..imagine a day without the thing you needed..

I planned my activities for the following day before going to bed. I said I'll have an unhurried bath, empty my hamper which defined my week's schedule, I'll cook a decent meal, and probably will clean our bathroom. I woke up and went to the receiving area, laid for a moment in our couch, imagining the scrambled egg and Tender Juicy hotdog for breakfast. Then I heard the grumble of my flat mate while she's holding her hamper back to her room saying, "no water supply for today". NO WATER SUPPLY FOR TODAY? The image of scrambled egg and hotdog faded in an instant. 

I was able to share this story to my cousin Anne when we were able to had a good catch up online. That day, when the water, the basic need of every human being was cut off, I found myself bargaining. That I would have wanted to have no electricity than to have no water at all. In the absence of the basics, we realize how extra ordinary they are. A patient will set aside a branded shoes as soon as her doctor will say that her leg needs amputation. Or a father will drop off a big time close deal meeting when he learned that his son got a car accident. Or a successful business man would trade his bank account to regain a cancer-free body. Or those who experienced a gargantuan destruction of typhoon who would exchange their valuables for the safety of their family. God is wise enough to give us a day when we experience a threat of losing the things and people we often take for granted on a daily basis. Because we think that they are anyway accessible everyday. They are just there. So you don't find them that eager to take care of. That day, when I heard the gushing of water in the kitchen, I ended my habit of wasting it.

What can you afford to lose in order to retain what matters most? How will you imagine a day without that very thing you needed? 

It's not too late to start to declutter your life.

..a good sneak out..

(c) Jem Ven Ar

I sneaked out of the flat in robe. The guard is now fast asleep with lights in the hallway off. I took the stairs, careful of my foot steps since I don't want to create noise that might wake up the occupants of the building this moment of dawn. I stopped in one of the floors, thinking that someone might see me, and  it might provoke a "conjuring" thought. But I was born a non-conformist. I reached the top of the building, pushed the door open, and the morning air embraced me. The sky is clear after a day's downpour, as if preparing for a triumphant day. The full moon's glow is superb, illuminating in pride as if savoring the moments while it is still the queen of the night. I stand looking at it for a minute or two as I encircled my arms to keep warm. The winter is nearing.

I stared at the sky.  It's not everyday that I am grace with a chance to be at peace with being alone. I don't know if I should be afraid with being comfortable in my solitude, but I am happy. The clouds continue to move, passing the stars that remains in the sky. I am aware of the fact that while I remain glancing at the stardom of gratitude, my countrymen are suffering of mammoth loss. And again, I still trust God who holds the blueprint of our lives. He will restore, rebuild, reassemble whatever is wrong at the present. Just as how He managed to breathe life out of dust. I can't get away from comparing the beauty of the night when the sun will soon rise. There's so much in darkness that only shines bright away from the spotlight. It is my prayer, that the night I am experiencing, the night my country is facing at the moment, the night some of you are also battling at, that we never run out of source of hope amidst our fall. God is here, even if He is not obvious.

I took the one last view of the sky before closing the door. Everything will be alright.