The Messenger

Are You In Love And In Pain?

Kahlil Gibran on Love

When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreamsas the north wind lays waste the garden.
For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.
Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.
But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of God."
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.
Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
To return home at eventide with gratitude;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Kahlil Gibran : Poet and artist

Remembering Tunku On Merdeka Day

Believe it or not I had a chance to meet Tunku Abdul Rahman, the founder of Malaysia. It happened because I collect interesting books. One book I kept from my days in University Malaya was THE PROPHET by Khalil Gibran. It's not a religious book. It's an artistic book with poems. There are paintings in the book which are done by the poet.

You see, what happened was the President of Singapore was a good friend of Tunku. On one visit he mentioned to him that he should read this book. So he asked my dad who was his secretary to look for it. Dad went to University Science Malaysia and the Penang Library but could not find it. Over breakfast he just mentioned his exasperation in looking for the book. I told him it was upstairs in my room.

Well, I wrote a message in it for Tunku. After that I had a chance to meet him. His home in Penang was warm and open. Chicken roamed freely.

What did he talk about? He seemed to be broken hearted.. saying that his successor did not understand how hard he worked to build Malaysia. He mentioned specifically that he travelled along many rivers to explain his vision to the people.

I still have a Times Magazine feature on Tunku. I kept it because in it he made a statement which I had quoted when I gave a speech entitled " The Vision Of A Great Man". He said " We have deviated from the true struggle.."

What is the true struggle?

Today in church we sang a song , Sejahterah Malaysia ( Joyous Malaysia ). I have sung this song many times but somehow today it hit me with a new urgency and poignancy. Thank you Almighty for your gift. We are willing to embrace the challenges.

I realized that we were put here as a gift. It could bring us to greater level of liberty. Or we could be pulled backwards to selfish , self-centered destructive conflicts.

There was a profound calling in my spirit. Tears streamed down as I felt the spirit call me. I knew I had to move towards our true struggle. It was not only nation building. It was building the heart and soul of the new generation in Malaysia.

Kami rela kami setia sejahterah Malaysia
We are willing , we are loyal, Joyous Malaysia.

Happy 51st Merdeka.

What is our true true struggle..share your feelings here.

Obama's Great Grandfather

I just finished reading Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama. One story stands out. It's about his grand father in Africa.

He lived in a time when the Luo tribe did not wear western clothes, only a goatskin loin cloth.

The village had heard that white men had skin as soft as babies'. They came in ships and carried sticks that had fire.

He was told by his father not to go to town because they did not understand the white man.

But he went and did not come back for several months. Finally he came and stood in front of his father's hut with a shirt, trousers and shoes. His father taught he had leprosy and that was why he covered himself up. So he told the others not to go near him and said he was unclean.

The father never spoke to him again.

What do you think of this encounter? How does it make you feel about your own life?

NO ONE IS THINKING

Here is a quotation for you to ponder on:

If everyone is thinking the same way, no one is thinking.

Wanna share your feelings about this?

It's Alright To Cry

Do you hide when you cry?

I did when I was a child. You see my mum is Chinese and she believed that crying would bring bad luck. I remember reading Black Beauty and when the horse died I cried. So I climbed on the wall behind the bathroom and sat on a ledge near the roof and cried. I cried quietly.

When my father died I didn't cry. It was because of what happened when I was holding his hand and he was looking up. I just said, "Jesus is here". It was a peaceful moment. Nothing scary or painful. Just so right. And I really wasn't thinking. I was feeling.

Well recently I cried. I burst and exploded. I shook everyone up. And it was alright. Cos if you were me, you too would have cried.

The Obama Factor

I just wanna recommend the website ObamaO8. You can check out his inspiring speeches and ponder on how networks of power are born. Let me know what you find in there that grabs you.

One quotation that I wanna leave with you , from Obama:

" You are the change that you have been waiting for"

What do you wanna change and how do you plan to go about it?

THE ENERGY IN BOLT

I read with interest the reports that Bolt, the fastest man in the Olympics was criticised for taking the flag of his nation in a festive manner to celebrate his success. He was advised to shake hands with his competitors.

Well, Bolt said, I am just having fun. I am a performer. People come here to see a performance. In fact , Lin Dan , the badminton singles gold medalist was just as much a showman and I admit it was entertaining.

After his triumph in the match with Lee Chong Wei, he threw his racket to the audience, unties one shoe, threw it to the right. And untied another another shoe and threw it to the left.

Then he threw himself into the arms of his admirers.

So who makes the rules about how one should celebrate?

BOOMERANG

Now back to Dr Victor Frankle, the founder of Logotherapy ( I wrote about it in my first blog ) , .. he has this tale which makes me ponder.

We are like the Australian aborigine that throws a boomerang. If or boomerang hits something.. we have found our meaning. If our boomerang comes back.. we are still searching.

So what happened to your boomerang?

BARAPUI AND THE EAGLE

My e mail is barapui@gmail.com if you wanna contact me

Why did I choose this name? Barapui is a hero that has fascinated me. If not for the Eagle, Barapui would not have been born. You see, Eagle, the protector, heard a voice calling for help. He swooped down from Eagle Mountain and searched the rainforest. Then he saw two eyes. no face no body but a mass of pink and red with two eyes.

" The witch took my skin" Dayang cried. She has put on my skin and Lian Aran has taken her home...

Eagle carried Dayang deep into the jungle where she gave birth to Lian's son. She named him Barapui, meaning "warm coals", saying " One day your name will bring you to your father.."

When he grew up, Eagle taught Barapui to dance, to hunt and to fight. One day Barapui asked Eagle, " Where is my Father? Why has he left me here? "

Eagle said, " Don't be angry with your Father. He may not know you are here.."

"If he does not know.. I will search for him." And so Barapui went in search for his father.

( Do you feel that you have a Father who does not know where you are.. do you search for him...
Is there someone in your life that you feel is missing... and you are going on a dangerous journey searching ... because in your heart you know you must go on this journey... write and tell me about your journey ..)

SELF HELP IS NO HELP

I was reading this book about having a purpose driven life. It says that self help books are approaching the question from the wrong focus. That is .. how can we find meaning in life if we begin with self. We must begin with our Creator because he gave us the life and has a plan for it. So my question is , do you talk to your Creator?

I really would like to know when you had the last conversation, how it felt like and how he spoke to you.

PLANTS CAN LOVE

Now you know I am pretty passionate about emotional intelligence. On thing I hope to activate in this blog is to have more people express their deepest feelings .. and say it like it is... speak out what you are hurting about, angry about,..what or who you love...especially if it does not seem right..that is when it really bugs you.

Well I am always looking at ways to express feelings and there I was jsut thinking when suddenly a plant decided to talk to me.

You see Reuben planted this creeper two years ago and I have been watering and loving it but it never bloomed for me. Then he came home. After fetching him from the airport I was amazed to see the creeper full... full of the most amazing blooms..you know like they were welcoming him home.

Now you may think.. ah.. it's a coincidence. Well, he went back to Kuala Lumpur...and you know what... the blossoms are gone.

Is that love ?

What do you think? Have you observed plants expressing love too?

ATTENTION VS APPRECIATON

Raphael has written an interesting argument justifying his belief that the deepest human need is attention. Read it in the comment in my last post " HOW IS YOUR LOVE TANK". Tell me what you think or feel about his views.

How Is Your Love Tank?

I read this term "Love Tank" in "The Five Languages Of Love" by Gary Chapman. It means we have a need for love and if our love tank is empty.. well.. we feel lousy. So how are you feeling? Is your love tank full?

I was attarcted to this story about a couple who lived in a beautiful house but they did not feel loved. After talking to both of them Gary decided to get them to appreciate each other . He calls it " Words Of Affirmation" . So he got them to write things about each other that they liked. The wife liked the husband's hard work but felt neglected. The husband liked her being a good mother.

Months later the hubby was pretty happy because his wife expressed appreciation for his hard work. ( He was a workaholic .. trully ). But the wife was not happy . Why? She told Gary he never spent time with her.
( of course lah ) . Mm.. Gary said he had made a big mistake because he thought her PRIMARY language of love was the same as that of her husband. He wanted appreciation. Actually she wanted QUALITY TIME.

That does not sound very romantic does it? But you know when he describes it... actually it is..Quality Time is sitting and looking at each other. I fully agree. Giving each other full attention ( not in front of the TV).

So I quess that means you have to plan to go for a walk ( not in the supermarket ) and hopefully when you talk you are not scolding or complaining or boasting.

Just open your heart and share your fantasies...that is the best part of you.

Tell me what happens ok?

And if your love tank is empty.. er...I think you need to let your lovey dovey know what is your PRIMARY language of love...

Or you could post it in this blog... it's for helping us to express our feelings.

Let me leave you with this thought. Psychologist William James said that the deepest human need is the need to be appreciated. Do you agree?

Language And Freedom

You asked me to write on this question of language for learning.
I did but then I will not post it
Cos now I see it is not about learning really
It's about mind control

See you can weaken a whole generation
By depriving them of the stories of heroes
Who gave their lives for freedom
If you educate them in another lingo

So you see no amount of reasoning is going to
Make a difference
Because it's going exactly as it was planned to

I mean ..unless you wana say it like it is..
It's about hierachy!
The multilingualist wields the money
And the blurr lingualist
Has not options
To be free

So don't tell me its about identity
Unless you identify with the Emperor
Cos he believed that only one language would unite

And he also believed that his taracotta soldiers would protect him
In his after life

So what do you believe won't you tell me?

What langauge will set you free?

COME TO MY GARDEN

FREEDOM CALLING TO ME

I watched two movies in two days

And both seemed to call to me

To strive for freedom

One was "Wall - e"

About three types of machines

The one that falls in love

The one that is loved

The one that destroys

Does that sound familiar?

It's about standing up to protect

What you cherish.


While food and clothes distract you

And we get so comfortable

We get weaker

And we let the machines

Take control


For me the machines

Are the people who have

One way of thinking

There is no place to be alive

To change and move forward


We give preach the importance of change

And yet when there is a different idea

And a different reality

We don't feel free to express it

Why?

Why?

Why?


The other movie was .. "Meet Dave"

It's about this spaceship in the form of a man.

Inside are tiny men.

The captain learns to have feelings

After observing humans

And the crew learn about dance

And about making friends using Facebook

But one leader, the Number Two,

He can't accept feelings , dance and friendship,

He takes over and just becomes

Violent

He freaks out

Blasting and hurting people

Sound familiar?


So what can we do ?

These movies warn us

Are we letting ourselves be led

By leaders who are good human beings?

Will you fight to take back your power

If someone takes over your spaceship

And becomes a beserk destroyer?

I HAVE NOTHING

I have nothing

You told me.

Not many would say that.

Could you not see

That it leaves you

With you and your heart


So what are you gonna do

With that lovely heart

I see in you

The heart that aches for

The people you now miss


So many people are drowning

In their addiction to plenty

They spend their quiet hours

With a noisy TV


Come

May I beckon you

To the door to your soul

Come fly

and find

the path that will open to you



You gotta leave what you know

Know so well

Because

It looks like it's not enough

There is something more

Travelling Warrior

Are you a travelling warrior

In a battle field so unkind

Meeting with foes that stab you

While before you they smile


I wait for you to return

To prepare for greater battles

For you are a soul so set apart

To carry larger hearts


Many will look at your wounds

Bleeding, burning, open,

And wonder why you bother

To give it all up for someone you can't touch


They will never know

How you looked into the eyes of love

And saw the path before you

Lead to the mountain and beyond


My travellor, my warrior, when will you return?

The shady trees are waiting

You will rest and dream of Love

Afraid Of Love

I know a little someone

Who is so afraid of love

He runs under the water tank

Hides behind the leaves

Snowy my little someone

Is so afraid of me


Maybe he has been beaten

Maybe he thinks I will trap him

Maybe he has never known

Someone who really loves him


Yet one day he stood still

beneath the water tank

and let me touch his trembling nose

and let me reach out and pull him close


And I hugged my little someone

And showed him that I care

He looked at me with sad eyes

And kissed me just one time


I let my little someone go

For a moment he would not move

For a moment he walked close to me

And I did not hear him leave

What Can I Give You?

What can I give you
My faithful friend
To say how dear you are to me

For the many times
You were there to help
For the many times
I did not thank you

For the many times you called
And I was not there to answer
And the miles you travelled

To lend you presence when I grieved

This I write for you
Me trusted friend
For you have been with me
A long long time

And the space between us
Seems so strange
When you are close in my mind

What can I give you
I really dont know

I wanna thank you

For so much

I hope you will read this and know

I wish I could give you much much more

Empty Dream

I wana say it. I wana say it

The hate.. the hurt..

But you show it better than I

One day I will do it

Tell you why I cry

But not today...

My tongue is twisted

My heart is still confused

My wings are still not strong enough

Not strong enough to break free

I live in a cage of flowers

But flowers can't love me

The broken promise

The empty dreams

I wana leave behind

And when the cage

I leave

You will be the last to know

Because you have lost me

I no longer believe

In you

Universe Or Friend?

You know , I think it is curious
When I was in another land
I heard many say
"the universe"
as tho' it had a will, a mind, and intention

Do you mean a Creator
I asked in my heart

Yet another said it was a Cosmic Force




Hey, I can't relate to what you are saying....




I talk to my Creator

like a friend

and when I am flying

there is another

I sense

And when I am soaring

reaching another sky

I feel a bird fly with me

I know this Eagle is my friend

Alone Or Lonely?

Well I do get real, real, real lonely..
There I have said it...

And its because I have almost forgotten how to be me.

Because I tried to be whatever

Others tried to shape me into

I gave up my soul

Almost...

But now I am taking it back

And I wana shared it with you...

So have you ever, ever ever been lonely...

But you know

I was never, never , never alone...

HYPOCRISY REPACKAGED

I don't know... I think.. if you ask me
To write on hypocrisy
And you did you know
I think we must come up with a new word.

Because there are so many forms of hypocrisy
That it's high time we identify the many categories

Would you care to post a reply and help me?

But mind you

Eagles fly inspite of the many times

Evil birds and other malicious creatures

Try to send arrows in their path


So if you are an Eagle

Just let the hypocrits

Enjoy their nasty reality



As long as they do not

Meddle with your journey


And if they do


Eagles are wise



Spend as little energy as possible

For it's not worth wasting time on


The sky is beckoning you

O Eagle

To Fly

FLOCK SYNDROME

If you are reading this I am sure you are not suffering from the Flock Syndrome.

In a certain sky space

Located near a certain sea space

There lived a flock of birds

Who love to be the same

Or rather they did not know they could be any different

( Now I apologise for misusing the word "love" )

But , you know, I did not want to cover up my mistakes...

Like you know

Let's be real right?

So... to continue my dreary tale...

Each bird prided itself in getting a similar shine on its feathers

And they would exchange sweet talk

And enjoy spicy nibbles

Until one day

When a spunky bird arrived

O to every birds dismay

She was attractive and smart

And , horror of horrors,

had feathers of a colour

that was alien

to THE FLOCK.

O well...

We can't have that can we?

Let's begin the process of enlightenment

Oops , now I apologise for misusing that word too.

It was a slip of my consciousness.

Err... let me go on

Let's not get distracted...

Ah this is too much fun

For I am not one of the Flock

And so many instructions were given

And many mouths spoke

Tho' I was kinda surprised that they lingered

On something as surface as

Feathers.

Why not look at her mind

Her heart

Her soul

And by the way

Just who, may I ask,

Made the rules?

But o they were bitter

Afraid and screamed that she had better...

Or else...

And so the drama is reaching its peak

Will she break

Or will the Flock think they made a mistake

Will anyone ask the question.

Where is it written that we all must be the same?

New Type Of Destruction

It is urgent... that is why I am posting to you again.

There are minds who use their skills to destroy Eagles

who can help us all

To find Peace .

So be careful, fellow Eagles ,

and other visiting hearts

Maybe you have just dropped by.. curious...

Not knowing if you are really interested in joining in this

Sky talk



But let me tell, you I just read in Yahoo

A distrubing piece of news

There is a writer who has put out a book called

OBAMA NATION

It is trying to frighten US voters to distrust this great brave peace maker

And the writer uses his writing skills as though he knows better.

If he succeeds it means that people will go against OBAMA

Just because he is Gifted

Because he sees things differently

And has many good paths

That can help the whole world

They wana destroy him

It's the lesser mean guy

Destroying a great soul .

So Eagles

and those who have not decided

Let's unite and make ourselves stronger.

Speak to your friend and creator

In the way you choose

Ask for help

So that we may uphold

Great Eagles



Let's not wait and see.

For the path has been shown to us

One path

And many more for us to find


Come fly with me

Tell me your thoughts

Your fears

Your dreams

For they are the

Open doors to where you want to be


Come fly with me

Dr Victor Frankl

Dr Victor Frankle was writing a book when he was caught and thrown into a camp in Auswitch. His manuscrpt was burnt. But he kept himself alive and when he was released, he wrote a book: Man's Search For Meaning. He developped a type of support for people who are facing a crisis. It's called LOGOTHERAPY. It is linked to the word LOGOS which means "word" .

For me LOGOS means MEANING.

And in my being I know WORD carries many deep meanings.

Metaphysical meanings.

Beyond the physical.

So Dr Victor Frankl helped people to handle terrible tragedies by discovering the meaning of their lives and situations.

What is the meaning you are looking for...

What do you sense?

Can you write about it from your heart...

From your inner being

From wherever you are....

I wana meet and learn from another Eagle

Or Eaglet

like me


I believe

It's you

EAGLES LEAD

Do you sense that you were born to fly?
To faraway places
Not yet seen with your mind's eye
Then come with me
Fly with me
I will share with you
How I learnt to find
The door to the open sky

And where you go
Share with me

For we are eagles
Born to lead

You are out there
I know

If you by chance
Wana take a risk
And discover

Come with me

And tell me
Your story

How did it begin?