so some simple reflections on the year that was.. i guess there aint much highlights to mention anyway, since firstly, it was too fast for much to happen and secondly, majority of the year was taken up by national service. but for the sake of the annual year end/new year reflective mode, i'll give it a go, and we'll see if more things pop out along the way.

okay so for one, enlisting in army was by far the biggest change in my life, and probably will be! i learnt so much about myself, people, and the different sides to a person there is. its been an amazingly eye opening experience. i never knew how blinded and oblivious i was to selfishness and the lack of initiative until enlisting. i saw people who are simply unwilling to help and only bothering with things that would benefit them. i've been brought up differently and to put it blatantly, i detest people who act that way. and this makes me proud of the environment i grew up in, seriously.

on the flip side, i got the chance to experience things that many people would never get the chance to. i climbed the mountains of brunei and taiwan, and spent 9 days in a forest trying to survive and navigate my way through. i've learnt so much, and above all, been awed through and through by God's creation. in hindsight, the jungle and everything i've experience during training as an infanteer has showed me time and again how majestic He is. compiling all the experiences together, its just hard to believe that this powerful, big, tremendous God can love someone so small, so insignificant placed beside the wonders that He made. its just so hard to absorb the magnitude of His love.

i guess this year has been a trying year in terms of spirituality. i admit i've struggled to keep up spending time with God. after enlisting its just been tough making QT a daily routine.. i fall asleep while praying at times and there's just so much that i didnt do. but i must say, He has been everlastingly faithful. that's why God is so wonderful. because even if you begin to drift away, He wont ever leave you alone. i know its been so one sided between me and God but He never failed to look after me, protect me.

emotionally, feels pretty burdensome not being able to be there for so many people that you care about. and there's nothing much i can do about it.. kinda sucks when you know someone's in need to talk but you cant talk or text for long because you have commitments to attend to . it got me really frustrated many times during the year.. oh well.

okay so overall, 2011 has been pretty much, a random year. why random? because there isnt much of a highlight anyway. the year just passed. like passed. then again, there were slight instances that challenge me, both spiritually and emotionally. it was a pretty trying year for my walk with God.. being rather stagnant and i didnt really feel myself growing much. emotionally becuase i had to deal with so many different feelings, more so of angst and dissatisfaction with people around me. i think at times i really didnt portray myself as a christian and that kinda sucks too.

so this year im really looking to

get back on track with God,

spend more time with people i care about,

honour the values that i hold on to,

ord knowing i have done my best.

here's to a better year ahead, pretty excited for what might be instored! i mean, it cant be less eventful than 2011 right?

-shaunald.

so some simple reflections on the year that was.. i guess there aint much highlights to mention anyway, since firstly, it was too fast for much to happen and secondly, majority of the year was taken up by national service. but for the sake of the annual year end/new year reflective mode, i'll give it a go, and we'll see if more things pop out along the way.

okay so for one, enlisting in army was by far the biggest change in my life, and probably will be! i learnt so much about myself, people, and the different sides to a person there is. its been an amazingly eye opening experience. i never knew how blinded and oblivious i was to selfishness and the lack of initiative until enlisting. i saw people who are simply unwilling to help and only bothering with things that would benefit them. i've been brought up differently and to put it blatantly, i detest people who act that way. and this makes me proud of the environment i grew up in, seriously.

on the flip side, i got the chance to experience things that many people would never get the chance to. i climbed the mountains of brunei and taiwan, and spent 9 days in a forest trying to survive and navigate my way through. i've learnt so much, and above all, been awed through and through by God's creation. in hindsight, the jungle and everything i've experience during training as an infanteer has showed me time and again how majestic He is. compiling all the experiences together, its just hard to believe that this powerful, big, tremendous God can love someone so small, so insignificant placed beside the wonders that He made. its just so hard to absorb the magnitude of His love.

i guess this year has been a trying year in terms of spirituality. i admit i've struggled to keep up spending time with God. after enlisting its just been tough making QT a daily routine.. i fall asleep while praying at times and there's just so much that i didnt do. but i must say, He has been everlastingly faithful. that's why God is so wonderful. because even if you begin to drift away, He wont ever leave you alone. i know its been so one sided between me and God but He never failed to look after me, protect me.

emotionally, feels pretty burdensome not being able to be there for so many people that you care about. and there's nothing much i can do about it.. kinda sucks when you know someone's in need to talk but you cant talk or text for long because you have commitments to attend to . it got me really frustrated many times during the year.. oh well.

okay so overall, 2011 has been pretty much, a random year. why random? because there isnt much of a highlight anyway. the year just passed. like passed. then again, there were slight instances that challenge me, both spiritually and emotionally. it was a pretty trying year for my walk with God.. being rather stagnant and i didnt really feel myself growing much. emotionally becuase i had to deal with so many different feelings, more so of angst and dissatisfaction with people around me. i think at times i really didnt portray myself as a christian and that kinda sucks too.

so this year im really looking to

get back on track with God,

spend more time with people i care about,

honour the values that i hold on to,

ord knowing i have done my best.

here's to a better year ahead, pretty excited for what might be instored! i mean, it cant be less eventful than 2011 right?

-shaunald.