Integrity

Job 25-29:25 is part of today’s reading for Holy Trinity Brompton’s One Year Bible Initiative.

I am struck by Job’s response to Bildad, when he says, “I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.” (Job 27:5-6).

Children in Protest(s)

The Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has announced that the Education Ministry is planning a nation-wide protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza, involving about 5 million children and 360,765 teachers from more than 10,000 schools (NST, 9 January 2009). The NST reports this to be a Cabinet decision, passed on Wednesday. “Asked on the danger of exposing children to such atrocities, the minister said:

“When they grow up, they will have to face global issue like peace, environment and the economic crisis.”

This is ironic, considering how civil society groups, such as JERIT, have been vilified by the Malaysian government for involving children in their demonstrations.

Our Secret Lives

I have been following the One Year Bible readings along with Holy Trinity Brompton Church. The readings for each day are accessible online, and as a church, they go through these passages together. Every day, some of them post their thoughts on the readings and they continue in daily dialogue. The pastors of HTB do this along with them. This sort of ‘group reading’ is enlightening because you can see how God is speaking to them, and through them to others, even as they puzzle over passages.

The verses that struck me today were Matthew 6: 3-6:

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

There is something beautiful about doing secret things with God. There is intimacy, sharing, honesty, that goes deep into your being. It is an ideal offering. This is for You, Lord, and no other. Please accept these humble gifts. The delight that He feels as He responds to you is yours alone. I am pleased with you.

Diary of a Sociology Student: What is Social Theory and What is its Function?

This is an essay I wrote for a postgraduate course I took under Prof. Bryan Turner, called ‘Social Theory and Social Reality’. The first version of it got stolen along with my laptop in November 2006. I hastily reconstructed it from memory in order to meet the deadline, which was about 48 hours later. Prof. Turner writes with a crisp, direct, no-nonsense style, and encourages his students to do the same.

What is social theory and what is its function?

This is a difficult question to answer, due in part to the rapid development of social theories and the multiple approaches to social theorizing that are now considered acceptable practice in the social sciences. (Also, I wrote a much more complete essay, but my laptop got stolen and this less-nuanced version is a quick reconstruction of the main arguments from the initial version. Thus, at certain points I realize I am too abrupt or even polemic in my statements.) This essay is divided into two parts. In the first, I define ‘social’ and then ‘theory’, before putting forward a suggestion of what ‘social theory’ entails. In the second part of the essay, I suggest that social theory functions to provide guidance in social scientific research in three specific ways.

Diary of a Sociology Student: Rediscovering Sociology (or, What on earth am I suppose to be doing?)

I am returning to my postgraduate studies in Sociology after having been on leave of absence from the University for almost a year. Over the past several weeks, as I have been mentally preparing myself for this return, I have been asking myself the question: What is Sociology?

This is not just an attempt to construct meaningful self-descriptions when people ask me what I do (“err… I do research”). I am really quite concerned about what I am suppose to be doing as a student of Sociology. These questions have been playing on my mind, as I am sure, they have played on the minds of many students over the past two centuries as the discipline of Sociology has developed.

If I boil it down to the basics, I guess my working hypothesis is as follows: A sociologist is someone who tries to make sense of society using theoretical and methodological tools developed by an international community of people who ask similar questions and derive explanations in similar ways.

Thought of the Day: Structured Procrastination

Read through this website, and thought… phew!

I am not alone!

http://www.structuredprocrastination.com/

Transitions

It is early in the morning on the eve of the New Year.

It is a time of transition
of looking back, saying goodbye
of welcoming the unknown, the yet to be
we are standing in-between

How did the past year go so quickly?
Did I conduct myself well?
Did I encourage others, see their potential
Dispel the cold in their hearts?

In me, did others witness the mark
of the Wounded One, compassionate
gentle, humble of heart,
burning with an unquenchable fire

Will what we planted together, you and I
with our words, actions, decisions
Take root, bear fruit
blossom, bringing seed to many?

In time to come,
Will our tears be wiped away,
The sorrow in our hearts dispelled
Our hands and spirits strengthened?

Show me wisdom beyond knowledge
Faith beyond understanding
Teach me discipline, patience, perseverance
Let me revel in Your love

Above all, be with us,
We are often lost
Your presence is tender, calming
You cover over us with love

The year is upon our doorstep
May fresh winds blow, bringing grace
May the tools of our work be refined
Our tapestries be filled with colour

The time of the future is coming.

Speeding Up, Slowing Down

Do you ever feel like the world is moving too quickly? Like you are on a train, and everything is whizzing by faster and faster. People, faces, meetings, words, journeys, cities, dinners, emails. They blur towards you and away from you. You keep moving – walking faster, sometimes running, to keep up – although your legs are tired. You have no time to sit still. No time to figure out what all of this means.

The world moves by quickly, too quickly for most of us. We move along with it, catching up, so we don’t fall on the wayside.

The Crucial Difference in Activism

The hardest thing about activism is seeing people suffer, and not being able to stop it.

I felt that way this week when I found out that a refugee woman I know got arrested, despite the fact that she has already be accepted for resettlement to Australia. Her arrest caused great sorrow and anxiety amongst other refugees. I also found out that a Kachin man committed suicide.

Appreciation

I just came back from a weekend in a small town outside of Amsterdam. Two of my friends live there, in a cosy apartment. The couches are comfortable, the kitchen warm, and food plentiful.

I am amazed at my two friends. They are so happy together! They glow with joy; they are always smiling. They practice what is so simple yet so fundamental for a healthy relationship – appreciation for one another.