jesus

THIS EVERLASTING LOVE

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

work in progress

What is LOVE? That is the question. Do we know it? Do we know it if we see it? Or hear it? Smell it? What is the intensity of love? Is love permanent? Can it be permanent? All simple, yet very tough questions.

If LOVE is a colour or has a colour linked to it, then it will be a wide spectrum of shades of that colour because love is universal or it is understood to be that, and is expected to be just that or maybe more; the very core of its meaning is to care for somebody or something else other than his or her own self. Then, there is that saying, “You have to love yourself first before you can love others”.

The wide spectrum of shades of colour of LOVE means that different people show love, give love, receive love differently from everybody else, yet the results are the same : the recipient is happy or is supposed to be happy.

Is LOVE a feeling? Can we base LOVE on feelings? “Feelings come, feelings go”, said Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Jojo Fung, SJ; in one of his sermons at mass in 1991. Feelings ride on mood swings. Feelings can be a whim.

Is there true LOVE? True love is a unique and passionate bond that connects you, that wants the best for the other person regardless of what that means for them. It is the foundation for a healthy, loving relationship. True love is authentic and genuine.

LOVE is a decision. It is concrete. You have to make a conscious decision to LOVE. Then, it can lead to everlasting LOVE.

The definition of everlasting love refers to a type of love that endures and lasts for a lifetime and beyond. It is a deep, enduring, and unwavering love that surpasses time and challenges. Is it possible to achieve everlasting love? Can it be a reality? Or is it only for the dreamers? It is a matter of perspective.

There may be hiccups in this LOVE relationship along the way. The journey can be quite bumpy or very bumpy. If you make an unequivocal decision to love, a decision to give without expecting anything back in return; then, it might just work. This everlasting LOVE.

Is LOVE a barter trade? Do we give LOVE in order to get love? Or do we get LOVE in order to give love? It is a choice we make. A choice we have to make. For many people, that choice can be fluid. It depends on the circumstances, life’s environment around then.

The decision to LOVE is personal. The underlining fact is that it is your decision.

NOTES:
It is Friday. I thought I’d write on something off main stream for me. I started off with a one line quote. Then, I added on a couple more lines. Then, more questions are raised. What have I got myself into? I did not want to research on LOVE for fear that it would become too much head knowledge instead of knowledge by experience – what is around us and how we see it…how I see it.

HE IS NO LONGER HERE. HE HAS RISEN!

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

http://leatherpotato.com/2024/03/29/good-friday/
http://leatherpotato.com/2024/03/30/in-stillness-earth-awaits-the-resurrection/

Following up from the two earlier articles. Not sure if I can call these essays, including this one which is about to be told, unfold… however you may want to read them.

When I started with the Good Friday article, I never planned to have the next one about the waiting period between the time of crucifixion and his resurrection. It just came to my mind while I was sitting in church. I started penning down my thoughts and then work on it, since I had my tools of the trade: my Samsung Fold 5; with me.

And now I am writing about “HE HAS RISEN”. At mass that Saturday evening (where I wrote IN STILLNESS, EARTH AWAITS THE RESURRECTION while waiting for mass to begin); we heard the readings from the Old and New Testaments, we held lighted candles to symbolize new life (and hope), we had the Litany of Saints, the sprinkling / blessing of Holy water…it was a “High Mass” (a term rarely used in church today). It was everything an Easter vigil mass should be. We were reaffirmed that this God who became man, Jesus; had died for us on Good Friday and now is risen.

Going back to over 2,000 years ago, when the large stone or boulder covering the entrance to where Jesus’ body was buried. “He is no longer here. He has risen, Alleluia”, said the angel.

I cannot help but feel the relief these people had when they heard that statement. They would now feel that all they went through was not in vain, that it is all true. Again, at that time, computers, google and other modern day technology was not available. They had to go by gut instinct, by faith and believe that it was true. Many who were fence-sitters or wait-and-see believers; now believed. If I was there at that time, I would have had more questions to ask. I would definitely have believed, but what’s next? It sure would have been quite the experience: seeing first hand the direct connection between heaven and earth.

My earliest memories of Easter was maybe when I was around 5 or 6 years old. It probably was Easter Sunday morning. We, meaning the Atkinsons; would have gathered at my grandparents’ home in Section 8, Petaling Jaya (it would have been around 1964). The Atkinsons, would have been dad, his siblings and families. I remember receiving a big Easter egg, made of chocolate. It was wrapped in colourful wrapping. I think if I remember correctly, I asked myself, “What am I going to do with a big egg?”, not knowing that it was made of chocolate.

I think when it came to our (as parents) turn, we gave our daughter, Laura; a big Easter egg and a Tamagotchi Easter (not too sure if it was an Easter egg) egg. Tamagotchi never included a warning that parents would soon take over the looking after and maintenance of these things, as children soon got tired of these electronic, noisy pets. End story is that Laura ended up having three of these devices. She also had Easter chocolate eggs for some years to come.

With the faith of the people who were with Jesus Christ during the time of His crucifixion right through the time HE HAD RISEN and AFTER; we the Atkinsons, wish all our family and friends around the world: HAPPY EASTER!

HE IS RISEN, ALLELUIA!

THE ATKINSONS’ CHRISTMAS’ GATHERING THAT WAS

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Not too long ago, more like a month or so; we i.e. Jeannie and I started with Christmas preparations. It was more Jeannie than me.

For starters, she put up Christmas trees, yes…plural in “tree”. Not one tree, not two trees, but three trees. There were decorations in various parts of the house that was put up earlier on.

Laura, her boyfriend, Praga; Jeannie and I had a nice pre-Christmas dinner at Chili’s. The food was good – we enjoyed it. I had a Margarita for the evening. It was kinda of o.k., could have been better. It was a good evening.

The next evening, we. meaning Laura, Praga, Jeannie and I; were at St Thomas More Church, Subang Jaya, for mass. We made sure we were early, especially to avoid a possible downpour of rain (it has been raining almost everyday. Reverend Father Simon La Brooy presided at mass. The time at church was wonderful.

One of the traditional events that we are involved in and participate is the gathering of siblings and their families at mum’s and dad’s home in Klang for dinner on Christmas evening. I think we have been doing this for as long as I can remember.

Notice the little lighted Christmas tree?

Shirley, Sarah and her boyfriend, King; were the first to arrive. We (Laura & Praga, Jeannie and myself) were the next to be at the scene. A few minutes later, everyone else started arriving.

There was a wide spread of food, including lamb and shepherd’s pie. We also had Christmas fruitcake flown in all the way from Canada, courtesy of Ray and Susan.

ALL IN THE FAMILY
Front row, right to left: Praga (Laura’s boyfriend), Laura (Jeannie’s and my daughter), Jeannie, Shirley, myself.
Middle row, seated; right to left: Susan (Raymond Arnold’s wife), Uma (Malcolm’s wife), Dad, Mum, Mabel (Terence’s wife), Sarah (Shirley’s daughter).
Third row, standing; right to left: Raymond Arnold (Behind Susan), Jay (Ashley’s husband), Ashley & Alana (both are Terence’s and Mabel’s daughters), Terence, Malcolm and King.

Malaysians – a must for their food.

The youngest and the eldest.

The youngest and the eldest of brothers.

The middle one.

The Three brothers👆

And the caroling began…

Christmas won’t be Christmas at the Atkinsons if there was no caroling. Malcolm and Jay took the lead. Everyone whipped out their phone song sheets. How convenient. No real flipping of paper pages unless you add the soundlike flipping of pages sound to your whatsapp thread when you search for song lyrics.

There was a mix of Christmas carols and non-Christmas carols – favourites.

Dad, recording with his smartphone. He’ s almost like Santa Clause. He knows who is singing in time and who isn’t. The proof is in the recording.

Everyone’s getting presents.


The singing goes on.

Christmas seemed a bit different this time round. It seemed brighter, with lots more laughter and joy. Yes, we are all slightly older this time round, probably wiser, too. Christmas with family is an integral part of our lives, I guess. We remember Jen and Nigel, who were with us in spirit; too.

Christmas with family…