Saturday, October 01, 2011
Genuinity.
There's a lot of talk amongst us Christians about "being who you are" and "taking off your masks". I guess I haven't really been thinking about such issues ever since I entered law school, but a certain incident last Thursday sparked my thoughts about this into life.
So there I was, walking to the bus stop after school to take 156 home. I met one of my friends along the way, and we just started chatting about the class that we just ended. (The route to the bus stop is dissected by 2 main roads, with 2 traffic lights). I had already crossed the first one and was making my way to the second one when I saw 156 waiting just before the zebra crossing for the oncoming cars to finish their right turn. It was 6.30pm and I knew that the bus would be crowded and the journey back home would be slow due to the work crowd, and I really didn't want to miss the bus... so I exclaimed "OH SHIT... *breaks off into whiny mode*".
So obviously this girl that I was walking with heard me and she was like, "actually if you run across the road now you can make it!" (I assure you this is relatively safe, there's this interval where there are no cars moving cuz the cars have finished turning right and the 156 bus is waiting for the red light to turn green). And yes, so I ran, with her shouting "be careful Tim!" behind me (yes, most people in law school don't call me soo).
Obviously I made it across in one piece, but what amazed me (and made me pretty pai seh as well) was that as soon as she saw that I was going to catch my bus, this girl let out an excited whoop of joy. I kid you not, it was like - WOOOOOOO! It was pretty loud for the quiet evening, haha. I was like thinking, who the hell does stuff like that?! She not pai seh meh? Walau now got so many people staring. Alamak why she still smile until so happy, not say she's the one that caught the bus what... and the list goes on. And it's not like she's this weird, unpopular girl in school (she's the law queen + dean's lister) with no image to upkeep.
The question was burning my brain in the bus. WHY? Why was this person so spontaneous, so free, so... genuine. AHA. There it was, my answer. This person WAS genuine! She didn't let her fear of what people thought of her restrict her emotions, thoughts or expressions. She just expressed it - albiet in a split second shout of exhilaration. She was genuinely happy that I could catch the bus, and this was reflected in her reaction. I know it sounds pretty muted and insignificant when I type it out now, but this small incident blew me away and remained entrenched in my mind for the rest of the entire day.
Think about it, when was the last time you were able to be genuine throughout the whole day? I'm pretty damn sure that I put up a front when I go to study law school - I'm not as easy going, friendly, uninhibited, expressive, as I would like to be (I actually am :p). The worst part is that we're Christians and we're supposed to be the ones on the forefront against the whole culture of "being someone you're not". I fail horribly at this, and this incident reminded me that it is a daily battle to fight to be genuine. How can we expect to be witnesses when we are so caught up in maintaining this front of ours, hiding behind our masks? How are we to be His hands and feet to reach out to those in need, when all our words are empty because our actions don't correspond to them?
I thank God for granting me the grace to be affected by such a minor incident, and I hope this post reminds you that each of us are called to be His living witnesses, in thought and action, and what better way to do this than being genuine in our love for others (: (especially in SCHOOL where we spend the most of our time!)
C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity (an exerpt from the chapter "The Great Sin")
Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
Let us all aim to be the humble man, and they'll know we are Christians by our love!
Genuinity.
There's a lot of talk amongst us Christians about "being who you are" and "taking off your masks". I guess I haven't really been thinking about such issues ever since I entered law school, but a certain incident last Thursday sparked my thoughts about this into life.
So there I was, walking to the bus stop after school to take 156 home. I met one of my friends along the way, and we just started chatting about the class that we just ended. (The route to the bus stop is dissected by 2 main roads, with 2 traffic lights). I had already crossed the first one and was making my way to the second one when I saw 156 waiting just before the zebra crossing for the oncoming cars to finish their right turn. It was 6.30pm and I knew that the bus would be crowded and the journey back home would be slow due to the work crowd, and I really didn't want to miss the bus... so I exclaimed "OH SHIT... *breaks off into whiny mode*".
So obviously this girl that I was walking with heard me and she was like, "actually if you run across the road now you can make it!" (I assure you this is relatively safe, there's this interval where there are no cars moving cuz the cars have finished turning right and the 156 bus is waiting for the red light to turn green). And yes, so I ran, with her shouting "be careful Tim!" behind me (yes, most people in law school don't call me soo).
Obviously I made it across in one piece, but what amazed me (and made me pretty pai seh as well) was that as soon as she saw that I was going to catch my bus, this girl let out an excited whoop of joy. I kid you not, it was like - WOOOOOOO! It was pretty loud for the quiet evening, haha. I was like thinking, who the hell does stuff like that?! She not pai seh meh? Walau now got so many people staring. Alamak why she still smile until so happy, not say she's the one that caught the bus what... and the list goes on. And it's not like she's this weird, unpopular girl in school (she's the law queen + dean's lister) with no image to upkeep.
The question was burning my brain in the bus. WHY? Why was this person so spontaneous, so free, so... genuine. AHA. There it was, my answer. This person WAS genuine! She didn't let her fear of what people thought of her restrict her emotions, thoughts or expressions. She just expressed it - albiet in a split second shout of exhilaration. She was genuinely happy that I could catch the bus, and this was reflected in her reaction. I know it sounds pretty muted and insignificant when I type it out now, but this small incident blew me away and remained entrenched in my mind for the rest of the entire day.
Think about it, when was the last time you were able to be genuine throughout the whole day? I'm pretty damn sure that I put up a front when I go to study law school - I'm not as easy going, friendly, uninhibited, expressive, as I would like to be (I actually am :p). The worst part is that we're Christians and we're supposed to be the ones on the forefront against the whole culture of "being someone you're not". I fail horribly at this, and this incident reminded me that it is a daily battle to fight to be genuine. How can we expect to be witnesses when we are so caught up in maintaining this front of ours, hiding behind our masks? How are we to be His hands and feet to reach out to those in need, when all our words are empty because our actions don't correspond to them?
I thank God for granting me the grace to be affected by such a minor incident, and I hope this post reminds you that each of us are called to be His living witnesses, in thought and action, and what better way to do this than being genuine in our love for others (: (especially in SCHOOL where we spend the most of our time!)
C.S. Lewis - Mere Christianity (an exerpt from the chapter "The Great Sin")
Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.
Let us all aim to be the humble man, and they'll know we are Christians by our love!
2 Comments:
oops forgot to sign off, this is soo!
By 
LoG,
October 02, 2011 12:53 AM
I expect more random WOOOHOO!s from you!
By jes,
October 02, 2011 1:02 AM