words that begin with f

I always thought that countdowns and celebrations were superfluous because the lines drawn are arbitrary. We could celebrate every hour, every morning or every time we get hiccups but tomorrow most of the world counts down the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.

Of course the collective wish for newness and resolve to succeed is powerful. For what we cannot do alone, a group of focused talented people can do better even though success is never guaranteed.

2012 was the final year of the Mayan calendar from a civilization that ended much earlier. But we are all intrigued with endings with particular fear of "The End" or our own end, so tabloids, twitter feeds, discussions built up anticipation of some catastrophe on Christmas eve or the Winter Solstice.

What does not change is that we all end and we do not know when. Coming to terms with that is a key to living fully.

For me the passing year was about letting go and seeing clearly again. It was about unloading burdens created by facades, fortune, fame and fear of failure... things that start with f I guess.

I rediscovered the long forgotten lessons and valuable experience of my past that I buried under a "been there, done that" list. What I thought were nightmares became building blocks of a new me. None of the people who enriched my life and my attempts to love others were wasted.

Even though hard-hearted people may seem evil sometimes and can wield dangerous power, I will not give up on them but will do my best not to join them. What I write is not just cerebral but the words flow from feelings, depth of experience and a desire to live as fully as I can in the time and space I have been given.

People are my focus as are fun, fantasy, forward moving, living fully... why is the title "things that begin with f"? Just like 2013 is an arbitrary point in time, f is as good a letter as any... without prejudice to the infamous f word.

In keeping with my random title, listen to the "all out of love" song by Jagged Edge. My photo shows my love for the fiat cinquecento 500 which is another f word ;-)

Spontaneously prepared

Being prepared is a good habit unless it takes over all possibility of spontaneity. I think this is the source of my remaining despair. It's a dread I'm not ready for today.

It was OK for school because classes and assignments are clear cut and spontaneous activity is duly scheduled. Many jobs are still that way. But the schedule, predictability and our never-ending preparedness may keep us our job but we could loose all sense of what we want. I guess that's what vacations are for: to find the balance of being spontaneously prepared.

Let go!

At the end of the song the Pastor says: "You don't really have a problem. What you need to do is to step back and let God do it."

I love this song because it's sassy and no-nonsense but the message is hard to swallow even though letting go is the simplest action. The struggle this entails happened during my blogging the last few months and I'm nearly there.

Money has no power (but please listen to the song)

As adults, our responsibilities are great. I got used to resting in secure income, investments and savings. Money was security. The powerful wield money. Without it, we can't do much. Right?

Perhaps, but why should our safety be built on a man-made concept for trading goods and services? It exists in our minds and actions but is really immaterial in and of itself. Printed money is like sand that cannot really support you in real personal time of need.

Matthew 7:24-27 talks about "...a wise man who built his house on the rock. ...(vs) a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

So what is the rock that holds during the storm? For me it is God. Many people think this belief is a crutch because the concept is apriori and cannot be empirically proven. Yet we believe in money because of what it can do.

This year of 2012 was the year when all my false securities were removed. I was left with my faith in God. I have never felt stronger, more fulfilled, secure and loved.

Faith, romance, hardship, rest

My blog is written from the heart. What I write is not cerebral although there is logic involved. They are what I have experienced in mind, emotion and (because the impression and change have been so profound I assume) the spirit. 

My latest :

• Faith goes with rest
• Romance goes with hardship

Some pray for faith. But faith is just resting in the assurance that someone's got your back. You let the one you trust catch you should you fall. Therefore: rest, not struggle is the theme.

I live on Caine Rd. Last night I rode the minibus from HKU to the other end of this old narrow winding path with mostly night class students. Living half way up the Peak is not easy and it took a long time to find my way around the hidden paths, old buildings, new high rises, quaint shops, supermarkets, steep slopes and stairs. But this is the most romantic area of Hong Kong. It provokes nostalgia, frustration, joy, admiration, love, hate... romance. Therefore: hardship and also reward.

Trending money, sex, and power

The rise and fall of any relationship, reign and capital depend on people. Choose the right people to invest in and the fruits of our labor will multiply. Invest in inanimate objects and decline or even demise is all but guaranteed.

I don't know if you see the tongue in cheek when "Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him."" Mark 12:17... If God is the Creator, nothing belongs to Caesar who was murdered by his collaborators.

Money, sex and power go together and is the aim of the "successful" people. If you have one of them, you want the rest. Go get them if you want.

Just don't forget where real value lies. Even if you do not believe there is a god, real value do not exist in money, sex and power. People (if not God) give them to you. Reversing the order often result in tragedy. Especially if they take over your life.

Can't take this away!

This song by Bebe and Cece Winan was the my first return to Gospel Choirs after the hearing "Be Grateful" (shown in my initial blog entry) 10 years earlier. I love this type of strong, to the point and no non-sense music and style. No wonder hip-hop / r&b is the most popular type of music today. It's infectious.

But I'm not talking music or religion. It's about first love, unconditional, life giving, secure, forgiving, discipline, tough, strong and inspires "this joy that I have: the world didn't give it to me and world can't take it away"

I've found a love... and you can't take this away!