That Guiding Star
HOW IS IT that you're, oh so many years out of school... trudged through endless miles of long, rocky and winding roads, journeyed over land, sky and sea, umpteen times gloried in dreams come true, done your share of trafficking heartbreaks, sorrowed in shattered dreams and blossomed, wilted and resuscitated in love, repeated those cycles countless times... but when you fall asleep at night, you're dreaming about math tests and wearing pajamas to school exams?
I just can’t seem to get away from school. The memories, that is. I am constantly surrounded by people who trigger those memories of my Alma mater and the school song.
I just can’t seem to get away from school. The memories, that is. I am constantly surrounded by people who trigger those memories of my Alma mater and the school song.
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Her name and picture jumped at me from this week’s HERALD. This Friday would be the second death anniversary of Maria Chn'g. May the Lord's perpetual light shine on her. I can almost hear her soft gentle voice reading passages from The Blue Lagoon. And telling of the wonders of nature during Math & Science Club sessions at the Thinking Pool and Chook Coop.
Literature is my lifetime love. And nature too.
One other who sowed the seeds of my interest and love for literature is Miss Lopez. In the almost musical cadence of her voice, the razor-wielding sociopath Pinkie Brown of Brighton Rock and the dreams and triumphs of Walter Mitty came alive. A literature teacher with a first name Enid cannot be anything less than masterful at storytelling, right? Sr Enid Lopez is now with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Speaking of nuns, Sr Jane Koh, also of the FMM sisters is pastoral assistant with the church I attend. In RCIA lessons over a dozen years ago, she shared with me two of life's wisdoms. One: "Never wait for perfection, for it will never come”. Two: "Never trust your feelings too much". I sometimes still struggle to remember them. She also coordinates the Assumption Church's Sunday School of over 1,000 children and some fifty volunteer teachers. No wonder I still dream of doing the math test in pyjamas. :P
And Christine Kwan, who used to teach Science in my lower secondary days. She's still a facilitator for Assumption's RCIA.
Of course, memories of my alma mater would not be complete without its foundress Sr Enda Ryan. Through her, tens of thousands of schoolgirls, regardless of creed, faith or race were introduced to the priceless wisdom to not "seek to be understood as to understand” from daily recitations of the Peace Prayer during assembly.
Dreams of school, school work and fear of examinations, I am told, are references to comparable processes in the school of life. The school of life forces us to participate in these learning process for as long as we live.
Literature is my lifetime love. And nature too.
One other who sowed the seeds of my interest and love for literature is Miss Lopez. In the almost musical cadence of her voice, the razor-wielding sociopath Pinkie Brown of Brighton Rock and the dreams and triumphs of Walter Mitty came alive. A literature teacher with a first name Enid cannot be anything less than masterful at storytelling, right? Sr Enid Lopez is now with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Speaking of nuns, Sr Jane Koh, also of the FMM sisters is pastoral assistant with the church I attend. In RCIA lessons over a dozen years ago, she shared with me two of life's wisdoms. One: "Never wait for perfection, for it will never come”. Two: "Never trust your feelings too much". I sometimes still struggle to remember them. She also coordinates the Assumption Church's Sunday School of over 1,000 children and some fifty volunteer teachers. No wonder I still dream of doing the math test in pyjamas. :P
And Christine Kwan, who used to teach Science in my lower secondary days. She's still a facilitator for Assumption's RCIA.
Of course, memories of my alma mater would not be complete without its foundress Sr Enda Ryan. Through her, tens of thousands of schoolgirls, regardless of creed, faith or race were introduced to the priceless wisdom to not "seek to be understood as to understand” from daily recitations of the Peace Prayer during assembly.
Dreams of school, school work and fear of examinations, I am told, are references to comparable processes in the school of life. The school of life forces us to participate in these learning process for as long as we live.
... Ideals learnt here
will guide us wherever we be
As we look back there will be
that guiding star to light our way
ever and ever more…
Yes, where'er I be, everynow and then, I find myself myself sitting on a rock at the Thinking Pool, watching the tadpoles reabsorbing their tails... metamorphosis.
Because school is linked to the FMM sisters and the RCIA and my spiritual life... and my journey through life.
"Bless each of our teachers too, for the loving care they shown to us.
Bless, each one of us and pupils of the past, this is our prayer.."
posted by percolator | 9:09 AM
9 Comments:
I thought I was the only who still has dreams of math exams.... phew....
Assumption? I know a Mary Ann Tan (eurasian) from there. You also RCIA, eh?
sexymama,
weird eh? I think the child in us stays deeply entrenched within our psyches. In these dreams I usually cannot find a sock, or my uniform hasn't been washed or the shoes are still soaking wet... and I haven't prepared for the exams.. arrghh..panix... gives me the creeps, no matter how many times I dream it.
5xmom,
1)Tan a Eurasian? married to Chinese or wut. I suck at names lah. I prolly don't know her. Me more observer rather than participant. Put another way, I'm not doing my share - I'm conscious of this. The unpleasant reality is that the church ministries is not immune to politics, something I loathe - one other reason why I'm not so 'sociable' in church. Nevertheless, this morning (for the first time)I did the Scripture reading and short responsorial psalm for Lauds (morning prayer) before Mass.
2)Did RCIA more than 12 years ago. But still a baby in faith really.
Ya, married to Chinese. You are same with me, I dunno anyone because I am not from the same 'territory'. I belong to another church. Politics, I got it the next morning after my baptism. Made a complaint to the highest level. *muahahaha* I may be a new chap but with lion heart.
Lectoring - I hope you read my post
http://chanlilian.net/archives/2005/02/malufying_yet_s.html
I got rejected but I refused to budge and instead, the 'head' got evicted. That's why I said God loves me. Hahaha.
oic. so you are not a born catholic, percolator. that's nice. i enjoy talking to converts more than born catholics. they have more to 'teach' me since born catholics usually 'tidak apa' with their faith.
i see you like to quote the herald. if you wish articles from the herald, let me know, ok since i can access herald online as my office sub. to it.
btw, did you attend the golden jubilee celebration on 23 may at bukit jalil?
i dream enough of maths tests now to dream of it later in life.
sarah
http://www.tabulas.com/~shireen
lucia,
We're all the same deep down, whether as children, siblings, spouse, relations, friends, acquaintances or associates. Like my priest Fr. Phillips likes to say: half devil, half angel - whether Catholic from the cradle or not.
I don't really think of myself as a convert cos I did not embrace any other faith before my baptism. We are all CALLED to God whether from birth or in adulthood, even at the brink of death - in God's time. The first will be last, the last will be first.
The Herald - some of the articles are quite good. Fr Phillips is very generous with publications. We can help ourselves to The Herald and the bulletin, giving a love offering if we wish, so the poor will not be deprived. Thanks for the offer!!
sarah,
What is it specifically about maths, I wonder.
5xmom,
Gee, that must have sucked.
I'm usually quite happy following the service, mass etc.
In my case, one lady taught me to follow the Lauds recitation (morning prayer) which can be quite confusing b'cos of jumping pages here and there. After guiding me daily for two weeks, I thought it would be quite selfish not to 'give back'. She was so good, explaining every detail, like how long to pause etc.. To baulk when asked to help out would be so ungracious, b'cos she didn't even know me when she offered her help so I could follow the prayers meaningfully. Recently when she went off to S'pore for a week, another lady, on her own accord came to sit with me for that week. Each day, she would write out the order of psalms, hymms, etc for the day so I would not be 'lost'.
I feel truly blessed by these strangers.
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