5 more days left in Baguio, where I called home for past 18 months. Walking along the main rd in the city, I was reminded of the very first day I came to this foreign land with one 20kg luggage. What’s built in me is the spirit of settler that constantly leading me to the venture into the places where no one comes to the airport to greet me. I had my due struggle as if the world around doesn’t make sense except myself. Now, I know that I was the odd one that came from nowhere to disrupt the peace and tranquility. Think of the mess-ups and resentments-over-nothings make me chuckle.
I remember the first farewell in Australia which I didn’t take it very well. When days of depression and grief were done, I came out with a realization that our lives are like a bus stop. People come, stay for a while while they are waiting to get on to the bus to their next destination. As their buses arrive, we give them a warm hug and say goodbye. Some may stay shorter, some longer. But all moves on, and in time, our very turn will be coming as well. Some relationships stay connected longer despite of the distance in between, while others may quickly be replaced by new comers.
Although it may not be possible to stay forever with each other, albeit we will in eternity with some of them, we can still choose to make an impact on the lives of others who stay in our bus stops. We remember some people who have made that strong impression in our heart while they were still with us, and some to the extend of changing the shape and direction of our very lives.
What people would remember about us will testify what we leave behind. And to think of that greatly humbles me today.
I like the way you used the bus-stop as an analogy to reflect on the transcientness of relationships and in some ways of life here on this tiny dot of time on the path of eternity.
When I was attending a farewell gathering during my last days in Japan, someone giving a farewell reflection speech, used the idea of riding a train (since we do quite a bit of riding on trains to get around in Japan) to describe the trascient experiences we went through, getting on the train (getting to Japan), getting off at different stops (arriving in Japan; daily work, relationships and life in Japan) and finally getting off our final destination (back to home country). Brings back memories… and I’m sure your thoughts on the bus-stop did for you too.
I agree with your ending thoughts… so what testimony do we leave behind for others. And may I add, when we come to the end of our journey and that final bus-stop that will take us into eternity, what legacy will we leave behind. Sometimes I ask myself these quesitons – How has my being born and being alive in this world have made this a better place? How has my tiny candle light in my corner of the world brought light to an otherwise world filled with dark patches popping up all over? They are indeed humbling because I realize I could so much more and better…
Thanks for your reflection… your candle light has has lit my dimmed corner and illuminated the thought on the transcientness of life and the importance of what will I leave behind.
Anyway, are you now back in Australia or are you in S. Korea meeting up with your family? Well, here on the tiny Red Dot Singapore, it’s still Christmas Day as it’s still 40 minutes to Boxing Day. So whichever bus-stop you are at now, here’s wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful Christmas and blessed 2012!
p/s Haven’t seen you posting lately. I hope you are doing fine and I look forward to more of your observations, thoughts and reflections on your blog. Hope you aren’t thinking of retiring from posting here! Cheers!
I’m back