2009 begins

Only the second day of the New Year, and it has already been so dramatic. From the events of 1.30 a.m., 30 December, right up to some rather disappointing news on the night of 2 January, it has been a little too dramatic.

I shot this butterfly on the grass patch leading up to Block E, 3rd College, just after the phone argument yesterday morning. It could barely fly; I noticed only much later that it's wings were partly torn. Ironically, my best butterfly pictures have been of the crippled/lame ones. Perhaps they make better models because they move less.

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As I walked out of college I thought of Romans 12, and wondered if it might perhaps be the right chapter to set the year off. Upon reaching the other end of campus, I opened my Bible while waiting at the lift lobby.


Romans 12 (NASB)

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;

7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;

8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be without hypocrisy Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.

20 "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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On my part, I misread some signs and ruined much of the journey. She would later say, "What a day of turndowns, yet what a day of light shedding and forgiving."

We travelled all that way and did not manage to do what we set out to do. The beef noodles were perhaps the best consolation on such a day.


Indeed the grace of God had been at work throughout the day, in ways I cannot fully comprehend.

From the stomach ache to the news that I might need a break after seven years, from silent treatment to not-so-silent scolding...

In all things He works for good.


In all things.

In all things.