This is a belated post for 4^th May, 2007 (last day of the exams!)

Yahoo!! It’s finally over! Now can get back in control of my life! Not doing things because any longer because I’d be awarded a grade for it, by a certain date cos else I’d be marked down for it etc etc. yes, the life of a student requires discipline, of which I have, well, insufficient.

But enough about studies!

Well, the 4^th of May was Supposed (capital letter is intentional) to be my JC class outing, something I’d been planning for months. I must have sent out over 200 sms-es alone just arranging this gathering..hah! well, but in the end, a grand total of 3 of us turned up; inclusive of yours truly. Sheesh..well, at least I got to meet up with Shirleen and Chris again.. hah. Oh well, I guess peoples’ priorities change; their friends change; they move on with their own lives. I suppose if we had met up more frequently in the last four years…arrggh, and that’s another reason why I loathe national service.

The Piano Teacher:

Haha..yup. perhaps one of the more significant happenings worth blogging about in my life. The Piano Teach’ (PT, for short) was someone I met last semester – yup, my very first sem of school after literally spending two-and-a-half years in the wilderNeSs! Haha..well, together with Jiamin, Sabrina and Gerald, we were in the same project group together :p that’s how we first got to know each other..

A couple of weeks of sms-es, project meetings and discussing schoolwork, we’ve gradually gotten to know each other better. Yea, sure I’ve made lotsa new friends in N’US, and I’ve gotten even closer to some of my buddies I’ve known before! (Yup, that’s u, Chang! =) ) haha..well, but, how do you put it? hah, well I guess somehow I feel the urge to treasure this friendship especially well – to put it plainly.

Okay, so we’ve only lunched together once or twice..the first time was on the pretence of getting an interview outta her for my sociology module, which I eventually include in my final report, though! Haha..that was fun :p if only my voice recorder had worked though!! It was only while on the ride back home that I realised that the entire afternoon I hadn’t achieved anything! Or so I thought…

Well, I’m not gonna get carried away here by suggesting anything, but hey, it was an amazing coincidence that of all things I’d decide to visit Grandma in a Sunday evening, and of all people to bump into it had to be her! Haha..how’s that for kismet?? Well, that’s what she joked, anyway! Yea..she’s so articulate! Amazingly intelligent; well-versed in literature, history, knows French, a little Italian – among other things, and of course, she’s a music teacher! Just like my sister..same age too. Haha..most people are amazed everytime I tell them my younger sister is a dance teacher (she does contemporary, hiphop and ballet), and for the past four years at that!

Yea, you could say that I’m nearly blown away by PT…I’ve been slowly trying to get to know her better though – in recent times I’ve had the chance to see another side of her, but hey, no one can be completely flawless right?? Then again, they do say that for someone who really means a lot to you, you’d be more than willing to overlook their flaws and short-comings, and accentuate their strengths right? Haha..well, but in this case I guess you could say it’s a little less straight-forward.

For most people who know me, religion plays a big part in my life. Sure, I accept people – no, more than that, I appreciate people who have other religious beliefs, but to me any religion is good as long as it teaches good morals and stuff. The thing is, in this case it was a rather unfortunate set of circumstances that a combination of factors: (I shall only speak in general terms to maintain the integrity of my respondent’s confidentiality – if you recall, I did get the chance to interview her) firstly, a lack of parental support for her continued growth in the Christian faith, and secondly a series of unfortunate encounters with the “Prosperity teachings” of certain modern churches (again, in the name of professionalism I shall not disclose exactly which church), led to her disillusionment, and subsequent near-complete withdrawal, from the faith.

Which is kind of sad, really..well, in my opinion, anyway. On the one hand I hope that through our friendship I may be able to reach out to her, and hopefully bring her back to God. On the other hand, I don’t want to end up reaching out to her for my own personal motives, which in comparison are much more self-centred and egoistical. Sigh..

Well, they say that He has a reason for everything right? He never lets things happen by accident, and certainly He doesn’t give us any problem to tough for us to handle. Mom’s returning home to Him certainly has strengthened my belief in that fact; I can certainly say that I’ve grown much stronger as a person since.

Well, Lord, you’ve certainly made my life very interesting with the introduction of PT in my life, and I’m sure that you have a purpose for having done it. Please show me the way; use me as your instrument, your stone of help – your Ebenezer, to change the life of your child who – deep down inside, I feel – longs to return to you. Make me your instrument to fulfil your purpose. Amen.

raneth hopped off at 10:00 pm