Sharing on Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint Teresa of Avila was a prominent Spanish mystic, a Carmelite nun, a writer of Counter Reformation. She was a reformer of the Carmelite Order. She was born on 1515 and died on 1582.

I like two of her famous quotes and would like to share:

" Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love."

" Prayer is the Surge of the heart:

it is a simple look turned around Heaven,

it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy."

- Saint Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582)

About Passion

One junior staff from another department has asked me how I find the energy to carry on my job as I have slowly approaching towards my eighth year with the organisation.

I shared that one needs to have the passion and must love what he / she is doing.

I have always like to read Khalil Gibran's book and I remembered this from one of his books :

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul.

If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.

For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion,
unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing;

And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.

New Opportunity Awaits... ...

Recently a staff told me that he wanted to leave and is seeking a transfer to another department. I talked to him and understand from him the background for such a transfer is due to his poor health and stress with coping the demanding deadlines.

I shared this with a old friend. She shared candidly that sometimes, when the door closes, another door will open and she asked me to see this as a new opportunity to introduce new staff within my department that may bring about a new energy and freshness to the existing team that I have.

What she has said has made me reflect and it does make sense to me. I once chanced across a famous quote from Eileen Caddy (for sharing) :"When one door closes another opens. Expect that new door to reveal even greater wonders and glories and surprises. Feel yourself grow with every experience. And look for the reason for it."

Double Happines Today- 20.08.2008

Year comes and goes.....but today is really a special day!

*20082008*

Double Match ! Double Happines! It happens only once in a life time. Enjoy the rest of your day.

A different presentation and perception

I was on course over the weekend.

An interesting sharing by one of the participants called Joe. He shared that during his pastimes, he likes to hand out with his friends and enjoy a game of tennis at his friend condo.

He further shared that although he is a very good tennis player. He likes to try his hand one day into coaching. Some of the participants give a puzzling look. (Not a good tennis player, yet wanna to coach ?) When prompted further, he explained that he thought he has good fundamentals that he is able to impart to yound kids. Some nodded but some did not understand or make up what he is trying to say.

I understand instantly what he is trying to convey without passing any judgement. It is just a different way of presentation resulting in a different perception. Imagine that Roger Federer's coach cannot be as good as him else Federer's Coach will be playing in the Tournament instead of Federer.

In retrospect, perhaps Joe is just modest by stating that he is not a good tennis player.

Interesting Text Message

A volunteer send me this text message two days ago. She has gotten from someone.

Very interesting and inspirational message !

It reads " Smooth Sea Never makes a good sailor; clear sky never makes a good pilot; problem free life never makes strong person;be strong enough to accept the challenges in life ! Don't ask life, " Why me ?" Instead say, " Try Me" be'cos You are your own possibility !"

Defining Moment

I am glad to be informed that I am the recipient of this year's Volunteer Long Service Service Award (5 Years).

How time flies! I have journeyed through with MCYS as a volunteer for 5 years. I remembered the time that I have to juggle work and volunteer work. Really not easy. The award will serve as a testimony to me for the time and energy that I have put in to the support the work of the Ministry.

I would like to attribute the award to my wife for her understanding and support rendered. I am asking her to attend the Volunteer Appreciation function with me.

On Freedom of Speech

I went to visit Mother-in-law yesterday to spend some time with her.

My Father-in-law happended to be back from his tennis coaching lesson. He shared with me that freedom of speech be it spoken or in blogging has to come with a price and that is responsibility. He further explained that the onus is on the person who disseminate this information. As this could be a dicey topic for me to deal with, I nodded my head but commented nothing.

About Myself

Life is like a concert, is made of high and low notes, of pauses in the elation and of peaks of reverberating, deafening heartbreaks.

Looking at it, life is too short to learn and re-learn many issues in life. Life is so short for us to regret at certain decisions we made in our life... ... so makes the most of it. Live it ...you have one life.

My purpose of writing in this blog is to give some inspirational insights that I have experienced and to share with those like-minded people out there like you. I hope that you will find my blog just as inspirational as I have enjoyed blogging.