2015 Reflections

It's been nearly a year since I'm back at my dashboard crystallizing the billions of thoughts in my head into several pages of words buddy-ed by a collage of pictures.

I am profusely grateful for 2015. Even as I think back of all the moments that make 2015 special, I know that most of them are not my doing, but God's providence in my life. Because you do know that you cannot control if you get a job right? You also do know that you cannot force people to like you right? And when people like you, many, many doors open up. And really, I have done nothing much to deserve many of these open doors. For that, I am filled with gratitude towards God for His favour and blessing upon my life :)

I'll use pictures to sum up my 2015. You'd have probably seen my #2015bestnine post on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Yes, everyone's doing it so I'm just another passenger on this latest social media train.

Well, to be honest, the best nine I posted on social media aren't really MY best nine - it was just the best nine voted by others. Here, I reveal MY best nine.

#2015bestnine #theREALthing

Yup, these nine photos are the notable moments in my 2015. Lemme elaborate.

1) Open Water Dive in Tioman :D

Bromance-ing underwater :D

I GOT MY OPEN WATER DIVER CERTIFICATE! Now most dive sites are open to my exploring :D

Had a great open water dive experience thanks to my friends who joined with me and thanks to the professional, friendly and funny dive instructors from Fisherman Scuba Studios :D

The Open Water Divers + one of our dive instructors :D

Tioman corals are kinda...dead? But its remnants are still beautiful :)

Say cheese :D

Steven dancing behind me. LOL.

Really thankful for my group of diving friends. They came all the way to my house, hid in my room and wished me happy birthday :D :D

Happy Birthday to me :D

Guessed they were the first few to see me in my ugly home T-shirts and boxers. LOL! But really thankful for them because...they're all my close friends and they all have a very strong walk with Christ.

Each of them have inspired me in my journey of faith countless number of times. I'm truly thankful for God-loving friends like you guys :)

2) Ms. Ondrea :)

At one of the rides in Sentosa 4D Adventure Land :D

I'm immensely thankful for this dear friend of mine who has never failed to "necessitate herself in my life" during the convenience of university and outside the convenience of our hall proximity. Here's a few snapshots of the many outings we had :D

Tourists in our own home :D

With Singapore's mascot. Haha

The best ride of all in Sentosa 4D adventureland haha

Boxing day 2014 :D

At Wimbly Lu's in our chapalang NTU dry-fit tees. LOL. And don't look at her weird thumb-antics...

Why is she so special? I ask her that of myself too. She has so many pursuers and lovers (not limited to a particular race or gender...LOL), so many friends and so many people fighting for her time and love that sometimes I wonder, why make room for a insignificant boy like me?

It'll be almost impossible to explain our special-ness to each other until you read our whatsapp conversations. She's someone very different. We think aloud to each other and break things down to its nuts and bolts. We dig and discover the philosophy behind the simple things that people do and don't do. We do a lot of critical analysis. Basically, we question, we argue, with each other and with ourselves in order to reach a clear point of truth in our topics and stands.

What's makes her beautiful is she thinks. Many people don't think. They just accept the status quo. They accept everything that's going on around them. They don't see the beauty and humour in many mundane occurrences and problems. But for people like us, we STOP and THINK and ASK QUESTIONS and we try to find the answers in simple, funny, interesting and logical ways. We have an art of seeing things in a different perspective - in a way that makes life beautiful.

But I think what makes her most beautiful is her love for others. She cares a lot about what others will think and feel and from there, she tweaks her words, her communicative approach toward them. She loves her friends enough to tell them the wrongs and faults but not before agonizing over their potential reactions and her choice of words and all. This is unlike me. Because my high-D nature will just force my way of doing things, straight-talk and justifying my talk with all the logic there is and leaving you the option to accept it or to debate it. I have lots to learn from her. Haha.

My 2015 has been really different because of her. Her flare for words, art and poetry inspires me and I enjoy every moment of discourse and discussion with you :)

Thanks for trusting me enough to share your private thoughts and life and for making time to meet me in spite of your busy uni schedule and in spite of all the vultures vying for your love and attention. May God continue to write our stories together this 2016 :)

3) My 133rd cohort mates!

Just before our 17km route march to Pasir Ris Water Venture :D

Just before entering our kayaks at Pasir Ris Water Venture :D

I am thankful for being able to meet this crazy bunch of colleagues (in other offices) in People's Association :D

All those courses, outings and many moments of laughter have made it down to my core memory bank :D Haha. Thanks for adding colour to my working life :)

I honestly never thought working life could be this fun...but it only is because of this first bunch of people :D Yup, thanks for all the joy and help rendered so far! Cheers to a greater 2016! :D

4) Ms. Keslie :)

Xuan with her birthday surprise cake for me :D

Of course my dear #bff is one of the main characters in my 2015 as well. Thanks for your love and concern all this while :D The many conversations here and there and the many outings we had. Thanks for making time for me too :) In spite of your busy schedule :D

And really wanna thank you for your help as well! :D You have entirely no obligation to help me with my work, but still you did and for that I am thankful :) Thanks for helping me to clear some of the paperwork that I'm drowning in :D

I hope you will find this job in PA meaningful and my prayer for your salvation has never ceased. May you discover His love, His plans and ways for you in His time and in His own special but mind-blowing way :)

Just doin' some modeling after our dinner catch-up :D HAHA

Of course not forgetting our mutual best friend and guardian angel @wingsofthesky HAHA! She has been a great blessing to me this 2015 as well :) Another great thinker, singer, song-writer and wordsmith - I always enjoy my conversations with you :D

Wannabe models. LOL

You two will always have a special place in my heart as will we in each others' :) May God continue to write our stories together and I really pray that the ending will be beautiful :)

With ma 2 besties :)

5) My 132 (aka 131.5) cohort mates!

On course! :)

Always celebrating birthdays :D

Just passed-out from induction :D

This is the FIRST crazy bunch of people I met in PA! Haha! Noisy, loud, funny, cranky and super fun to be with :D Outings with them are always belly-aching...because we can't stop laughing. LOL.

Cheers to many more courses and outings with you guys! :D

6) Emceed with Tosh, Weiliang, Maxi and Joshua

Hosted the 4 ah-boys at our Tampines North Golden Jubilee weekend :D

Had a crazy turnout. Haha.

Backstage moments :D

Guest starring Chen Tian Wen as well :D

Thankful to my director for trusting me enough to let me emcee such a high-key event for our CC despite never really seeing me host before...Haha. She only saw one impromptu performance with my colleagues at Hood's bar and see me "perform" in our many k-sessions...LOL.

Yeah, really thankful to have all these emcee exposure :) Many more to come...LOL.

7) My famz :D

At the river rafting mid-point: lunch break :D

Things a good photographer can make you do...LOL

Rafting in progress in the Davao river, Philippines :D

Celebrating my dad's birthday :D

Thanks to my Godly famz, I have a Godly home and environment to return to...to be reminded that life after all, is lived for God and not for money, material successes, friends and all.

Although naggy and always treating us like kids, I still appreciate my parents for doing what they do out of their love for us. But, they could work on their approach. LOL.

Yup, if not for my famz, I will never be who I am today :) Love y'all :D

8) Mr. Ryan :)

At Lawry's :D

Always thankful for this man of God in my life :) Thanks for loving me, caring for me and arguing with me to make truths clear :D

Truly remember how you told me once after all the debates and scolding "Jon, I say all these because I care" and yes, I do know you care my dear :)

Yup, thanks for trusting, for standing by me and for loving me. May God continue to lead us as we keep seeking Him and putting Him first. We may stumble and we will fall, but His grace is always enough :)

Looking forward to more trips with you bro. Cheers to a greater 2016! :D

9) My office colleagues!

My surprise birthday celebration :D

One of the many K sessions...this time with our interns and temp staff :D

Our office Christmas retreat :D

The last group of people to be thankful for are my colleagues! :D They are the people I see almost everyday and never get sick of. Haha.

I am super thankful to God for giving me great bosses, superiors and colleagues. I hear so many stories from my cohort mates of how their colleagues will play politics and make life difficult...but here in my office, everyone is so helpful, friendly and funny that it's hard to believe :D Haha. Because I always hear horror stories of colleagues back-stabbing, bad-mouthing, fighting, etc...with each other from my friends and all.

So really, to have such a wonderful office environment really is a blessing. I pray that our office unity will continue to flourish and may all of you good people come to know Mr. Jesus some day :)

10) My (unmentioned) friends that made my 26th birthday special :)

Aixin! :)

Thanks Aixin for the friendship shared! :) Still remember that you're the last friend I made while I was still a university student! HAHA!

Enjoy the many conversations I have with you :) Thanks for trusting and sharing your thoughts with me too :D I really hope that you'll walk into the saving knowledge and love of Jesus some day too :D

Simin & Took Kee :D

Really love these 2 kewties too :D Haha...Thanks for making the effort to spend time with your PF senior when you don't have to :) Haha. Enjoy being with you guys too...love the way you guys are so simple, loving and caring. And it's always me asking the hard questions and making things "complicated" HAHA! Some things can't be kept at the simple level my dears and I hope that you guys will keep growing and not let the "simple" and "开心就好" mindset rule your life...because, sometimes, it's really just not that simple. Haha.

Jia you with your final year! Make it a good one! And may we remain friends for a long time :D

Mag & Wayne! :D

Thanks guys for coming down even when the rest of our cohort mates are not free! Haha! It's been a real joy knowing you guys! May we continue to help one another, be there for each other and hopefully, we will beat the one year mark in PA! HAHAHA! Cheers to a greater 2016! :)

Yup, these are the main characters in my 2015 and I can't say enough thank-yous to them and to God for writing them into my life's story :)

Still in one of my toughest seasons in my life...I really don't know when it'll ever end...but I know that the beauty of life is in the struggle. When you're at the mountaintop, you made it! It's great! But what really counts is those moments of struggling, of fighting, of pressing on...and it is those moments that will create the strongest memories and emotions in your life.

It's like exams...10 years from now, will you remember your grades more clearly? Or will you remember the times you studied with your friends, mugging at your hall/room and figuring out the concepts and truths behind every lecture? It's the struggle that's beautiful.

And even though it's hard for me through this season, I know the struggle is worth it and is beautiful. And I know that in every season, God is faithful. He has sent me friends to love and strengthen me in the faith and also shown me the ones to let go of.

I still hold fast to my visions that He birthed in me and still hope for revival before His return. But sometimes, along the way, seeing how Christians can be worse-off than non-Christians makes me lose hope...but then, along the way, God will show me a fresh vision, a fresh story to encourage me and all...but all in all, I'm still finding my way, still doing what I need to do before I'm ready for His enormous task.

I'd end of my post with this song by the Group 1 crew called "A Little Closer". The lyrics totally describe me and what I'm going through...it echoes my cry and prayer to God. So, hope you like this God-made song: