My Rock of Refuge

Today I'm struck by the feeling that there is no security in life. Even if you'd been doing well, anything can go wrong. Health can drop at any moment, no one knows. People die at any moment also.

I just got an allergic rash over Monday-Tuesday due to the paint fumes at work. Saw a doc and promptly got knocked out by the very strong "drowsy" medicine that I was given... so Wednesday was gone. And now thursday has gone and almost passing.

And what Have I achieved? More work accomplished.... but lasting happiness? Maybe... if my work gave me happiness... but besides everything I just have the thought that I STILL am unfulfilled.

I've done a music practice on Mon Night, for the Mass on Tues night. All was wonderful and well. Had good sleep on wednesday due to the rash. Also good to catch up on sleep. Today, just did my East District Youth Day meeting for the publicity team. More work still to be done tonight, like contacting various people on the status of the participants and their T-shirt orders, etc etc. Ok that's still manageable.

Maybe there's some work that I can't do and really have to push to following week. Things like the "hobbies" like I missed Jap lesson this week due to sleeping in..... and have my paper toling "hw" to do -- cutting some new photos... and I still have OLPS e-newsletter that I have committed to do (on my own).

It's like plenty of to-dos. I'm not scared of it any longer. I just plan my time faithfully and everything will get done sometime or other.

The point of it all is that ---- amidst all this doing, I must always remember my rock, my purpose, my centering ground. For me, that is my faith, which is WHY i am doing all that I am doing. For goodness sake, I am the most craziest person on earth I think, to be so heavily involved the way I am. But then again, I have to reiterate that on my own strength, I really could not do this. I would have burnt out maybe last month, if not for the wonderful trip to Kkottongnae, which I believe, gave me spiritual strength and a renewed perception on how to handle my workload.

Today I can at least say that Jesus is my Rock of Refuge!

1 month ago,.. maybe I would say that but my heart would be pretty heavy while saying so. Get the difference ;)

And thus.... My song for today is: Rock of Refuge (Gary Sadler)
Lyrics:

You're my Rock of Refuge
The shelter of my life
My merciful companion
My comfort in the night
Though my heart falls hard
Still Your love stands guard
O Lord You are my Rock of Refuge

And I run to You
And You hold me close
You hide me under Your shadow
Yes I run to You it's so good to know
O Lord You are my Rock of Refuge

You're my Rock of Refuge
The calm within my storm
A secret place of safety
My barrier from harm
When eyes are tears
Through the worst of fears
O Lord You are my Rock of Refuge

O Lord You are my Rock of Refuge
O Lord You are my Rock of Refuge

Listen here: YahooMusic

Videos from Kkottongnae-Seoul! ;)

ahhaa.. this was hilarious:



This is another P&W song sung (during the day programmes):



"Lamb of God" sung at mass:



Michelle Moran's Msg on 7 JUNE at the open Rally:



Open Rally - Song and prayers in Korean:



9 June - Pilgrimage to Martyrs Shrines - In the BUS... :



Some doggies spotted at the Chonami Shrine (8 JUNE):



Light display at CheonggyeCheon (11 JUNE):

Seoul Photos are up!

Yay all my Korea photos are up on Facebook. Go view it.

Meanwhile, here's an article on the Tea US coffee joint opened by Kwon Sang-Woo that we visited!

View Article!

Travelling updates! I Luv SEOUL!

Heyo!!! It's been so long since i posted. Why? Seems to have a blogging block! hahaha.. It's probably due to all the travelling, which ironically leaves me no time to "Rant"!

Ok, now for some proper updates of what's been happening in what seems the longest 3 weeks I've had ever! It's been fun travelling to Seoul and Hong Kong and for the first time, I feel detached, away from Home, and on my own. A Traveller. HmmM! It's an interesting and wild thought .... very exciting... very tiring but exciting..

Ok before SEoul was 6 days in Kkottongnae. This I must talk about. (of course, in brief).

Kkottongnae "Flower-Village" in Korean.
June 4-7 = ICCRS Conference (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services) Conference, where all leaders of international catholic charismatic communities gathered for a 4-day series of talks, Mass, prayer, exploration, to learn more about our charismatic faith and to be in touch with other charismatic catholic people internationally. There was open rallies too for the youth and the catholics in Kkottongnae and surrounding towns, and it was HUGE, like 50,000 came for the final day open rally which lasted from morning till late afternoon.

TO see people praising God with hands lifted high, in the mountains of Kkottongnae, was really inspiring. It's like the song which goes, "Did you feel the mountains tremble, did you hear the oceans roar, when the people rose to sing of Jesus, Jesus christ the risen lord..."

June 8 - 9 = These 2 days of visiting Martyrs Shrines (catholics who were persecuted in Korea) was the turning point for me, when I became truly touched. It must have been the mountain sights and air that truly brought a sense of calm, bewilderment, amazement, trust, dependency, the feeling that God knows everything I've gone through and is there before my future ahead.

June 10 - 12 = This was 3 days of fun and food in SEOUL, an amazing vibrant place. I love it! It must also have been the wonderful weather of around 25-27 degrees each day! ;)

I managed to visit the museum to see the paintings by Kim Hong-Do ('Danwon') which got me fascinated ever since watching the drama "Painter in the Wind" which is a fictional story of the painter and his disciple's (called Hyewon) journey during the Joseon Dynasty as court painters amidst a political environment where court artists were very much embroiled in the political scene. It's reminiscent of a movie I really liked "the King and the clown" - also a similar genre.

The last day was really fun... i did my own shopping in Itaewon... finally found some time on my own. This whole trip, was kinda like a loner... I didnt' want to socialise, i wanted to "RETREAT" and really really, retreat. So i kinda did not fit in with the rest who wanted to make more networks with youths from around the world. But I guess everyone's honesty and enthusiasm got to me too. ON the last day, after my shopping, and meeting up with Stef Van and our Korean friends I felt liberated, truly glad to have made these new friends, and truly glad for the experience. I guess i take a longer time to adjust! hahahaa!

Hong Kong -16 - 19 June
THis was largely a company event, meetings, dinners, etc. But what really touched me was the family feeling of everyone. From upstarts to our MDs, everyone was very friendly, and not to mention, humble. Even MDs would come up to me and say, how are you? Everything ok? Feeling ok? So concerned :)

Well, I finally did the presentation that I was worrying about through the whole Korea trip (unfortunately) and after that, some of them came up to say, "good job" and this was the sealing factor! It's so wonderful to know that you have encouraging bosses. Nevermind that I don't really know what's going to happen in the next few months or whether we can really deliver what we planned or promised to do. I think this is what I like in a job. To really be an instrument, a contributing factor, in a place that appreciates you, and your work, and that can tell you, "good work"! and who can trust you.

And I managed to meet up with Pauline! Pau - I know you''ll be reading this, so as promised, I am blogging again!!!!! hahahahaah... it was great to meet up with you! Who knows, I may come more often since i may have to work more with my colleagues in the HK office!

Well...I'm now back, feeling so tired --- like i'd spent a super long time away. But I also feel so enriched, like i've seen new things, new dreams, and new people living totally different lives from the world (those nuns in Kkottongnae) and i must say, it will be something I want to tell people about. There's more to life than working for money and personal happiness. At one point of the journey, we have to ask ourselves, what are we created for, how are we meant to help others, and what is God's plan for my life.

So now, it's time to get back to all the things which have been on hold... ensemble, East District Youth Day planning, olps youth activities... Even my Jap studies (i missed 2 classes already) - and my Paper Toling homework... gotta go cut cut cut!;)

ANd last point -- trivia: I wanna curl my hair again, but i can't bear to coz the straight rebonded hair now is SOO super easy to manage. Maybe, wait a bit.

Man... life is on the run and I have never been busier... :P

And.. sadly, I've got no pictures in HK (coz i brought the WRONG Brand of camera and was too paiseh to use it) - but the Kkottongnae-Seoul pics shld be up on Facebook soon!! ;)