Went out for a short day trip with friends around Perth; saw wonderful nature, wonderful architecture, wonderful structure, wonderful people, wonderful culture. When I laid on the grass, and look up through the pointy leaves of eucalyptus trees, I see that the sky is so vividly blue, with occasional veils of light cloud passing by. When I laid on the rock, I closed my eyes, and just listen to the deep sound of waves, with the trebles of splashing and occasional punctuation of jet engine from sky above, I wondered about the distant lands where the waves have travelled from.
Still remember this poem excerpt from the play Macbeth by Shakespeare that we had to learn in English Literature. It is never an actual poem titled Life's Brief Candle. I think a lot of us from Malaysia still remembers bits and pieces of it, if you don't, here it is to refresh your sweet memories:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Macbeth Act 5, scene 5, 19–28
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Macbeth Act 5, scene 5, 19–28
Most of our lives will be short, around 70-80 years and the most 120? There are so many things to do each day, to think about what to eat, to decide where to hang out, to go on Facebook and Twitter. But how many of these things actually matters? Every second you breath out, that is every second you are closer to your DEADline (pun intended, haha, eh...no laughing matter, serious...ok?)
Shouldn't we take a moment to just filter out all the unnecessary activities and concentrate on those that really matters? A lot of us want to earn a lot of money and be wealthy so can live a good life, but money can be gone just like that isn't it? King Solomon had once said, everything is but empty on Earth, not even wealth, being happy or being satisfied with desires can bring meaning to life. Why don't you and I just ponder and walk towards our life's purpose?
I have died but rose again, spiritually. There was a desert experience in my life, and during the years I wandered, trying to search for the real purpose, I ended up looking for God again. I know the despair of life's choking experiences, the frustration of a poor background, the unfairness in a nation. My journey will be dark and gloomy if not for the ray of light that has lead me like a trusty guide rope in a blindfolded walk through the bushes.
I thank God for giving me the chance to ponder, to stop and reflect, to know wonderful people in my life, to grow up in a proper family, and to have the luxury of studying overseas although coming from a background where it will be impossible for myself to achieve.
That is why I believe.
