what does it mean to have this sacred dimension, and in what way I could discern the divine in the midst of so much distortion, and how to I especially discern even the demonic however defined or described.

More questions than answers before I fall asleep. Perhaps, I might have some way to unconsciously work these things out while I’m in dream land. A case study for psychoanalysis to those who might have interest

* * *

It doesn’t feel that cool now, the blanket gives some warmth. There’s no rain outside. The weather forecast predicts a week of rain. But then we’re always open for surprises, even in the midst of plausibilities and possibilities.

Good to return to some random thoughts again. Hope to get back to random links … perhaps using the classic Windows Live Writer on a PC might be easier than using Blogsy on iPad. I’m always living in at least two worlds even in the world of technology. I see no need to resolve that.

* * *

Now I resolve to return to read the graphic biography entitled "CHE" and see where the pictures and dialogue lead me.

Ha Bet Bra (Have it Good!)

Using a new iPad blog app this morning. Blogsy (will learn how to do the links later – then maybe Random Links might return?). So much has been going on that I haven’t managed to return to not just blogging but also my Sabbath Journaling.

Again, these random thoughts are meant to get back on the path of regular writing. I still would like to do more focused blog posts and center on a particular topic or theme. But we’ll see maybe later.

* * *

How do we navigate the stormy seas of polarities? How can we live and work through opposing ideas and in reality even conflicting camps?

One common way is simply to demonize the other, and angelicfy (is there such a word?) our ourselves. But the reality is that no one is pure evil, and we are surely not perfectly divine. We’ll leave the extreme cases aside for now, and ponder on ordinary folk like you and me. But having said that, there are real differences, and some of it has ethical consequences, in short, it demands we make choices to discern right from wrong, beautiful from ugly, and good from bad.

Take one step back, and we will need to recognize that none of us have the FULL picture, a kind of total “God’s eye point of view”, simply because we are not God. Some of us are insiders to the matter at hand, others are outsiders, and strangely there will be a few who are in-between. I’d venture to add that another few have the strange position of being in the flow of this complex web of relationships.

Take a deeper step inward, our attitudes to others and towards the subject matters would need attention too. Much has been made about “racist” remarks and “racist” attitudes these days. But there’s also that explicit “elitist” remarks and implicit “elitist” attitudes which might be lurking in the background.

it’s easier to detect the “racist” bits, but the “elitist” dimension shifts and shapes quickly depending on the reaction of others. But deep down it’s less about thinking we are right and the other is wrong, it’s more about we are unwilling to at least consider the concerns and experiences of the other, and for some strange reason think we have a better position to asses what both parties are looking at. Maybe it’s because we might have more information (so we think), or maybe it’s because we think we are more involved (which we might really be), or maybe it’s because we think we are smarter, more intelligent and others are stupid. The factors are legion.

The main problem with the “elitist” bug is that we lift ourselves above others, and in plain language “look down” on them because we consider them just “simple” folk. Academics get criticized all the time for being “elitist” because they use academic language which common people find it hard to follow. But then, there are certain rules of engagement in the academic sphere which requires a certain way of communicating and processing one’s ideas. It doesn’t mean it’s “elitist” just because some people might not understand what he or she says. Why? Because the attitude and articulation of the academic might very well be very much “on the ground” with the sentiments of those she is “investigating”, and what is more important there is genuine respect (even when one doesn’t understand fully) those whom she is studying. In short, there’s no “looking down” on someone, it’s more like trying to “look into” the situation, and maybe “look beyond” the surface.

All the ramblings above is trying to reflect on the posture of all who seek to engage in dialogue, conversation and debate on every subject that we are in tough with. Especially common subjects of interests, and in particular controversial matters where often turns from the original issues at hand, and becomes a debate on our identities.

* * *

Issues and identities are so related, and can’t be divided. So it’s impossible to have cold stance towards issues and warm posture to identities, or the other way round. But the fact is when one’s identity is being questioned, and usually it starts during a discussion on issues, it becomes messy. Because I suspect, while we can have some distance in talking about issues, it’s a little harder when it comes to who we are … it’s more personal. .. it’s about identity.

So polarizing issues is closely related to “polarizing identities”, and the forces in-between both is what I’m interested in. How we get in touch with these hidden forces is often through the visible conversations we have either in face to face conversations or textual ones on paper or on the screen.

Academic discussions aside, I’ve been reflecting on our “attitude” because our heart postures in terms of how we view another person makes a big difference in the dialogue process, and our own self-reflection process. I suspect, that the hardening of positions often is because the attention to our “attitudes” have been neglected.

The battleground of our “inner” attitudes is intense, and is very messy. That’s why I use to tell people lessons from contemplative spirituality have been such a life saver for me not just in spirituality, but in basic humanity. Charismatic spirituality was very helpful to energize me to move and do stuff. But often, it didn’t provide the inner silence needed to allow the entanglement of intense inner struggles to surface. And when it’s buried, it might bubble up some day, or burst forth unexpectedly.

* * *

I was pondering a lot about the metaphor (picture) of the window lately. It was partly inspired by a wise Jesuit when he was talking about how we look through a window, and all of us look through our windows, and usually we another person to point out what we can’t see in our window. But more than that, and this is to combine the window metaphor with the mirror metaphor, because the mirror allows us to see ourselves, and while the help of others is most valuable when it comes to pointing out what we might have missed. The Mirror gives us a change to personally take a responsibility to “look’ at ourselves. Nothing narcissistic here. 24 hour mirror time is no doubt self-absorbed. But the timely mirror time is justified

Where I was heading was there is such a thing as window/mirror .. in the sense that it allows us to “look through” to the other side, but also to “look back” to ourselves. And when we’re engaged in most notably deep and heart gripping issues, and complex reflections on identity, both at different times will help us see things a little clearer, even though not perfectly.

Then, I think it also feeds back into our own starting attitudes to either affirm it, or correct it.

* * *

Nothing too profound. Very unedited. Just some random thoughts. Most of us have it on and off.