prayer of an unknown soldier

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked God for health, that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy;I

was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among men, most richly blessed.*

the cuckoo bird sings

The cuckoo bird in my clock has gone crazy.

Not only is it singing non-stop after coming out at 11pm, it has gone terribly out of tune.

I think I need to bring it for singing classes.

down the food chain and back up

I'm back!

Back from India, safe and sound :)

Though it was barely more than a week, i've gone down the food chain and come back up - from examining the crops on the farms to letting them all go on the toilet bowl.

In fact, i spent so much of my time there on the toilet bowl, i still think of india whenever i'm doing my business here now. haha.

Other than the food that my delicate stomach could not adapt to, India was GOOD.

Good, because it was the first time i really went to a farm after years of knowing that Old MacDonald's had a farm.

Good, because i saw food beyond the meal on my plate, from how it's grown and processed to trade.

Good, because this was the reason i had come into journalism. Not for the day-to-day scrambling in a daily newspaper, but for a chance to listen, to help carry a burden, and possibly, to make a difference.

p/s: for more details about what we did on a day to day basis, as well as photos, visit www.gofar2008.wordpress.com