A New Sound

I officially received confirmation of my registration for the Deaf Culture Course starting 8 March. Can't wait! I'm learning something new, and for the first time, stepping into someone else's shoes with intentionality. Something different... perhaps God will open my eyes to see as He sees... or hear as He does...

Perhaps this is a new season in my life... a new beginning to understand a new kind of sound...

What It Once Had Been... or Might Have Been

Heaviness weighed upon my heart last night, as memories of a life once lived seized me in a vise-like grip, pushing me under its nostalgic torrents, yet refusing to let go...

The pains of today, contrasted with the carefree yesterdays, pierced deep in the recesses of the soul, igniting a throbbing ache that suffuses the entire being, refusing to be dulled...

Sorrow trapped in unshed tears, mingled with unspoken grief and unfulfilled longings...

Hope that once was fanned by flames of youth now flickers in the Dusk of Life...

Battle of the Blues

Moods and misery... The melancholic moans...

Heart Of Hearing

God stirred my heart (and my tears) with this poem today. I cried for those who cannot hear the simplest things in life which we have so often taken for granted. Have I ever stepped into someone else's shoes and walked in their silent world? In my selfishness, have I even tried to engage compassion, empathy, love...?

Sometimes, in God's kingdom of reverse values and priorities, I think perhaps my ability might actually be a liability. I may be able to hear, but do I REALLY hear what God is saying...?


I CANNOT HEAR

Now in this life I cannot hear,
one day I will, for Jesus cares.

I cannot hear the birds that sing,
I cannot hear the bells that ring.
For in this life I cannot hear,
but one day I will, for Jesus cares.

I've never heard a baby cry,
or heard the thunder in the sky.
Sometimes I'm lonely and I cry.
I have to brush tears from my eye.
For in this life I cannot hear,
but one day I will, for Jesus cares.

I thank my God that He saved me.
I may be deaf but I've been made free.
I have God's word in Heaven I'll be,
with Him for all eternity.
There I will praise the Lord and sing,
there I will hear the bells that ring.
My deafness gone forever more,
I'll sing with Him, my dear Lord.
I'll sing with angels and happy be,
with Christ my Lord through eternity.

For in this life I cannot hear,
one day I will, for Jesus Cares !

By Ted Camp
Founder and Director
Silent Word Ministries

Connecting With Family

So much has happened in the last month, I scarcely know where to begin! How about in chronological order, starting with the most recent events and going backwards....

1. Tonight, my sister Isabel flew back to Scotland after spending two weeks back home. My, my li'l sister is not so li'l anymore! We had a good time catching up -- she's really becoming a woman in her own rights. Though we are nine years apart, I think that gap seems much less as we grow older. Being able to communicate with her on an adult level is pretty cool :)

It was nice having someone else in the house (other than mum and me). I guess it takes the pressure off me having to relate to mum by myself all the time.

Also, with Isabel back, we also saw a lot more of our married sister, Christabel (and our bro-in-law, Song Yeow). That made the house nice and rowdy, which is quite a change from the usual silent sanctuary it usually is since Isabel went overseas for her studies, and Chris moved into her own marital home.

2. Last weekend, I spent a phenomenal weekend with my beloved cousins in Subang Jaya, Malaysia. Believe it or not, it was my first time visiting the city of KL, even though we live so close by! I really enjoyed my time there -- but the truth is, I think it's not really the sights that made the trip great, but the cool company -- Kev, Mel and Gina. You guys rrrrrock!

3. The week before, our extended family took a trip to Fraser's Hill. It's the first time in a reaaaaally long time since we last hung out as family. It really is kinda neat to have family time, even family worship time.

I guess I've sort of taken that for granted -- our Christian heritage and faith, that is. When I look around at my friends, many of whom are first-generation Christians in their families with non-Christian parents, I realise how blessed our Tan Clan is to have Christ as our family's foundation through the generations, even from way back! Thank You, Lord, for such a rich and blessed heritage -- and for the opportunity to worship God together (despite our different generations and various preferences :))).

Since my cousin Gina has done such a great job of blogging about the Fraser's trip, let me just refer you to her blog for the details and pictures: dreamqueen.blogspot.com. You can also visit my page at: bellybutton.multiply.com for more photos.

4. The week before we went to Fraser's, my KL Cousins came out to visit Singapore over the weekend. It was the first time I got to meet Kev again since he returned from Canada just a month ago, and the first time I was seeing Mel again after more than a decade!!! WOW! I think connecting with my cousins again after all these years is the Best Thing that has happened in a long while! I really hope we will continue to stay in touch. You guys have been such a blessing to me!

Relating with family again is a wonderful thing, and I am particularly pleased that Kev and Mel are back in my life -- once upon a time, we were playmates in the plantation; today, we are friends and fellow-pilgrims in the faith. How very cool indeed! :)