Drudgery of Life?

2 weeks of work have gone by and I'm starting to feel that old drudgery coming back to play. You know, that feeling when everything is an old boring routine of life and really nothing exciting ever happens. Which is completely false - scroll down to the post below! - and you'll see that my life is never short of craziness. But it just feels like that!

Before I go into an elaborate discussion about the drudgery of life, which I do indeed plan discuss in much further detail - don't run! It'll be interesting, I promise - here's what I've been doing at work:

It started with nothing but a whole bunch of 2D floor plans, a software I'd never really used much of before, and a huge stack of construction documents... to this:

And then I added slanted columns (huge achievement!) and windows and such:

And then I rendered it:

Huge leaps, I know, but I'm actually doing work here, not documenting my every move. I'm pretty impressed with my own skills though, if I may add humbly. ;)

One more tangent, and then I promise you I'll get to the subject:

The other day in the elevator (I guess its just the location of all my excitement!), I found myself going up to work with an Indian lady. She said something long to me in a string of Malay to which I simply replied, "I'm sorry, I don't speak Malay." She then paused to try to figure out how to convey what she wanted to say in English and all she managed was, "Philippines." I laughed and quickly assured her I was actually Malaysian Chinese and she was like, "Your face, looks like from there." So now I get it. I don't look like I'm from here, and I definitely don't sound like I am either. The Managing Director at my work also asked me the other day, "You're not from here right?" Um, yea technically I am? Looks like I have a talent of sticking out.

So today I was reading out loud from My Utmost for His Highest and it really just hit the spot. Oswald Chambers spoke about 2 Peter 1:5 and how we are to "add to your faith" and form godly habits. Allow me to quote some of it:

We are to "add" to our lives all that character means. No one is born either naturally or supernaturally with character; it must be developed. Nor are we born with habits - we are to form godly habits on the basis of the new life God has placed within us. We are not meant to be seen as God's perfect, bright-shining examples, but to be seen as the everyday essence of ordinary life exhibiting the miracle of His grace. Drudgery is the test of genuine character. The greatest hindrance in our spiritual life is that we will only look for big things to do. Yet, "Jesus... took a towel and... began to wash the disciples' feet..." (John 12:3-5) (Emphasis mine.)

We all have those moments when there are no flashes of light and no apparent thrill to life, where we experience nothing but the daily routine with its common everyday tasks. The routine of life is actually God's way of saving us between our times of great inspiration which comes from Him. Don't always expect God to give you His thrilling moments, but learn to live in those common times of the drudgery of life by the power of God.

Wow. That speaks for itself. I know that personally I find when I have those drudgery moments, my character sort of fades. I was just reminding myself of the new life God has given me (Ephesians 4:22-24), that I've already received, and start living it out. How? By renewing the mind, by forming those godly habits, and by developing my character. To be seen as the everyday essence of ordinary life exhibiting the miracle of His grace.

Disclaimer: this is definitely still a work-in-progress.

And so I'll leave you with that as I conclude this post and go sit in front of the air-conditioner because its a 90 degree day. Knowing me, I can't really stay indoors for long and so the last couple of days, I've gone outside after work and kicked a soccer ball around for about 30 minutes, coming home a ball of sweat. Literally. Nothing else. If I were a bottle, I would read, "Ingredients: sweat. Made in Malaysia."

Never Short of an Adventure

I apologize profusely for not updating more. I've started more than a few drafts and never got around to finishing them because, knowing me, I'm a perfectionist and don't really finish what I start. So who knows whether this will get posted or not. I have full intentions as of right now to post it, but you never know what will happen in thirty minutes. I'm pretty fickle too.

Anyway, the last time I posted, I was back in Australia, living a happy life of rainbows and unicorns. Turns out, I had to leave happy land, and although it took me about two weeks before I finally left for real, it was good while it lasted. Those two weeks composed of hanging out with friends, redesigning my living room and painting (still in progress!), exercising to my leisure, and doing whatever I pleased. So it happens, adventure does not ever leave me behind.

+ Note to self: do not go running with your iPod Touch in your pocket ever again. Everything went fine for the first six laps and then I decided I wanted to sprint. I take off at like 30mph, not even exaggerating, and my iPod Touch stays behind. On the ground. With it's screen shattered like it didn't have a care in the world.

+ So what if you're the only girl in all of Asia who plays soccer. If you love it, want to play it, than do it! And that's exactly what I did. Sunday evening, called an old friend, convinced my daddy to come along, showed up and played with all these random boys. Didn't even give the ball away once. Made some great passes. Shouldered up to the guys and defended. Headed the ball away! Big whoopie, I have never EVER done that before. Surprised all the boys at how well a girl could played. Scored. A beautiful goal.

+ Don't ever go into an elevator without a phone and without being able to say "Elevator is broken. I'm stuck." in the language of the country you reside in. Thankfully I had the former if not the latter. I was simply trying to leave work when the elevator stopped on me and I was stuck on the 10th floor. In a box. Alone. It was an adventure to say the least. I stayed calm for about the first 30 minutes. By the 50th minute, I was in tears. Finally, I got out after an hour.

Life ain't fun unless there's a little bit of adventure, and I've certainly got my fair share of that the last two weeks. I may have left happy land and entered the land of a working woman, day in and day out in the office, but adventure still hasn't left - and I'm glad. It is my constant companion. Until later - with more adventures!