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Andy Prima

It's Tuesday

"Because, most of us all walk around as if we' re sleeping walking. We really don't experience the world fully, because we're half-asleep, doing things we automatically thing we have to do."

Today I fully aprpreciate this quote. I am breathing but I dont have clear vision. I dont have clear dream.

Once I read from a blog about what imagery you would think of your life. I had one imagery last time, like a clay.

But I think the clay is almost dry now, it is very difficult to be shaped, the clay also want to know what is its shape now. No answer, no body tell it. It is confused and lost.

It is tuesday. I learned about death today.

Weekends of Tuesday with Morrie

It has been quite some time for me to write something here, and also to read a novel book. It is because of my bad habbit of Procrastination. I am now trying to cut my negative habit of procrastination by writting something that touched me so much this weekend. I supposed to write about my 10 days training at Kkotongnae as I promised one of my friend and also about my trip to Chengdu, and some other things. Rather than making the list longer I guess the best solution is just start writing from what I have now.

So here I am, after finishing the 2nd book by Mitch Albom, Tuesday with Morrie. I borrowed these 2 books ( one more day and Tuesday with Morrie ) from my roommate. The last novel that I read is harry potter which was about 1 or 2 years ago. These two books are quite thin so I could finish it quite fast. ( maybe 2 weekends is considered slow for some of you hahaha). I am not going to give a book review,but rather about my experience and reflection reading this book.

For more excerpt or preview about the book please check it on wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuesdays_With_Morrie)

I will go straight to my favorite chapter: The fourth Tuesday, we talked about Death.

Death is really the best topic that I love from this book, it serves me as a wake up call, slap on the face, or punch on my stomach. When something struck me real hurt it means that I am really weak on this ( I forgot where I heard or read about this )

My favorite part from this chapter :
" Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live .... , Because, most of us all walk around as if we' re sleeping walking. We really don't experience the world fully, because we're half-asleep, doing things we automatically thing we have to do. "
And facing death changes all that?
" Oh yes, You strip away all that stuff and you focus on the essentials. When you realize you are going to die you see everything much differently."

"Everyone knows they are going to die, but nobody believes it."

I love this part because it hit me so hard, I am that kind of person, I know that I am going to die, but I dont really believes it because I dont live my life fully. yet.

I know that I should doing what I love, living what I love, but the problem is.... I dont know exactly what it is.
I am still running here and there to find clues. I am still not at peace with my self. I dont know about you, but I really want to say that I know what I love, and I am doing what I love.

At the end of my life, I will be able to say I forgive all the things that I failed to do, but if I have a chance to repeat my life, I will do exactly the same thing that I did in my life.
I can feel it.... The sense of peace because of fulfillment.

I am still not settling down, I am open minded, searching for my true self, knowing what I love, and doing it.
By writing this, I discovered 1 clue, I love to share, I love to hear if there is anybody who could relate to what I am writing, and of course I could help them from my sharing.

I know that I am not alone, we are on the same quest. To our self discovery. Let us share and encourage one another.

Peace

The most profound life experience (Yet)

I visited the greatest place on earth, Kkottongnae, South Korea. I went there with another 4 of my friends from singapore.

From the left : Stefani, Damian, Bosco , and Dion.

We spent 10 days full of great experience, lovely people, beautiful place, and delicious food!

Our first day visit to Seoul Cathedral ( I forgot the name), and this is the first church to be built in Korea, well it is still under renovation for the front view. Something unique about Korean Christian, they know Christ for the first time was not by the foreign missionaries like many other countries in Asia.

2nd day visit, a tour to the Kkottongnae facilities, they have many buildings on their complex.There are house for children (read: orphan,children with disabilities),house for the poor ( those who stay on the street), house for the elderly ( those who were cast away by their own children/family). The picture above is only one of the building, which is the training center, and also convention hall to hold a big conference or meeting.

At the back part of the training center, there is this beautiful cemetery, this place is dedicated for the baby who were aborted by their parent. A statue of the Holy Family ( Joseph,Mary and baby Jesus) is there.

Two of the hundred children who stay at kkottongnae, they are so lovely! very active and smart. 

 

We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to do voluntary job at the house of the elderly. I help this grandmother to have her lunch, because she can't move her body well and she need help to do her daily activity. Strangely, the elderly who stay there looks happy ( for real! ) I can look at their eyes, and they feel peace and loved! Look at this!

  

We also bring them outside to have a walk ( we push their wheel chair because they can't walk anymore). They holds hand by themselves ( no body ask them to do it! ) they support one another, love one another! I really can feel the love among the people! The worker with the elderly, the worker with the volunteer, and the volunteer with the elderly.

  

Guess what? in Korea there are 103 canonized saints! and many more martyrs! This is also another reason why the Christian there is very strong. The origin for their faith was from their own people who went to China and become a priest there. Behind the altar there are stones on which is engraved the name of the saint.

  

It is me with the picture of the 103 saints~ 

  

At Kkottongnae, we attended a leadership training by ICCRS ( please visit the site for more details about ICCRS) The training was held for 1 week, from 5 - 13 July 2008. In the picture is Jim Murphy one of the trainer. *And Sister John whom we met at the airport for the 1st time with Br Paul.

  

In the 1st row, there are Jim Murphy  and Oreste ( the 2nd and 3rd person from the left of the 1st row). Oreste is also one of the trainer, he is currently the Director of ICCRS. The rest of the people are the Koreans from one diocesan of the 13 diocesan in Korea

 

Lastly the Sisters and Br Bartholomew who lead the Praise and Worship on the last day. They really have beautiful voices! I love to see the sisters in KKottongnae, they are so lovely, so kind and in love with Jesus!

This is really a life changing experience. To see and experience the Love and Faith of people to God. I believe this is not only my statement to say that this is the most profound life experience, but also by the entire participants of the training.

Self Love

After I change my focus to meaning, there is some changes in my life. I played soccer this Saturday. I usually play every week with my friends. But this week is a bit different. I have more love towards the game.

When the game was started, I feel the joy of kicking the ball, running to chase the ball, or pass the ball to my friends.

The wheater was also quite good, not so hot and not raining. Some how I feel good about it.

I said to my self, how good life is, I am very fortunate to have a healthy body. I said I love my body as it is. Thank you God for giving me this body.

I also said thank God for the health, appearance that I have.

I found meaning in this simple conversation, you know, it is like saying I love my self as I am.

I feel many of us like to compare with other people. Our neighbor grass always look greener!

The meaning that I discover is about self love. I think its ok to love our self. and even I think before we can love other people we need to love ourself first.

Life will be more exciting because we love ourself, we make peace and feel content about our condition. With the love that we have for ourself we can grow more!

It is strange, but it was my first time that I have this experience and insight while playing soccer.

Start to blog again!

It has been 6 months since the last time I publish something on this blog. I would like to start blogging after being off for sometimes.
There are many updates and improvement from blogger,Thanks man. They make blogging more fun and comfortable.

I would like to blog about the meaning of life. I read books from Viktor Frankl, with his most popular book titled Man Search for Meaning. This book explain a lot to me about the thing that I have been looking for.

The purpose of life, why am I here.

The meaning of life, what is this life all about.

I also feel that I am not alone, that there are many other people especially around my age who are also searching for meaning and purpose.

I will try my best to get connected with many people as possible through this media, so that we may share and help one another.

For those who have passed this stage of life, Please! Please! help me and many other people by sharing your experience.

Just drop by a comment, or message me if you wish to share something.

Thank you for your generousity

Choosing My Career

You are the only one who knows whether you have won or not. Don't try to be better than someone else. Just be the best at what you can be.

-John Wooden's Dad-

I am posting about this because one of my friend told me why don't I share or post about my experience and my knowledge about this.

I also want to write something more secular, so that I may share to my friends who have a different religion. I want to share what I learned from the books that I read in the last one month:

Rich dad Poor dad by Robert Kiyosaki
Why We Want You to Be Rich by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki
First, Break all the rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
Now, Discover Your Strengths By Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton
8 Secrets of the Truly Rich By Bo Sanchez

I read my friend's blog today on her post about her career choice. She is discerning whether she should work on something that she likes and good at but lower salary, or she should work on something that she doesn't like and not really good at but with high salary.
My comment to her is choose the one that you are good at and you Love it and then receive a high Income.

The question is : Is that possible? My answer is YES!

Ok what I have now is merely knowledge, I can't prove it to you , Yet! So please bare with me and allow me to share what I know and what I am doing now.

My point here is to Work On your STRENGTH, this is the main consideration of my career choice. What is my Unique Selling Point aka Strength?

Strength is a consistent of near perfect performance

-Marcus Buckingham-

By taking this definition of strength, I believe and 100 % guaranteed that when I am working on my strength money won't be any problem. why? Because we are working on excellence peformance!

Let me elaborate more on this. Your strength is something unique, that means there is something which only you can do with a consistent of near perfect performance. To develop our strength we require to develop our TALENTS by learning some related SKILLS.

The equation is Strength = Talents ^ Skill ( exponential )

The reason your strength is unqiue is because it is rooted from your talents.

Talents is a recurring pattern of thought , feeling, or behaviour that can be productively applied
-Marcus Buckingham-

What did I do when I chose my career? I follow my passion, I ask my self: what am I good at?, what do I love to do? Which kind of job that will bring a great satisfaction?

I chose to follow my passion which is one of the trace in order to discover my talent, and then I can work on it, to develop my strength. How about you?

I hope this posting may help my friends who are discerning. Please leave a comment to give a feedback to me.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase.

-Martin Luther King, Jr.-

-To be continued-

Working for the Lord- Day 2

The second day, I woke up at 8.00 am and then as usual I clean my body as well my soul. I was refreshed body and soul after I ended my morning prayer. Yes it looks boring but this boredom will bring to my greatness.

My second day to write on my heart the verse from Colossians 3 : 23-24.
23 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.

By the time I arrived at my lab I checked my emails, organised my plan for today and then drink a glass of coffee.... Then....get Hustle!!! I continue my work , the design for the part of the robotic endoscopy surgery.

Today it didn't go so smooth, but that is the main thing... the difficulties, the challenges make me to learn how to meditate upon the verse!! I learn how to pray when I am working.

Praise the Lord!!

Working for the Lord- Day 1

Yeah I am so motivated today. I woke up a bit late, at 8.30 am because last night I slept at around 2.00 am. Normally I will be like zombie for that day because I am a person who need a sleep for about 7 - 8 hours a day.

Before I went to my office today, as usual, I pray and listen to God's word. It sounds so boring to pray every morning but I realize without asking the strength from the Lord before I start my day, I may not be able to work at my best capacity.

When I pray, although I may not feel anything but something routine, but throughout the day or the week God will help me so that I may grow and find at least a clue to be in His plan. I totally agree and believe that God's plan is the best for me.

God's word for me today is from Colossians 3 : 23-24.
23 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ.

This word is the centre of my attention for today.

Whenever I find something exciting in my work ,I learn to praise the Lord, to thank him for an exciting job.
Whenever I find some difficulties in my work, I learn to praise the Lord, to thank him for a wonderful lesson and experience.
Whenever I meet a difficult person, I learn to praise my Master, to thank him for teaching me to be patient and understanding.

Today my Employer taught me about these things. He wants me to do my work for Him.
Not for my salary, not for my personal achievement, nor for any other things but for Him.

I also believe that the reward He promised me is greater that anything that the world can offer me.

Today I regain my motivation, spirit and focus to work on the robotic endoscopy surgery. I can design the robot more patiently and wholeheartedly.Even now I am still excited to continue my work although I am quite tired physically.

Praise the Lord!!

Working For God

I spend my weekend to refresh my mind,body and spirit. I enjoy my weekend and I have a wonderful moment with my girlfriend. We had a very fruitful conversation and she helped me to regain my spirit and motivation.

So.. as I said that I learned to work for the Lord, especially in my current job. I learned that working for God doesn't necessary to be at the church or any social work or ministry.

I can work for God in my current job.

I can work to please my Master as a research staff. I can design for God, I can think for God, I can contact supplier for God. It is a previlage for me to work right now. I also can earn enough money for my living.

I am still not sure how this work will lead me to come closer to God, but I believe right now He is leading me. He want to teach me something, and I know He wants me to do something here, to learn something from my current job.

I want to start praying for my job, colleague, supervisor so that I can learn as much as I can, and I may contribute as much as possible.