Pushing trolley in the street

By Posted in society, workplace Tagged , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

What I am about to share may not be very well understood by those who don’t live in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, many elderly living on poverty like those around 70s or more very often try to earn their living by picking up paper boxes in the street and gather them and resell them at like I think HK$1 (US$1.50) per kilo? Just last weekend, the moment I stepped out of the office with a colleague, we saw a very small built elderly grandma bending her problematic back/neck and pushing a cart filled full of paper boxes way higher than her height in the street. My colleague quickly searched her handbag and I asked her what she was trying to find, she said she has a cake coupon to give to this old lady, I then saw around 4 coupons with her, I dazzled my eyes and asked: “You always carry these with you?” She said: “People told me the grandma doesn’t like cash and does not mind cake coupon!” Then we ran after the old lady while she was pushing, and when she knew that we are not ‘bad’ people, she commanded us to push the trolley for her!! My colleague pushed it together with her for like 5 seconds, and they were literally blocking the whole road and many cars were flashing at them coz they couldn’t get through but probably embarrassed to hurry 2 women…I quickly took over and pushed the trolley to the side of the road and letting the cars move. And grandma rushed me and my colleague to push quicker! HUH! Strictly speaking we were passerby, and then I starred at my colleague and we said, lets continue for her!?  Then old grandma was like a General behind us screaming at us coz she is rushing for the 7pm deadline and instructing us where to push the pulley of paper boxes, it’s actually very very hard to navigate and we 2 much stronger build people took a lot of strength to push the whole thing, and boxes came off! We felt so sorry and embarrassed coz grandma did not drop anything at all…and the road was bumpy and rocking the cart and I felt cars behind me were about to honk me, and then the cars in front were blocking and I have to find ‘strategic’ spot to move the cart! It’s soooooo difficult! After like 10 min of walk and pushing and running, we finally arrived at a street corner where we started to see many boxes and paper cartons piled up. A man suddenly with a bottle of beer on one hand and the other with a ciggi on the other signaled us to stop. We successfully sent the boxes to this ‘dealer’ in time!!! I bet he has never seen someone like me and my colleague dropping off the boxes.  When we turned our back, we saw old lady holding 2 boxes (those which I dropped) and smiling…She caught the deadline! YEAH! I have never done anything like that…I visited street sleeper, I distributed food to homeless, I chatted with prison cell mates, but I never push trolley in the street before. People were starring at me I know, but I don’t care coz I have no time to fuss further. I finally have a ‘feel’ of how it feels to be an elderly trying to find a living in the street. I am speechless and still am. God gives me a very compassionate colleague which in turn gives me a chance to experience something valuable. Grandma lady, one day if I see you again, I will help you push the trolley again.

Quote of the Day
Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:32

I pray to God that I will cherish every chance He gives me in my life to taste what He wants me to do.

Postscript Quote 
He thought that the world would make more rapid progress without the burden of old people.
Gabriel Garcia Marqueze, Love in the Time of Cholera 

Sample love

By Posted in relationship Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Good friend from New York iChatted me and told me she has some problem about her romance. Such a tough topic to discuss about over iChat and when I am about to finish work! She told me the guy whom she has feeling about suddenly disappeared for weeks and she is very unhappy. But that person suddenly surfaced and told her that he was facing some family issues back in Italy and thus the silence. She reacted by saying it’s good to hear from him again and wish him good luck. I asked if that is really how she feels, she said, not exactly. I told her to be honest with her own feeling and the other person as well – think of a Godly way to treat the situation – as God urges us to be honest all the time at all time. If she couldn’t be candid in the first hand, how can she expect others to do the same. I told her to put her own ego down and just be frank and forget about appearing cool or not. But she said, this guy is just one of the few men she is seeing, so she is trying to make herself feel less attached to this guy. I told her don’t sample love as if she is at a wine or food expo. She laughed but find this analogy quite true to her situation. I said of course she has the right to go around and identify the right person to be with, but she cannot just go everywhere without the thought of committing to certain one. She said I am right to point out that she does not want to commit. I said Bible has already pointed out to us how to treat relationships: we need to sacrifice, be forgiving and loving and embracing. If we are self-centered and always just focusing on what we can get out of the relationship, no one is ever gonna fit this check-list or the criteria. If that is the way God decide to choose to love, none of us ever on earth would deserve His love. My friend is too fearful of losing and failing and expose her vulnerable side, hence tries to be overly-protective of herself and could not decide on one single person, coz she knows too well no one is perfect. Some people even choose to go out or sustain multiple parties relationship, because each person could offer certain things and adding up, her desires and needs are met. This is extremely selfish way to treat love and refusing to compromise and sacrifice for love. Romantic love has been fantasized to a level that it blinds so many of us to think it’s so different from family and friends, but to a high degree, it’s just a mix of everything and requires our extra patience and persistence. I hope my friend one day could confront herself and find the one partner who can share all her ups and downs through love and courage.

Quote of the Day
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
I pray to God that we all are not afraid to love just like how Jesus loves us.

Postscript Quote 
Have enough courage to trust love one more time and always one more time. 
Hussein Nishah 

Bloody experience

By Posted in after thought, sports, work Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

We get in touch with client from time to time to see what they are up to, if they need us and just catching up in general. Yesterday, we saw a client whom we have not seen for several months, his background is IT at a 4As ad agency which he now has moved on to becoming a technology consultant. He is super capable, intelligent and quite intense. On personal side, he is a very fit triathlete and keeps on training during the time when he does not work. Not long ago, there was a night when he woke up in the middle of the night, he felt a bit dizzy and then he went to the bathroom and suddenly he black out. The next moment for him is quite horrific scene. He opened his eyes and saw himself in a complete blood-bath. His whole jaw were knocked off and when he moved, he felt almost all the teeth fell off his mouth and detached from his head. I can imagine it’s almost like an alien movie when human are under attack or something. What happened is that he was working too hard and working out on physical training too hard that he exhausted and caused him to be in a fatigue and low blood pressure and he fainted and falling on objects which dislocated his jaws. When we saw him, he only had scar and he actually appeared normal. He is a bachelor and lives on his own, and he told us that he was tremendously grateful that he was not one of those case which people discovered his corpse in his apartment after several weeks of absence. What’s his learning from this surreal experience? He now cuts half of his work and focus on things he really wants to do and pursue and understand that he has limitation. God gives so many of us tough unforgettable experience as wake up call to catch our attention because we are all so busy and get so distracted. Things too subtle and mild to notice, we don’t care and ignore. Wake up call are always painful, terrifying and unexpected so we remember. If we let things sit in our mind and distill it, we know we are actually lucky to go through those moments and relive and become reborn. Remember, God is invincible and we are not, and don’t over-estimate our own ability in overcoming situations, we need humility and not pride.

Quote of the Day
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18
I pray to God that we all fear only God but not about what the earthly life could not bring us. Do not let anxiety eat up our focus in God.

Postscript Quote 
It’s always a wake up call to get beaten.   
Usain Bolt 

Avoid feeling regretful

By Posted in after thought, China Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I was approaching a prospect China client and they happen to invite my studio for a meeting on Sunday morning in Shenzhen…Mother’s Day morning too! Not ideal but it’s OK! Fortunately, I have an understanding mom and sister and I could go without worrying too much not able to celebrate the day with them. Upon arrival of the train station in Hung Hom, I was busily looking for the right entrance to catch the train to Lok Ma Chau. The moment I was about to dash into the entrance, I felt that someone is dragging on their luggages and I turned my head and look…it’s a very small build all white-haired lady with one hand pulling a wheeled baggage and the other a larger luggage. She was really small and I almost missed her by my side, just that the wheel pulley noise caught my attention. I starred at her for like 2 seconds, and then I offered her to take her baggage inside the station, she was like surprised but showed me a lot of teeth in her smile. And I took up her really heavy luggage (I cannot pull it because the luggage is really low or I should say short?!) and brought it to the station entrance – she caught up with me quite quickly behind me and when we got to the point where she needs to wait up for friends, we parted! Then I moved on with my trip to Shenzhen and the feeling was like, don’t let regret run in if I have a choice. If I don’t offer my help to this old lady, I would dislike myself and have regrets. I could gather my courage nowadays more easily and quickly when I tell myself, if you don’t do it now – you may be regretful later on. So often, we over-think and we hesitate to do something even if it’s for a good cause, and timing is the key also. We are too concerned about how others see us and if it’s cool or not if we do something. I am now old enough to be quite confident of doing things which I think would be right and do not bother how others think. God likes us to be courageous and standing firm in our beliefs. The thing is when you are the first person to raise the hand, many others behind you could follow-suit. It’s just a matter of who is the first to stand up.

Quote of the Day
He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
Acts 9:41
I pray to God that we won’t hesitate whenever we have a chance to extend our hands to the others.

Postscript Quote 
Our biggest regrets are not for the things we have done but for the things we haven’t done. 
Chad Michael Murray 

Mirror

By Posted in after thought, relationship, workplace Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Last night’s Life Group gathering started off with a question to lead into Acts of the Bible. Leader asked: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received about how to get along with people? I shared with the group about what my current boss once told me about: she said “your relationship with people is like a mirror. How people react to you is actually how you treat them.” If you think further, it’s actually quite true. If you frown at people, how can they not frown at you back? If you appear quite stone, I guess people would rather leave you alone. But if you smile at people, it’s pretty hard that they not smile at you back? This thinking seems to be something related to psychology and it’s like a behavioral study? I work quite hard always trying to think of other people’s situation when I deal with them. I once had a young assistant working with me many years ago, I really don’t like him a lot as he is not very bright, and after a while, he asked one thing I never forget now, he asked: “Michell, you don’t really like me, do you?” I was shock and denied immediately and saying it’s just some mis-communications and we can work things out. Deep down inside, I was shock and feeling very uncomfortable about how the situation has evolved. Soon after that, my assistant resigned and found another job in another field to pursue his career. And from this incident, I learned that how you feel really could reflect in your behavior, and you could still be polite and proper etc. But people just would feel it. So it’s a mirror! Whenever I come into dissent with people now, I try to remind myself to step back, calm down, reflect and really give the genuine side of myself to confront that person and situation (and of course pray about it – to ask God for the wisdom you need). Speak with a genuine heart and the person in front of you, a lot of times, will also share similar thinking and try to do things more objectively and not take things personal. Think how every morning what you want to see in front of the mirror, and be that ‘thing’ so you can see something pleasant and positive!

Quote of the Day
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthian 13:12
I pray to God that I will do to others what I want them to do.

Postscript Quote 
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton

Fear or love?

By Posted in after thought, faith, relationship Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Met very good friend over lunch and she told me about what she was learning from her psychology study. She said people often do things out of two core intentions: love and fear.  We could either eat a very bland bowl of sugar free, skimmed milk oatmeal because we love to be healthy or we fear our cholesterol level is out of control. We could go run 10 miles because we love this adrenaline pumping routine or we fear our waist measurement is not disciplined. We could be doing a business proposal because we love our business and wanting it to expand or we fear that we would lose the job because the monthly quota is not met. The outcome of all these scenarios could very much be the same, we would still eat that tasteless oatmeal, running in sweat and going back to the office staring at the powerpoint template. But my friend is very right to point out that when you love something, the way you handle it and the outcome could be different. Especially when you are dealing with people. If you want a relationship to grow in a positive way, you have got to love and trust the bond will grow, and not to worry and be anxious about the ‘outcome’. My best friend in Berlin told me that her pastor teaches her to trust God, patience is essential but it’s not enough to make us persist. The faith and trust in God that He will make it happen and make things RIGHT is the key. What is right however is not up to us to say, it’s up to what He says only. But we ought to trust the end result would be fine and good and just the best. So we must find joy in the things we are doing and the people we see. If you love the people you see and those around you would feel it, and they would love you back. But if you are grumpy, looking dubious all the time, always tense because you live in the fearful air, how would you look like? Not sure if that is anywhere close to pleasant? I want to live in the life of Love and not Fear. Thanks Fran for your kind advice.

Quote of the Day
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:13
I pray to God that I will live only in the air and water of love which He has given us. Everything He has created has its very merit, we just need to be careful to make sure we notice all of them.

Postscript Quote 
Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come. 
Confucius 

Heavenly music

By Posted in after thought, event, music, relationship Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I went to Blur live concert last night and the whole experience was amazing – the energy of the fans were crazy and the space was extremely pack. After the concert is finished and I was still being mesmerized by the good tunes Blur gave us, I am surprised to start my conversation with my friend who was not a church goer before, somehow we started to exchange comments about music and God. I told her I love going to live concert and the connection it does give us with something else and not just pop music, but God. She looked at me and said she is starting to go to church now and understands more what I mean because the church she is starting to go is a Christian church. But she has always been brought up as a Catholic during her secondary and primary school years (same as myself). I looked at her in awe and feel super happy because she is growing her time with God now. I told her I know there is one Australian church called Hillsong and music is one key thing which they focus on in building that bond with God and also a channel where they use trying to pull more believers and non-believers together. My friend shared further how she feels more at ease now at Christian church due to the more relaxed mode and ‘workflow’ – she now feels that she can have her way in relating to God, and God does appreciate her personality more and she can feel more open and embracing about this religion which she has been taught about so long ago. She feels her time with God is now renewed and relived. It’s very so encouraging to me to hear such sharing with my friend – she has always been my favorite as she was my little junior colleague when I was working with her elsewhere many years ago. Over the years, we share more such as music, travel and now even spiritually. I have never thought I can have such moments with her and God does surprise people in very positive way, and music pulls me with this friend together. I hope one day, I would be able to visit a Christian concert with this friend of mine and worship Lord with the tunes He likes, with the tunes we love!

Quote of the Day
My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
Psalm 57:7
I pray to God that we will find our very own way to relate to Him and not worry about anything else, but loving Him freely!

Postscript Quote 
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind,  flight to the imagination and life to everything.
Plato