Hot & Sunny...at last!

Yup, it's a hot & sunny day today! 18th Dec. A great change from the cold & wet days before. If it wasn't raining, it was cloudy & overcast. Floods are affecting the southern & eastern states of Malaysia. Thousands have been evacuated. Thank God we are ok here.

As such, it was a great reason for the construction opposite our place to pick up. And it did! Workers are everywhere...catching up on lost time!Pic above just taken shows the activity at the site!

Also someone in our fmly is celebrating her Bday today...our daughter-in-law, AN. She's spending this bday with her own fmly in KL. So, our warmest wishes go to her on her special day today...Have a great day & a great year ahead, AN!

The warmth, love & bond in a family should never ever be broken...unless they themselves choose to, for their own reasons. The sanctity of a family is God's greatest gift to Man. And to break that sanctity is a great sin. More so to deny anyone of their love. devotion & access to their families. Respecting one's elders has been a great teaching of Confucius, the great Chinese scholar. His famous one being the Golden Rule stated in the negative form, often called the silver rule:

子貢問曰、有一言、而可以終身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、己所 不欲、勿施於人。
Adept Kung asked: "Is there any one word that could guide a person throughout life?"

The Master replied: "How about 'shu': never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself?"

Analects XV.24, tr. David Hinton

Another good teaching to note :

厩焚。子退朝，曰：“伤人乎？”不问马。
When the stables were burnt down, on returning from
court, Confucius said, "Was anyone hurt?" He did not ask about the horses.
Analects X.11, tr. A. Waley
The anecdote is not long, but it is of paramount importance. In his time horses were perhaps 10 times more expensive than stablemen. The passage conveys the lesson that by not asking about the horses, Confucius demonstrated that a sage values human beings over property.

Back in the real world, here in Lot 10 OFH, 2 great dishes are in store for muah. "Kim Cheoh Hu" or Golden Pomfret/Ikan Bawal Emas...my fav fish, and also, chicken marinaded in special belacan/prawn paste mix. Really makes my mouth water now...and it's still more than an hour b4 lunch! Phew!

As I continue to ponder what is life, I have found it boils down to counting our blessings...that we are still alive & independent, having clothes on our body & a roof over our heads AND being able to enjoy whatever is placed on the table!

In less than a month another year would have passed. May you & me continue to enjoy God's blessings & to have another day to share with our loved ones...TC always! Be happy...and by counting our blessings, we will be happy!!

Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year in 2008!