Yes, I’m down with the flu bug on the second day of the New Year (i.e. the first day back to work in the New Year). Perhaps this is God’s way of asking me to slow down, or forcing me to slow down. But I do have to admit that ever since I came back from Cornell, I feel that my pace at work has kinda slowed down. Not that there was less work or demands or anything like that. But it’s just that I somehow feel a greater capacity to hold my ground, and that I am more able to accept things as they are. Perhaps I can say that I am less volatile than before, but another way to put it is that I am less dynamic and energetic at work, not necessarily in the worse sense.
Maybe it’s the lifestyle I’ve had in Cornell, or the way God has touched me and taught me subtly when I was “left on my own”. That I’ve come to realise there are more things in life than work, and there are more things in life for me to worry about than work. Someone has asked me before why I no longer follow the EPL soccer games, or that I am spending less time on the computer playing games. Well, I guess I’ve kinda out-grown that, although I still know many men (even as old as 50-60 years) seemingly neglecting their family, kids and other aspects of their life pursuing their so-called passions in life, like being glued to the TV watching an EPL game or rushing home just to catch 10 more minutes of their favorite team playing, or spending the entire weekends off at the golf course, or worse still rushing work either in the office or at home.
I guess it’s not that I am less passionate about soccer or my work than before, but it’s just that I’ve come to realize the many other priorities in my life. There is a time to work, and there is a time to play, but there also is a time to rest, a time to love and a time to be embraced by God. Many people these days, claiming to be Catholics, Christians or any other religions, do not in fact prioritize their life the way it should be. I’m guilty of that from time to time, but I am always thankful that God has in his subtle ways reminded me otherwise. When I see people around me rushing like crazy pursuing so many things in life and earning their next buck, at the detriment to their very soul’s development, I cannot help but wonder how easily blinded humans can be and how easily we can lose the priority in our lives.
Anyway, so as I was reflecting on what should my priority be in this New Year, I chanced upon this phrase in the Living Faith – To be a Christian means becoming a Christ-bearer in the world in the most radical & literal sense.
In this New Year, it is my priority that no matter where the Lord places me or leads me to, that I’d continue to place my trust in the Gospel in a radical and literal sense. Many may challenge me and say that’s the way the society is today and our Christian faith must learn to adapt to it. I pray for the Lord’s wisdom to discern the foundations of our faith that will not change over a zillion years, foundations that we should always hold dear in its most radical and literal sense. May I be a good custodian of God’s gifts to me, for everything of me is a gift from God – my life, my time, my talents and my weaknesses.
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My favourite part of this post is the part in bold. Learning to prioritize is something I often have to struggle with. Zibin does it much better than me.
It’s not that many things are not good to pursue… many healthy interests, hobbies, or even things like spending time with friends, they’re all good. But when our indulgence in good things are disordered, these good things become evil and inflict harm in our lives.
What should our priorities be? I believe if we remember to keep holy the time we should spend with God, it won’t be difficult to hear them, and to embrace those priorities decisively and fearlessly.
To my husband: Thank you for being a great teacher in this area. I will do my best to learn it too!
Journey of the Heart 
I like this part the best:
“I pray for the Lord’s wisdom to discern the foundations of our faith that will not change over a zillion years, foundations that we should always hold dear in its most radical and literal sense. May I be a good custodian of God’s gifts to me, for everything of me is a gift from God – my life, my time, my talents and my weaknesses.”
:)
i suppose it’s not bad when u have something u like to do, something that u want, even things like money is not a bad thing, until you are controlled by your desire to possess. when the desire overwhelms u, you chain yourself, and that is when the evil comes in.