A Professional Christian
Clothes make a man.
Picture a nicely tailored blazer, it’s almost as if the blazer has a life of its own, commanding respect, politeness and praise from strangers and acquaintances. Combine it with killer heels and simple accessories, darn I have turned into a professional. Study any 101 ways or a teach-yourself-dummy-series guidebook on becoming a successful salesman, dressing appropriately and presentably is easily one of the golden rule to observe.
I have been attached to the marketing department of a MNC for the last 2 month and dressing well is a must especially during events where clients (both existing and potential) get together. I recall being instructed to don on a blazer in this C-level (CFO, CEO, COO, CIO) event but in my observation, the blazer pales in comparison to a big smile, manners and attitude in leaving a lasting impression on others.
Manner makes a man isn’t it? Appearances and clothing can be deceiving, wisely phrased never judge a book by its cover but a smile, courtesy and kindness comes straight from the heart.
I’m first a Christian than a professional. Forget the blazer for He has clothed me with His grace and love.
Staring fear in the eye
Literally, I have been staring/facing one of my greatest fear for the last 7 weeks. As hard as I tried, it’s virtually impossible to shun it or disregard its ominous presence as it lies just on the top of my right cornea. As you might have guess, the little bugger is my RGP contact lens.
I’m sure you heard of many gross tales of how contact lens will move to the back of your eye ball when you sleep with it or how difficult it is to remove a broken contact lens from the cornea. Well, these tales combine with the inability to comprehend the reasons for wearing contact lens instead of spectacles led me to declare years back that I would never ever wear contact lens.
After all these years, I guess God have caught up with me and decide to overrule my declaration! With Keratoconus, I am aware that eventually, there will be a need for me to wear contact lens in order to correct my irregular astigmatism.
Intolerant of spectacles, I’m in the 8th week of wearing my RGP. Though I have become a contact lens wearer, I still find it hard to understand why people choose contact lens instead of spectacles. I dislike the sand-in-the-eye feeling and the dryness when I’m wearing the lens and the cumbersome daily cleaning routine. But the little bugger can undoubtedly provide me with a good vision even though it’s only a 6/9. (Interestingly, with Keratoconus, it is hard to get a 6/6 vision even after correction.)
Spectacles/contact lens/LASIK surgery, these visual aids and treatments are widely and easily available to improve our vision. Do ponder for a minute, what do we see?
RGP allow me to have a better vision but sadly, sometimes I use it to see and find the fault in others. Aunty Pik Yee and Peng Kong accompanied me when I went for the contact lens fitting and interestingly, Aunty Pik Yee said,
“Wouldn’t it be great if there is a kind of spectacles that when worn, you will only see the good in others?”
The real challenge in wearing contact lens is not to overcome the fear and discomfort but to use it and see the goodness in others, the beauty of this world and to read my Bible. :)
Coming soon
Writer's block.
New post will be up soon.
Will you be my eye?
Stroll along the covered walkway linking Jurong East MRT station and The Entertainment Center, it’s not hard to spot the visually challenged either selling tissue or crooning a tune for some donation. They are there almost every day and a few days ago, I asked Peng Kong, “Why do they have to do such things to earn a living?” Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not implying that selling tissue or basking is wrong or a shameful way of earning a living but why can’t they do other jobs?
Peng Kong answered me, “They are blind. What can they do?”
Take a moment to ponder, what can they do?
They can think. They can talk. They can walk. They can work with their hands. They can do what a normal people can do except for seeing with their own eyes. That is the only thing that they can’t do.
Heard of Erik Weihenmayer? The first blind mountaineer to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 24 2001.
Or Helen Keller? The blind and deaf woman who triumph against all odds and dedicate her life advocating for people with disabilities.
Or Louise Braille? The inventor of Braille.
The list goes on.
There’s this visually challenged man who has been joining us in our church service. To the younger ones, he is known as Uncle Abraham and a month ago, he shared his testimony with us. Uncle Abraham became blind when he was 32 and despite that went on to become an insurance agent, supporting his family with the money that he earns. The most common question that people asked is, “How can a blind man sell insurance?”
What I want to say is this; sometimes it is the “How-Can-A-Blind-Man” doubts and the expectation of others that cripples a disabled person, more than his/her disabilities, to function normally. Conquering Everest, inventing Braille, selling tissues, singing, whatever it is, we can do it and in doing so display a undying spirit and strength that is both admirable and inspirational.
Just be our eyes and guide us and we’ll show you what we can achieve.
Eye for Sale
Right Eye: 1982 Model, Keratoconus, Photophobia, Halo vision, Itchy at times, Current Degree 500 Astigmatic 350.
Any takers?
Probably not.
But examining the weird items that are been auction over in Yahoo! Auctions and eBay, I have this crazy hunch that someone might just be interested in buying my eye!
It's a final decision though to donate my eyes or any other organs needed upon my death. I have filled the Organ Donation Pledge Form with a desire to see my organs be use for transplant, treatment, education and research purpose. Till now, little is known about the cause and treatment of KC and I sincerely hope that my right eye will help in the research and development of those areas.
Hope you can join me in giving others "A Gift of Life"
For more information on Organ Donation please visit:
Choice
We make countless choices in our life each day. The rule of thumb is usually,
"Whatever choices/ decision you make, just make sure you don't have any regret when you look back and reflect upon your life."
One way or another, all of us have the ability and power to choose.
I am upset to learn that a good friend has chosen to smoke and have been doing so for the last 3 months. There's nothing much I can do besides talking to him, finding out his reason for smoking and urge him to quit. His reason for smoking is simply because of the fact that most of his friends smoke and he feels that it's actually better for him to become a smoker than a passive smoker. It took a lot of self- control not to scream at him when he told me that!
It took a while to identify what are the reasons to explain why I’m so upset over his decision to smoke. The first reason is rather ironic and unbearable. He is not just a good friend of mine but also someone who has been addressing me ‘sister’ for almost a year now. (I am 3 years older than him) My older brother has been smoking for the last 10 years and I witness how his health has decline with each puff that he takes. It’s hard to swallow the fact that I’m going to witness another brother making the same mistake. It took me 3 months to realize that he has been smoking since December and from today onwards, I seek to be a better sister. Secondly, it’s the fact that I am down with a condition (Keratoconus) which doesn’t have a cure and there’s no way I can control the degeneration of my eye and vision. I am trying my best to keep my body healthy and strong despite the condition of my eye and seeing someone like him, young and healthy, smoking saddens me.
God gives us the power of choice and a good mind to make good and wise choices. I can indulge in self- pity and wept my heart out knowing that I’m losing my vision or I can choose to trust God and be thankful and happy that I can still see.
It’s my prayer that he will make a wise choice and keep his body healthy and strong for as long as it’s possible.
My tears
Was it self- pity?
Was it fear?
Was it woes?
Or maybe a combination of these 3 factors that move me to my tears and knees?
The visit to the optician, the frustration of choosing either a CL or spectacles, the fact that it's not possible for me to have perfect vision in my KC eye, the cost and other 1001 questions that I have... it was all too much to bear. Clutching my mobile phone, I thought of a list of people whom I can call as my tears well up but none of them seems appropriate.
I kneel.
It's beyond my strength to battle Keratoconus. It's beyond my tolerance to know that I'm losing my vision day by day and there's nothing much I can do about it. It's beyond my capability to love others when I screaming for love and affection. It's beyond me to smile and keep my life going when all I want is to take a break from everything.
I kneel and gave Him all my tears and fears.
He, in return gives me grace, strength, hope and love to keep me going.
