just came back from my cell retreat yesterday. very rushed time for me since i came back from vietnam on thursday night and i'm off again to cell retreat on friday morning. but the rush was well worth it. was thankful that i could make it at all! since usually my vietnam trips lasts from tues to fris. managed to push this on back by one day, mon to thur.

we had our retreat at the nsrcc chalet and had surprises from SA's fellow brothers in Christ, who came to talk abt work (why on earth we do it) and relationships (bgr kinds, since we're all of "marriagable age" *chuckle*).

it was a very relaxin' retreat... one where we could chill and spend time with one another, play games and chit chat. i remember a few cell groups ago we were sharing how we wanted to spend time with one another, to get to know one another better and that the only factor that prevents from doing so is the lack of time. so it's so nice that we could set this time aside just to enjoying each other's presence.

something i learnt from LG from the talk abt work, that more than it being a curse after the fall of Man, it is also a command from God. this really gives me a new perspective on work as some of you know that i always keep saying how nice it'd be to be a "tai tai" and just doing the things i wanna do. in the bible, before the fall, humans were already working. it only became toil after the introduction of sin into their lives. interesting ain't it? God wanted us to work too.

God not just takes pleasure in us working, but He also takes pleasure in our work... when we do it unto Him and for Him... LG lent us a dvd called chariots of fire. it was filmed in 1981 and has won many awards. it talks abt two men, competing in the olympics in 1920+ but with two different mindsets and intentions. one, just wanted to win... he wanted to proof himself, to himself and to the world. the other is running because he recognises his gift and that when he wins, he's winning it for God, for His glory.

the movie speaks strongly on the mindset we take to work. true, it is a toil.. we feel sian, and sometimes our jobs makes us feel uncertain about the future but God does take pleasure in your work when you do it unto Him and for His glory. God is the God who created everything there is anyway... all the laws of science and patterns of mathematics... and those are the things that we're using in our work to serve the community! what makes one job more worthy than another when God takes pleasure in all.

then came JH who spoke abt relationships... more like sharing his journey and what he drew out of it. though i'm already married, i learnt a lot from him.. abt relating to others abt my journey. many a times i just tell people events... rather than lessons and values that i drew from it.

very insightful, these talks.

that's a summary of what i learnt...

during the retreat... after LG's talk abt work.. i was really thinking abt my job and toying with the idea of changing it. not just the company i'm working in but changing the entire line completely, ie step out of IT. some of you might know that i've been toying around with the idea for quite a while already. so i was sharing with some that i wanna work with children... go into early childhood development... but i was really unwilling because the pay is really low. so i'm unsure.. just unsure...

then we had dinner and as we were walking back to the chalet.. i made a comment abt a dream i had since i was young. i said "my dream will never be realised". so SA asked me what my dream was and i said that i have always always wanted to be a doctor. but i buried the dream long ago when i did badly for my 'A' levels. and it has been buried so long... nearly 10 yrs i would say. and SA and WL said that there could be a chance that my dream can be fulfilled! i was so glad when they were sharing with me abt some routes i could take.. it was so awakening.. i felt hope again.

then i shared with EE and she was encouraging me again that God is a God of second chances. and she shared with me abt some of her dreams and how God led her to fulfill them. amazing.

was talking the one of my girls, NW just before the retreat... timely that i was asking her abt dreams that she might have... and it uncovered some of my old dreams. dreams i had when i was her age. coincidence? i would say it was God's appointed time. felt God asking me to ask her abt her dream... and in doing so, i was blessed as well.

my biggest take away from this retreat is that God is a God of dreams.. He's the dream-maker as well as the dream-fulfiller. and i'm thankful to my church and my cell sisters for believing in my dream.

today though i'm back at work at my desk.. i didn't feel dreariness as i would usually feel on mondays. instead i felt purpose, as God takes delight in my work when i do it unto Him, and i feel hope, that work is not the end.

might try to ask EE how to go abt doing a hospital attachment for a few weeks.. i should explore this...

what's your dream?

{ Monday, June 25 }