Loving Malaysia

Malaysian Independence day is coming up! :) I have been away from Malaysia for so long I've forgotten what a big deal it is. The newspaper and TV channels keep reminding us that Merdeka day is coming soon, not that we need the reminders, what with all the flags popping up everywhere in an attempt to out-flag each other. Of course it IS our 50th anniversary.

In primary and secondary school, I remember we used to sing "patriotic" songs regularly - an attempt to induce patriotism in our young hearts and minds. I don't think it worked very well - not amongst those I was with anyway. There seemed to be a general mockery towards the "old-fashion" virtue of loving your country. (But then again, didn't youths generally seem to mock everything?)

What does it really mean to love your country anyway? I have thought about this often, being away from home. Perhaps it was only when I realised that I may be permanently in Australia that I suddenly found a soft spot for my homeland. Sometimes you feel like a traitor for having to make that choice, even if you know it is what God has said to do. I sometimes react (perhaps a little unfairly) to the generalisation that people migrate because it is a better life elsewhere because that was not the reason why I chose to stay in Australia. I believe that we need to be as sure of the place God has called us to as well as the vocation.

But back to patriotism. Do we just love Malaysia because we're born here? Perhaps what has turned people off from being patriotic is sometimes the expectation that if you love Malaysia, you love it blindly. We can love others with our eyes wide open, fully understanding their faults yet loving them still. And I think that is the same for loving our country. Sure there are lots that could be improve, and there are somethings that we do not think is just, BUT Malaysia is part of God's plan. And Malaysians are God's creation, every race born in the image of God. That gives us as Christians a stronger reason than just racial harmony to honour other cultures.

Perhaps another reason why it seems some of us couldn't care less what our nation or government does is because we keep waiting for the day we will be taken in the clouds to meet our Maker! :) We know that our citizenship is in heaven, and that this earth is only temporary. BUT this does not excuse us from sitting on our bums, complaining about problems and doing nothing! We still have work to do - to be the salt and light in the world.

Sometimes we hold the view that it is only eternal, spiritual salvation that we should be concerned about. My views on this have started taking clearer shape through an interesting book called "Issues Christians must face" by John Stott, which talks about why Christians need to engage in today's issues - such as terrorism, same-sex marriage, debt cancellation, AIDS, etc - "essential reading for Christians who wish to engage our culture with insight, passion, and faith, knowing that the gospel is as relevant and deeply needed today as at any time in history." (publisher's description in italics). Not that I am all knowledgable now, but I have come to realise how irresponsible it is not to be engaged in our generation and our nation.

But we come back to the first thought. Why engage with Malaysia? Why love Malaysia?

Because whatever other people may say and believe, God loves Malaysia and has been involved in its history from the very beginning. And He wants to be involved in its future.

Faithful unto death

I have been in quite a few hospitals recently. My grandfather is chronically ill and my grandmother unable to cope with caring for him. They look so frail. Two friends of my parents, one younger and another a little older, have recently been in hospital too, for serious conditions.

It is so different when you enter the scene as a relative or a friend. As a hospital staff, you may wonder what is going on behind the anxious or angry faces of the patients and their family, but the thought of death or illness is often far removed from your mind. Yet when you look at the faces of people you know it strikes you again how short life is.

What will I be like when I am 70? It is at times like these that I am reminded of eternity. Not that I am afraid. Instead, perhaps a healthy exposure to those who are nearer to eternity than I may be, keeps things in perspective.

I have often wondered how I would like to be remembered, when I do die. I remember reading a story about a young lady called Lottie Moon who gave up everything to fulfill God's calling to go to China, in a time when women were not encouraged as much as they are now. Perhaps the most impacting thing about her was how people remembered her after she died - as faithful (to God) unto death.

Imagine being remembered as the one who was faithful till the very end. I think that would be more precious than anything else in the world. To be 100% totally devoted to God until the day I die.

O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and gray-headed,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come!
Psalm 71:17-18

Food

Hahaha I'm having too much fun to do any sort of work (including typing emails and thinking of things to write). I thought I'd just give you a list of the food I've been having (as promised *wink*)

- DURIANS - a total of 10 of them (i think)! among my parents and myself la... :)
- roti jala
- roti canai
- curry mee
- beef soup (i don't know what it's called)
- mangosteen
- mata kucing
- curry fish
- nasi lemak
- the long deep fried crunchy thing - how do you spell it? yew char koay??
- my favourite fried yam puff (it's a teow chew dessert i think)
- all sorts of kueh! you know the green and white one, the blue rice one with kaya, the green thing with coconut, etc
- sticky rice thing you get at the dim sum shops
- pisang goreng
- kangkong belacan!
- peanut pancake
- coconut!
- bubur cha cha
- fancy steamboat for a friend's birthday :)
- belacan chicken
- fried fish in noodle soup - my dad's fav
- tandoori chicken and butter naan yummm
- and of course yummy mummy's cooking :)

To be tasted in the near future
- crabs!
- i want salted fish. i don't care what it is in
- nasi kandar, chilly squid
- the chinese pancake with bananas and raisins near the place you get your passport

hmmm any other suggestions on things i must eat? i'm actually getting feeling quite full all the time. It's so fun being on holidays. I do nothing but eat, shop, watch movies, sleep, read books, and eat again. Hahaha - I can't write anything serious - I'm on holiday mode! Wheeeeeeee