Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Reflection- Walkabout
When you are bored, what do you do? Talk to your pet fish or do star jumps? What I thought of doing one mundane saturday afternoon, was to have a miniature tour around my house with my soft toy, Sally.
Daddy gave me Sally when I was four years old.
"What is this dada?"
Dad met my questioning eyes and said with a smile,"it it a giraffe, sweetie!"
Thinking back surfaces so many fond memories dear to my heart! Lily had her soft toy too. In her society, however, it is called a comfort object. Sadly, her comfort object was the closest she could ever get to an elephant. I, could visit the zoo anytime I wanted.
Heaving a sigh, I moved on.
STOP 1-the living room
Have you ever wondered why this particular place in the house is specially for "living"? I have meditated on it before and I guess it is named so as the living room is a place why family members bond, share and have fun together! It may not have the the best entertainment facilities, or the most comfortable chairs, but the times I share with my family here, they are what matter the most
Jonas and Lily's family unit had a sharing of feelings every night at the dinner table. It was a routine they had to carry out everyday. A routine, not a bonding session.
STOP 2-the balcony
Open the doors and fill the invigorating coolness of wind sweeping past your face. I close my eyes to take in the tranquility of the serenity.
"HORN!"
I jumped at the sudden horn of a car from downstairs. My peace, disrupted.
Cars are such an important transportation mode now and many people rely heavily on it. What if my family did not possess a car? Hmm... That would be quite hard for me! I certainly do not like the idea of waking up an hour earlier just to catch the public transport!
After the people have gone through the Ceremony of Nine, they travel around the community by bicycles. They do not have cars like our present world. Although travelling by bicycles may take a longer time, it could be a better way of transport. In our present world, many of us travel by cars. This may seem very convenient for us, but it is doing more harm to the Earth than we can ever imagine. If we are planning to go to somewhere within walking distance, maybe we should consider walking there, or ride the bicycle!
As I make my way to the final stop of the tour, mummy shouts from the kitchen, "darling, have you taken your daily vitamins?"
"No, mum. I will take it later!" I answered. I consume two kind of vitamins daily, Vitamin C pills and cod oil pills. Jonas takes a pill everyday to stop his Stirrings. Stirrings are the feelings of attraction to the opposite sex. Even though these pills help to prevent sexual-related crimes and problems, the element of feelings are lost and there is a dilution of human emotions.
Luckily, everybody in our society is free to feel, but some people take it too far, and do things they regret eventually.
LAST STOP-bedroom
A smile stretched across my face as I pick up a photo frame with a photo of our family celebrating Christmas the year before.
During a training session at the Annex Room one day, Jonas received a memory from the Giver of a family celebrating Christmas. Happiness and love filled the room as everyone celebrated Christmas together.
When humans do not function without love, there is a big hole in their lives and beings. Although Jonas' community is rather perfect and efficient, the people do not get to experience the essence of life: to live, love and enjoy. Therefore, the people are like living robots, functioning according to the system of the community. Nothing more than that.
When Jonas realised how amazing love felt, he knew that there was a gap in his life, and in him grew a longing, that love could exist in his community.
When I reflect on this, I realise how important and precious my friends and family are to me, because their love defines who I am, and makes me whole.
The tour has ended, but the lessons learnt will stay with me. The Giver has made me realise how blessed I am to be living in this present world, and to experience the ups and downs of emotions. It has also taught me that one cannot create a perfect world, as there will always be flaws present. However, one can live in a less than perfect world, and rejoice. Although there are many bad things happening around the world now, there are also countless things to give thanks for.
"Every point of view has another angle
And every angle has its merit
But it all comes down to faith
Thats the way I see it"
When you are bored, what do you do? Talk to your pet fish or do star jumps? What I thought of doing one mundane saturday afternoon, was to have a miniature tour around my house with my soft toy, Sally.
Daddy gave me Sally when I was four years old.
"What is this dada?"
Dad met my questioning eyes and said with a smile,"it it a giraffe, sweetie!"
Thinking back surfaces so many fond memories dear to my heart! Lily had her soft toy too. In her society, however, it is called a comfort object. Sadly, her comfort object was the closest she could ever get to an elephant. I, could visit the zoo anytime I wanted.
Heaving a sigh, I moved on.
STOP 1-the living room
Have you ever wondered why this particular place in the house is specially for "living"? I have meditated on it before and I guess it is named so as the living room is a place why family members bond, share and have fun together! It may not have the the best entertainment facilities, or the most comfortable chairs, but the times I share with my family here, they are what matter the most
Jonas and Lily's family unit had a sharing of feelings every night at the dinner table. It was a routine they had to carry out everyday. A routine, not a bonding session.
STOP 2-the balcony
Open the doors and fill the invigorating coolness of wind sweeping past your face. I close my eyes to take in the tranquility of the serenity.
"HORN!"
I jumped at the sudden horn of a car from downstairs. My peace, disrupted.
Cars are such an important transportation mode now and many people rely heavily on it. What if my family did not possess a car? Hmm... That would be quite hard for me! I certainly do not like the idea of waking up an hour earlier just to catch the public transport!
After the people have gone through the Ceremony of Nine, they travel around the community by bicycles. They do not have cars like our present world. Although travelling by bicycles may take a longer time, it could be a better way of transport. In our present world, many of us travel by cars. This may seem very convenient for us, but it is doing more harm to the Earth than we can ever imagine. If we are planning to go to somewhere within walking distance, maybe we should consider walking there, or ride the bicycle!
As I make my way to the final stop of the tour, mummy shouts from the kitchen, "darling, have you taken your daily vitamins?"
"No, mum. I will take it later!" I answered. I consume two kind of vitamins daily, Vitamin C pills and cod oil pills. Jonas takes a pill everyday to stop his Stirrings. Stirrings are the feelings of attraction to the opposite sex. Even though these pills help to prevent sexual-related crimes and problems, the element of feelings are lost and there is a dilution of human emotions.
Luckily, everybody in our society is free to feel, but some people take it too far, and do things they regret eventually.
LAST STOP-bedroom
A smile stretched across my face as I pick up a photo frame with a photo of our family celebrating Christmas the year before.
During a training session at the Annex Room one day, Jonas received a memory from the Giver of a family celebrating Christmas. Happiness and love filled the room as everyone celebrated Christmas together.
When humans do not function without love, there is a big hole in their lives and beings. Although Jonas' community is rather perfect and efficient, the people do not get to experience the essence of life: to live, love and enjoy. Therefore, the people are like living robots, functioning according to the system of the community. Nothing more than that.
When Jonas realised how amazing love felt, he knew that there was a gap in his life, and in him grew a longing, that love could exist in his community.
When I reflect on this, I realise how important and precious my friends and family are to me, because their love defines who I am, and makes me whole.
The tour has ended, but the lessons learnt will stay with me. The Giver has made me realise how blessed I am to be living in this present world, and to experience the ups and downs of emotions. It has also taught me that one cannot create a perfect world, as there will always be flaws present. However, one can live in a less than perfect world, and rejoice. Although there are many bad things happening around the world now, there are also countless things to give thanks for.
"Every point of view has another angle
And every angle has its merit
But it all comes down to faith
Thats the way I see it"
Murmur 5:34 AM.
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