New beginnings

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007 to all my good friends and readers!

Right now, I can hear the distant sound of fireworks being lit up from the comfort of my favourite seat beside my opened windows. I'm glad to be able to share a few words with you all at the very start of this new year. The recent Taiwan quake that messed up the internet connections almost made this impossible judging from the scare it gave to quite a number of bloggers (as reported in the press.)

On a personal level, 2006 was a great year for me and my family. I am humbled and thankful to the Almighty for all the blessings I received and I pray that I will continue to receive HIS blessings for each and every day of the new year.

But as a citizen of Malaysia, I am almost relieved that 2006 is over and done with.

I pray that in 2007, we will not be treated to a repeat of the "same ol' same ol'" that we witness year in and year out from our political leaders.

I was disappointed with the turn of events in Malaysia throughout 2006. I truly hope that we all take heed of the danger signs and not let things get from bad to worse and then to the point of no return.

I almost wanted to give up. I look at the future of this country and our people in despair. We have been blessed with a little piece of heaven on earth and yet, we fail to appreciate GOD's gift. The peace and tranquility that we enjoy now - how long can this last without an effort to preserve goodwill and brotherhood amongst us? Someday, greed and selfishness will destroy us all ... the winner will be left with nothing worth having in his hands.

Will 2007 be different? I hope so. I pray so.

Let us all forget about 2006. Let us pray that in 2007, our faith in our Prime Minister will be renewed. Let us pray too that wisdom and a sense of decency will prevail among our leaders throughout the year.

I'd like to share a poem by Berton Braley here with you. Hope you like it. HAPPY NEW YEAR and NEW BEGINNINGS to everyone!

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START WHERE YOU STAND

Start where you stand
and never mind the past,
The past won't help you in beginning new,
If you have left it behind at last
Why, that's enough,
you're done with it,
you're through;
This is another chapter in the book,
This is another race that you have planned,
Don't give the vanished days a backward look,
Start where you stand.

The world won't care about your old defeats
If you can start anew
and win success,
The future is your time,
and time is fleet
And there is much of work and strain and stress;

Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,
Here is a brand new trial right at hand,
The future is for him who does and dares,
Start where you stand.

Old failures will not halt,
old triumphs aid,
To-day's the thing,
tomorrow soon will be;
Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
And leave the past to ancient history;
What has been, has been;
yesterday is dead
And by it you are neither blessed nor banned,
Take courage, man,
be brave and drive ahead,
Start where you stand.

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God Bless