For another Moo

Dear God

Thank you for a new day in you and I am entrusting today into Your hands, like any other day, knowing that You would make it special, memorable and glorifying for Your kingdom. I just want to pray for KMMB. I had a talk with her yesterday. Honestly, I dont really understand fully how she feels, because I have never been in her shoes before. For that matter, I thank You for the blessing of having understanding parents. All I can say is I have a very vague grasp of the range of emotions that she has been going through with regard to this family situation. And no matter how vague I can be, I know for sure that it is extremely hard for her. I just pray that You help her to take it slowly, one step at a time. You help her to surrender this into Your hands and fix her eyes upon You. Once she is growing deeper in you, developing a more intimate relationship with you, and feeling overwhelmed with your love, the natural outflow of Your love will help her in loving, caring for and understanding her parents. For Jesus did not come to love only the loveable; he came to love us all, and all the more, the unloveable. So I believe we are called to do the same thing, but not with our own strength. I can imagine how hard it is to love someone who is unkind to me, who hurts and disappoints me, who does not make me feel loved, who is so close yet so far; it is impossible for human beings but not for You. But we are not to run on our fuel for no human effort is ever sufficient to run the race You have set apart for us. So I pray that with this perspective, KMMB will continue to pray for her parents, continue to ask you for bonus and strength, and most importantly, continue to dwell in Your love. So much that she will become a vessel of Your love in this unguided world.  

Maybe I should let her read this post :)

Pho for two dollars and food for thought

I just received a collection of short stories, published by a secondary school friend of mine. When I was browsing through it in school, MK pointed at the book and asked me: "What is this book about?". I told him it was my friend's first publication, a collection of her thoughts, feelings, and observation about life. And I translated the title into English for him, Journey through life on a bicycle. Not the best translation I thought, but surprisingly he seemed pretty impressed by it. He went on to ask me to translate some of the content, which I found really difficult given my poorly exercised Vietnamese. So I translated the titles of the short stories for him, such as "The different ways to enter someone's life", "The distance from Facebook to Life", "Another Hanoi within Hanoi". Such lousy translation did not prevent MK from seeing the true gem hidden within this book; he exclaimed: "Wow!!! Deep stuff!!!". And my automatic response was: "Of course, my friend is very deep! And she is very artistic as well!". At that moment, I felt truly proud, definitely not of my amateur translation work, also not so much of having such a talented friend, but more of my friend, yes, of my friend herself. 

I am so proud that she has grown to become such a sensitive, thoughtful, observant, and mature young lady. Someone who has a mind of her own and who speaks this mind with clarity, passion and conviction. Someone who treasures every single moment of her breathing living walking being. Someone who dreams and inspires others to dream on, despite suffocating realities. Someone who finds and creates beauty out of the seemingly mundanes of everyday life. Someone who knows how to love and receive love. Someone I truly admire.

I have finished half of the book. Some stories I already read on Facebook; others fresh encounters. Every single page is a window into her life, sometimes wide-open, sometimes more reserved; nevertheless, at all times authentic. Approaching life from various interesting perspectives, exploring a wide range of emotions, and surfacing thought-provoking questions which tend to be glossed over in this assuming fast-paced world, this has been such a read for me. I find myself among the pages: the me, the used-to-be me, the could-have-been me, the should-have-been me, the wanna-be me, and the never-gonna-be me. I find it compelling, not confronting because it challenges me to live differently, not imposing on me. 

Live a bit quieter, walk a bit slower, look a bit longer. 

Probably we will learn to love better and care deeper.

Ken asked me: "How much does your friend sell the book for?". "About two Sing dollars", I said. Having been to Vietnam recently and fallen head over heel with Vietnamese beef noodle, he made such a funny comparison: " Cheaper than a bowl of Pho!". 

I smiled at him and said: "Yeah, but this food for thought will go a long way!"

Yes, you, will go a long way, my friend. Stay Thu always! :))))

Into your arms, O Lord

It is 11 minutes to midnight here in Singapore, according to my computer's clock. It is usually this hour of the day that I feel a strange and overwhelming sense of alone-ness. Not loneliness. This acute sense of me and the world, of one single soul versus the vastness of this universe. Of dust and the One who created dust into His own image.
Today, I got to know Him a bit more. Nothing spectacular, nothing splendid, nothing big. Just a deep sense of peace, and a gentle voice. It was as if I walked into a deep forest, where even the slightest sound of falling leaf could be echoed so clearly. No fear, absolutely calm and composed. And the spirit of God was a breeze of gentleness, lightly sweeping across the forest and leading me deeper into the woods. That was when I knew for sure, something fundamental had been changed. For a long time to come, I will recall this moment with gladness and gratitude, for God has met me at the deep of my soul.
Back to Singapore, I am currently having quite a bit to juggle with. Thesis and job application. Opportunities abound but I just feel very keen on returning to Vietnam to work. The reason is simple: my parents, whom God has pointed out to me to be my ministry. Of course, staying in Singapore is a much easier option; but I just don't feel at peace with it. Even though, a friend of my brother highlighted to me some disadvantages of returning to Vietnam right upon my graduation, and his point was valid, I have to admit that I am not so much bothered about it. Firstly, who can tell the future? Secondly, it just seems that it's gotta be this way. I am still very much confused whether it is really God's voice or just noises. So I will continue to pray. Yet, different from just month ago, I am not bugged by anxiety this time. I just know that