Closure....

Closure is a oft-used word to describe an end to a usually painful experience.

Recently my understanding of this word has been tested by a recent experience of my hub. After some 3 yrs of agonizing wait involving the all impt "not knowing what's going to happen to me", he (and me) finally got closure via a judgement made by 3 supposed wise men.

The decision was a harsh one given that it was noted that it was a one-off event BUT for what it's worth, it gave closure. Closure because it allowed my hub to put in place his work plans for the next 1+ yrs....plans which were in a way dependant on this outcome. Closure for me cos I now know how to plan for the family....

I must admit I was saddened that he can't continue with what he has been doing for the past 10+ years of his life but i try to help him by looking things on the bright side. It's frightening for both of us cos he basically knows how to do this 1 job only to be told he can't do it for the next 1+year.....the blessings i have so far counted for him are:

1. he is not too old to start looking for something else - at least not in heart and mind. he's not really learning new tricks but in a way adapting his work to new environment. He thinks his new environment is better as it's anything goes from now on without outside inhibitions or restrictions.
   
2. in the process of this journey, he found out who his friends are. I am glad....

• Friends who basically stood by him, to comfort him - including spending sleepless nights & many many hours preparing for the case & those who couldn't sleep just because they were worrying about the outcome.
  
• Unfortunately or fortunately, he also found out those who took flight at the sight of any "danger"...... although it was terribly hard for him to experience that type of betrayal of friendship but it's part of life's lessons & better now than later when you really need to count on that person.
  
• A friend who got him an air ticket just because & another who travelled from one end of the island to another to just have drinks with him & see how he was......

He sent me a message earlier to thank me for being there for him.....being strong for him. Essentially that's the only way I know how to cope....following life's disappointments and setbacks, comes the strength and the resilience - this is my grandma's life lesson "Only when I believe that I am down will everyone else see me as downtrodden."
& our vows are "to walk together thru good times & bad times....."

Finally I gave hub a challenge to show those who brought him down this time round that he's still standing & on top of that, make a success out of this period.

Wish us luck!

Great Books in my world....Conversations with God

I am a bit of a bookie...have had my nose buried in books for as long as I remember. Of recent, I have read & recently re-read some of my books. Generally mysteries don't really interest me, horror books scares me; romance books bores me to death & well, that leaves vy much with feel good/self-help books after taking out all of that isn't it? :)

I have recently got myself an ebook of my fav book "Conversations with God - an uncommon dialogue" Hearing the book is better than reading it as I cannot get over the fact that the content speaks to me a way i can't really explain why.

Raised as a Christian, the book goes against all that I have been taught all my life about the BIG questions concerning God, values, life yet somehow hearing the book still surprises me as much as the 1st time i read it. Here's what Amazon said about the book.....

Blasphemy! Heresy! Who does this man think he is, claiming to speak directly to God?! Jesus did it, Muhammad did it, the Jewish prophets did it, but none of their Gods had the sardonic wit or raw verve of Prophet Walsch's God. Neale Donald Walsch isn't claiming to be the Messiah of a new religion, just a frustrated man who sat down one day with pen in his hand and some tough questions in his heart. As he wrote his questions to God, he realized that God was answering them... directly... through Walsch's pen. The result, far from the apocalyptic predictions or cultic eccentricities you might expect, turns out to be matter-fact, in-your-face wisdom on how to get by in life while remaining true to yourself and your spirituality.

For the rest who have read the book but dismissed it as blasphemy or simply ridiculous, it's ok....... although I urge that you re-read the book, hopefully you will be able to read it at least 1 time with an open mind.

For me, deep down, I know I really want what the book says to be true i.e. that God is all loving, all powerful & not vengeful or at least one who will cast my soul to eternal hell once I step out of the boundaries.

Read with your heart and soul (not mind) & then decide - even f the book is all nonsense, wouldn't it be wonderful if God is just like how Neale Donald Walsh described him to be? to me, that thought is why i highly recommend the book to all, whatever is your religion. The best passage is the parable on the little soul and the sun.

Next posting will likely be on what is another great author to me i.e. Mitch Albom as I just read his recent book, "for one more day".....or maybe on something more light-hearted like "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" by John Gray.....until another posting......Adieu!