Kindness this morning

This morning, I was making my usual 15-minute walk to my friend's place (and then we go together to work in her car, she works 10 minutes away from me) when a car stopped. I thought they needed help with directions. I looked into the car and there was a kind looking senior Asian man at the wheel and a senior Asian woman sitting at the back. He said something, i didn't understand and he asked me where I was going. He's seen me walking in the morning and they thought I was Korean. And I then found out they were Korean too. He was going to drop her off in the city too, and I told him where I was going. He asked if I would like a lift and I contemplated it for like 1 second and said okay.

I know it sounds pretty "whaaatttt????" ...you did " what????" But not only was a lift nice coz I was running late, but they seemed really nice, and I was touched by his sincerity especially. And I didn't think they were in any way dangerous (but yeah i know u're thinking, HOW DO U KNOW??). He told me in the car that they have a 5.30 am service or something. They go to a Korean church in Greenacre (which is out west in Sydney), and asked if I go to church too. He had dropped off someone in Kingsford (the suburb next to mine) and was going to drop the lady off in the city, before heading home to Vaucluse (which is like 15 minutes away). They all live in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, so that's why he drops them all the way here. When he mentioned Vaucluse, I thought of Chris Looi's dad, a church friend. He is someone else whose heart for God is so inspiring, his generosity in opening his house to whoever is incredible, that after I spoke to him, I felt touched to tears (not bucketloads, ok haha and not in front of him) because of his genuine interest and time he took to share with me stuff and encourage me in my walk with God. He even gave me a book to read. He is one amazing person. God has used him so much and God has worked in many many people's hearts through him, I know it.

Anyway, Mr Park, the Korean man, looked like such a kind grandfather, someone who is still alert at that age, someone who loves God and loves people. They get up so early to praise God, and his kindness really touched my heart. It's amazing how God taught me about kindness this very morning through the simple actions of these Korean people. When I was waiting for my friend in her lobby, I saw another old man who wakes up early to take his dogs for a walk or maybe they belong to his daughter. We said hello and said hello to Bubble, the cute dog...he's quite nice. When I came in once, he asked if I was Chinese and we chatted a little bit.

I kinda like talking to old people sometimes, they're great.

Sometimes I have thoughts of what I would like to be like when I get old, if I ever reach that age. I hope to still be alert, active and to have a life that serves God and loves people, just like Mr. Park and Mr. Looi.

Wake up early

Read a friend's blog today and he mentioned how he realises how important it is to get up early, to pray properly, plan and think for the day on how he can glorify God throughout the day, taking a good amount of time to do things in no rush.

Unlike the usual waking up late, and because of that time seems to be so short, there is not enough time for everything, like expressing prayer to God, and having to take shower in hurry, no breakfast, walk to station in hurry, arrive at office and do everything in a hurry.... and another day passes by...

And it's true what he says, that's the way for me, I think. I wake up and rush so that I can go to work and try to get to work on time. At this time with the cold weather and my sleeping late habits, I am getting lazier to wake up early...

Will try to get up early...but must sleep early....

will try.... so far, still failing..

Hostel 2

I went to watch this movie with some friends on Saturday night. Haven't watched the first show which I heard was pretty gory, and had a lot of blood to scare people. Not that I wanted to watch this show, but my friend wanted to watch it, so okay...If you don't know what it's about, in the movie, there's a group/organisation that allows the highest bidder to kill whomever they set as target victims. This movie saw 3 American college students being the victims while they are on holiday in Europe.

2 of my other friends casually mentioned they wouldn't even bother to go see it as it is a stupid horror film. And yeah, they were right. It was pretty stupid but not as gory as I expected it to be. The movie had nudity, lots of foul language flying here and there, sick people with twisted minds....it makes you wonder, what is this world coming to? Why do people have to inject F-words in every single sentence?

I give it a half a star

Making a difference

This week at work we've been having training on beverages from our "beverage specialist" from our Singapore office. I must say, that I was trying my best to pay attention but sometimes, I got kinda sleepy during his long long lectures. Luckily, his powerpoint slides (which he saved on soft copy for us and even printed out&bound) are quite detailed. He was a goofy kinda looking 40+ yr-old "professor", who explains stuff quite detailed, and when u ask him a question, his answer is so long, I can get lost.

It was great to have more people in the lab, made the lab livelier! But you know, at the end of Friday, I did feel a little sad that he would be leaving us. He was kinda funny sometimes, and quite passionate about sharing all his knowledge with us. He prepared so much, and wanted to help us in every way. He'd explain the calculations step by step, explaining why and how it would be like in real factory situations.

Even though I never want to be like him, but he definitely inspired me and he made me think about how important it was to appreciate people. I might never hear him explain all the stuff again, people don't stay around forever. And no matter how much we have any thoughts about anyone, we just don't realise how much they are worth in the sight of God. How much life they have, or what they've gone through in their life.

One of my uni friends just works 10 minutes away from me, and her boss's dad (who started her company) used to work at my company a long time ago. Guess what? He died on Thursday night from a stroke. He has been quite sickly and my friend just spoke to him on Thursday during the day when he came into the office. It was kinda sad, I felt shocked. She's talked about him before, and sometimes about his son or his wife who still wants to work in the accounts dept even though she can be quite hard to work with.

People can come and go. People we see everyday at work, whom we just walk past with a quick hello coz we're so busy and absorbed in what we have to do. People we deal with but don't really know much about.

Check this out: http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/

I've read it before in a forwarded mail, but my friend's mum sent it again, and it was a good reminder. Everyone has so much potential in them, and by believing in them, it's amazing how much a difference you've made to their life and amazingly, how much they've taught you and made a difference in yours.

Can you make a difference to every person you meet? that's the challenge

go away self-pity

When self-pity comes over me like a stranger excluded, I'm so tempted to give in to a restroom intermission, to break out into moodlessness. But God's Word always humbles me on how I should behave. Putting off my old self to which I used to belong, and putting on the new self, seeking to be renewed, transformed, and changed. All by the grace and power and help of God!

So much to do rather than focus on self! So many other people to love and care for. A simple note, pick up the phone, an offer of help, a warm meal, so many things and people to think about...seriously, there is no time for boredom and complaints of nothing to do!

Dear God,

Thank you God for today. Please "let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and slander be put away from me, along with all malice. Being kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven me." (Eph 4: 31-32). Please help me to walk in a manner worthy of your calling. Amen.

Quotes of the day

"When I hear somebody sigh, "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask, "Compared to what?" -- Sydney J. Harris


If you train your mind to search for the positive things about other people, you will be surprised at how many good things you can observe in them and comment upon.
Alan Loy Mcginnis
Writer and counselor

discovering skype

My whole evening today was spent mainly playing with Skype - just downloaded it for the first time.. I think I'm new-technology-challenged in things like PDA, other gadgets, i just don't keep up to date.

So since I'm on Skype now, I felt pretty excited about it and started making a lot of phone calls after topping up my credit. Called a couple of my good friends in SIngapore, called Linda Che in the Philippines who used to work for us a long time ago, and called all my family members except for my mum coz she's working.

It's so cool!!...and so convenient since I don't have a home phone.
yeah, i know i sound really backward hahah...anyways...

I really should do more calling instead of my dad calling me most of the time - and he does it mobile phone to mobile phone. And the urge to keep calling was this feeling in me how little contact I keep - if the relationship was really important to me, i should want to know how they're going! So, you reading my blog, thanks for reading, I'm sorry for the little contact I keep with you.

It was so good to chat to my really good friend, Kailing again too, I talked to her for close to 40 minutes. Just feel like I can call her anytime now, so easy! Spoke to my youngest brother for so long too, I wish I could do more for him, he seems so demotivated with his job, what he wants in life. And Linda Che said her daughter is so naughty, had to go to dentist too coz she eats too much junk but at least unlike me, she doesn't argue with the dentist. I was like...nooo...I didn't argue with the dentist! I think I told him I didn't want to see him. Don't really remember. But she was so surprised to hear from me...first time calling her. It was great to speak to her too!

=) more calling another day...

June already!

Music: 一秒的安慰

List down anything that has been on your mind for the past 24 hours.

A lot.

Work was busy.

But I thought again a lot about my 3 weeks in Taiwan last July. As I flip through my photos, can't believe it was 11 months ago that I did all that. Boy, how fast does time fly.

I just talked again to 詠誼(yong3 yi2), aka Lily, on MSN - I find it a bit difficult chatting to her there coz my chinese typing skills isn't that fantastic - but thank goodness for online chinese-english-chinese dictionaries haha. She is getting married next month too! thinking about her, I am just reminded how I so enjoyed my time in Taiwan and my time with her. She is my friend's (in Oz) best friend in Taiwan btw.

I really enjoyed the time I got to study mandarin there, hang out and go to places with my group of Aussie friends I went to Taiwan with and the time when our calligraphy teacher took us for dinner and even to her place outside Taipei (in the country). I don't think I would ever find satisfaction in an overseas trip that just involves seeing places only, not even like exploring the wondrous sights of that country - it would need this but that wouldn't be enough.

I miss my time there. She told me a lot of Taiwanese stuff and I was forced to speak in Mandarin to her the whole time, which was really good for me. We did simple stuff and it was great. Just going to her place, her friends' place, going to her uni, her school, meeting her little brother, eating different things, seeing the area where she lived, it was great. I learned a lot from her, not only Mandarin, but just who she is. She works as a social worker, she volunteers every Saturday at an Internet helpline (i nearly went there!! disappointed i couldn't make it in the end), and the care she shows her autistic brother and she trusted me enough to let me meet him. I went to his autistic school to pick him up with her, and finally she said I could come to her house even though she does not like to show people the conditions of her home, and does not want to cause any awkwardness that would be displayed by her brother's mannerisms. Met her every week, and twice or trice a week the last 2 weeks.

Outside a small museum where she tried her best to explain to me and where I used a lot of brain energy trying to understand the history she was telling me...felt I learned so much just on that day!

Lily helping me when I couldn't read some of the lyrics

Karaoke was fun =)

At the university she went to up in the mountains (Chinese Culture University)

Overlooking Taipei city (i wouldn't have bothered going up Taipei 101 if i knew about this place earlier!)

At Lily's and my friend's junior high school

Lily at front gate of high school

Lily with an administrative stuff (who used to be her classmate) and a teacher

I miss Taiwan .. =)

feel like a failure

Failure is like feedback.

But when you fail, it's hard to see that in the beginning. Or whatever positive talk people throw at you. Negative emotions are still kinda raw.

So, feel like a total failure now. Don't know how many times I have to face it this year. Guess I can get really hung up on failure sometimes. It helps me sympathise with people. Before when people tell me about their failures, I try to cheer them up but I don't truly understand how they feel, coz to be honest, I hardly failed at school, or really failed to the point of making me feel really down.

I don't want my friend to fail uni
i'll try to call her later to ask how she is

wish my mum was here

frustration

A friend sends me a msg and calls me at about 10 pm to borrow an assignment which is due the next day and which she hasn't started. I was out so I couldn't email it straight away.

This is like the 2nd time this semester for the same subject that i suddenly hear from her again and it's to ask for an assignment.

But this is not the only two times it's happened, it's happened before in other different situations in different ways which makes me frustrated. And she thinks i'm a nice person.

Seems easy....just give it to her...who cares? what's the big deal to help her out? Don't want her to still not graduate.....No one's going to find out, I know for sure. I don't care anyway what marks she gets or whatever, coz ultimately it doesn't matter. And she's got 2 presentations to prepare for or something.

I'm just annoyed now.

Everyday is a special day

Everyday, we wake up wishing we could sleep a little bit more (well, okay, I do anyway) but once I've reached the "I'm definitely awake stage", there's just so much to look forward to in the day!

There're responsibilities at work and it feels good when a job or project is submitted and completed, no matter how small or big, but the most satisfying times I think is getting to know people better. When you move from not much talk to sharing some life stories to actually feeling comfortable poking fun at someone and so on. Who knows where it will move to. There's so much joy when your try to fill your heart with laughter and love, your face with big smiles and your mouth with genuine friendliness and care --> something to aspire to do every day.

This Bible passage really hit me as we were reading it at church today:

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. ~ Romans 13:8-10 (NIV)

It just hit me (even though i've read it before a number of times) that these commandments are all actually about loving OTHERS as how we love ourself. More an outward focus, rather than an inward focus.

I think I used to think more along the lines that those are God's commandments (imagine the 10 commandments one by one), and so we are to obey each one because He says so. Or the fact that we just don't want others to do the same to us. I knew at the back of my mind that we don't do these bad things coz we don't want to hurt others...but it just impacted me more today.

God is just so good and He teaches us everyday in unbelievable ways. He teaches us through everyone he puts in our path in different ways. Even through people who don't match our way of thinking, our ideals, our way of life. Today at church, a couple of friends presented to some of us how they would run kids church on the topic of God creating the whole world and everything in it and so, He is King of us all. Their efforts were amazing and I think if there were kids listening, they would have learned a lot, as I was reminded of a lot of things.

And my heart felt overwhelmed just now as a church friend was sharing her struggles with me and telling me some of the things she learned at church today. Life is not a bore at all and not mindless or purposeless which we try to fill by doing something to pass the time.

Everyday we can forget....but God is good to give us reminders.

My cousin has given birth!

Vanessa Mae Chambers was born on 22nd April 2007 at 2:20am, weighing 3.71kg, 54cm in length.

I think my cousin must be a big fan of Vanessa Mae and really like the sound of her name huh...heheh.....and I reckon that baby's eyes are kinda bluish-green from the original enlarged photo that my cousin emailed. Can't really see from the picture below. Her husband, Brian's eyes are also light blue btw

Cutie baby Vanessa sleeping

My aunty (her mum) can't believe she's a grandma now. I just went over to her place earlier and had dinner (she cooks so nice and simple..yum and even had some yummy apple crumble - mann...my stomach is seriously getting bigger that my appetite is increasing at an alarming rate , i'm serious , ...i think i will eat like an elephant if i ever get pregnant and will balloon like a marshmallow hahaha)...hahaha. Anywaysss....yeah shouldn't be talking about being fat...i know anyone reading this would be rolling their eyes at me.

Also, I passed my L computer test (for driving here in NSW) todayyy!! yayy hahah..not that it's a big deal coz it's not hard...but at least now i can drive even if someone with a full licence has to sit beside me. Next...book a driving exam. I'm going to go for at least 2 hours of driving lessons before that though just so that i can get official advice on how to drive properly here. It'll be nice to drive here, and i'll be able to drive people....instead of being driven all the time.

and finally...buy a car...i guess i could buy one already...

They grow up fast

Was talking to little SY on MSN - it's amazing how i'm moving on to the stage of being able to talk to her there now....And she's not even 12 yet

But i'm just shocked at the way she's typing now. Geez...

Her user name already goes something like this : "ur so cool dat peeps ditch u and say ur so freaken gay. " Some boy childishly rudely said something to her...

but anyways...did that really come out of her mouth? i wonder if she was quoting anything from those hip hop songs she listens to now. Her computer has these Gwen Stefani songs and she's singing along to them or other hip hoppy style and i'm like...woww..do kids nowadays listen to this type of music now? she uses other short forms... he thinks hes da best in da hol class. Wow...kids sure learn fast how to short cut their typing...she's a smarty pants this one.

I half stopped when she said "hell no"

and then completely stopped in my tracks when she said ' they r fuked up morons', OMFG

ahhhh

what is happening...does her mother know this??

But I must say that she is very bright and intelligent and always been affectionate and loving.

Different thoughts always gently sweep through my mind when i see different kids in different families, read magazines, books, tv etc...
I have yet to truly dwell on the thoughts ...but
it does come to mind on how best to raise the kids

It's so easy to say that yeah i'm going to do things differently

Pick the good bits here and there
but when reality hits, the challenge can seem like Mount Everest
However, everyone around us always teaches us
the people we want to follow and even the ones we don't want to
Yet, good examples are such a treasured blessing
Godly examples even more so...
For who to teach us to be better parents than God our Father

whom we ask to please change us first to be what He wants us to be, before we look to others for guidance and even to change others


And what better time to learn than now!

A Message by George Carlin

I've read this a number of times already ...all from forwarded emails i think. But I still quite like it coz it's so true

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that
we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smallerfamilies, more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense,
more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back,
but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever,
but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,
big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes....
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies,
and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the
showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe,
because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones,
but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.

Cute

From a forwarded email.

It's really late now - close to 4 am, haven't been up this late in ages. Today, I practically spent the whole day with my uni friends. We didn't even do anything substantial but just hang out at a picnic this afternoon and then some of us went to have dinner and then just hang out playing a board game and taboo till 1.40 am.

Playing these games is really fun and a great group activity I reckon. Next time when I have my own family in my own house, we'll have such games at home.

And i can't sleep now...too much tea and a cup of coffee. Thank goodness i'm not helping out at kids church tomorrow morning. Anyways, hope i don't waste the whole morning and early afternoon sleeping or doing nothing substantial.

okay, good night

after a long easter weekend

can't believe it's already April, huh?! i've been at my new company for 6 weeks now! work's really going okay and i find it all really interesting. I'll talk about it another time.

Anyways, another long easter weekend is over and just got back from our annual church camp Monday evening! Church camp was awesome. This is my 5th time, but honestly, I'm just starting to realise this year how much wisdom there is in God's word. I used to think a lot of things were stuff I keep on hearing every time. It's like, I'm not really learning anything new. But God's word is seriously powerful.

2 Timothy 3:15-16 ...the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteusness... (NIV).
I thought the explanation i heard below was pretty helpful:

The bible
1) Teaches us - instructs us towards knowing what the truth is
2) Rebukes us - tells us when we leave the truth
3) Corrects - tells us the way to go back to walking in the truth
4) Trains us in righteousness - helps and equips us to keep on walking in the truth we've been taught.

God's word humbles us and just shows us how sinful we are, how selfish we are, how we think we know how to run our own life when we really don't.

my bible study group this year at camp!

The theme this year at camp was "Love is...". We learned a lot on what love is as defined by God from the main talks and bible studies and there were other related topics during our elective sessions. The rest of the time, we ate and played games or sports, hung out and relaxed!

Anyway....on another unrelated note, I'm pretty excited today coz i checked my mailbox, and I received a CD of photos from Vignesh, my cousin's boyfriend who's in Sydney. Finally it arrived when he told me he sent them a couple of weeks ago!! My cousins (2 out of 3) and their parents were here visiting in February from Malaysia and I went out with them a few times.

Captain Cook cruise dinner

with my cousins: Deepa & Durga

u know, we got to eat free lunch at a Hindu temple

I always feel so tall standing next to my aunty hehee...

we love to pose...actually, Durga just told us to turn around

With the whole Siva family at Kiama minus the youngest cousin, Shakti

Trust God no matter what

Excerpt from The Purpose-Driven Life Devotional 2 April 2007 "The Holy One of Blessing",

"We worship God when we leave it up to him to interpret our circumstances. We worship God when we take the facts that we can see and offer them to the God-who-sees-all. We worship God when we allow him to define our lives and our purpose.

We worship God when we allow our heartache and our horrible circumstances to crowd us closer to the One who grieves with us because he loves us more than any other.

So what?

· Give your circumstances to God – God sees the big picture, so he is the best one to interpret your circumstances. He is in control of all things, even when it may not appear that way.

· Look for the blessing – When faced with heartache, ask God to show you the blessing, the dark treasures, hidden within. (Isaiah 45:3)

· Instead of asking, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ ask God, “What do you want me to do in this situation?”

· Pray: “Oh Holy One of Blessing, Your presence fills creation. Thank you for this day and for the simple blessings I so often overlook. You go before and behind, and I trust you to turn these circumstances into something that brings glory to you.” "

why not to eat beef

A friend recently told me the reason why she doesn't eat beef.

She once saw a cow, that was going to be slaughtered, shed tears. For the cow knew that its time was up.

Can you imagine that? I was expecting her to say she doesn't like the taste or she was a buddhist and never touched beef in her life or red meat is bad for you or something. But after hearing that, made me want to never eat beef again. Feel sorry for the cows...actually, makes you feel sorry for animals that we eat. Chicken killing at the markets already makes me sick.

Anyways...if you're wondering, i'm not turning vegetarian yet...

started new work already

New work has been okay. The Asia Pacific manager for our division was in Sydney so after first day of work, our division went lawn bowling and had a little competition. Won the loser's prize - a small trophy of a horse's arse - with my partner. Basically, the top 2 teams played against each other and the bottom 2 teams did likewise (which we were in). Anyway it was pretty fun! Maybe lawn bowling isn't that boring after all as I initially thought hehee.....After that, we just went for dinner, all paid for.

Anyway, I still miss my old workmates. It was like this phase of my life that I will always remember. I miss the familiarity and how I know how certain things are and those different people and how there would sometimes be different cakes or croissants or bread etc in the lunch room that we could take or different yummy foods in the lab thanks to our chef. Many a times, had to control myself haha... I'm so in love with the iced coffee he made for Christine on her birthday and my last day....woww...YUMMM..hhehe

On my last day, after work, went over to one of my workmate's place. I used to go over to her place once a week for awhile last year. Her mum is always so nice, and we helped prepare dinner and then we had dinner with her bro and his friend. And it was so funny how 3 of them started complaining and laughing about each other to us. Mum has to hide the biscuits coz bro is like a biscuit machine and bro gets so angry when he has to clean up the other sister's mess and starts banging things around to show he's angry blah blah blah and all these spanish words start flying around me coz the friend is actually in Australia to study english and mum is better at speaking spanish. After dinner and everything, my friend brought out her guitar to show what she'd been learning at guitar lessons and we ended up singing Christian songs together while she tried to play it. Her mum was sitting opposite knitting these little woollen jumpers for poor African children and also singing along sometimes. I just had such a great time...I think i really made 2 really good friendships at my old job. Her and my other married friend, J whom I stood next to for like 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. But there were other fantastic people too and i'll miss their teasing and talking. Just'll miss them.

Anyways...time to sleep now...brand new week at work tomorrow.

Write more another day...

LOVE

"Put love first. Entertain thoughts that give life and when a thought or resentment, or hurt, or fear comes your way, have another thought that is more powerful -- a thought that is love." -- Mary Manin Morrissey

"For one human being to love another: that is perhaps the most difficult of our tasks; the ultimate, the last test and proof, the work for which all other work is but preparation." -- Rainer Maria Rilke

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -- Mother Teresa

"Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age." -- Jeanne Moreau