Growing flower

what Justin reminded me...

March 25, 2005, 2am, 23-year old Justin Schwieg passed away due to a fatal stab wound. Although I don't know Justin personally, I went to his memorial service today. I don't know what drew me to the memorial service, perhaps it's a sense of sympathy I felt towards his family.

The family called the memorial service a "celebration of life", and many family and friends shared their fond memories of Justin. For someone who doesn't know him personally, one description of Justin that really stood out from all the speeches was his love for the people around him. His mom stated that "he wore his heart on his sleeves", his friends talked about how much Justin cared for them as a friend, and how Justin would go out of his way for his friends. He was always there to support and care for others. I couldn't help but to be moved by these descriptions of Justin, and I wish I had a chance to meet him before he passed away.

As I sat in front of the lake reflecting on my experience today, I was reminded that a life well-lived boils down to one word--LOVE. Life is not about the achievements that one accomplishes, but about the people that one touches. We cannot take our achievements with us when we die, but the love that we touch others with, and the impact that we make in other's lives stay. It's so easy to be driven by achievements in life, and to miss out the precious relationships around us. As human beings, we are all interdependent on one another, and it's because of the relationships we have in life that keep us going each day.

I am glad that as a Christian, I can follow Jesus' example to love the people around me, and to treasure everything I have in life. School is not everything, and if it means that I will get 5% lower on a test because I talked to a friend the night before, it's worth it. The key is to keep this perspective all the time.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
1 Corinthians 13:13

posted by Growing Flower @ 3/31/2005 12:30:00 a.m.

The reason for living

Last night I posted one of my favourite songs on this blog and it's also a song that i have been reflecting on during the weekend. Today at church we sang another song that really touched my heart and re-energized me in a deep way...

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

In the midst of school craziness, disappointments in relationships and frustrations in life circumstances, I find tremendous strength and hope in this song.

posted by Growing Flower @ 3/27/2005 02:23:00 p.m.

In Christ alone

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Til he returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

~by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

posted by Growing Flower @ 3/26/2005 09:32:00 p.m.

Wanna shop for a magic carpet?

posted by Growing Flower @ 3/20/2005 10:11:00 p.m.

My new best friend - Mr. Mop

What a crazy weekend! I have grown very close to my new best friend--my mop--during the past 12 hours. My kitchen was flooded for the 4th time, and this time is so much worse than the other times. Argh! My housemate and I spent the WHOLE AFTERNOON mopping up water from our kitchen...but we are forever grateful for KITTY LITTER! haha...it helps suck up the water a lot. The best part of this whole crisis is that my landlady is "out of the country", and won't be back until Friday...which means that there is absolutely NOTHING we can do from now until Friday...and the weather report is not looking good...Snow and rain??? Water is going to rush into our kitchen through our back door because our kitchen floor is lower than the drive way on the back of our house, and the driveway is covered by a thick layer of ice. I can't even begin to think about what would happen once EVERYTHING starts to melt! Argh!

To top this off....school is insane. I just found out that several pages of "education material" for one of my projects due on friday has become a 20-page paper. I am currently working on 5 projects that are all going to be due in the next two weeks....

But I guess I am still thankful because I see God's blessings in the midst of all this:
-a bee mop stick appeared all of a sudden in our hallway closet, just what we needed, at the perfect timing
-a worker from Rona gave us the idea of using kitty litter
-I have a housemate who is going through this with me
-a friend drove me around all afternoon for me to get sandbags and anti-flood stuff
-2 classmates dropped off a shop vac and offered her place for me to stay if I needed it
-neighbours and friends lent us mops and buckets
-friends have been praying for me, and are still praying
-I got hugs from friends when I needed them
-I have friends to vent on

From this experience, I learned how important it is for us to offer practical help when people are in crisis situation...sometimes "I'll pray for you" just wouldn't cut it.

posted by Growing Flower @ 3/07/2005 12:41:00 a.m.

craziness - reflected in my crazy jumbo of thoughts

So....it's been a crazy week for me, my dear friends. I think the only reason why I am still sane is because God is keeping me sane...haha....so much to do, 2nd year OT is INSANE!!! They give you an insane amount of work, expecting you to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Come on, we have a life!!! I just can't believe how they can assign 18 projects for one term...plus all the other small assignments that we need to do....

Anyway...enough venting....I guess I am blessed to be sitting here and typing. =) At least I am not in tears!!! Hahaha.....I think I will soon be dependent on caffeine if I keep drinking the amount of coffee that I am drinking right now....and my sleeping and eating habits are horrible! Haha...I skip at least one meal per day....(breakfast mostly)...and sometimes I don't even eat lunch...it's crazy. OK friends, don't worry about me...I am trying hard to take care of myself. =P I went out for a run on wednesday! I felt soooooo good!!! =)

Wow.....talk about random babbles....yeah, so, the point is this: I would definitely APPRECIATE someone being here for me, cooking meals, washing dishes, edit my essays, listen to my babbles...hahaha....so yeah, COME TO KINGSTON you guys!!! =P Just kidding. I won't torture you like that if you do come. I will treat you well. =)

So....hope things are going well with all of you. =) I am really missing my Toronto support...wish I can just pick up my phone and call someone. =P I am such a talker...

posted by Growing Flower @ 3/04/2005 09:30:00 p.m.