these days, I've fallen in love again with classical music, especially Chopin. It makes me reminisce on earlier piano days, the thrill of performing in front of an audience, the pounding of your heart as you walk towards the piano, the heart-wrenching silence right before the first note is played, closing your eyes taking a deep breath in and letting your fingers take off to paint the piano as you breathe out slowly and enter another world written by music geniuses of the past. even more glorious is playing with an orchestra where the music takes on new heights and you're fully enveloped by all the sounds as they combine to create something not of this world.

Music in its purest classical sense I find to be utterly God-glorifying. Your soul is shaken and moved to tears at times at the beauty played out. its as if the melodic lines intertwine and run parallel with humanity's strife and the great love and cause for joy we have through Christ. I remember my piano teacher in the past who wasn't religious or spiritual by any means whatsoever, but who, as we'd discuss music, would talk about how these great composers were trying to 'reach something beyond this world.. to heaven' through song. listening to their works, one cannot help but be moved to acknowledge the unexplainable, that yes someone greater exists. What a huge gift given us. i can't imagine what music would sound like in heaven :)



absolutely breathtaking. you close your eyes and for a moment you're taken out of this world into another realm..

since coming back from canada, i've been under a big pile of "to-do". been a bit overwhelmed by the amount of material left unlearned (plus all the other stuff on my plate) which greeted me when i returned from back home. and ya, beneath this pile of catchup i've been a bit lost.. lost in the purpose and the why of it all..

but yesterday, was reminded again of the why. it was such a simple thing.. met a woman, Maureen. Brisbanites have prlly come across her once or twice. She roams the streets with her big trolley thing that carries practically her whole life in it. quite impressive if you ask me. She's kinda hard to miss.. definitely someone i've always told myself i'd one day want to get to know. well i guess that day came. while i was waiting for the bus to arrive, was about to chow down on some chicken nuggets from Hungry Jack's (mmm..) when i saw her across the street on a bench sitting by herself (as per usual). and there goes that quiet voice saying go share your meal with her. and so i walked over, sat down, and we ate and talked. it was such a simple and small thing, but i was overjoyed to talk with her and to finally know her name. while sitting was thinking how wonderful it'd be to do this more often. she's had a complex life, and perhaps with time she will share her full story with me, and i'll be able to share my testimony with her.

funny how initially when i went up to her & offered my food, it was as if i was the one trying to 'help' her. little did i know, God knew exactly what i needed, a boost to uplift my spirit. but who'd think this boost would come from a homeless lady. i walked out of there being the one who was helped. she reminded me again of the why! its all about the people and the relationships that are built, about being His hands and feet (& God-willing to one day use this knowledge of medicine for that!) wow, how easy it is to get caught up in school with all this studying and my life tucked cozily in the thick of suburbia. no wonder i've been restless & full of unease about school&life, it was cuz i was lost & purposeless under the pile of 'to-do'. and no wonder i was lost, it was cuz i failed to look beyond myself & my plate to the lives of others & what they are dealing with day by day.. that and to see His purpose for my life and to rest in assurance knowing my Father in heaven is watching over me day & night.

So praise God for renewed zest in learning and being reminded again not to be so self-absorbed.. but to remember what all this studying is for (God-willing He allows me to use it for His purposes in the coming future!)