Over and Over again

Three

Three is my favorite number. To me it reflected balance. One is definitely not a balance for what can be balanced when its only one? some people said that Two is balance, just like Yin and Yang according to Chinese tradition, the good and the bad, or the black and the white for some others. But no, to me two can just pointed to one side. There should be something in between, something that made peace for both ends.... it's the grey in life, and its Three!

And it's me. its the adidas brand, its the Trinity. There are even Three stars in the sky which form a short straight line, which I claimed as my star =), and that's how everything comes about. That is why, if I do get married and have children, I want to have Three children. Whatever happens I wish that I will have Three dogs too (since I had Three dogs before in my life, which sadly all died when I was not with them)..

Three is also my mobile phone provider, somehow :p. Three is my number and three is me. it is how I live my life, and it is how i long to have that balance in my life. Its the balance between aspiration and pragmatism...

Birthday

My Birthday this year was different. This year I had my birthday during one of a camp that we held and like usual, I was leading it. Honestly I was not at my best, but nonetheless I had a great team with me, and they congratulated me on our way to Lembang. From then onwards, greetings never stopped, be it phone calls, sms and messages, and through Facebook. But my mind was just too busy thinking about the camp. I want the best out of it because its really important for the participants and it was also the first time for the team that we arranged this camp this way. And all day my concentration was on the camp. I didn't feel like I was having a birthday at all.... and that day was really really tiring. I had no rest at all, even the night before I couldn't sleep. 


Only at the end of the day that I managed to breathe. I thank God that the day went well if not almost perfect :-D, and my heart was cool but warm again, filled with life after having a phone call from far away :). Afterwards I managed to check on some greetings, and then I realized how wonderful my life is, having greeted and wishful thoughts from all parts of the world with different languages as well!. I felt so blessed, for who am I, just a small person in a small secluded place, yet being part of this HUGE world? greetings flocked in endlessly and it didn't stop even until last week, even some brothers of Taize wished me for my birthday! =D. I received surprises from Poland, France and Germany which I never even guessed before. It was such a wonderful birthday, no doubt about it! Only a simple smile, a bit of tear and a give thanks to God was what happened. 

The LIFE you always wanted

"Distubance in the Force, there is..." says Yoda. This Jedi master can sense when the balance of the universe was disturbed. But for us we don't need to be a Jedi master like Yoda in order to know that there's something wrong in this world because It has gone wrong... The world does not offer any balance anymore. Greed, capitalism, ambitions and self-recognition rules the world now. Where is the balance then?

If we look at our lives, ask again "do I have a balanced life?" In this time where the world flies so fast, filled with rapid changes in technology, societies, communications and other parts, where do we fit in? Do we know who we are, what we should do, let alone what God has called us to do in this world, or are we just plunged into all routines (I called it Business As Usual -being busy, as usual- :p) without even having the time to stop, to look back and to see who and where we are now?

This thing called routine, made people lost themselves. No longer they know what they need (they only know what they want, and call it their needs) and no longer they know who they are. This made life becomes more individualistic and egocentric, (as what people called personal), skeptic (a.k.a freedom), and stressful (as something unavoidable)... This breaks relationships, torn families apart, and diminishing the values of life. We forget that we are communal creatures, that we need each other not just for the sake of a personal benefit, that we need God and that we need ourselves. We are just sucked into all this without being able to control our life anymore; it is life and all these routines that control us! What a life! We forget that it is us, who should controls life and not the other way around! We can do that when we bring our life into balance.

By balance I mean a discipline to set our lives and priorities according to what we are in this world for (have you know why on earth are you here for btw?). To gain this balance we need to stop from the routines for a while and give time to God, ourselves and others daily. When we have this balance, we become humans. We don't become robots being controlled by time, money, society and the world itself. We began to see the beauty of life and embrace them as what it should be. We start to understand what is the most important and essential in life. No, its not material and money although it is also important. It is not power and ambition as well. Having this balance does not necessarily means that we can get all that we want. No, Life does not work that way. It should be seen more as to get what we NEED. 

I know a small village in central France who practice this kind of life, just like the life of the first believers (Acts 2: 42-47), where most people agreed that they find true quality of life there, to know themselves better, to know God better, and to know others better. This is a place where a balance life can be achieved through prayers, work, and living in communities. But does that mean that we can only have a balance life there? No, certainly not, because as I have said before, it is us who should controls our lives. We can create a balance life where ever we are. It is a choice that we can make to start living as human beings the way God created us. So choose Life! (Deuteronomy 30:19) Benjamin Disraeli said something so true "‎We are not creatures of circumstance, We are CREATORS of circumstance". When we believe that we can do all things in Christ, it really means that He gave us the power to choose and to live that choice! 

So how do we choose to have a balanced life? It is to choose something that we are lacking of. TIME. In this modern day, life is always in a fast pace lane, and we are absorb in it, being distracted by things and we forget what is really important. We think that we do not have time to stop in the midst of our routines, to give time for ourselves (not literary, but time to look at where and who we are), and the most important thing, time for God. As what Jesus said to Martha, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:37-42).

We are just too busy with what we think is the real life!

But Mary has chosen to give her TIME for God, for herself (and then for others as a result), and that is the best. One thing needed is the heart, to stay still, to pause, to listen and to focus on God (be it only 15 minutes a day), and Mary gave it all. Within our hearts, there lies our true selves; it is where God, who is the true love, stays. And that is what God values more than what we do. This is the answer to our problems in life. This is where we can learn and experience real love. Aren’t we always interested in being loved and sharing this love with others, especially to whom we love? When we are there we felt the abundance of God's love flowing endlessly to us, and our life is filled with peace, joy and love. 

Having this life filled with peace, joy and love is something that we can't contain. No matter how much we want to keep it for ourselves, people will see it, and receive some of it as a result. And of course, what’s the use of keeping those without sharing them to others?

So choose a balanced life! Live simple through our lifestyle, our hearts and our minds, and believe me, you'll find the life you've always wanted! 

The glory of the young is their strength

it was a really nice evening prayer when there was a testimony from a 93 years old lady about her faith. Br. Alois said that although herr age is old but she is very young at spirit. no time to write everything now, will continue later, (whenever is possible, which i dunno when)

what if...

What will you do if you only have 3 more months to live?
yesterday I heard my college friend was diagnosed with a 4th stage liver cancer and the doctor tod him that he only have 3 more months to live...

Mistakes

its my other middle name...

Wasp

I got stung by a wasp (a meaner n way more aggressive type of a bee) yesterday afternoon on my neck...
had to hold a huge ice cube for 3 hours (including in the evening prayer)... and in this small communtity everyone was making a fuss out of it.. too much I guess..

Community

in this small community, everyone will know everything...
even the smallest thing that happened ....
news are spreading very fast..
luckily, this community life is based on trust and love..
sssttt.....

Fourth week, the Summer week

This is the start of the fourth week...
This week I'm responsible with the big kitchen coordination and visitor's welcome
It means that in the morning I'll be going back and forth to and from the kitchen with loads of stuffs. Hope the team will be great. I never do this before though, so I don't know what's gonna happen... surely be fun, or better said, lets make it fun! yeaah....
in the afternoon I'll be welcoming people who only come to Taize for one or two days... not sure what and how to do this though but hospitality is the priority here I guess..
I'm glad that I don't have any jobs in the evening, but probably I will try to help the church team since I know I'll have much responsibilities to come in the church.. better learn from now on since summer is always different than other weeks.. but off course if I'm tired I think I will give more time rest, or read, or write, or to reflect and do some ponderingss  hehe

Ow, today I fiinally worked in the afternoon and will have meetings for next week shortly. Yesterday was a very packed day though... can't even breath even for a while... Olinda the whole day, kitchen training after lunch and 3 consecutive meetings in the afternoon and back night guarding Olinda..
but so far I loved it and can't wait for this week!

Recap of Olinda

Right Place and Track

This morning I had another inspiration or confirmation that I'm at the right place. Doing and learning all this stuf is what I used to do @ BW but way in a smaller level and I'm quite sure that what I'm doing here at the moment is for the future of BW too.. organizing (or be part of) a neverending retreat, coordinating this and that with large numbers of participants, how to be attentive to them, how too empower and mobilize volunteers... this is part of what I'll be doing in  BW, whatever the future might be...or no matter what I'll become... so yea, again... I beieve I'm on the right track  

Give and Receive

the Be and the Do

inspiration

...

The air is filled with love
as my mind and heart swings together in joy
Peace filled the sanctuary of my heart
for nothing can fathom his love and mercy
as the greatest gift off all...
I am happier and happier here
and I wish I can share everything that I experience here with you
coz I miss you every single day
hope you're as happy as I am
Or even more, happier than me here..

Olinda

A: Hey Yoseph, guess what?
Y: What? (uh oh...)
A: You'll be working at Olinda next week
Y: Woww!! (oh my..)
A: Yeap, and you'll be the coordinator
Y: Oh wow!! (oooh my God!!)
A: And you'll also be the night guard at Olinda
Y: Whoow!! (oh my dear Lord.. no!!)

well, I will have to work at Olinda next week...
and I just know that sooner or later I will be given this task..

Olinda is a place for families located at Ameugny, a neighbouring village 10 minutes walk from Taize.
It's not about the distance or the families that worries me.. it's the children!!
I will be responsible for all the children there for the whole week and defo willl be part of the animation team who has to do all this skits and drama for them, not to mention playing with them during bible discussions for their parents...

Another bonus is that I will have to sleep there as well.. which means that I will be all alone during the night.. it's not what I'm hoping for sure..but then again, I know this is part of the moulding and shaping process which IB hav to endure.

But IB believe that it is the best for me.
And since it's the best for me, I hope that I can make the best of myself for them...

It's gonna be a fun week!

T-Spot

yesterday Sixto just showed me the T spot. his best spot in Taize, and I have to agree with him..
Now I have the best T-spot here..awesome! 

Aber du Weisst

Stefan

He's an Austrian permanent guy and his story is just amazing, and he's a very nice guy with only one hand..
will update the story later... and I think I might go to Austria once my Taize time is over... this is way cool!