Meet Me At The Garden

... and wisdom comes quietly ...

Book * cuppa tea * hammock * terrace ... You are at the right altitude!

     ... as you take a stroll and enjoy a cuppa tea ~ tazza di te` ~.

~ Welcome to the Garden of Life ~
Benvenuti al Giardino Della Vita

Going down memory lane, I have so much to be thankful for, as I was blessed to spend most my early childhood days at a picturesque and beautifully nestled hilltop ~ Cameron Highlands ~ a true depiction of 'Haven on Earth'. I guess this must be the place that sowed the seeds for my passion in timeless beauty amidst nature. Clad with my sweaters, tube socks and shoes, I recall spending most of my time outdoors, venturing little slopes of green grass and running around the garden of 'Eternal Spring', chasing butterflies and looking out for colourful singing birds amongst the flower garden and shady lush trees! Then came the highlight for the evenings, enjoying my lovely cuppa tea with my favourite home baked vanilla cupcakes and scones with strawberry jam topped with a dollop of cream!

As dusk enfolded, it used to get colder by the hours and I recall spending most of the evenings by the fireplace admiring all the fresh roses picked for the day which was arranged beautifully into vases ... waiting to greet a brand new dawn! The magical scent of the roses filled the air each morning, the aroma left behind spring scents of hundreds of rose petals confetti all around the home!  My evening drives were memorable as most times I used to enjoy the amazing rolling hills of the tea plantations! I recall popping out my head from the car window just to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking view of the verdant valley of the plantation mist covered green slopes of tea bushes! It was an unforgettable and exhilarating experience ... priceless. Each day radiated a personification of a hand painting on a canvas ~ new sunrise, new raindrops, new colours of nature, new smile, new song from the birds in the garden, new dusk and the newness goes on. This amazing hilltop has retained it's magical charm of an Olde' matured and rustic resting place for me until today. My love for the gift of nature and enjoying every moment in the garden has been and will always be a part of me. Thanks to my beloved mum ... a garden lover!

Brand New Dawn!

At the beginning of a brand new dawn, I marvel as nature comes together in perfect harmony!

Serenity in the Garden ~ it gives back more than it receives ~ and so I sat down and started to pen down my thoughts and embraced the fusion between peace and relaxation, the first sense of tranquillity in the stillness of a brand new dawn. If ever I heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the magnificence of the day!

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses ~ Hanna Rion.  

As you step into a garden you feel a sort of healing and a first sense of peace and tranquility as you leave behind the hustle and bustle of the worldly events that we share all through the day. The sense of entering the doorway of thoughts begin, peace like a feather floating in mid-air!






I look down and marvel as the butterflies rests on the flower buds, watching the bees pollinating the magical wild flowers and squirrels hopping from one branch to another and finally keeps an eye on me whilst cracking open a nut. I see patches of fresh green moss with it's first morning dew resting on a uniquely shaped rock. The aroma of all the flowers fills the air like a spray of scented perfume. I hear the rustling of leaves once in awhile from the Trees of Life ... especially when the wind passes by occasionally.

The distinct aroma of the hot and freshly brewed vanilla tea latte made me pause for a moment ... took a sip and continued on writing with my favourite old fountain pen. Just a thought, tea sounds like one of the beverages that uses all the senses ... sight of the leaf, aroma of the infused liquer and the sound of the kettle whistle! Amazing ... I was there once to experience the beauty of these plantations and the enduring hands that used to endlessly hand pick the tea leaves in the midst of the misty terrain each passing day! And recalling the moments I treasure most, the view that I captured as far as the eyes can see ... and today this cuppa tea means much more than it ever did!

See you soon! ~ la veda presto! ~ whenever you are at the same altitude again, meet me at the garden. Anytime, is a good time for a   ...

 Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day!  



KEEP LOOKING AHEAD ……… TOWARDS THE BRIDGE OF FAITH!

 

 “Men are building too many walls and not enough bridges”.

 

…. and wisdom comes quietly ….

I had this image of a bridge, how beautiful and majestic it can get! Yes, certainly it is true that God is faithful and that plank by plank He has built many good reasons for me to forego situations that create walls around me, and yet many times I land up becoming my own ‘building contractor’ by running to tomorrow’s concerns.  And here I go again! …. Bend out of shape over the nick of the wood I just crossed yesterday!  It’s never too late to look back and see the bridge for what it was …. a path for me to recognize and change. Remember, God is faithful and is still waiting.

Sharing thoughts about walls and bridges ….. in a glimpse of the eye, it is obvious that we cannot see far beyond when a wall stands right in front of us and on the contrary a bridge allows us to capture a connection far beyond our imagination. Indeed, walls are usually built to separate two or more entities physically, mentally, or even spiritually and to create obstacles. They are built because they represent the idea of defense, protection, or separation. Some walls have acquired fame because of that nature: the walls of Jerusalem, the Great Wall of China, the Wall of Berlin. Walls, as a symbol, are also used in our common vocabulary to reflect this idea of separation, as in “a wall of incomprehension,” “a wall of intolerance“ or “it is like talking to a brick wall!”

Bridges are the opposite of walls. Bridges are built to bring together, to join two or more entities, and to create unity. They are built to overcome obstacles. Some bridges have also become famous, like the Bridge of Sighs, the Allenby Bridge, and so many others. The term is also used in our language to express the idea of reunion or unity, as in “to bridge a gap” or “to bridge differences.”

How do we build such a bridge of faith?

There was a young man living in a city called Namur in Belgium, there flow a large river separating it from an adjacent city on the other side of the river. At that time, only one bridge connected the two cities. It had been built and rebuilt over the remnants of a bridge built centuries before by the Roman conquerors. It had become too narrow for the traffic, and there were too many small arches to allow the passage of large boats and barges. A new bridge was necessary, wider and with only one arch. The work to establish the foundations soon started on both sides of the river. Rapidly, two huge metallic arms began to stretch from each side with the aim to meet together in the middle of the river. He was fascinated by the engineering and rode his bicycle almost every day to watch the progress of the work. Finally the day came when the centerpiece, a cornerstone made of steel, was going to link the two arms together. Crowds were now watching with him the delicate operation, the final step that would join the two arms together and permit crossing the bridge for the first time. When it took place, people applauded, workers embraced; the obstacle of the river had been conquered and overcome.

Bridging the gap is one of the greatest blessings to life. It builds bridges instead of walls. It finds ways to healing instead of hurt. It seeks ways to build instead of tear down. It looks for ways to encourage instead of disappoint. Bridging the gap reaches out to rise above. It mellows hardness, bends stiffness, warms coldness and smoothens roughness. It is simply, by using this metaphor, to help us build a bridge of faith in our life for crossing and overcoming the walls of unbelief, indifference, fear and other strongholds.

In today’s world, it is so easy to isolate ourselves by erecting temporal, spiritual, and even family or religious walls. Let us instead build more bridges of faith, of reconciliation, and live by the peace that is given “not as the world gives” (John 14:27), but by God. He is the bridge of faith unto eternity.

“Let us all walk uprightly before God” and cross the bridge and no turning back!

THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE ………

my astonishing ray of light was born on the 3^rd of August 1996 for which I am thankful to our Beloved Abba Father beyond words. It was a day enfolding from darkness to light where in reality Malaysia had a nation wide power outage just after 5.oo in the evening. And God said … 'Let there be LIGHT and there was light' ~ Genesis 1 : 3 ~ the birth of my beloved and adorable  baby boy!

Whilst the entire nation was going through massive chaos which brought about a standstill, here I was embracing the arrival of my most precious bundle of JOY ……. Li’l Jerome Noah!

My precious son, LOVE is not easy to put into words especially a Mother’s love, the depth of which is unfathomable. There could never be a better day than today being  ….your BIRTH*day, to share and express my deepest thoughts of all that you are and for all that you have been to me! Your growing years were the most memorable and irreplaceable experience of my life. Tiny toes and li’l fingers enough to clasp with my hands and as my voice speaking to you that “I am here with you and always will”. When I look at you now, I don’t just see you a 16 year old teenager, I see you in all of your life’s stages before my eyes. I see you as a newborn, resting in my arms, I see you in your ‘Bananas in Pyjamas’ playing hide and seek just before you get ready to snuggle in bed, I see you lying horizontally with your favourite Winnie the Pooh & Friends and Peter the Rabbit story books, reading with your marble eyes, legs crossed! It’s funny because you would already finish reading the next page even before I flipped it! Then comes the collections of your favourite toys …. cars, cars, cars and cars, the toy that caught your attention almost instantly. You could spend hours gazing and talking to the WHEELS! I also see you during the “Mum, not fair, not fair!” stage, I see you in the bargaining stage when you would ask “Mum, what would you give me if I'd listen!”, I also see you during the times you stood in a corner when you had to think about the naughty things you had done!
Most specially your laughter and joyful spirit was magical! Your inquisitive self left you awestruck at almost everything that you looked at and soon after that ... there came your ‘holy curiosity of inquiry’! I see you in your navy blue shorts and pressed white shirt of your primary school and I see you in your football jersey and boots running in the field with all your might to score that mighty goal of your life!

As much as a mother nurtures her children, her children are the epitome to magnify that precious gift of motherhood. My dear son, you have taught me many things and through you I have learnt to grow in strength and to embrace the blessings of a single mother. Son, you are stronger than you can imagine.

Jerome, as you continue your journey into adulthood always hold on to the gift of divine courage and wisdom ~ wisdom comes quietly. With this gift you will 'soar' and navigate all kinds of changes with acceptance. Embrace the ability to accept life as it enfolds. This is a gift that will guide you well like a compass direction in the years to come, because life is about growing amidst the change. Always know that in life there are chapters but not destinations. And if you are able to visualize each stage as having a beginning*, middle* and end* it will be easier to recognize God’s plans for you in His time. Always know, if you are surprised or sidelined unexpectedly, hold on to your faith! That’s when you will appreciate your shining abilities to navigate change.

My dearest son, as you embrace each chapter of your life, understand that God has a specific lesson in His knowing wisdom sees that you must learn. Chapters of trials and tribulations draw us near to Him and joyful chapters illuminate the glory and wonders of life. Jerome, both are important. A faith journey is a daily one. It is important for you to see your moral choices both grave and not. Your choices will lead you close to God or further from Him. Always choose wisely, as lasting happiness is not always derived from worldly attractions. It is a reflection of living your values, even when it is difficult, even when choosing to stand for what is right and that would mean, that you will lose friends or at times something that you treasure most.

My daily prayer is that you will be filled with the gift of clear sightedness as you begin to take your steps towards adulthood! My precious son Jerome, today I celebrate your 16 years of life with pride and joy. You have brought so much meaning into my life. Our Beloved Father has amazingly blessed and entrusted me not just by taking the role as a mum and friend but for gracing me to experience the true essence of walking this journey with you.

‘Jerome’ as you carry the meaning of ‘holy one’ and ‘Noah’ which means ‘life-giving’ & ‘comforter,’ may you continue to magnify these significant meanings each time your name is called from all those around you!

Jerome Noah! as you begin your Birthday celebration, I couldn’t have dedicated a more amazing song for you today, nothing more but from your most passionate and favourite team and theme ….. LIVERPOOL ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’! Yes, my precious son, You have never walked alone and you’ll never walk alone. Your Ever Loving Father in heaven will never for a moment leave your sight.

When you walk through a storm

Hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of the storm
There’s a golden sky

And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind

Walk on through the rain

Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart

And you’ll never walk alone

You’ll never walk alone.

You’ll never walk alone as I will always be there for you, right there behind you as you move forward to fulfill all your dreams! I’ll be your loudest cheer leader and proudest mum. You’ll never walk alone as you embrace the love, joy, comfort and strength from your loving family, your loved ones and friends! You’ll never walk alone because many are yet to come into your life and you’ll find them each passing day! WALK ON WITH HOPE IN YOUR HEART!

BLESSED 16^TH BIRTHDAY MY DARLING JEROME NOAH!

With all my love and hugs as always,

Your loving Mum.

I always have a great passion for intricate handiwork, because I am an ardent admirer of the arts ~ I believe in anything that we do, it is significant that one places one’s heart in it.

Hence, Tapestry of Life! …. a journey to carve my love for the beautiful wonders of ….. nature in the splendour of flora and fauna, landscapes, oceans far beyond reaching the horizons with silver linings, oil painting, stained glass art, floral art, mosaic art, all that relates to the brilliant colours and weaving of  ~ Tapestry~!

Recalling the events of life, I managed to capture the high altitude far reaching view of my own life … and amazingly I saw the beauty of my journey and how much I have to be thankful for. In so many different ways I have had a rich and meaningful journey and I am truly grateful for these experiences. Still learning, I must say and yes!!! indeed … each day continues to be  a learning experience.

Walking through lives journey and having to turn the pages of pain, mistakes, bad decisions, words and actions, I know that there is this gift for ‘change’. With peace in my heart by the Grace of God, I have walked this journey of life thus far and by the Grace of God I will continue on ...  .

Life is magnified just like a tapestry. It reveals the beauty of the tapestry as it enfolds in real time. Before the beauty is revealed, the back view of a tapestry to the eye is nothing more than a jumble of thread, tangled, occasionally knotted, frayed and seemingly random! Just like life ... with so many unexpected turns and trials.

It’s only when you turn a tapestry over that you see the miraculous beauty, the rich colours, the fine threadwork, texture and the finished patterns that magnifies the astonishing beauty of Tapestry. 

Likewise, God gives us a glimpse of His purpose as He weaves into the fabric of our lives. The gracious peak of glory from nothingness gives us the courage to soldier on knowing that nothing happens by coincidence. No single thread of experience ~ good or bad ~ happy or sad ~ is ever wasted.  Our Beloved Father is weaving each of our life, knowing precisely what He is doing. We need to embrace a glimpse of God’s side of the ‘Tapestry’ in allowing God to finish the finer details of His amazing beautiful work of human art with the palm of His loving hands.

If we could only take a moment to see the Tapestry of Life of which our lives are interwoven our eyes will be opened to the miracles and joy of life. Let It Be! Let God's wisdom flow.

Seek not so soon to disapprove this work nor yet assign with each darker thread, there twines a thread of gold. Spin cheerfully, not fearfully. He knows the way you plod. Spin carefully, spin prayfully. But leave the thread with God.

               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let us for a moment journey back in time to the Flower Power Era as we hold on to the  good old days! Here's to each of you, one of the Best from Beatles!