A Refreshed Mind

Holidays either refresh you or wear you out. I'm happy to report that the recent one was truly refreshing.

Why do people travel? For me, it's to learn, experience and live a totally different culture for a while. That's why you'll seldom find my face in the pictures I take - taking pictures on my travels are mostly me trying to capture life in a foreign place. Sometimes, a foreign place may have the familiarity of home in a warm and strange way - the feeling that will make me say "I can live with this".

I had the privilege of traveling to Bangkok in the first week of August. Apart from the heat and the traffic, it was ok, I guess. Somehow, although I did try to bask in the culture of the Thai people, it did not amaze me in any bizarre way. Maybe it was the heat. But I did lots of shopping though; I never knew I could shop so much before.

Then I was able to have an extended holiday in Hong Kong a week ago. It was smack in the middle of summer (again, much to my dismay) and I must say, I don't fancy the heat much. Again, I shopped a lot, more than ever before. It was good.

I also had the opportunity to visit an old friend. I must say, it was good seeing him again. Somehow, picking up where we left off came naturally. Then I got to thinking about people around me, the people that God had placed in my life. The choice I have to make with regard to every single one of them, whether to make a difference or to pass it off as just another person. To choose to make a difference if of course a noble choice, but it is often the most difficult to make coz it involves time and energy. But if God wanted to use me to make a difference, who am I to say I lack the time or energy?

After that it was off to Shanghai to visit two more friends. By this time, I was feeling extremely blessed. I was feeling that God is speaking to me, eventhough I wasn't really asking. I knew I was seeking in my heart, but I didn't really ask Him. He reached out to me anyway and I thank Him for it. I keep thinking and evaluating my life, where I want to be, where He wants me to be, why I'm here now, etc etc. That He has His perfect timing although we question it, even when we know in our heads that He knows far better than we do.

Being overseas for so many days re-lit the desire I have to leave this place and live life in a foreign country. It takes tonnes of effort and stamina to want to move out of this comfortable place called home - it's much easier to just be comfortable and get on with life. But that's not what I want. I don't want to just be comfortable. I want to experience things, see things, learn things - things that I will never experience, see or learn if I stayed in the comfort of just being where I am.

But again, God has His own timing and plans for me. For us. Being back home has somewhat left me feeling melancholic, but I guess that's normal. That's the feeling everyone gets once play time's over. It's now time to work hard - in a new place with new opportunities and tonnes of uncertainties. That's how we learn, I guess.