Have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this short but memorable trip to Pulau Tioman, from the boat rides, to the ball games, to the beach, to the scenery, to the random water supply in chalet, to the sunrises which werent really seen, to the inspiring sermon, to the ardous trek in the rain, to the beautiful waterfall, to the final morning spent there... and most importantly, to the many lasting relationships that have been forged, renewed and/or strengthened amongst brothers and sisters in Christ. (pictures that I have photographed can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/johnyuzx91/IYTiomanOuting08 )
Really want to thank God for granting us this opportunity to embark on this wonderful fellowship away from the cares and worries of school life amidst the conclusion of the March holidays for many. I truly hope and look forward to many more of such youth outings.
As i sit here in front of the screen burning with fever and inflamed in my throat, a feeling of sadness and dread runs over me as this trip is all over and the new IB school term has just begun. Well, i'm sure this is a common feeling to many as well, and i hope i will get over it as the school days go by. Now this is the part where i'm most scared and afraid off; losing this certain sense of spirituality to the material and academic portion of school life. I believe this always happens to many of us, when the endless tides of school work and CCAs threaten to sweep us overboard from this 'Ark' that we have established our footings in so readily when we entered during the holidays. I fear more so, now that I have entered IB, where everyday coursework constitutes the final grades of the 6 different subjects, as set by the IB Organisation. I fear that all this toiling under the sun and chasing for the wind will drive me off the course that we Christians ought to have set for the imperishable crown.
Fear.
"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:6-7
I'm reminded of this verse that Bro Vincent came across during the morning Sabbath service at Pulau Tioman, the exhortation of how to be a successful, spiritual youth like Timothy. I hope and pray for the infilling of this Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind, to lead me through this next 2 years of school life ahead.
In this recent trip, I have seen numerous scenes of close friends being there for each other all by themselves amidst the vast expense of nature. And i marvel at how this intimate, indescribable bond is able to make just 2 people walking alone along the beach feel all the joy, peace, satisfaction that exists within the capacity of human emotions. Though I may seem as one who is relatively sociable and friendly, spouting out cheesy random jokes and inciting a laughter or two, yet there might be more than meets the eye. I believe my recent-found personality as a photographer may be a reflection of this; one who stands at the corner of play, alone, quiet, snapping pictures of the world around him.
Perhaps thats what I really need. A friend. No, a brother. To encourage, to learn from, to be there to pull me up even from the depths of Hades, to accompany me to fight the good fight of faith.
"Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor; For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up."
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
I hope for you too.
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