originality; cold-fire

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Abraham's Promise

Abraham's Promise is a book by a Singaporean writer. I was introduced to this book by Mr. Lim during my last visit to SCSS. He introduced it to be a "serious fiction". The whole book is so damn boring! I must admit that while I was in the midst of reading the book, I was partly cursing, "Stupid Jason Lim.. Intro this kinda boring book to me..." I finally finished reading the short book after 1 week plus as I couldn't get myself to pick up the book where I left off.

The story is essentially about an old man and memories. Most of his memories were about his regrets in life. Some of the regrets were:
- The raising of his son to become a lawyer who is interested in gaining a stable and good career.
- The failure to stand up for his sister when she didn't want to get married and also to be there for her when she was in need. This led to her committing suicide after marriage.
- His wife having an affair with his best friend.

To speak the truth, my first reaction after completing the book was, "Stupid Jason Lim.. Why the hell did he introduce such a book to me??" After much thoughts, it may be a simple way of telling me that there are so much more to life than my pragmatic views show me. My thoughts about Abraham was that he was so pre-occupied with his roles, purposes and personal principles that he neglected others in his life.

To speak the truth, I find that of the 2 years + 4 mths I spent in the Army, I am paying slightly more attention to those around me. (I Hope!) Though it isn't a lot more but I think I have made some more effort as opposed to when I was working for my A' Levels. Part of me is afraid that when uni starts, I'm going to revert back to the old me again. I hope that will not happen.

Just a note on this book, I found a part in the book rather interesting when Abraham's was betrayed by a fellow teacher in his school. Abraham's reaction was that the teacher was a Christian just like him but the teacher was not doing what the faith taught them to do - not to lie. I find it a simple point to show that by having faith or believing in a god does not mean that a person will have a strong set of values. I just feel that you don't have to believe in a god to have values. In addition, some religions teach people to have a given set of values or do good deeds for reasons like going to heaven, repayment blah blah blah. I simply disagree with such ways of teachings as I feel that one should do things based on their values and conscience.

On a separate note, I went to the Jurong Bird Park today as part of a family day thingy. Let's just put it that I am not as into birds as my dad is. We were just there as a form of family outing. Nonetheless, I was facinated by the bird called Pelican. They are so BIG! And have got BIG mouth too! In addition, I still feel that Bald Eagle is the coolest bird of all. Anyway, I deduce that my dad only likes birds which can fly and chirp - he doesn't seem all that interested in ostriches or flamingoes.

Finally, the winning quote of today is, "Wah.. They can fly leh! They can fly leh!" - my sister.

The Origin. 5/21/2006 10:57:00 pm

quotes

"You know how when you were a little kid and you believed in fairy tales, that fantasy of what your life would be, white dress, prince charming who would carry you away to a castle on a hill. You would lie in bed at night and close your eyes and you had complete and utter faith. Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Prince Charming, they were so close you could taste them, but eventually you grow up, one day you open your eyes and the fairy tale disappears. Most people turn to the things and people they can trust. But the thing is its hard to let go of that fairy tale entirely cause almost everyone has that smallest bit of hope, of faith, that one day they will open their eyes and it will come true." - Dr. Meredith Grey from Grey's Anatomy

'How happy is the little Stone
That rambles in the Road alone,
And doesn't care about Careers
And Exigencies never fears-
Whose Coat of elemental Brown
A passing Universe put on,
And independent as the Sun
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute Decree
In casual simplicity-' - How happy is the little Stone by Emily Dickinson

'This is your last chance.
After this, there is no turning back.
You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe.
You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.' - Morpheus, The Matrix

'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Not because you'll get it, but because you're doomed not to want it if you do.' - Unknown

'There are plenty of people with good intentions who take the wrong actions in the end' - Gundam Seed Destiny

'Life is no straight and easy corridor along
which we must seek our way,
lost and confused, now and again
checked in a blind alley.

But always, if we have faith,
a door will open for us,
not perhaps one that we ourselves
would ever have thought of,
but one that will ultimately
prove good for us.' - A.J.Cronin

"Every life has one true-love snapshot
Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know
No life is a waste.
The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone"

"A man can endure alot if he still has hope." - Clyde T. Ellis

" 'Appreciate It.' 2 simple words. A life span of gratitude." - Cinderella Man

"A boxer enters the ring alone. If knocked down, he alone could pick himself up and keep the fight going." - Cinderella Man

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

"Jame J. Braddock: I know this isn't what you wanted. But I can't win if you're not behind me.
Mae: I'm always behind you."

"People die in fairy tales all the time." - Max Baer, Cinderella Man

"Maybe sometimes people need to see someone do it so they can do it." - Father Rorick, Cinderella Man

"You always got ot figure you're not the best man in the world, there might be somebody better. That's the way it was. That's the way boxing is. The champion don't always stand up. There's always somebody coming up to take him. That's a part of life." - Jame J. Braddock

"If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted" - The Queensbury Rules, No. 4

"All men have fears, but the brave put down their fears and go forward, sometimes to death, but always to victory" - Motto of the King's Guard in Ancient Greece

"With each passing day in a good marriage, the love for your spouse grow stronger than the day before" - Cinderella Man

"I take responsibility" - President George W. Bush

"Sow a Thought, and you reap an Act;
Sow an Act, and you reap a Habit;
Sow a Habit, and you sow a Character;
Sow a Character, and you reap a Destiny." - Samuel Smiles

"Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt - Shakespeare in Measure of Measure

"What does your heart tell you?" - Aragorn, LOTR

"To an outstretched hand we shall respond with an olive branch, but we shall fight fire with the harshest fire ever." - Israeli PM Ariel Sharon

"To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human. " - The Matrix

"Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth, always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath." - Balian of Ibelin, Kingdom of Heaven

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." - Atticus Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird

"It is not our abilities that show what we truly are... it is our choices." - Dumbledore, Harry Potter

"Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends." - Gandalf, LOTR

"Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten." - Lilo & Stitch

"Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." - Malcolm Wallace, Braveheart

"Every man dies, not every man really lives." - William Wallace, Braveheart

credits.
rebelHEART host blogskins Miss M brushes