Music and the Christian

28 March 2006

Today I was walking home from band with a band mate. I’m not particularly close to him, but we talk once in a while. He suddenly asked me, “Are you Christian?”. I was like, “Why?”. He said I seemed to have some ‘Christian aura’, but he guessed that I wasn’t. He said I lacked ‘responsibility in my music’. I was wondering what the hell he meant. Predictably, he was referring to my lacklustre performance during practices. He advised that I should get more practice. And he’s right. I think I should.

Wow, so there are people who think that Christians are responsible and not screwed up. Laudate Dominum!

I try to be a good Catholic boy, but it’s hard. Oh, I gave Pei Suan a Green Scapular today. It’s her birthday gift. I’m glad she accepted it. Domine, fiat voluntas tua!

Music is good for the soul. It is a work of art, a good recreation. He, who sings, prays twice.

It seems like Baptism confers this so-called Christian aura. Can we label this ‘aura’ as ‘grace’? Certain sects believe that Baptism does not confer grace; they believe that it’s simply an outward sign. Fools.. It’s not merely their faith that keeps them from harm but their baptismal grace. The best part is that they don’t even realise it. Those confirmed are even more powerful, for they are sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Sounds good eh? If only everybody in the world made use of their graces, then the world would be a better place.

And Legion. Legion is, sadly, becoming a pain in the neck. Another guy left us on Saturday, so now I’m left with 1 over aged chairman (me), a cynical vice-chairman, and a secretary who is taking O levels this year. Excellent. Not to mention that our recruitment has been postponed repeatedly. I must carry it out next week, or it will be the end of us.

It’s highly likely that I will be appointed as a Curia officer. I wish I could refuse, but the same question comes back to haunt me every time: If I don’t do it, who will? I’ll possibly join the adults group, though I do not relish the thought of having to listen to aunties preach for several hours during their weekly report.

I want to play my own music, but God chooses different songs for me. How can I refuse?

To Thee, O God, my God, I will give praise upon the harp: why art thou sad, O my soul, and why dost thou disquiet me? Hope in God, for I will still give praise to Him, the salvation of my countenance and my God.

I will play his music, though I do not know how to read the notes, nor count the rhythm. At least I have a song.

Truly a man is finished when he has no song in his heart.

I hear you call my name, Lord,

And I am moved within me.

Your Spirit stirs my deepest self.

Sing your songs in me.

Band Outing

Went for band outing at sentosa in the morning. It was quite fun, though for some reason my legs started bleeding while I was kayaking. Must be the mosquitoes or the fiberglass. And my thumbs keep getting abrasions from the side of the kayak! Damn, my kayaking is rusty. Oh, then Zhongxi and another 2 guys and I went to play frisbee in the water. 3 of them almost lost their spectacles and we spent lots of time looking for the glasses. Damn funny…We were using our feet to feel the seabed.. Well I didn’t stay for too long, and I left at 3.30 pm like that. Went to meet Kellina and Clare AGAIN for another meeting. Didn’t finish much work and ended up having a net meeting, which explains why I’m still awake now. Ah, I decided not to take the job, upon my parents advice. It is very sinful to con others of their hardearned money. Conning = Stealing. And what’s that rule again? Thou shall not steal.

Ok, I won’t be awake for long now!

God, let me sleep now.

20 August 2004

Lets see…Yesterday we had a four hour break. So Timothy, Jun Cheng, Allison, Pei Suan, Angeline and I went to J8 to eat and walk around. Returned to school at 1230h for COMMSKILLS. Tim decided to pontang. Expected…. Then Allison, Jun Cheng and I went to the library to watch what? Terminator 2….Because I slacked the whole day, I had to pay for it by working at night. Oh, the library has Macross (Robotech)videotapes!! W0000t!! I’ll watch them next time….Today went quite smoothly. No lecturer chased for homework…good…Managed to finish E-practical today…good….finished 70 pages of research reading during band….not good because there are 150+ more pages and the only reason why I was doing reading during band practice is because I can’t play anything. But I did play some clave for ‘Can’t take my eyes off you’ and one beat on snare drum for Swan Lake. Lol, I get excited over such a small part….And though they let me play ,I’m not involved in Symphonia. It’s some school concert. But I’ll be taking part in another one real soon….Got to learn the score fast….Haiz, I’m still stuck at 2 bars of simple rythmn and I can’t master it. I’ll try tomorow, there’s sectional. Today some of us went to eat at the fast food side…..Discovered some things that I never knew…Goes to show how well I know my classmates…But I know what they mean when they say never judge a book by its cover. I should go sleep now.