We’ve decided to volunteer Jed for early enlistment.

Reading a book on HIV law I am amused to learn of the existence of a non-profit organisation with the name "Sexual Health Advisory Group", or quite appropriately by the acronym, SHAG.  The organisation does not have a presence in Singapore, of course.

Ever noticed how some babies get very upset when the pacifier drops or gets pulled out of their mouths ?  Looking at Josh, I beginning to wonder - does he cry because the pacifier drops out, or does he spit the pacifier out so that he can cry ?  If it is the latter, then babies are more devious then we think.

Today marks the first anniversary of my father’s death, and my family, quite strangely in my opinion, has decided to commemorate the occassion by not going to church - no one ever skipped church to spend time with my dad when he was alive !  I have no idea what we are going to do today (other than eat - I will bring everyone out for a nice lunch or dinner since this is one of the rare occassions that we are all together). 

Actually, all this was instigated by the older of my two sisters, who quite questionably told everyone in the family that she would not be going to church today because my father died one year ago. 

Me : So are you really not going to church this Sunday ?

Sis : Yes.  Don’t you know what day it is ?

Me : (Feigning ignorance) What day is it ?

Sis : It is daddy’s death anniversary.

Me : Yes, I know that.  So ?

And since she was not going, my mum and younger sister decided not to go.  Finally, Joyce and I decided that we should stay with them too - I’m not entirely sure why but I think it is to show some support.

To be honest, I find all this "piety" misplaced.  If there is any time to display piety, it is when a parent is alive, not when he is not dead.  Yet it was almost impossible to get some of my siblings (actually I only have one particular sibling in mind) to spend even half an hour with my dad on a Sunday when he was alive, let alone skip church to spend the whole of Sunday with him!

After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.  David pleaded with God for the child.  He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground.  The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused and he would not eat any food with them.

On the seventh day the child died.  David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, "While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us.  How can we tell him the child is dead ?  He may do something desperate."

David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realised that the child was dead.  "Is the child dead ?" he asked.

"Yes," they replied, "he is dead."

Then David got up from the ground.  After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his closthes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshipped.  Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

His servants asked him, "Why are you still acting this way ?  While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat !"

He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, I thought, ‘Who knows ?  The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’  But now that he is dead, why should I fast ?  Can I bring him back again ?"

- 2 Samuel 12 : 15 - 23

A combination of the busyness of (over)work and looking after two kids have made it impossible for me to find the time to update this blog in the last two weeks.