As I Lay Dying--Movie?

About 15 years ago, I read Faulkner's As I Lay Dying for school. I was enraptured from the beginning to the end.  While I was reading, I kept picturing Brad Pitt as Jewel, the youngest of the brothers in the novel, and to this day one of my favourite heroes in literature.

A movie version of the novel was released in 1956, but I can't find any pictures of Robert Lansing as a young man playing Jewel.  Now, if they were to make a movie now, I don't know whom they would cast to play this character.

I am not even sure why my mind was so fixated on Brad Pitt.  I'm not even a fan.  Well, I wasn't at the time.  Can't say that I am one now, but I definitely was not one then.

BBC 100 Best Loved Books of the UK

No where on their website do they make any sort of presumption about how well-read a person might be based on their list.  Like "Pro-Science," I will put an x next to a book I have read, and + next to one that I love.

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien      +
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen       +
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling         x
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee      +
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis      x
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë       x
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë     +
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier      +
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger      +
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens      x
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott      x
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy      
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling     x
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling     x
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling     x
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien      x
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy     x
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald     x
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell      x
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck      x
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky      x
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding       x
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar      x
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie 

Abstract Expressionism--I get it, but I don't get "it" (click)

I've been to the New York Abstract Expressionist exhibit twice now, and although I did get a lot more out of it the 2nd time around, I still find myself speechless; not because I am stunned by the beauty and truth of the artwork, but rather because I still don't get "it."  "It" meaning the paintings.  When looking at a Gorky painting or a de Kooning painting, I can't find any emotional connection to them.  My imagination isn't stimulated.  I don't hear music in my ears and I don't seem to be able to find any reference point to what I've read or seen.  Jackson Pollock's paintings look really pretty because of all the colours.  Their patterns on the canvas makes my eyes dance and I think, "This is a nice painting."  However, I don't walk away feeling anything.

Perhaps I have not suffered enough in life?

Perhaps my thinking is still too attached to the literal and the concrete?

What I did come away from the exhibit with is an interest in astract expressionist photography, especially the works of Henry Callahan and Charles Sheeler.  As for painters, I liked Mark Rothko and Frank Kline the most.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt didn't win?!

I can't believe he didn't win "Best Fight" at the 2011 MTV awards.  His gravity-defying corridor fight scene was innovative, suspenseful and it was so hard to shoot, yet JGL and the stuntmen made it look so easy.  Plus, I thought that Inception had a lot more fans.

I don't get it.  Why don't people see the ingenuity in JGL's fight scene?

"Set Fire to the Third Bar" by Snow Patrol (Click)

Been listening to two versions of this song, one sung by Martha Wainwright (original) and Cheryl Cole (cover).  I can see why many people would prefer Cole's version because her voice sounds more nasal, more pleasing to the ear.  Wainwright's voice is a lot sharper, and reminds me of Kate Bush.  Wainwright's voice is not what you'd normally hear in radio pop songs.

I much prefer Wainwright's version.  The intensity of her voice is a clear contrast to Gary Lightbody's, which is also quite nasal.  When I listen to them sing, I can hear the excrutiating yearning in their voices.  If their voices matched, that effect would be lost because they'd sound too well-blended, which is what I hear when I listen to Cole's version.  When Cole and Lightbody sing the duet, her voice almost overpowers his.  When Wainwright and Lightbody sing, his voice sounds more velvety, an effect that I find very emotive for this song.

Notes on The Wild Palms [If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem] (click)

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning"

The psalm from which Faulkner took to become the title of his novel is number 137.  Clicking on the link in the title will show you the entire psalm.

Psalm 137 talks about the Jews being held captive by the Edomites, and later likely forced into slavery.

How do the main characters of TWP embody that idea?  Charlotte appeared to be living in an unhappy marriage, held captive, if you will.  Her lover, Harry, is enslaved by poverty.  For them, captivity is more metaphorical.  For the Tall Convict, however, he was literally serving a prison term for a failed railway train robbery.  Later on, the Tall Convict manages to escape, but does that act lead to freedom?  Charlotte and Harry have escaped, with her husband's blessing and a threat at the same time, but are later faced with poverty again.  Charlotte tries to find ways to make a living, but Harry is too proud to accept her earnings.  For the couple, they are also tormented by the fact that they are "living in sin" and it is unclear if they are still in love with one another.

I am as yet unable to make sense of the 2nd part of the verse: "let my hand forget her cunning."   In NIV, it is translated as "let my right hand forget its skill."  In the NLT, it says "let my right hand forget how to play the harp."  In the Old Testament, the Jews were given the city of Jerusalem as their Promised Land by God.  When the city is attacked and levelled to th ground, the Jews are taken captive.  Hence, they (Jeremiah) vows in this hymn to never forget the Promised Land, and if they should forget about the gift that God gave them, that they should lose their ability to play music.

For the characters in TWP, what is Jerusalem?  Is it "freedom?"  Is it "true love?"  Is this in essence a pledge to freedom and true love, that they should never give up the fight to find these things?  That if they do, let them lose the human spirit for the Tall Convict and true love for Charlotte and Harry?

I have read a little more than 1/4 of the novel.

Giving to Charities the Smart Way (Click)

I heard on CBC News Radio today about a Canadian non-profit organization that collects data on charity organizations: how much money they get from donations and how effectively the money is used.  They look at many different aspects of managing resources, and they have a report for the most effective charities in Canada in 2010.  This report can be downloaded in PDF format from their website.

Over the past few years, I've been looking for a Canadian organization that does this sort of research before I make donations to charities.  I had never come across CIC before, and I'm glad I have now.

Causes of migraines

-lower levels of serotonin

What causes the level of serotonin to drop?  - certain foods or behaviours that produce more negative emotions than positive emotions.

Foods:
MSG - had some of that in the Vietnamese spring rolls, sausages and deli meats
nitrites - had some of that in the 2 steak dinners I had, back to back on the weekend; Vietnamese spring rolls, sausages and deli meats
tyramine - found in chocolate (have been having lots of that lately), yogourt (part of my regular diet, so this should be fine); aged cheeses (none)
caffeine - had been drinking 2 cups of black tea/day during the 2 weeks of Christmas holidays; had been drinking 3 cups/week prior to the Holiday Break.  This would constitute a sudden increase in the intake of caffeine

Behaviours:
- was exercising less during the holidays
- had left work to the 2nd week of holidays, therefore creating as sense of anxiety
- had left some work undone; forgot to bring home calendar to prep for Monday's class > created a lot of anxiety
- not expressing my anxiety often enough to release it
- depression (realized that I may have been suffering from this disorder since my teenage years)

Action Plan:
1.  must must must excercise every day
2.  complain more and share my anxiety with others to release it
3.  avoid procrastination
4.  avoid eating those foods at high amounts within a short period of time (have stopped drinking black tea since Sunday night)

(Four Days Late) Congrats, Mr. Liu Xiaobo!

I've been listening to a lot of Chinese language commentary on Fairchild radio, as well as reading news articles about Mr. Liu's accomplishment.  Some of the most touching snippets that I've heard include an interview with Mr. Liu's brother.  He said that Mr. Liu has spent a large part of his life promoting human rights and democratic reform in China, and winning the Nobel Peace Prize is completely deserving. 

I've also heard some radio listeners giving their two cents worth on an evening talk show, who said that they believe that awarding Mr. Liu this prize is a politically-driven decision, primarily to disgrace the Chinese government.  One listener even harkened this award to Gao Xingjian's Nobel Prize for Literature for his novel, "Spirit Mountain."  This listener said that the Nobel Committee would award the prizes to anyone who openly criticizes the Chinese government, and not because those individuals have done any commendable work.  According to this listener, "Spirit Mountain" was a very ordinary novel without much literary value. 

I personally have not read the novel, so I can't weigh in on its literary merits.  I do want to read it though, and in Chinese.  I read a little bit of it at my bro's condo yesterday when I was there for Thanksgiving dinner.  It wasn't hard to read at all.  It was actually easier than some of Jin Yong's wuxia novels because Gao didn't write using Classical Chinese prose.   Now I have 3.5 books to read, hopefully by Christmas.

Back to the topic of the Nobel Peace prize, I do have to say that there was one commentator (there are probably several who have made this observation) that Mr. Liu's achievement is so much more remarkable because he is the first Chinese national to have won a Nobel prize while still residing in China.  He hasn't exiled himself; he doesn't enjoy any freedom in foreign countries.  He's currently in prison still for writing up the Charter 08 that called for political reform in China.  He does all this work knowing full well the consequences: facing persecution.  I do admire him for this.

Several weeks ago, my pastor gave  a sermon where he talked about the work of missionaries in areas of the world where evangelical work will land people in prison, or worse, punishment by execution.  As a result, these missionaries have to do their work so carefully so as not to set off the authorities.  Often times, it's a matter of walking a very fine line. 

And then you have people like Aung San Suu Kyi, a human rights activist from Burma, who openly criticizes the Burmese government.  She has been living under house arrest for the past 7 years.  Prior to this, she had already served another sentence of 6 years between 1989-1995. 

Whether one agrees with their ideology, or disapproves of their cause, how can anyone deny their courage and resolve? 

Bibliography:

"Aung San Suu Kyi - Biography". Nobelprize.org. 11 Oct 2010 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1991/kyi-bio.html

"Democracy Fighter Aung San Suu Kyi's Struggle".  CBC.ca  11 Oct 2010  http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/05/22/f-aung-san-suu-kyi-burma.html

"Liu Xiaobo could win the Nobel Peace Prize, and he'd be the last to know".  globeandmail.com.  11 Oct 2010  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/liu-xiaobo-could-win-the-nobel-peace-prize-and-hed-be-the-last-to-know/article1747791/

"Wife of Chinese Nobel Laureate under house arrest after weekend visit".  globeandmail.com.  11 Oct 2010.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/wife-of-chinese-nobel-laureate-under-house-arrest-after-weekend-visit/article1751640/

So you think teachers have it easy?

Try sitting in an office that has the temperature of 10 degrees Celcius.  Try typing a document when your fingers are stiff.  See how many times you have to backspace and retype something because of all the mistakes you made.  Try aiming your mouse at a specific target while your hand is shaking and your whole body is shuddering from the cold. 

In cold weather we don't have heating.  In hot weather we don't have A/C.

And you think teachers have it easy?!

三個 “感謝”

昨晚， 是我第一次去觀看一個頌拜的音樂會。  它在 Agincourt Pentecostal Church 的大禮堂理面舉行。  領導頌拜的是 “讚美之泉敬拜團“。  我從來没有看過這一樣的東西， 所以對我來講，是一個大開眼界的經力。  感謝主給了我這一個幾會。  整個晚上的一切都讓我覺得好難忘。 最令我心窩的事情是昨晚我的爹爹跟了我一起去。  我看到他真的很高興地去享受這個音樂會。  這一點令我好感恩。  謝謝主耶稣！

昨天，我又常試了一樣新的東西： 用國語來禱告。  讓我覺得更有福的是因爲我不是爲自己而禱告， 而是爲了别人。  我真的非常感謝神因爲祂給了我一個幾會去帮助别人， 而且還是爲了侍奉主耶稣。  一舉兩得！  起初，我講得很慢。  後來， 因爲我越來越緊將，所以說得越來越快。  好在到最後， 我也把整個禱告說出來。  現在我才發現，爲甚麼我對主耶稣那麼没有信心呢？  像頌拜歌理面所說， 我要更加依靠神的能力， 而不是依靠自己的聪明。

之後， 我的弟兄姊妹也有鼓勵我再一次在吃飯之前用國語來帮大家做禱告。  有這幾位愛心豐富的弟兄姊妹圍繞着實在是天父給我的福氣。  他們讓我成長得很有意義， 很快樂。  非常非常感謝主！

願所有的榮耀歸于我們的神耶和華。

Hiking Trail: Corippo - Oviga di Fuori - Lavertezzo (click)

After doing a little bit of research, I found out that during my trip to Switzerland, specifically in Canton Tissino (Ger. Tessin), the hike that I took after lunch was along the river from Lavertezzo to Oviga d Fuori and then towards the town of Corippo.  The entire hike would take about 1h 10min according the website Versasca.net, however, since I only had about 45mins, I wasn't able to get very far at all.

That day, I had finished eating my lunch before most of my travel companions were done, and I also felt like I needed some personal time.  After taking leave from the group, I followed a trail that took me up the hill towards the woods.  It took me farther and farther away from the river, so I stopped and turned back.  What I wanted to see, most of all, was the river.  Heading back downhill, I was able to follow the river.  The scenery of trees, rocks and river may sound a bit too simple and ordinary, but the hike is anything but.

As I was walking, I was met by many friendly trees who were waving their lusciously green leaves at me, as if beckoning me onward.  On my left was a steep decline towards the riverbank.  I could hear the chatter of the waters as they hit the rocks, cheerful and impatient, as if they were approaching a happier destination.  This only made me want to walk faster to find out where they were headed.  Every now and then, I would climb a small hill and then be treated to a view of the great white rocks and the stream of turquoise.  The thrill came when I walked across two wooden bridges, about 2.5 feet wide, and 10-12 feet long.  They were made of wooden planks, but were still very sturdy.

The hilly terrain coaxed me on, leading me to believe that after the next hill, I would arrive at the riverbank.  That was not so, but the anticipation of reaching the rocks grew evermore enticing. 

Switzerland 2009 Home Video

I finally finished my first project using Windows Movie Maker.  The movie doesn't have a title yet, but it's basically footage from Great-Uncle's funeral last September in Basel, Switzerland.  The second half of the film is footage from two day-trips to Lake Luzern and Zermatt. 

I used several different pieces of music to compliment the video footage.  They include classical, folk and rock music.  The hardest part was putting on the subtitles for the various speeches that were read during the funeral.  The audio quality captured on my camcorder were quite poor, especially when there was a lot of background noise, such as people coughing and such.  Another difficult task is to synchronize the music with the images. 

My favourite part of the film is at end.  I've used footage shot from the top of a mountain that sits opposite the Matterhorn.  My cousin, Thien, panned the camera around to film the mountainscape.  It looks absolutely stunning!  Plus, the music from "Everything" starts off very softly and builds to a crescendo at the end with vocals, guitar and bass.  It works out perfectly with Thien's footage.  Even the tempo fits well because there is a clip where he films the landscape from a moving train. 

Actually, a lot of the footage happens to fit the music that I've selected really well.  I'm very pleased with my first project.  Now, all I have to do is buy some DVD-Rs and burn a few copies.  Next, I'll work on the cooking footage and make a video of this year's travels. 

Back in Canada

I've been back in Toronto for almost a week now.  At first, I felt really sad because: 1) I don't get to hang out with my cousins anymore, plus all the new friends I've made.  2)  I miss the atmosphere of a new place where I can go exploring on my own.  3) School is going to start soon.  Maybe this should be number 1.

This past weekend, I met up with some friends from Ling Fu, as well as my cousin from LA.  Their good company and kind words helped me greatly.  I just feel sorry I couldn't go to Thai and Catherine's house for a BBQ with Clare and Jack.  I miss the Gang so much!

Over the past week, my parents and I have been sharing our travel stories with relatives, and that has been such a blast.  Reliving the best (funniest) moments is therapeutic almost.

Right now, I'm learning to use Windows Movie Maker.  It's not as hard as I thought it would be.  First, I'm going to make a movie using the footage shot by Thien last September when my mummy when to visit.  After that, I'll make a movie of the footage that I/Dad/Thien shot during this recent trip. 

Now, it's back to the routine, mostly.  I have to start practicing piano again, as well as start preparing for Bible Studies.  The first one is this Wed.  Very much looking forward to seeing the friends from Logos again.  

I wish everyone a good week.

Uncle Thien's Bible Study Group

Last night, Uncle Tien brought me to his youth Bible Study group.  At first, he said that there might only be four members showing up.  When we got there, however, there were already six people!  The study was on John 6.  This chapter talks about Jesus's sermon from the shores of Capernum.

The format of the study was quite similar to the ones we conduct in Toronto, except this group doesn't use any study guide.  We simply do a close reading to understand what's going on in that chapter.  The study was conducted in Mandarin, led by girl named XiaoDan.  She just finished her studies in theology in Hamburg, Germany.  She was very enthusiastic and made the study quite enjoyable.

At the end, Lisa asked all of us to recite one verse from chapter 6 that Dan Dang had chosen to be the most important.  She chose verse 35, which goes like this: And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh unto me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.  Since I was reading from a Chinese Bible in Mandarin, I decided to interpret it into English while most everyone else recited it in either German or Mandarin.  Perhaps my current Bible study groups at Logos and Lingfu could also adapt this strategy.

In the past, we discussed memorizing verses after each study, and reciting them at the beginning of the next session.  However, this important activity always seems to be conveniently forgotten at the next session.  As a result, we have yet to commit to memorizing verses from the chapters that we've studied.

In the closing prayer, I spoke in English and I prayed for my dad.  While in Switzerland, he prayed with me for the first time a few nights ago.  First I prayed, and then he followed.  He didn't just sit passively and listen to me pray, but participated by speaking directly to the Lord.  When I was praying about this last night, I was so overcome by the Holy Spirit that I broke down and was virtually sobbing and praying at the same time.  This is so uncharacteristic of me to render myself so vulnerably to complete strangers.  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit was with me and I was able to complete my prayer.  Last night was a very liberating evening for me.

Afterwards, we sat and chatted.  I described to Lisa what Lingfu is like, and she described her church to me.  Currently, they don't even have a pastor.  The church is basically run by 20 or so members of the Mandarin congregation.  She said that now, every one of them have a great responsibility because they no longer have a pastor to lean on.  Whatever becomes of their church will depend on what these 20+ members do with it.  I responded that if God didn't think they were capable enough for the task, He would not have placed it on them thus.  She agreed and we both felt very thankful to the Lord for showing us this scenario.  As small as Lingfu is, at least I have Pastor Rex and his wife Ellen to lead the congregation.  I thank the gracious Lord for his providence and blessings.

The Hindu Chariot Festival @ Toronto (click)

While riding a canal cruise in Amsterdam, I was chatting with another travelling couple from Ireland who said that when they visited Toronto a few years ago, they saw an amazing parade to honor the Hindu god, Ganesh.  I had to struggle to grasp what she was talking about becuase I had never heard of such a parade in Toronto.  The Gay Pride and Caribbana parades I hear about every year, but not the Hindu Chariot Festival.  And look!  Here's an article about it in the T.O Star.

Returned from Paris and the Netherlands

I felt like I would  never want to go back to Paris again.  Then I thought of the Musee d'Orsay and all the paintings in there that I have yet to see, and my heart feels a bit lighter.  Next, the thought of exploring and enjoying Paris with the Ogden Gang makes me feel almost inspired. 

Of all the places I've travelled to, Nieuvliet has been one of the most enchanting.  I definitely want to visit Oosterburg again to see the other villages besides Sluis.  Seeing "ai-ya" auntie and Aunt Jing and her husband again was a very heart-warming experience. I still, however, feel sory for not having met Uncle Liang for a second time before he passed away last year.  Visiting his gravesite was a bittersweet experience that I cannot as yet find words to express. 

I now look forward to visiting Zurich and revisiting the Ermitage at Arlesheim. 

Numerous times has my temper and patince been tested.  And every time, if it were not for the worship music that I carry with me everywhere I go, I would have lost my mind, and probably my respectability.  I listened to Pastor Smith's sermon on Being Judgemental and Critical again today, and what I got out of it is: forgive others, lest my resentment build up walls that block my path towards Christ. Amen.

Bern, Engleberg & Luzern

Just came back from a 2 day trip to the capital city of Bern.  I was very excited when I saw the Canadian flag outside the consulate building.  Englewood is great for hiking, and the hostel that we stayed in was very clean and comfortable.  Luzern is definitely a place that I must visit again and truly explore.  Photos to follow.

First Impressions of Switzerland

1.  The water truly does taste sweet. 
2.  There are a lot of nice water fountains everywhere you go.
3.  The weather is not as hot as Toronto.
4.  Pedestrians and cyclists are better respected on the streets of Basel.
5.  Fruits and vegetables are very expensive.

Worship Yesterday

Yesterday, at worship service, I felt so inspired!  And everyone else seemed to be as well because we sounded great.  The congregation sang the melodies with enthusiasm, Alex's piano accompaniment was played with gusto, and the singers were able to sing in harmony.  Michael led us the entire way with engergy and charisma.  Praise the Lord for all these gifts!

It was while I was singing, filled with the Holy Spirit, that I realized that music is a language in and of itself.  It's a language that one has to learn and practice on a daily basis, just as one would if learning to speak French or Spanish.  I have been practicing playing on the keyboard more regularly these past two months after having abandoned it for three months earlier this year.  And with the Lord's grace, I am improving!  Some songs that I had attempted in the past, and failed after only four bars, are now manageable.  I am able to play them from the beginning to the end, albeit very slowly.  However, I'm not baffled by the many different chords. 

Learning to play chords has taught me intuitively how to sing in harmony, and some keys are easier than others.  For example, songs in the neutral key of C or F are easier to sing in harmony compared to songs in E or A because of all the flats and sharps.  I have tried figuring out my own harmony for various worship songs on the keyboard, and sometimes it works.  Sometimes, it doesn't. 

Yesterday, while I was singing, the harmony came to me just like that with songs that I had not previously practiced.  First, I was able to sing the first three bars of the chorus in harmony, and the rest I had to keep to the melody.  The second time we sang the chorus, I was able to sing six bars in harmony.  The third time, the entire chorus!  Meanwhile, the other singers were also singing their own harmony, and it sounded so beautiful and inspiring! 

This led me to wonder if music is a tongue that is spoken spiritually?  I may not have been speaking in Russian, but it was close!  (no offence intended to the Russians).