In A Mosque in Beirut

I've had just enough time...   to speak about God

In a mosque in Beirut, a father speaks softly to his child...

In a mosque in Beirut

I saw a father softly 
Speaking to his child

Sitting in the shadows as

Lights streamed through

The windows, I believe

As he believes, there is God

And in churches and temples

Everywhere, a man speaks

Softly to his child about

The God he knows

What Are We Fighting For?

I've had just enough time to...   stop fighting...

Taken during a stroll in the park by the Kuching river esplanade

Are men born to fight?

What are they fighting for?

The weak say I fight to defend

I fight for survival

But when they become strong

They covet what is not theirs

And fight to conquer

Men say I fight for my country

But when there is no enemy

They fight among themselves

Men say I fight for my religion

I fight for my God

But God says don’t fight among yourself

Men say they fight for glory

But where is the glory in massacres

In fatherless child and widowed wife

And bones bleached by the sun

When men lament the price of fighting

It is always too late –

Much too late

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where have all the flowers gone?

The Face of An Artist

I've had just enough time to...   see the budding of a star

Taken outside the Ubud Palace in Ubud, Bali

On a leisurely stroll one morning passing by the Ubud Palace, I spied a group of young boys practicing their craft. To the tempo of imaginary music that only they themselves heard, they stomped and jerked violently. The sequence was not a graceful flow but a series of sudden violent movements and abrupt stops. The expressions on their faces were deadly serious and exaggerated as they played the characters of their act.

But it is more than an act. It is their religion and they are playing the Gods. They are not just performing a dance, they are re-telling the story of creation and they are honoring their Gods in the recreating of the tale. This went deeper than the passion for their craft. It is their faith and they are living it.

I suspect that it will be many years before these boys ever get the chance to perform before an audience. Meanwhile, they trained every day and showed a dedication stronger than any professional athlete. And what drove them is not fame, adulation or monetary rewards. It is their culture, their beliefs and it is beautiful to watch.

But even among them, one particular boy stood out. You will have picked him up just by looking at the photo. His divine expression, the sharpness of his moves and his total immersion into his character is mesmerizing. His talent is undeniable. He is the future star of the play. I hope one day to be able to return to Bali and watched a performance and recognized him there.

The Master

Charity Is For The Needy.

I've had just enough time to...   to do a little charity.

Taken of the broad back of a World Vision Volunteer in Lebanon.

I believe -

“The most important virtue of any religion is compassion,

Without which there is no reason for any religion.”

I also believe that charity is for the needy irrespective of race, nationality, religion, age, gender or any other artificial classification that defines and divides what a human being is. I like to see charity in action – not just in prayers and the building of temples but the building of hospitals and a helping hand in the dire hours of needs.

I like to form an emotional attachment so that I feel when I give. If I don’t feel sadness and joy in equal measure, there is something wrong with me. I like to see wounds being bandaged, hunger being satisfied, tears being wiped, spirits being lifted. In short, I like to see the effect of kindness more than sympathy per se. So I choose my charity carefully with the same principle which transcends beliefs, borders, organizations or religions. This is my belief and I try to live up to it.