THE SILENT YEARS PART 2 - THAT EMO MOMENT

It has been 5 long years since I last wrote. In the next 5 blogs, I will attempt to abridge the essence of those silent years - part 2

On the morning of 29 October 2015, I was awakened by some incoherent shouts. I realized it was my dad mumbling something about my mum. When I saw her in the kitchen, she was sitting on the floor with her head and shoulder leaning against the washer. I knelt down to hold her up and check on her condition. There was a big bump at the back of her head. She must have landed hard on the concrete flooring with such a swell. But she was conscious and there was no blood. Immediately, I called the ambulance.

The first 2 days were critical as doctors monitored her condition in the NUH High Dependency Ward for any signs of bleeding and concussion in the head. We were relieved that her condition was stable for the rest of the week. But she had to be hospitalized for a long period due to numerous tests and checks to her heart and diabetic condition. 

Under the care of the doctors and with her cooperation, her condition improved and was transferred to Jurong Community Hospital for rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

During this trying period, several church and CG brothers and sisters visited and prayed for her to show their love and concern. 

I am eternally grateful to former pastor Freddy Ong who led her to say the sinner’s prayer during her recuperation at JCH. It was a very emotional moment for me to hear her say those words. Till today, I still treasure that precious moment in my heart.  

How the heaven must have felt when one sinner repents and is saved. I pray the same experience for my dad and other loved ones

Luke 15: 7

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

alexjoshua

28 Feb 2019

THE SILENT YEARS PART 1 - 4 OF A KIND

It has been 5 long years since I last wrote. In the next 5 blogs, I will attempt to abridge the essence of those silent years - part 1.

4 of a kind is rare but not impossible. The fearsome black, the ferocious white, the elegant twister and the gentle giant. By His grace, I met 3 of them on 4 different occasions. They are creatures of the deep blue...

PULAU DAYANG, MERSING

In the early hours of 6 June 2014, I was strolling along the beach of Pulau Dayang enjoying the morning breeze and crisp cool air when I noticed a long greyish thing underneath the crystal clear blue water snaking towards me. 

My immediate reflex was to back away. But curiosity had the better of me which moved me closer to check it out.  Sharks!!  I could not contain the joy.

There were not 1 but 8 baby black tips each about 45 cm or 1.5 feet long in this shallow water near the shore. What a blessing.

I began to watch them from a distance of course. 

Like me, they seemed to be enjoying their morning outing. 

And like me, they loved swimming and wading, falling in and marching out their routine in orderly and disciplined formation.

PULAU PAYAR, LANGKAWI

Pulau Payar Marine Park is a popular snorkelling site and on 9 Oct 2014, I found myself snorkelling in the bay where sharks are known to frequent due to feeding sessions. 

Being conscious of their presence, I was on a constant look out which I dislike living with the nagging need to look over my shoulders.

It was a close shave that bumped up my blood pressure and my heart missed a beat as a I caught a glimpse of some greyish whitish thing that swam me by about 2 meters away. 

Fortunately for me, it was not the notorious and ferocious great white which I shudder at the mention of its name.

The other Great White which also terrifies me is when I stand before His Throne with the Book of Life opened, where the sheep is separated from the goats and when rewards and punishments are metered out. I tremble at the fear that my life might not measure up.

Rev 20: 11a, 12a, 13b
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it...
And I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne, and the books were opened...
...each person was judged according to what he had done.

OSLO, CEBU
On 26 Mar 2016, I tripped down to Oslo Cebu to swim with the whale shark which quickened the adrenalin.

It is a gentle giant but its sheer size immediately cast fear. 



It was happy to be surrounded by many visitors as it glided us by almost touching us with its wide body and huge tail. 

As it dove down deeper into the ocean, its tail almost whacked and swept us up. 


It is amazingly thrilling to be up so close with this gentle giant.

SANUR, BALI
My first encounter with the elegant twisters was in 10 Dec 2007. 

We were retiring and resting after a day's hard work of sowing seed of the gospel in Bali when some local men enticed us with a sea adventure to watch dolphins and boasted the numbers to be 200 plus. 


It was unimaginable as Bali was not well known for sighting such sea creatures.

Some of us eagerly agreed. Others preferred more bedtime.

At 530 am, fighting slumber we dragged our feet and moved our fatigued bodies to assembly point. 



But the boat ride out to sea freshened and awakened us. 




It turned out they were right. We spotted numerous dolphins seamlessly weaving in and out of the water in streamlined unison and coordinated tempo.

These elegant twisters were such a joy to watch. And to be so close with them at sea was just amazing. I knew this Dolphin Delight was worth the early dawn rise and brazing the morning chill. I will definitely miss them in heaven.

alexjoshua
25 Feb 2019