one hundred and twenty six.
About to head into bed..
Waking up at 6pm today didn't feel so good... Haha...
Felt like the whole day was wasted... I was also supposed to meet the others for ice skating at 6pm at Wangsimni station, but that didn't happen... Sigh...
Anyway..
Let's recap the past few days.
Christmas Eve
Spent most of the day at home.. Sick and cold..
But I went out to see what's left of the crew at off-off-campus - the third dormitory that's owned by the university. This one is at Majang, 15 mins to the right to my dorm or 15 minutes from Wangsimni at a diagonal-ish direction.
The mini-party that was hosted at the dorm common room had drinks, snacks, food and lots of laughter... The little bit of warmth and comfort shared during such a cold season - and the needed company before they have to say goodbye to each other as their remaining days have been reduced to single digits...
I didn't stay long though because I met up with Carolyn, Jasmine and Ting at Sinchon (pronounced Shinchon) and we chilled for hours at a cafe talking about guys and relationships in general... Haha...
Funnily, at the cafe, everyone that was there was with their +1s.... Even on the streets, people holding hands and just generally celebrating the night with their partners.
At around 1am, the night became all the more romantic as snow started falling. Big, fluffy and sparkly little puffs soon filled with the streets and footpaths creating the perfect scene off a Hollywood romance.
We left the cafe at around 4.30am (it was a 24 hour cafe) and decided to have breakfast? I guess..
The best Yookgaejang I've had so far!
$6. Not bad at all.
On the train home, the carriage was filled with drunk people and party animals dressed to impress.
Definitely a commonplace scene for the first train of the day.
Christmas Day
A beautiful, sunny and slightly snowy day. Funnily yet, a lonely one...
Thinking about the smiles and happiness other people may have felt as they celebrated this season with their families and closest friends, I definitely came to realise the true treasure of this season.
Of course, at the end of the day, Christmas is all about celebrating Jesus and his gracious coming into the world as a little, silent baby in a humble manger in Bethlehem.
The thoughts that come to mind about this day are memories of church services that depict and replay the very nativity story that I vividly remember.
Indeed, it is a season of giving and receiving.
The very same way God gave us His best gift in the form of salvation through Jesus Christ, so it is a season of love. We share this season with those we love and we don't hold back on the warmth and festivities. It was never a season to associate with bitterness and hatred.
But sadly, this is a scene that happens in some households... To some, Christmas is nowhere near a happy scene for them. Abusive parents, partners or the very absence of company fall among the reasons as to why there are some that suffer.
Sin.
Sin explains why there is so much suffering. Why some families are broken. Why some are hurt during such a time of warmth. The detachment/non-association of anything that is of God (love, kindness, patience, grace, compassion, selflessness, etc..) has caused such a fate and it is indeed a sad reality when you think about the people who don't see the beauty of the season of Christmas.
However, this is the very flaw of exclusively associating Christmas with such words as 'happiness, joy, giving and sharing'... We can't put a blind eye on the sad realities in the world's suffering whilst we comfortably dine and indulge in gifts and company. But I believe that there is more to it than that. Where is God in the midst of some people's suffering during this happy season? He is still here. The moment we detach the true meaning of Christmas that is found in Jesus Christ's coming into this world, is the very moment we lose sight of this.
The season of Christmas celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ into this world as God's greatest gift to us and at the same time celebrates the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament - a plan from God from the very beginning.
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14 [NIV]
Why is the coming of Jesus into this world so crucial?
His coming into this world meant salvation for this sin-filled world and the very simple reality that God loves, cares and remembers those that are suffering during such a time (but He still does these everyday of the year =] ). He sent His one and only Son into this world to die for us and to put an end to sin once and for all - and He did so very gloriously.
This season isn't about the exchange of gifts, family gatherings, dates with friends... It also isn't about suffering as you realise of your loneliness and your envy for those more privileged during this season.
This season is and should always be a season to celebrate Jesus.
That being said, I believe that there is nothing wrong with gifts and company...
- Give gifts as a selfless act in response to receiving the greatest gift you have received from God.
- Spend time with family and friends as a means of showing love and to enjoy the true blessing found in them.
- Celebrate Jesus for he is love.. Do loving things. Don't forget the cold, the lonely, the hungry and the suffering.
I spent the last few hours of Christmas playing pool with my closest friends. Eero is a pro. Gosh.
$6 for an hour per table. Not bad at all.
After pool, we decided to hit up KFC to have our own Christmas bird. Yeah, Double down, Zinger burger, chips and coke for me =].
OH YEAH. Double down.
Mmmmm.... It was awesome.
So yeah... a cold, lonely but still a beautiful Christmas season this year...
I so would have preferred to be in Sydney to spend it with my family and friends... But it was okay.
Spending the night with my closest friends here was awesome enough. God has blessed me with loyal and caring friends and endless laughter no matter where we are.
