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Showing posts with label on my knees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label on my knees. Show all posts

Monday, 18 March 2013

Remembering NS

Just recently watched a Singaporean movie about their National Service, and started thinking back about mine.

It has been a few years already, those sweet memories came back to me like waves on that seashore during the mornings. I could picture the vividly the vicinity of that campsite, images accompanied by the noises in the dormitories as well as the scents of feaces, clothes detergent and shower gels in the bathroom. The weekdays of waking up before sunrise for morning jogs and lame exercises, followed by breakfast where I had only ever eaten plain bread, hard-boiled eggs, and nothing else. Then to the classrooms for the rest of the morning, for a time of education and character building by going through various lesson plans. Since I did not take spicy foods, lunch naturally became a napping or diary writing time. The evenings were the worst, thus I do not wish to remember them. My soul only started to feel better when the night came. It was during NS when I began looking at the sky differently altogether. The stars and the night time must take credit for my first ever attempt on poetry, they were probably the only good source of comfort I had throughout that three months of torment. People change, circumstances change, I changed; but the night sky will always be there whenever I look up.

Remembering what I had been through a few years ago, I could not help but to start cursing in my head. My heartbeat raced and sweat began dripping although it was not very hot in the room, and not very long later, tears started rolling down these cheeks and I quickly shut the door, fell to my knees with my face on the bed, wanting to cry it out loud but held back because there were other people in the house.

It was a dark period, a very depressing time.
My life changed, forevermore.

I started wondering to myself, having once heard that somehow your teachers in school might be able to do something that makes you stand a better chance of getting selected for National Service. What I started thinking was: if this were true and my class teacher had ANYTHING to do with my enrollment into the NS, only God knows if I would hesitate to lambaste her nosiness or even do harm to her. Revenge though nothing can be done to undo the damages, what a dreadful thought to dwell on. Deep in my heart I know that if my teacher did recommend me for NS, she meant well. However the knowledge of her goodwill may never be enough for me to forgive her or get over the horrendous experience. IF she had anything to do with it in the first place.

Remembering the past, looking at present scars.

Sunday, 28 October 2012

Exhausted

The adjective means very tired.

3 weeks in an Orthopaedics ward, 1 in the Operating Theatre and 1 in the Emergency Department; did I just completed these consecutive postings in the wink of an eye? Not to forget the few breaks in between postings which I appreciate. All these seemed to happen so quickly that I felt a bit breathless myself after leaving the ED. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed most of my clinical hours.

Running here and there, it takes up energy. Energy that youths sometimes take for granted. I never knew I would start burning out so easily, only today did I realise just how tired I had become over the past two months.

In church this morning, all I wanted was to soak in the atmosphere of music and singing, at the back of the sound mixer, doing what I love to do; I wished the singing never stopped. On the way to Singapore this evening, ironically, I wished that the journey would not end because I was in the middle of a much needed nap. Again I say, only today did I realise just how tired I had become over the past two months.

Strength to carry on come to me. Cheers to 3 weeks in a Gerontology unit.

Wednesday, 15 August 2012

Unproductive

Joel Yap... What are you doing??

The first paper of my finals starts tomorrow, and I have been procrastinating my revision until even now. And I feel like waiting till tomorrow morning to start hitting the books. Forget about burning any midnight oil. I'll set the alarm clock to ring at 7AM and then begin reading.

Can ah?

Good night!

Friday, 20 July 2012

Writing?

I enjoy doing it, but....

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy writing. I write for various reasons- leisure, musing, critical thinking, reminding and so on. It is interesting to read what others have written as well.

But... I have been tasked to do a literature review. This is nothing like the stuff that I am used to writing! Looking for help, turning to examples of existing literature reviews, I now, can only be overwhelmed. The reading that is required prior to writing the review is crazy. I have recently completed a few academic essays and reflective reports, and I enjoyed the process of writing them; the longest document being over 2000 words. However reviewing literature is a whole new level of academic writing.

Let's see how this turns out.

Sunday, 17 June 2012

Too Weak to Sing

Courage, O courage
where have you been?
This soul is weary-
too weak to sing.

© Joel Yap
 

Thursday, 3 May 2012

Facing failure

"Joel Yap is a consistent student..." wrote a lecturer on a piece of paper that I needed for something.
Joel Yap, is he?

A pharmacology test last week had shown me how laid back I was. The results reflected: one right answer away from obtaining a pass which was set at eighty per cent. Relating my score with the attitude and amount of preparation I brought into the examination hall, I might have even received more than I deserved.

I have a handful more of recent episodes of rejection and defeat that I wish I could share.
 

Friday, 2 March 2012

Witnessing a death

For the first time in my life, as he experienced what each man can only experience once.

I looked at his eyes as he gasped for his final breaths. One hand feeling for his pulses and the other holding a stethoscope as I tried to listen for sounds from his heart and lungs.

There was means to supply the dying man with oxygen, no pipes from the walls and no tanks in the home. Contemplating whether or not to attempt my first resuscitation on the unresponsive body, I felt it was at the 95-year-old man's best interest to say goodbye to his mortal sufferings. There was more relief than sadness in me at the knowledge of his passing. Maybe because we were strangers?

Whilst cleaning and changing him for the last time, "He doesn't need to struggle anymore," I joked and a few of us chuckled.

"I'm fine!" when asked, "Joel, are you okay?"

Am I okay, after watching a man die right before my eyes, for the first time in my life?
Can I be? Will you be?
Were you?
 

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Shortlisted?

This is a hint of a chance of a dream come true!

Received a text today with gladness. Still too early to say anything yet.

Very grateful and excited about an opportunity to do something that not many people can. Seriously. Fine, it might not be so big of a deal but this means an answered prayer for me.

Again, still too early to say anything. I am hopeful.
And I am ready for rejection.

Come what may.

Monday, 6 February 2012

Permission denied

I still attempt to visit your blog, knowing I am unable to see it.
Why?

Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Bodoh

You can start enjoying your Chinese New Year's break, truly; once you stop feeling sorry about its duration. 

Learn some gratefulness lah, bodoh!

Thursday, 29 December 2011

看照片

宁静的夜晚,我还不想睡。 享用一杯茶,用多余的时间 在两个屏幕上看看这个月所拍的照片。

感恩;却有点心酸。好想再次回到拍摄的景点和时间 从新把照片拍过。想拍得更好,其实是能拍得更好的。每次都期待拍摄,准备工作都有做好。可是每当拍摄的时光来临 反而觉得害怕,什么都不敢拍!担心自己不够好。因为没经验,因为不比别人厉害。有些人的照相器材比我的简单,拍出来的效果却好像比我的好很多。我有相机 但没天份。


我学摄影好辛苦。喜欢拍人,但是不敢拍。


宁静的夜晚,我还不想睡。 享用一杯茶,用多余的时间 在两个屏幕上看看这个月所拍的照片。
好想以后把照片拍得更好!

心有余而信心不足。
 

Friday, 9 December 2011

老师说

害人之心不可有,防人之心不可无。

出外靠朋友。


朋友- 是什么? 于钱比,朋友的地位在哪里?

 老师说:“害人之心不可有。”

世界啊!我活在这已快心灰意冷。
耶和华,来拯救世人! 我求祢!
 

Wednesday, 30 November 2011

Plea in the Rain

Either make me strong to withstand the storm, or put me back in the glasshouse. Please.

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

God is Effecient

Do you know the joy of receiving a message from a best friend? Close but living far away. I had been blessed to have received a few recently. And in that string of messages I lamented that life had become a little too peaceful for me, comparing the challenges I face today relative to that of when I first started college.

Incidentally, not long after my friend and I stopped messaging, hurdles and hurdles began showing up in my path! And the challenges seem so hard to overcome, instantly robbing me off my already weakened willpower and determination to solve problems. Life had become easy, and now it has to become much harder now just because I took notice of the risks of falling into complacency? Why me? And why now? I have to ask.

Sigh, me and my big mouth. Discuss about life lacking challenges as before, forgetting that God is omnipresent.

If God is so efficient in providing mountains for me to climb when I felt bored of walking on even terrain, surely He is good and fair to provide me the strength to conquer these mountains. And am I writing this sentence because He is omni present? Haha! Well, we are purposed for His pleasure, are we not? But the question is, why do I seem to please Him more in my periods of distresss?
 

Saturday, 5 November 2011

Helpless

I am not the one drowning, but feel helpless to see a brother in the water. Struggling to survive and grasping for air. He cannot see the light; and I feel helpless.

Try to recall, were there times when you just feel the desperation for another? Yet you have no idea at all on how to help.

I am not the one in need, someone else is in difficulty; I have absolutely no will to look him in the eyes and say, "it will be okay" despite having faith that things are going to turn out fine in the end. My belief, and faith are mine to share; but at this moment in time it seems a little cruel to do so. Am feeling like such a failure as a friend.

You're on a mountain top, and your friend is in a valley. And you feel helpless, how?

Today, my heart sank. Overwhelmed by uncertainties of the future, of another person.
Standing on higher ground can still suck after all. Because you might be useless to the person(s) below.

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Falling rain

Stood amazed by the drizzle this evening. Watter falling from the dark sky, against the man-made lights by the basketball court. Different from a rain; these droplets were descending to the ground at a much more relaxed pace.

There I stood for a good quarter of an hour. Just mesmerized by the sight of falling rain. It was beautiful.

The moment was golden. My complaints of tiredness, downcast feelings, etc. all gone as I looked into the night sky and allowed my soul to be refreshed.

Said a prayer of thanks, saw a smile on His face.

Saturday, 22 October 2011

Cheerful

Starting to feel the need to be cheerful, and remain cheerful.
I have come across a few people in my life and am impressed by how cheerful they were(are), sometimes even in the midst of turmoil. Amazed and envious.

Sorry for being such a pessimist at times. Perhaps it was the way I was brought up, the things I had seen, experienced, etc. It is not easy to live like this. I'd probably achieved more if I were a little more willing to challenge myself in various areas.

I want to stop feeling sorry for myself now. Yesterday is in the past!
 

Friday, 30 September 2011

Prayer and perseverance

It gets difficult to pray when you are faced with disappointment time and time again. It never was easy too, when people aren't really standing with you. People who are skeptical, indifferent or afraid. Or perhaps more conservative.

It tends to feel hopeless, it doesn't look good. You are tempted to curse, complain, and give up thereafter. You feel angry, you see your frustrations and sometimes tears.

Deep inside, you believe anyway how this will eventually end. You just want to know how soon.
If you should ever have children, you want the best for them. Who wouldn't?
So you shall fervently pray. That your children as well as of those whom you care about, shall be able to grow up with good-quality education.
 

Sunday, 4 September 2011

Realm of Tranquility

Find me, search high and low for me 
in the messy realm of tranquility. 
Seize me, take my mind-
off complete broken things 
from my imperfect past of happiness. 
Hold me closely 
watch me carefully. 
Take me down quickly
and cover me. 
Hide me 
from the quiet storms of memories. 
Keep me from shaking. 
Stop me from falling.
Find me 
from my messy realm of tranquility.

© Joel Yap

Sunday, 17 April 2011

Sarawak for change (2)

So the present government continues to rule with two-thirds majority of votes.

Sarawak voted, they got what they voted or did not vote for.


I still believe in God, so I still believe in His miracles.

Let His kingdom come.