So, what led to the previous entry?

Yes, there was some stuff that led me to post up the previous post (sharing from 2 Corinthians 4)

Last friday felt so long. I hardly ever blog about my days in such detail, but here's friday!

After classes at main campus (one of which is skipped cos it was going through the basics of differentiation and it was nicer to sleep in my bed as opposed to the wooden lecture bench), a group assignment took my two friends and i over the cumbo. It was so nice of my friend to drive us (thanks Ben!) there and back to Central. Left main campus at 10ish, got to cumbo by around 1030, worked on the assignment, before getting dropped off at Central at 1230pm. Then caught an express to Eastwood, hopped off to get some stuff, then onto a normal train to Penno. After like a fortnight (more that that i think) of getting 5-6 hrs sleep every night, i almost stumbled into the nursing home at 130ish. Helped out with some documentation stuff before heading downstairs into the kitchen at around 2. After saying hi to a couple of other people, i was briefed by the previous shift. First thing on the list: two residents passed away a couple of days ago.

I've worked at the nursing home for around 2 months, and slowly, i've come to know most of the residents there, by name anyway. When i first started working there, they were 40 faces that looked pretty similar, some wearing the same first names. But over the past 2 months, i've come to know first and foremost, their dietary needs and habits, then a little bit about them as people. The head cook has helped me remember some of them by pointing out special characteristics and some of their personal history that she knows. I guess what i'm saying is that although i havent spent much time with them at all as yet, ive got to know some of them okay. What i'd really like to improve on is using what i know about them to help them! If a certain way of presenting their food to them will make them eat more, for instance, then i pray i can use that knowledge in love for them.

Hmm got side tracked. But yeah those two residents who passed away were two who i've got to know a bit. One was a shock to me, cause i thought she was going ok (well i hadnt worked for like two weeks so i guess things can change quite quickly). The other one wasnt doing too well, so less of a shock perhaps. I remember their faces clearly, and the way they would call out to nurses, etc. One of them always talked about how the room wasnt cold enough even though i was on the verge of shivering when i was in there, asking for more water when her water bottle was full. I hated walking away from her, but i was needed elsewhere and "she's always like that". Actually, it's like that with some other residents as well. They think i'm a nurse and call me to help them as a nurse, but some things i can't do for them (e.g. raising their bed when im serving tea - hygiene issues as well as incompetency). There's this one resident who is depressed and goes on about stuff. I once walked her around the nursing home, talking to her, which i think she appreciated, but because i need to prepare dinner, etc, i can't spend much time with her like that =( the nurses tell me that she's always like that, and there's no need, but is ignoring the resident, knowing he or she will most likely forget about it really soon, a loving thing to do? Does it please God? Does it love our neighbours as ourselves?

A few thoughts whirled around in my mind throughout the shift, especially when i passed the empty beds. Could i have done this? I should've done this. I should've done that. What could i have done? How did she feel? I should do that. Did they know Christ? On the way home, i reflected on the brevity of life on earth. We're born. We live through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age... and that's if we live that long. My friend (my age) got hit by a drunk driver as he was riding his bike half a year ago. He was "lucky" to leave the scene alive, though battered and bruised, with a broken back. We come onto the stage we call "earth", play a part, then step down. We may be born into a rich family, smart enough to top our classes, become a lawyer, work at a huge firm, earn heaps of money, marry someone you love and have great kids, no mortgage or anything. Then you deteriorate and decay. And you leave this life that you've worked so hard for and come to treasure. And what's the meaning in it? Is there a purpose?

I got home in time for dinner, and in front of me were three relationships i realised i need to devote more time to and treasure more. My dad... the urgency!! I talked to my mum about what had happened at the nursing home, which helped. Then came dishwashing, and bummed a little bit around the house, then went online.

Was so tired by this time. My friend told me that an acquaintance of ours from ECU (cumbo) passed away last tues =( That was even more of a shock to me.

I can't say i knew him well, but Ron was a Christian who attended ECU. A genetic disease confined him to a wheelchair, and unable to use both arms as per normal. It was always encouraging to see him full of life, going around in his wheelchair, attending classes and lunchtime Bible teaching. I remember meeting him during orientation week at the beginning of last year, getting to know him a bit. Last year i wasn't at Cumbo much, and as a result, my involvement with ECU has become minimal, so it was only on a rare occasion that i saw Ron at lunchtime bible teaching. I remember chatting to him a few times, but regrettably, never got to know him beyond an acquaintance. My heart rejoices, however, because i know that he's now peacefully with our Father in Heaven, and part (if not all) of his life on earth was lived in relationship with Him.

Friday night i just broke down. All these thoughts, and unable to drag myself up the stairs until after i drifted off on the couch for a while. I was reminded once again of the brevity of life on earth, and the lack of meaning and purpose for those who don't know God, the need to life each day to the full, as though it were our last here on earth, to treasure the relationships we've been blessed with, to live in a way that brings God glory, to grow in relationship with our Father, to be a servant of the Gospel, to love!! Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself. I'm greatly humbled by God's love for us, and by the brothers and sisters who reflect God's love, His gracious character. So much growth needed. It frustrates me sometimes, being incapable of loving God and others, argh!! To know God, to live in a right relationship with Him, for which we were created, to love for God is love - the purpose and meaning in life.

I'm reminded of a recent EU public meeting talk on 2 Thessalonians 1, particularly 1:7-10. Paul writes about our destination in life. Jesus will be revealed majestically, present and inescapably visible. When we see Him as Himself,we will have a deep and abiding marvel at him and stand in awe (will we even be able to stand, i wonder). The world is heading towards Jesus, and for some, the day of the Lord's coming will be the single worst day, with everlasting destruction. Some people seem to belittle hell - "What is hell", "Where the hell is that" - hell is not something we can joke about, to joke about eternal destruction! Hell is real, fair, and final.

Which option will you choose today?
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. (John 3:36)


Wow that was long... wonder if anyone read all of it! On a completely different note, Australia's into the semi-finals of the Davis Cup! Woah!! Calls for a celebration i reckon hehe! How should i celebrate... chocolate? permissimon? (Hehe i can never spell that correctly... it's an orange fruit =P)