Forgiveness

Among the stories shared over dinner last night, the story of Will baby was the most touching and hurting.

"I will never go back to St. Bernadette again. My baby died and the priest do not want to come down and perform the last rites." Will said. Mar was almost in tears as she remembers.

Will, eye shining brightly and his voice louder than normal, asked "How do we know he is send off to heaven now?"

Will then shared, in his month of grief, he sought and got an audience with the archbishop. Will requested that the archbishop the priests gave the last rites even if the person is died. Archbishop, full of empathy for Will lost baby, asked where Will wife was, and then said a prayer for Will and Mar baby journey, which somewhat healed Will cries for sympathy.

I believe it is true for everyone have a special something deep within their heart, that if is not given, make forgiveness very hard for the person.

And sometimes, the party that did the hurt, do not know how deep the cut is or do not even know that they performed a cut. And that is the sadness part because how does apologies start the process of forgiveness. And in the midst of reconciliation, it is even harder to remember the 5 languages of apology.

And the story also taught me priest are human too beside their closeness to God, they too need human care, touch and forgiveness.

Chris De Silva - Lord. Have Mercy

Mamma Mia!

I laughed myself out at this movie. The entertaining script and cute lead actress with seasoned supported actors and actress make the movie enjoyable. And I came away, wanting to hear more about Abba songs and to check out their lyrics. Wikipedia have a good list of songs used in the movie.

If the Broadway show does came back again, I will pay money to watch it again. :)

GRASP

Last Tuesday, I attended a talk by Dr. Melanie Billings on "Negotiation for Success" in DBS Auditorium. She was a every entertaining speaker and make the 2 hour talk very engaging and interesting. She presented her framework for negotiation as GRASP.

G = Goal
R = Route
A = Legitimate Argument
S = Substitute
P = Persuasive

The key insight I take from the talk is to not let anyone "Bear" you. By that, means do not let people wore you down with illegitimate argument, all negotiation must be based on fair standard.

Always ask for a reason for the request if the argument is not fair and say refuse otherwise to co-operate.

Signs

Wil: Whenever you made a decision, think thru with your human mind. Weight the pro and con and then make a objective decision. Pray to God then, explaining how you reach your decision and ask a sign to understand if it is the right decision as according to his plan.

Wil: He will give you signs, thru people / events that either smoothen or block you from moving forward. If it does not came the way u expects, then it is time to pray more and ask for understanding to discern His ways.

Guardian Angel Prayer

Oh Angel of God, my Guardian dear
To whom His love commits me here
Ever this day be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

Who's Holding Donna Now - Debarge

This song came to me these past weeks, echoing what I felt in my heart. It was dear Princess that finally said the right words to make me reflect and find what I have failed to really do, after all I had done this year to move on.

It is liberating to find that something that kept me from really moving on, that something which is the reason why I keep failing in my relationships in this year, that something that stirred in me turmoil (which shouldn't have occurred) when Donna is getting married.

Even when I know each gal is different and should be treated differently, I was hoping to find in them the magic that rekindle that delight of not having speaking my desire in words.

Hoping to find magic should be just a sweet additional and not finding it should not be a criteria at all. Each person is a universe and the ability to empathise and expressing your innermost feelings without tiring is a skill that needs constant practice and countless attempts.

That discovery of Donna was a delightful surprise in the start but in the end, with hindsight, best not to be found because she make me a less expressive person and the avoidance of countless hours of finding my core again. Saying goodbye without giving her a chance to make a choice between him and me is something I will never know if it is a wise move. I do know that it was made after much thought and inner searching to realize her love is false.

I do not know now what her role in God plan for me. Maybe I will know in the future. But I do know God answered my prayer by sending Princess to ask me to be more daring and to be more expressive in order to grow as a person. Both points I know already but Princess said in the right time to gave it the deepest impact.

So its time to do what needs to be done. To change the song and dance to a new tune and future.

Viva La Vida - Coldplay