Yesterday's dinner menu: Blueberry pie

Finally!
MmmMMMmmm....

Renovation

It's high time I revamped this space.

A Les Misérables Friday

Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light

For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.

I’ve read about the Christian themes and motives in Les Misérables, but I was still surprised by how dominant they were. It was so fitting that we watched the 10th anniversary concert DVD on Good Friday. It was the best illustration of the transformative power of grace I have ever seen.

The greatest master stroke is how the same song was used to close both Act 1 and 2. A standard feature in musicals, yes. But in the first act the French revolutionists sing it, calling for others to rise up and fight for an earthly cause – a freer and fairer France. In the second act, the call changes into a crusade for an eternal cause as Valjeen’s page on earth, glowing with the testimony of how grace transformed a hardened criminal into a force of good in the world, is turned.

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?

It reminds me so much of what Easter brings – a promise that one day, life will be perfected. As people living in an unjust, wounded world, we all need that hope.

In the mood

Movies have the same lingering effect of perfume on me.

A spray of perfume follows you throughout the whole day like a hidden hitch-hiker, riding on your subconscious and colouring your mood like the background score in a movie.

After yesterday night I am now in the mood for languid, restrained movements and melancholy shapes. Life seems like a nebulous cloud of enigmatic emotions, blurred outlines and soft colours, where high-collared cheongsams grace elegant bodies and smoke tendrils rise slowly out of parted lips.

I don't watch movies, I experience them.

Chris Tomlin on gtalk

Artie: do you have chris tomlin's amazing grace song on mp3
Me: ya, I think
sorry dun haf
Artie: no worries
i'm getting from chris
Me: wah
from chris tomlin himself huh
Artie: yea, i have him on gtalk
so happen he is online
Me: amazing.
Artie: gracious too
gave me free

Talking to myself

That's what architects do. They build their aspirations/emotions/secrets into stone, so your incriminating statement is digested into architecture and it will one day surface between the cracks.

I am already anticipating a meeting of minds. Happy birthday to someone I will meet in person one day.

Split vote no more.

There is only focus now: March the 17th.

Laid to rest.

As a new dawn on Malaysian politics rises, I am glad that the shadow of May 13th can finally be shaken off. Now our collective national psyche shall no longer be held ransomed by fear.

Head. over. heels.

with the story of four dysfunctional people stumbling through life. 

It's late and the long nights are taking a toll. But spirits are high, and the end is in sight. We have until next Sunday.

On grace and the election

I've been following political publications and discussions this past week. And the biggest impression I've gained from this is... a steady diet of BN and the opposition slagging each other off leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth. First hand, I'm seeing how powerfully divisive a force politics is. Even in church, where we're supposed to be all "one in Christ Jesus".

So. Is there a place for grace in politics?

By that, I mean that is it possible for a candidate to campaign without having to resort to attacking or ridiculing an opponent? Is it possible for supporters to defend their choices without hurling accusations, name-calling or tearing down?

I haven't seen any evidence to support that so far. It's an environment where people are pitted against each other to determine a winner. To be elected, it's not enough to show that you are worthy for the position. You have to show that other candidates are not worthy, or that you are more worthy than them. So, meters of column inches are devoted to pointing out why the other side is faulty, despicable and contemptible. Every little action that can be construed into a failing is pointed out and expounded on. Build yourself up by putting others down.

When the stakes are high, few people are able to resist trying to win at any cost. But to me, the means by which you win are as important as why you win. I’d even venture to say that it is better to loose on account of being too gracious to use such dirty tactics on your opponent than to win by having to stoop to that level.

I think that a moral victory like that means more than winning that seat.

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I didn't post the whole of last week. Fail.