a snippet of your existence a line that divides fantasy and realism a trash bin of your frustration a collection of memoirs of people inside you a catalyst a joyous journey through your mind another window of your soul an hour glass a conscious dreaming a picture a word gazillion conversations a portal a closed door
... a connection to yourself and to other people ... it is what it is depending on its content ... it is what it is how you write on it not how you make it seems to be
OP: Some people identify being good at office politics as being mean-spirited. Do you believe you can be nice and still be skilled at office politics? Can you conquer office politics by being nice? Linda Kaplan Thaler: It may seem somewhat counterintuitive, but being nice can be the most effective tool for success when dealing with office politics. Fundamentally, office politics are typically used with the objective of trying to gain an advantage in the work environment. While we all share this goal of striving to get ahead, instead of expending lots of negative energy rushing to grab a slice of the pie for yourself, think about how you can broaden your horizons and bake a bigger pie so everyone gets a piece. When you bake a bigger pie, its the ultimate win-win situation. You get more of what you want and feel better about what you're doing and you create a new recipe for success.
honestly speaking, i cannot relate to this post, not that it was badly worded where it's in fact has its own good points and very inspiring... but these two reasons hinder me as to identify with this scenario:
the first reason is that:
there's no politics of any sort that exists in our office basically because of the second reason...
most of them speak in Chinese language...
no matter how much I twist my mind to understand them in their daily conversation, I cannot ever decode the mystery of their communicative means - definitely not until I learn to speak in Chinese, talk Chinese, walk Chinese, breathe Chinese, sleep Chinese, write Chinese, joke Chinese...
with this, I came to a conclusion that I will remain an alien to this office and to this country, albeit my lifetime stay here...(which is the last thing I'll ever do)and that will save me from being doomed, I guess.
but think again, I'd rather be doomed and involved in healthy politicking (if there exist such euphoria) than be alienated!
Partly overwhelmed by Amazing Grace, but more of an amazed child who had just found the yummiest candy ever, I just want to share with you an interesting book regarding the accounts of Olaudah Equiano, a former African slave, who was one the most actively involved in the British debate for the abolition of the slave trade. This book entitled "The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano" (also known as Gustavus Vassa), is the author's autobiography exposing the horrors of slavery and was believed to be the earliest known example of published writing by an African writer.
Furthermore, the book was the first influential slave autobiography which ignited the anti-slavery movement in England.
Here's the link. I got mine in e-snips though. I'll write down my review once I finished reading the book.
She is a cancer patient; he was an eloquent politician who changed the world. She battles illness, fears, growing sickness and emotional pain of seeing her loved ones affected by her condition, while he fought against the opposition, made up speeches and strategies to abolish what was then the prevailing inhumane system of slave trade. She physically looks frail and very ill but her strength is double than mine. He was continuously discouraged by people and politics, and by the disapproval of the bill he passed, but those did not stop him to pursue justice and his lifetime crusade to free the African slaves.
She was Sister Jane. He was William Wilberforce. Both I have known yesterday and both created an impact in my life and in my faith.
Sister Jane is my church mate in FCCD (Filipino Christian Church of Dubai) and I already saw her before but was not given the chance to talk to her lengthily as she belongs to another cell group and ministry. Never did I took notice that she's quite thinner than among other women in our church. Her attendance dwindled and the church pastors often ask prayers for a certain 'sister Jane'. I did not know he is mentioning this jolly-eyed woman not until yesterday that sister Jane was requested to give a brief testimony for the Light Bearer's Ministry's afternoon fellowship. It was indeed brief, but every word struck me to my inner senses, every single detail astonishing, and each emphasis powerful. This woman has gone life's adversities, and is going through it everyday.
She went through an operation for her ovarian cancer and at the same time her family suffered a great deal of financial problem due to the cost of the operation. There's the possibility that she'll loss her job too. Albeit all these circumstances she voiced praises to the God who provided her the strength to go to church and testify before us that death has not scared her a bit and her life and strength is with God and most importantly, God is alive and in control. This kind of faith always swept me off my feet and makes me shed understanding tears of praises to a living God.
The second greatest person I was so blessed to get acquainted with was Mr. Wilber. William Wilberforce (played with justice by Ioan Gruffudd) was a man of big heart, of faith so enormous and meaningful I feel as though I've been introduce to Christian faith the very first time. He gave faith a face I haven't known before.
His life is filmed in a movie entitled "Amazing Grace". Yes, it's the popular hymn originally written by John Newton, Wilberforce's, I conclude favorite, preacher. Later on, one more stanza was added to it in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Addition to the lyrics was penned by John Rees.
The movie Amazing Grace centers on the life and anti-slavery campaigns of Wilberforce. He was indeed a talented public speaker of the House of Commons and one of the MP's (Members of the Parliament). Together with his lifetime friend, William Pitt 'the younger' (Benedict Cumberbatch) who also happened to be the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the youngest one ever, and the other co-antislavery trade such as Oloudaqh Equiano(Youssou N'Dour) a slave before himself, Thomas Clarkson (Rufus Sewell, "A Knight's Tale"), and Lord Charles Fox (Michael Gambon, Harry Potter's Dumbledore), they changed the history of Great Britain towards people's to enslave mindset.
Their victories haven’t come off so easy. They have to struggle and contend against many issues like those ship owners and other Members of the Parliament who were not so convinced on putting halt to slavery thus the bill Abolition of Slave Trade had not gathered so much sympathy. Praise God these guys were so creative I think marketing strategy's notion wasn't so popular until their strategies we're implemented to the public and to the other MP’s. They planned and stood steadfast on the sole purpose of their committee: to stop slave trade.
"In April 1791, Wilberforce introduced the first Parliamentary Bill to abolish the slave trade, which was easily defeated by 163 votes to 88. As Wilberforce continued to bring the issue of the slave trade before Parliament, Clarkson continued to travel and write. Between them, Clarkson and Wilberforce were responsible for generating and sustaining a national movement which mobilised public opinion as never before." (Wikipedia)
Everyone experiences at a certain point of his life when he/she was so down. Everything. Emotionally, physically, and morally. Everything seems to be in the verge of dying and one typically wallows in the hopelessness of the situation. This most of all happens when the one greatest motivation of your life seems to become a failure. Wilber was not an exception though. Famous and rich he was but his campaign was not winning and one of the members of the committee died. Everything seems to be falling in wrong places. His health deteriorated. His songs were lost to the abyss of ruination.
But what can be impossible to human terms can be possible to a living God! As one of the original lyrics of the song Amazing Grace says:
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who call’d me here below, Will be forever mine.
With this kind of faith Wilber still possesses and his long talk overnight with beautiful wife to be- Barbara- a believer of his cause, a grand twist of events took place. Wilber saw the light of hope once again and his strength was renewed by fresh events God is unfolding in his life.
Attempts to abolish the bill continued until its declaration roared a mighty approval from the Speaker of the House. Certainly, after years and years of the seemingly life-long saga, slavery in Britain was finished.
When people speak of great men, they think of men like Napoleon - men of violence. Rarely do they think of peaceful men. But contrast the reception they will receive when they return home from their battles. Napoleon will arrive in pomp and in power, a man who's achieved the very summit of earthly ambition. And yet his dreams will be haunted by the oppressions of war. William Wilberforce, however, will return to his family, lay his head on his pillow and remembers: the slave trade is no more.
---- Lord Charles Fox in Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace"
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That sav’d a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears reliev’d; How precious did that grace appear, The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease; I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who call’d me here below, Will be forever mine.
John Newton, Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779)
Written by John Newton - a ship captain of a transatlantic slave trade turn preacher...
Most of the time, I’m like this. “This” refers to a thinking that I am made for bigger things, meant for beyond imagination purpose, and supposed to be in another place and in another time.
Am I not contented? Am I looking for excuses to escape my current situation? Am I really not following God’s will when I’m being like this?
Specifically, I am really contemplating on going to a graduate school pursuing an MBA in Marketing. I want to either study in London or in New York or in Canada perhaps, perfecting the craft that was given to me by God. I can feel that. I know I am above average. Not that it is only a selfish assumption boosting my ego but based on my past experiences, I know I can excel much more. I can enrich this God-given wisdom and intelligence for the expansion of God’s kingdom. Maybe after the MBA degree, I can be a real expert on Marketing and use this as a leeway for spreading the good news through different means. I mean, I’m actually talking about promoting Christianity in modern era using up to date medium. Isn’t it cool? And I’ll love to be an expert on that subject matter, equipped with unbeatable knowledge on how it is going to run.
The world out there is set in the race to be authorities on their worldly endeavors and they succeeded not because God gave them the gifts but because evil reigns and is trying to beat the children of God by promoting through different medium and various means subjects favored by the world. Let’s take for example films. I love films so much that some of them left a life changing mark on me. Film making and all the technical areas associated with it come from God. It should be used to bring back to God all the glory because all things came from Him. The artistic gifts, the technical machineries, the people… all these came from an Almighty God who wants to bring enjoyment on His creation through visual artistry. I just cannot harmonize the fact that these artistically gifted people go to extremes and make films that not only disproved of existence of God. Some would take gory and inhuman themes highlighting man’s ill nature. Why? Is this going to help people to appreciate their lives? Is it edifying? Inspiring? Will be able to help the needy? Uplift a weak soul out there? Pay homage to a one true God that created beautiful things? Beautiful soul? I don’t think so. Unless these artists have invented excuses to acquit themselves for “expressing” their “artistry”. Such a self-centered perspective of art. I can name more medium but the idea is all together the same. Misused of artistry for self-glory that highlight human’s cruelty and immoral desires.
I want some betterment to this type of society we face every single day. From music that we hear from our FM receiver/MP3 player/I-pod, to the largest billboard that hellos us each morning on the way to work or school, from the TV ads so materialistic and nothing but lies to the awesome novels which are sometimes less awesome nowadays because the antagonist has to be some sort of psycho killer who collects tooth from his myriad victims. I want to combat this kind of system. True, we cannot deny that there are heinous crimes committed by the most evil people in the world. And no one can ever negate that by showing only feel good movies or by promoting pacifism. But do some people really need to bombard the audience with cold blooded types of films, music and adverts? Not only cold blooded ones but erotic, carnal images that pollute and corrupt the minds of the people most especially the young ones. I remember what my professor in Argumentation and Debate once told us in her class, “There are indeed so many bad things that happened in our life, ugly sides that haunt us, but given this fact, do we really have to focus all our effort onto these bad areas of our lives? Instead of whining and complaining about all these, why don't we look at the good side of it?” Simple statements but remarkable. Mrs. Anabelle Kibanoff-Mercado is such a rare gem.
Anyway, my conclusion is, I still have to pray for these plans of mine. I don’t know if God will keep my life simpler than I thought learning from my life’s simplicity and complexity and those that surrounds me precious lessons that will help me to reach my goals . Or maybe God will provide grander events beyond my fantasies can ever grasp. Life clutters and complications aren’t always a sign of God’s blessing though. But then, think about it, I could it give it a shot. .
The artist produces for the liberation of his soul. It is his nature to create as it is the nature of water to run down the hill.
W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965)
maia hushes loudly (www.whenitrainsmysoulsings.blogspot.com) is where i put my essays and articles and reviews and essays and articles and reviews and...
bilog (www.bilogako.blogspot.com) is my pinoy side site and my laid back attitude side and my pinoy side and my absurd delusions and reflections.
i am*tactful*honest*secretive*homebody*sentimental*hardworking*approachable*has reputation*not revengeful*easily consoled*very emotional*wary and sharp*likes to be quiet*witty and snarky*caring and loving*loves to be alone*overly concerned*loves to be loved*treats others equally*puts in effort in work*takes pride in oneself*moody and easily hurt*bibliophile*have strong sense of sympathy*forgiving but never forgets*quiet unless excited or tensed*not aggressive unless provoked*concerned about people's feelings*temperamental and unpredictable*judge people through observations*easily hurt but takes long to recover*guides others physically and mentally*dislikes the nonsensical and unnecessary*difficult to fathom and to be understood*sensitive and forms impressions carefully*always broods about the past and the old friends
