Happiness - important for Vitality!

I had just come back from the Changi Prison speech craft meeting. It was my very first experience in Changi Prison as I volunteered to help Michael Rodrigues and Aziz in their toastmastering activities with the inmates. It was indeed an eye-opener for me, and I felt very happy. This is the wonderful aspect of giving. When we give, we receive so much more in return!! I am sure I have learnt a lot from the inmates as much as they have learnt from me as their project and language evaluators.



Michael kindly dropped Cynthia and me at Simei MRT. Although I was tired, having to wake up at 6.00a.m. to be on time at 8.30a.m. at Changi Prison, I felt very happy and fulfilled. I wanted to do a little shopping for presents for my nieces and sister, whom I would be visiting in Johore in the early evening.



When I came back, I looked into my computer. I was stunned to receive an email from a friend who expressed her disgust at receiving a pornographic email from me! This same email had also been sent to some of the toastmasters from other clubs as well as some of my relatives when I was vacationing in Penang. I had brushed off the whole thing as a prank by someone with a perverted and warped sense of humour. Vanessa Yong, my club's president, immediately phoned me and said she had deleted the email without opening it, as she did not believe it could be sent by me. Aveline and Adrien did likewise. I wrote to Hotmail to ask who the imposter is. Confident that all those who had received the email would be as discerning as my three friends, I did not bother to write to all the others to explain. For me, I feel that if one is not guilty, one should not be bothered about explaining. It warmed my heart to know that my friends know me well enough to immediately smell a rat at the unusual email. They also know that my computer knowledge is limited to emailing and writing in my blog. My friends had helped me set up email, blog and advertising accounts. From young, papa had always taught us never to use vulgarity in our speeches or writing!



Suddenly I felt very, very tired. The happiness that I had was momentarily and completely wiped out, leaving me with grief and despair. This friend was an ex-colleague from my school - someone who had known me for years. Yet she did not even ask nor give me the benefit of a doubt. Instead she immediately sat on the throne and pronounced her judgement at how offended she was to receive the filthy material from me, and quoted David Wilkerson (Pastor of Times Square Church) saying that the devil wants to corrupt a person by entering his core through the windows of his soul ie. his eyes. I suddenly felt really exhausted, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. I just had to take a nap even though it meant I might be late in going to Johor.



When I woke up, I was somewhat rejuvenated. I prayed for the perverted imposter. He could be someome who had been trying to poach me to join his company. Many other real estate agents have tried and are still trying to poach the top agents from our company. Maybe the imposter was angry that I decided to stay put for I am one of those old-fashioned ladies who believe that a rolling stone gathers no moss. I prayed for this ex-colleague of mine. It was not easy. It hurt terribly to be misunderstood. But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It dawned upon me how important happiness is to one's strength and vitality. I want to forgive and move on. Time is short. There are so many things needing my attention - my real estate work, toastmastering activities, volunteer work, writing in my blog, improving in my piano, drum and violin, trying out new recipes, and wanting to visit those countries I have not yet been to.



Earlier at the Changi Prison speech craft meeting, I had told the inmates how important words are in our life. Words have power to heal or to kill. We must always think twice before we hurl hurtful words at others. I have encouraged them to express their feelings in writing, for it is a good release and will help them to feel better. Hence, my writing this article.



Ah! The power of words! The pen or computer print is certainly mightier than the sword. The cuts they leave behind could be more excruciating than the sword - only love, forgiveness and peace within oneself could heal those wounds. Lord, bless the imposter and my ex-colleague!



Gan Chau