Doctor Lim

I had a beautiful conversation with my wife in the wee hours this morning. The topic of our conversation was however morbid. We were discussing her fears and mine, a "what-if" she or me were to pass on. I supposed we needed to talk, with the recent demise of her colleague, student. I am glad we did, and glad that I shared with her, that no matter what happens, the surviving one must be strong - for the kids. It's going to be tough, but they are our future. As she says, in Noah, there's a mini-me; in Claire, there's a mini- her. I told her that she should start to pen her thoughts in her blog again, just to ventilate and also to serve as a memory. And I have to write this down: my advice to her would be "to do what I (as in me) would have done", even if I am not around. Suddenly, the song "I'll be There" from When in Rome comes to my mind. (Dont be afraid, oh my love, I'll be watching you from above....Just think of me, and I'll be there.)

Strangely enough, I received this verse on my email today.

The Lord will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. Isaiah 58:11 NLT
Wouldn't you like to know now what is in store for you a year from now? God leads us a day a time, a step at a time. No need to worry about distant events....

Trust the Lord, dar. Let's enjoy the present time as much as we can, and not worry about things we dont know and cannot control. Love.

"The Shrink" - Nicholas

Pray for strength, dont despair

It has been negative stories and events. There seems to be a dearth of good news. Today my dar heard about the student and then the colleague. Just gives a sense of helplessness. I know my dar is not feeling good. And I am not around again. But dar, sometimes we dont understand what is happening, and we tend to interpret things based on what we see and what we think.

It is in times of helplessness and not knowing, that it is even more important that we turn to God, to pray to him for strength. I know we are not devout catholics, and our faith is weak. But we got to trust in him. In my email today, I received a mail entitled "How can I deal with feelings of hopelessness?".

The last paragraph is worth repeating, and I hope that we do not give in to despair.

"The truth is that you will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT

The people of Israel were going to spend a long exile away from their homeland—70 years—as God's discipline. After that, God would return them to the land. In other words, God had a plan for their future. Even the Exile, with its seeming hopelessness, was part of God's long-range plan for his people. And his plans were good. You may not have really discovered the hope that is found in God's love for you through Jesus Christ. Reject despair and seek out God's plan—and his hopes—for you.

Jinxed...again

It's the same again. Each time when I go overseas, it is always like that. This time around, I am in Surabaya, travelling when my wife and my mum-in-law is sick. And when I am here, somehow the sms doesnt work, the kids school call, the unit below my place say that our toilet leaks and need us to repair immediately, and the web cam on my wife's laptop chooses not to work.

Is it jinx or what? It was the same last year when I went to Jakarta. My wife was sick, and all alone in the US (and lost her voice to boot). I feel bad, really really bad. For my poor wife, to have to handle everything alone.

And I miss u dar. Dont know why, but I suddenly asked myself when was the last time I was out with you alone (and i dont mean grocery shopping, or night supper). Its like since the kids came along, I seem to have been caught up in all the busy daily chores. Just hold on for 2 more days. I will be back, and time for me to do my part. Love