Recently, I am hooked on Nicholas Sparks' novels. The funny thing is, I used to 'despise' romance, because they usually paint a very unattainable image of love, something so blissful but yet unreal, at least to me. They always have happy endings and it didn't seem like it would happen in reality.
I guess age made the difference. I start to appreciate the little acts of love between the protagonists. Well, I may not have read widely enough to judge romance novels, but Sparks really surprised me. He has a way of pricking that simple, innocent love that I have deep in my heart. I learnt a lot about what it meant to love especially after reading A Walk to Remember. This is one fiction that made me shed bucket-loads of tears. Spoilers ahead; you have been warned.
Jamie Sullivan. My new role model. She is simple, leads a simple life, and is easily contented. At first glance, she might seem unrealistic, especially in the 21st century. But I choose to believe that Jamies exist somewhere in the world. She is not perfect; she had her doubts and was sometimes afraid. But it was her innocence that made her beautiful. Don't get me wrong, this innocence has nothing to do with ignorance. This innocence is simply accepting what God's plan is, trying to do her best on what is right, and believing that everyone has a little kindness in them. I want to be like her too.
Jamie showed me what it means to love one another. Devout Christians are usually labelled as hypocrites as they tend to be devout on the surface while judging others for not obeying God's commands. It's like the Pharisees you know, and I'm sometimes guilty of that. But Jamie, on the other hand, show no signs of judgmental behavior. (Okay, you can say that since the novel was written in 3rd person, I would never know what Jamie really felt.) She did not try to educate Landon about Bible teachings, never forced Landon to know this and that about God, but her character, actions and behavior revealed what it means to love others with God's heart. One of the part that touched me was Landon's realization of Jamie's forgiving love. Towards the end of Jamie's journey, her friends came to apologize for their rowdy and insensitive behavior, and instead of resenting them, Jamie held them in her embrace, described in the book as "a gesture of forgiveness". I think one of the part that really moved me is the witness of Landon's transition as a boy, to a mature, loving man. Jamie's simple love for everything under God's creation transformed him, and he was able to forgive and love the things he used to hate i.e. his dad.
The novel has several quotes from the Bible, and I enjoyed them. One of which is from Corinthians, something that I have been trying to learn and understand.
Love is patient, love is kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.
Jamie, despite being fictional, gave me a glimpse of how it is like to love with God's heart. The fact that she was the Reverend's daughter made it even more inspiring. I'm really bad with words and I cannot pen down the exact thoughts I craft in my head. But I'm really so inspired by this novel. In one way or another, I was wondering if I would ever influence someone so much like what Jamie did to Landon. I hope with God's power that I may one day do so.
Anyway, I caught the movie yesterday and I have to say I was so disappointed. The film omitted out many parts that I taught was crucial to its beauty, and they painted Jamie in a very 'American', college-kids way. But well, I still cried like mad with tissues and dustbin by my side. I remembered choking and feeling so uncomfortable, like there was despair stuck at my chest. HAHA I'm such an emotional animal. But omg, the movie was so bad because it felt as if Landon fell in love after seeing how beautiful (physically) she was. Mehh. I don't like.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Neon
No meaning to the title haha. It's just that the song is stuck in my head for now.
It has been an amazing 2 weeks for me, especially with the semester ending! I thank God for a rather chill Week 13 and now in the middle of Week 14, I thank God that I'm not burned out yet (unlike last sem -.-)
Bff believed that books have an interesting way of keeping you away from it before the right time. And when you do pick it up, it does seem to speak to you at the right time, the right moment. Well I guess there's some truth to that. I picked up Purpose Driven Life again, despite reading it 7 years ago. It's one of the first few books that I did during my growing years in teens and picking it up again was kinda weird, since I should have outgrew its content. But, everything was just so apt. I came to the chapter about testing and temptation during the toughest period this year, and it pulled me through, and I was damn sure that God purposely put me through this to mold my character. I came to the chapter about serving when I was struggling with my area of service and pride. In retrospect, everything that happened this year was for a reason, and I believe that it is to build God's Kingdom. It might be unclear to me now, but I guess obedience before understanding!
I remembered at the start of the year, I made this 'bold' prayer: God, help me to rely on your grace in this situation. I know your strength can shine through my weakness. So Lord, bring it on. Unleash your power in my life. Please use my pain for your glory.
God wasn't joking. After I made this prayer, people started to 'warn' me. I was scared, but I knew the growth it brings will be worth it.
Amusingly, I thought the pain that I encountered would be the decision to run for exco. I was really struggling at the start, but somehow, I got used to it and I enjoy doing my job. It didn't feel like a chore anymore. I remembered wondering "wait what, that's it? God, so this struggle is gone so easily?" Nah. Looks like that was just level 0.5
Level 1 was was the real deal. I've never felt so upset in my life before, I'm sure. Not even my breakup 4 years ago? It.was.really.painful. And now I'm over the most painful stage, I looked back and realised I asked for it. Sort of. And I thank God that his strength really shone through my weaknesses. I am sucker for emotions. I give in. But God gave me enough strength to get pass it. Yay!
And so, I am currently now anticipating level 2. Idk what it will be, but this means that I have to be on guard and I have to keep close to God. Because if I don't, I might just topple again. Oh, and I really, really, really hope it's nothing about Sze min and I, because earlier on in the year someone warned us that the devil was trying to snatch away this special friendship with share. NO WAY MAN. But I guess I can see it in another way - God is using our friendship for His kingdom, and I'm glad that he is.
Yeah, now I dare to tell God to BRING IT ON. Use my pain for Your Glory, because I want to build your Kingdom. Test me, tempt me. Because I know that whatever comes, you'll definitely provide a way out for me, and by then, I'll receive the crown of life (:
It has been an amazing 2 weeks for me, especially with the semester ending! I thank God for a rather chill Week 13 and now in the middle of Week 14, I thank God that I'm not burned out yet (unlike last sem -.-)
Bff believed that books have an interesting way of keeping you away from it before the right time. And when you do pick it up, it does seem to speak to you at the right time, the right moment. Well I guess there's some truth to that. I picked up Purpose Driven Life again, despite reading it 7 years ago. It's one of the first few books that I did during my growing years in teens and picking it up again was kinda weird, since I should have outgrew its content. But, everything was just so apt. I came to the chapter about testing and temptation during the toughest period this year, and it pulled me through, and I was damn sure that God purposely put me through this to mold my character. I came to the chapter about serving when I was struggling with my area of service and pride. In retrospect, everything that happened this year was for a reason, and I believe that it is to build God's Kingdom. It might be unclear to me now, but I guess obedience before understanding!
I remembered at the start of the year, I made this 'bold' prayer: God, help me to rely on your grace in this situation. I know your strength can shine through my weakness. So Lord, bring it on. Unleash your power in my life. Please use my pain for your glory.
God wasn't joking. After I made this prayer, people started to 'warn' me. I was scared, but I knew the growth it brings will be worth it.
Amusingly, I thought the pain that I encountered would be the decision to run for exco. I was really struggling at the start, but somehow, I got used to it and I enjoy doing my job. It didn't feel like a chore anymore. I remembered wondering "wait what, that's it? God, so this struggle is gone so easily?" Nah. Looks like that was just level 0.5
Level 1 was was the real deal. I've never felt so upset in my life before, I'm sure. Not even my breakup 4 years ago? It.was.really.painful. And now I'm over the most painful stage, I looked back and realised I asked for it. Sort of. And I thank God that his strength really shone through my weaknesses. I am sucker for emotions. I give in. But God gave me enough strength to get pass it. Yay!
And so, I am currently now anticipating level 2. Idk what it will be, but this means that I have to be on guard and I have to keep close to God. Because if I don't, I might just topple again. Oh, and I really, really, really hope it's nothing about Sze min and I, because earlier on in the year someone warned us that the devil was trying to snatch away this special friendship with share. NO WAY MAN. But I guess I can see it in another way - God is using our friendship for His kingdom, and I'm glad that he is.
Yeah, now I dare to tell God to BRING IT ON. Use my pain for Your Glory, because I want to build your Kingdom. Test me, tempt me. Because I know that whatever comes, you'll definitely provide a way out for me, and by then, I'll receive the crown of life (:
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