Frog Race

An interesting story I received through the e-mail from Hui2. She called it a short story but I call it a parable, i.e. a story with a moral behind it!

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Once upon a time there was a group of frogs .... which organized a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.... The race began....

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Honestly: No one in crowd really believed that the frogs would reach the top of the tower. You would hear statements such as: "WAY TOO DIFFICULT!!", "THE TOWER IS TOO HIGH! , "THEY WILL NEVER MAKE IT TO THE TOP", "NOT A CHANCE THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED!"

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The frogs began collapsing. One by one.... Except for a few who kept on going, climbing higher and higher.... But the crowd continued to yell, "IT IS TOO DIFFICULT!!! NO ONE WILL MAKE IT!"

More frogs got tired and gave up.... At the end, everyone gave up except one tiny one which continued to climb, higher and higher and higher.... This one just wouldn't give up! Finally, it reached the top!

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Everyone naturally wanted to know how this one frog do it? A contestant asked the tiny frog how he find the strength to reach the top?

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It turned out.... that the frog was DEAF!!!!

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Photo: Froggy the Dreamer!

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Here is my take on the moral of the parable. It is about the traits of successful people. Here are three I extracted from John C. Maxwell's Be All You Can Be!

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1) Successful people exclude negative thinkers as close friends - constant exposure can dampen enthusiasm, kill passion, drain energy, and promote discouragement and pessimism. (Note: succesful people are also discerning to know when to listen to criticisms and when not to. They pay more attention to those who want to see them climb higher (e.g. a mentor) and less to those who want to see them fall.

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2) Successful people encourage others as well as themselves. They impart confidence by speaking positive words. They recognize the power of their words! Instead of IMPOSSIBLE, they say "I'M POSSIBLE."

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3) Successful people are possessed with something bigger than themselves - a dream, a vision beyond themselves. Something that constantly keeps them going. It's out of their reach, and yet they believe that if they work hard enough, they will someday hold that dream in their hands.

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When you really have a dream, you aren't a problem conscious person. When you see a problem, you also see a dream, and the dream takes you through the problem.

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To end, let me share the lyrics of an old song which have inspired me to dream, to reach for the star! My school principal taught us more than 25 years ago during his farewell speech to the Graduating Class of 1981 (5th Form) of St John's, K.L. Since then, I've constantly sing it in my heart and for a long time, not many people have heard of it (except my wife, who thinks that I am like a broken record player which constantly repeat itself). Of course, not until a few years ago, when the song was selected as a compulsory song to be sung by the two finalists of the American Idol.

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"Impossible Dream"

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To dream the impossible dream

To fight the unbeatable foe

To bear with unbearable sorrow

And to run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong

And to love pure and chaste from afar

To try when your arms are too weary

To reach the unreachable star

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This is my quest, To follow that star

No matter how hopeless, No matter how far

To fight for the right, Without question or pause

To be willing to march, march into hell

For that heavenly cause

And I know If I'll only be true

To this glorious quest

That my heart, Will lie peaceful and calm

When I'm laid to my rest

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And the world will be better for this

That one man, scorned and covered with scars,

Still strove with his last ounce of courage

To reach the unreachable, the unreachable,

The unreachable star

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And I'll always dream, The impossible dream

Yes, and I'll reach, The unreachable star

Frosty Nite - Comfort Food

From now on, the weather will be getting colder. Today, the highest temperature recorded was 9*C. And tonight, it will fall below zero. As it will be a cold frosty nite, we are advised to bring into the house the potted plants (see below).
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We have been given good tips on keeping warm. First and foremost, test the heating system in the house to make sure it works. Turn up the boiler's temperature and adjust the thermostat in the house. Stockpile wood for the fireplace. Drain and turn off any outdoor tap because the trapped water, when frozen, can burst the pipes. I climbed up to the roof attic last weekend to swich off the attic fan (which was very useful during the summer to suck cool air into the house) and cover the ventilation hole with insulation. Also, I bought two extra sweaters to keep my body warm.

Charles Swindoll, one of my favorite Christian authors, once shared an incident where he came across an interesting message on a brass mantle above a fireplace, "IF YOUR HEART IS COLD, MY FIRE CANNOT WARM IT" Hmmmm, how true.... Fireplaces can warm bodies, but not our hearts! No fire can warm a cold heart!

But I can think of two things which can warm our hearts. Both are FOUR letter words.

• LOVE! Friendship and companionship. We are blessed to have so many family members, friends and students back home who, despite our absence and the distance, still remember us. Indeed, every e-mail, skype and phone call received from home truly warm our heart. We are also touched by the care shown by colleagues, neighbors and church community here in Happy Valley. On our arrival at the airport, two Singaporeans met us at the airport and helped us with our luggage. On the first day at work, a colleague passed me a bagful of brochures and information on State College, which his wife has collected specially for us. And then, there are our neighbors who have been so friendly, welcoming and helpful in many practical ways. Last week, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a knock on our door from a church member, whom we did not know before. She happens to live on the same street as us and came, on behalf of the church, to say hi and to give us a bag of gifts/brochures. Such acts of love and thoughtfulness have made our stay in Happy Valley truly happy, blissful!

• FOOD! In particular, comfort food that brings back warm memories. Thankfully, my loving wife is a good cook. Yesterday, we prepared peanut porridge, oyster omelete and "chili mussels" (too bad we cannot get any fresh crab here). Today, she is able to satisfy another of my cravings - "loh mei fun" (glutinous rice) which is on my list of comfort food. I also pickled more green chilies today; to stock pile for the winter.

This weekend, we have also been truly blessed by a visit from Jennifer, a close friend from Singapore. She stayed with us for one night. In addition to the warmth fellowship and news update from Singapore, she also brought us fresh supplies. Comfort food such as ikan bilis, dried shrimp, pandan essence, Bee Cheng Hiang meat floss, almond longan, Japanese green tea, plain crackers, Nescafe 3-in-1, curry sauce, blachan chili and thick black soya sauce! Our stock should hopefully last us till June 08.

So, no matter how cold it is outside, our hearts are already warmed inside by the love of those around us, here and back home.

Scary Scary Halloween!

Today, I would like to focus on a topic which will make most of us uneasy. Can I ask you two questions:

• What do you fear most?
• Do you believe in Ghosts?

Oct 31 is Halloween night, the western version of the 7th lunar month. It is traditionally associated with ghosts, but like Christmas, it has been commercialized. Nowadays, children dress up and go from house to house collecting candies. To each homeowner who answers the doorbell, the children will say, "trick or treat". But instead of dressing up as scary/ghostly figures, most will fancy dress. I know of two children who will be dressing up as "Tinkerbell" and an astranout. Another parent just told me that his son will be dressing up as a "cheerleader" this year.

What does Halloween really stand for? Ghosts! Heard on this morning news that in a survey, 1/3 of Americans believe that ghosts exist. When the newcaster was asked the same question, I thought her reply was rather interesting, "It is one thing you don't want to say you don't, just in case you provoke "them" to prove their existence to you!". As for me,

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I don't believe in ghosts but I am afraid of them.

I have shared this story before. The first time I read the quotation (Mark Twain), I thought it is irrational to fear something you don't believe in. But I have been proven wrong.

Back home (Singapore), I like to swim at night because I will be the only one in the pool. I aso like to swim at the deep end because I enjoy the refreshing sensation of the icy cold water. However, as I was walking to the pool that particular day, I saw people burning joss paper. I realized that it was the beginning of the 7th lunar month, more commonly known as the Hungry Ghost Festival with the Chinese. Suddenly, I didn't feel like swimming in the dark, by myself in the deep end of the pool. My mind flashed back to a drowning incident. To play "safe", I decided to swim in the children's pool instead. It was only after my swim that it dawned on me that what Mark Twain said was true, "I do not believe in ghosts but I am afraid of them".

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Somehow, we have been conditioned from young to be afraid of the dark, death and ghosts. Our mind (or rather our imagination) can play tricks on us! At times, even a scarecrow can scare us.

US President Theodore Roosevelt once said, "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." Do you know what is the greatest fear amongst adults? I read that it is not ghosts, not the unknowns, but the number one fear that grips most adults is, the "fear of failure", followed closely by the "fear of being useless". For the Asians, there is the "fear of losing face". And we Singaporeans are known to be "kiasu" (fear of losing out) and "kiasi" (fear of death/punishment). Fear of what might happen to us can cause panic, lost of sleep, and missed opportunities. Fear can paralyse us.

How I cope with fear, anxieties & worries?

When new situations or surroundings frighten me, I remind myself that experiencing fear is normal. I have found that the best antidote to worry is not positive thinking but prayer; "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7.

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p/s - my wife wants to have the last say, "If there is anything to fear, fear HIM. For the 'Fear of the LORD is the begining of knowledge' (Prov 1:7)."

Pumpkin Patch

October is the month for pumpkins. Last weekend, we took advantage of the good weather to visit the Way Fruit Farm, which hosted its annual Fall Apple Festival. Whilst we saw rows and rows of apple trees and handpicked some apples from the trees, today I would like to focus on our visit to the pumpkin patch in this blog entry.

We rode on a wagon pulled by a tractor to reach the pumpkin patch, where

everyone excitedly went about selecting and picking their own pumpkins.

Question: Is pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable?

I took a candid shot of four kids happily showing off their pumpkins (with moms in the background still deliberating who should pay for the pumpkins, which cost 37 cents a pound. 1-2-Zoom).

What do Americans do with their pumpkins? They hollowed out the pumpkins and carve them into lanterns, called "jack-o-lantern" for Halloween. This practice is based on an ancient Celtic custom brought to America by Irish immigrants. The pumpkin carvings are then placed on windowsills or porches. Why? It is very much like the Chinese placing a lion statute outside the door of their house... to ward off evil spirits as well as to welcome home the spirits of deceased ancestors.

.An interesting photo of EAST meets WEST at the Webb mansion.

Spritual Application: In the biblical story of Moses and the Egyptian Pharaoh, God commanded the Hebrews to take the blood of an innocent sheep and put it on the door-frames of their homes as a sign. That night, the plague of death passed over their houses but all the firstborn in Egypt were strucked down. The Feast of the Passover thus became an annual holiday to celebrate Israel's deliverance from Egypt and to remind the people of what God had done. In today's context, we Christians take the Holy Communion as a Passover remembrance of our deliverance and new life in Christ, who took our place as the sacrificial lamb.

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Ohio Buckeyes

On Oct 5-7, we visited Jim and Anais at Cleveland, Ohio, which is about 4 hours drive from Happy Valley. Their mansion @ the Hudson town is the largest and most beautiful house we have visited so far in the US. Jim proudly showed us the huge garden, which has a fountain and water frontage to two man-made lakes. We promised to visit them again in the spring, when the daffodils will be in full bloom.

The Webbs took us to their favorite Chinese restaurant, Noble House, where we ordered Peking duck and sea bass. I rate it as the best Chinese restaurant we have patronized in the US.

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The next day, we tour Cleveland, stopping to take a shot at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum (below). Upon our return, the two ladies started preparing for the BBQ dinner (above), whilst Jim and I dashed to the nursery to buy more daffodil bulbs, which we later planted in the garden. On Sunday, we went to worship together at their local church, Evangelical Covenant Church of Hudson. The sermon was on recognizing a tree by the fruits it bear.

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"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 7:15-19).

As an intro to the message, the pastor asked the children where do banana come from? As expected, everyone answered "banana trees". But a smart kid, yelled out, Ecuador!, which is technically correct since most of the bananas consumed in the US are imported.

Jim is a professor at the Cleveland State University. He is a founding member and ex-president of the American Real Estate Society. During his last visit to S'pore, Jim presented me a book "Beyond the Random Walk: A Guide to Stock Market Anomalies". I am happy that the "seed" Jim sowed has produced fruits - two publications on REIT pricing anomalies in the Journal of Real Estate Research and the Journal of Real Estate Finance & Economics. You see, the Sunday message is applicable even in the academia world. We professors, like trees, are judged by our fruits, i.e. the number and quality of our research publications! Most top universities adopt a strict promotion and tenure (P&T) system where "tree that does not bear good fruit is cut and thrown into the fire." They also import "bananas", preferably "branded" ones with certified quality.

Front view of the mansion.

Rear view of the mansion

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After dinner chat beside the pitfire on the terrace.

Trivial: Famous sons of Ohio

1) Thomas Edison, developed the incandescent light bulb.

2) Neil Armstrong, the first person to walk on the moon (21/7/1969).

3) The Wright brothers, a pair of bicycle shopowners, became the first in flight in 1903.

4) 8 US presidents (2nd only to Virginia)

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The buckeye is the state tree of Ohio. The seeds look like chestnuts but they are not edible.

Autumn Leaves

The days are getting shorter, and the temperature is getting lower. These are signs that the autumn is here, and cues for the trees to start preparing for the winter. We all enjoy the colors of autumn leaves. Did you ever wonder how and why a fall leaf changes color? Why a maple leaf turns bright red? Where do the yellows and oranges come from?

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Quiz: What do autumn leaves & ripening bananas have in common?

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Photo of maple leaves my wife picked from the roadside. I arranged them according to their color and call it the "cycle or color of life".

Everyone has their favorite time of the year. Some like spring because everything is fresh; some like summer for the sunshine and long days; others like winter for the snow and holidays; but what's there in autumn?

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For those who are successful, autumn is the season for harvesting. It's a time to reap and enjoy the fruit of your labor.

But for those who are not successful, there is nothing to look forward to. Autumn marks "the end of one's job, career, or life. It is the time for dreading yet another winter. It is the time for watching the trees lose their leaves and feeling a sense of loss, the passing of time. Autumn is a wistful time for wishing things might have been different. Autumns brings a harvest of regret" (D. Waitley, p. 258).

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Reflection: For me, I like autumn! It is the most colorful time of the year, a reminder from heaven that life is beautiful! More poignant, the rotting maple leaves by the roadside potray our mortality. Our earthly life, no matter how beautiful, is short! Like any food items sold in the grocery shop, we have a manufacturing date as well as an expiry date. One day, sooner or later, we will expire and join those fallen leaves on the ground.

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"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." - Job 1:20

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Answer: The green color in unripe bananas comes from chlorophyll, the same pigment that gives green leaves their color. As bananas ripen, the chlorophyll breaks down and disappears, revealing the yellow color which has been there all along. The yellows and oranges of autumn leaves are also revealed as their chlorophyll breaks down.

Why do fall leaves change color?

During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can't see them in the summer, because they are covered up by the green chlorophyll.

The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in the fall. In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves turn this glucose into a red color. The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves.

It is the combination of all these things that make the beautiful colors we enjoy in the fall.

Source: http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html

7C Herb Garden B&B

During our trip to Litchfield Hills, we stayed in a Bed & Breakfast (B&B) at New Preston. 7C Herb Garden, which has two rooms, is run by an elderly couple, Hansel and Alicia Collins, who were very hospitable. http://www.3c.com/7cherbgarden/index.html .

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The house, built in the 1730s, is located on four hillside acres with half an acre of organic herb and vegetable gardens, gift shop and greenhouse.

Although we reserved the smaller room, Alicia generously upgraded us to the suite, which would have cost US $120 (instead of the US $100 we paid for the smaller room). There is no t.v. in the room but it doesn't matter as we used the time to read and plan our itinerary for the next day. Wireless internet was available in the room.

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After a restful night, a hearty breakfast lovingly prepared by Alicia, who is in her 70s, awaits us in the morning. A typical American breakfast include fruit juice, cereal, fruits, French toast, bacon and coffee.

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Hansel, who lost his sight more than two decades ago and is now is his 80s, then proudly showed us his workshop. It was amazing for us to behold such lovely woodcrafts, carefully and skilfully crafted from the woods of cherry and maple trees, by the hands of a man who cannot see with his eyes. We purchased a huge salad bowl and a savings box (in the shape of a book) from Hansel, which we intended to use as gifts.

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They say "it is possible to have eyes that work and still be 'blind'." Meeting Hansel reminds me that the reverse is also true, "it is possible to have eyes that don't work and still 'see'."

Inspiration:

1. There is always more to see than is obvious at first glance. If you look close enough, you can see things that at first glance we might miss.
2. We can become blinded by our own self-righteousness that we don't see our own sin and need for God's presence.
3. Spiritual sight is more precious than physical sight.
   

Source: Conversing With a Blind Man
http://www.redlandbaptist.org/sermons/sermon19990411.htm

Litchfield Hills, Connecticut

Litchfield Hills, which is located at the northwest corner of Connecticut, is one of the best places in New England to experience the spectacular fall foliage.

It took approx. 5 hours of driving to reach Litchfield Hills from Happy Valley. Immediately after checking into our B&B at New Preston, we drove to Washington Depot, a nearby village where we took a relaxing stroll. We then dined at a local restaurant (G&W, which was highly recommended by the B&B owner). Being one of the first patrons to arrive, I asked to be seated at the best table in the house, which overlooks several mature oak trees along a running stream. The wood panelling, timber roof trusts, and candlelight created a romantic feel to the whole setting. To add to the memorable evening, the food was simply delicious. The BBQ ribs were smoky and tender, just the way I like them. We had homemade "pumpkin" ice-cream for dessert. What else can a man ask for, "eat, drink and be merry"!

The following morning, we drove through winding country roads along the shores of picturesque Lake Waramaug. The foliage color in this area was mostly bright yellow.

We stopped at another quaint village, Kent, which was peppered with a number of art galleries filled with abstract and expensive artworks.

Next, we visited Kent Falls. The stream, known as Falls Brook, makes a dramatic 200 ft drop. To reach the waterfall, we had to walk across a small covered bridge.

We rounded up our scenic tour of the Litchfield Hills visiting the iconic West Cornwall covered bridge. Spanning the Houstonic River, the barn red covered bridge is a symbol of the early history of the area. It provided a postcard-perfect backdrop for a photo.

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Known locally as the "Kissing Bridge" because of its long dark span that encouraged carriages to slow just long enough for courtship.

Rating: ****

Once in a life time experience! Unfortunately, this particular autumn has not been that cold and hence, the leaves were not as colorful as they would have been in a normal year. Nevertheless, R.W Emerson's quotation aptly sums up the experience.

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"This world is so beautiful that I can hardly believe it exists."

A Dwarf On the Shoulders of Giants

On our way to Boston, we stopped by at the University of Connecticut @ Storrs. The primary reason is to visit CF and his wife, Elaine. CF is one of the most prolific real estate researchers and his publication record is legendary in the real estate academia world! He is the co-editor of the Journal of Real Estate Finance & Economics. CF is one of my mentors, with whom I work closely.

In my acceptance speech for the NUS Young Researcher Award (April 2005), I cited the following quotation: A 12th century theologian once said, “I am like a dwarf sitting on the shoulders of giants. I can see further … not because my sight is superior or because I am taller than they, but because they raise me up, & by their great stature add to mine .”

CF, truly, has been a “giant” in my career. Indeed, I am blessed to have several mentors. Another is the late Professor Gerald Brown, to whom I dedicated the NUS Young Researcher Award. Gerald was then the Head of Department of Real Estate, NUS. Before his passing, I visited him in Auckland and told him how grateful I am to have several renowned professors as my mentors. Till today, I still keep in my heart what Gerald advised, “These professors are famous and very busy. They don’t have to mentor anyone but they do, selectively. So, Joseph, when your time come, do the same and nurture those who follow after you.”
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Above all, I thank my LORD, “When I am down … You raise me up … More than I can be. I am strongest when I am on your shoulders.”

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For more on mentorship, please visit my earlier blog entry entitled "Sugar Maple" (Sept 5, 2007).

On the Road

Over the next week, we will be traveling to Litchfield, Connecticut to tour its famed fall foliage, reputed to be the best in the whole of US. After that, we will be proceeding to Boston, where I will be attending a real estate symposium hosted by MIT. In between, we will be stopping over at University of Connecticut. We leave early tomorrow.

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During this period, we will be on the road most of the time and have limited or no access to the internet. Hence, I will not be posting any blog over this period. Enjoy your week. Pray for journey mercy, good weather and a productive time at the conference. God bless.

Fall Hike @ GF State Park

Last Saturday (Sep 29), we joined the International Fellowship Ministries for a fall hike in the beautiful Pennsylvania forests. Nestled on the western edge of an area of Central Pennsylavania known as the Seven Mountains, Greenwood Furnace State Park (GFSP) is about 45-minute drive from State College. According to the brochure, "it is an area of rugged beauty, abundant wildlife, breathtaking vista and peaceful solitude."

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/Parks/greenwoodfurnace.aspx

The Link Trail, which leads up to the Stone Valley Vista, is approx. 3.5 miles in length. We found the hike challenging because of the steep and rocky slope. Lagging behind, we persevered.

At the top, we were rewarded with a panaromic view of the valley below. Enjoying the crisp autumn air, whilst gobbling down our sandwiches with a hot cup of tea, we rested our tired feet. We took a group photo for the album.

For the descent, we had two routes to choose. The simplest way is to retrace our steps. The group unanimously agreed on the other route, which was more challenging. Called the Turkey Trail, it is an old log slide used in the logging days to bring logs down the mountain. It is 200 metres straight down and very steep (40-45 degrees slope). Because the track was very slick due to the many dried leaves, we had to walked sideways (like a crab) to have a better grip. Still, some loose their footing and ended up having their bump kissing mother earth!

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A cut tree branch, which I found at the peak, came in very handy as a hiking stick to aid in the descent. Twice, I nearly loose my footing but thankfully, my wife was able to hold on to me. At the bottom, we still have to walk another mile to reach the starting point. The hike took two hours (excluding the interval at the peak). Overall, it was a tiring adventure. Our leg muscles continued to ache for a few days after.

Pickled Green Chilies

Last Friday, we bought some fresh green chilies from the farmers' market. 10 huge ones for only US$1. I decided to pickle the chilies so that they will last longer. Of course, I am already thinking that they would go very well with the "wanton" mee, which I will be asking my wife to cook.

Here is the recipe:

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(1) Wash and drain chilies well. Cut into thin round slices.

(2) Pour warm water over the sliced chilies. Drain well, remove seeds and place chilies on absorbent kitchen towel.

(3) In a sauce pan, mix rice vinegar (1/2 cup), boiled water (1 cup), salt (1 tablespoon) and sugar (5 tablespoons). Stir until sugar dissolves. Place cut chilies in a bowl and pour in the mix. Let it cool down beside the window.

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(4) When cooled, place the pickled chillies in an air-tight jar. Keep jar in the fridge and it will last for a few good months.

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Observation: Decay is a natural process in the physical world. To pickle the chillies, I used five preservatives to stop the decaying process. Can you identify the five presevatives? Yes, they are (a) vinegar, (b) salt, (c) sugar, (d) air-tight container, and (e) fridge (cool temperature)!

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I wonder what would it take to stop (or even slow down) moral decay? What would be a good spiritual preservative?

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You Reap What You Sow!

We have been observing that our neighbors, mostly retirees, spent a lot of time tending their garden with great diligence, faith and tender loving care. Yesterday, my wife and I invited ourselves into our neighbor's backyard to admire the fruits of their labor.

(1) Grapes (Concord variety) ripening on the vine. No insecticide used. Our neighbors kindly allowed us to try some of the grapes. Although the skin was a bit thick for my liking, the grapes were very sweet, and the oozing juice tasted like clear champagne.

(2) Raspberries - my wife's favorite berry! Incidentally, this is the only berry shrub which I can recognize in the wild. Nothing beats picking and eating the ripe berries fresh from the vine.

(3) Tomatoes - very plum and juicy. The neighbors graciously allow us to pick some of the tomatoes which we used for our cooking.

Reflection: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reap what he sows" - Galatians 6:7.

Imagine if a farmer planted grapes and tomatoes came instead. It's a natural law to reap what we sow. It's true in other areas too. Every action has results.

(1) What we are today, is due to what we did yesterday.

(2) What we are tomorrow, will be due to what we do today!

(3) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up - Galatians 6:9.

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Related to sowing and reaping, Madame Chiang Kai-shek once wrote:

"If the past has taught us anything it is that every cause brings its effect, every action has a consequence. We Chinese have a saying: "If a man plants melons he will reap melons; if he sows beans, he will reap beans." And this is true of everyone's life; good begets good, and evil leads to evil. True enough, the sun shines on the saint and the sinner alike, and too often it seems that the wicked prosper. But we can say with certainty that, with the individual as with the nation, the flourishing of the wicked is an illusion, for, unceasingly, life keeps books on us all. In the end, we are all the sum total of our actions. Character cannot be counterfeited, nor can it put on and cast off as if it were a garment to meet the whim of the moment. Like the markings on wood which are ingrained in the very heart of the tree, character requires time and nurturing for growth and development. Thus also, day by day, we write our own destiny; for inexorably...we become what we do."

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Source: http://www.ccel.org/contrib/exec_outlines/gal/ga6_7.htm

Women are not as Happy!

Following my previous blog on happiness, my wife referred me to an interesting article in the New York Times (Sept 26, 2007). Entitled "A Reversal in the Index of Happy", it reports the findings of two new research papers on happiness.
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One is a working paper by Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, economists at Uni. of Pennsylvania. The other is a research paper which will be published in the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity. It is authored by a Princeton economist (Alan Krueger), who has worked with four psychologists onthe research.

Whilst the two studies employed different methodologies, their findings are similar. In gist, "since the 70s, men have passed women in contentment". There appears to be a growing happiness gap between men and women. Some other interesting points mentioned in the article:

1. Since the 1960s, men have gradually cut back on activities they find unpleasant. They now work less and relax more. Over the same span, women have replaced housework with paid work - and as a result, are spending almost as much time doing things they don't enjoy in the past.
2. "The second shift" theory (Hochschild, 1989) hypothesizes that modern women are less happy because they effectively had to hold down two jobs. The first shift was at the office, and the second at home.
3. What seems to be the most likely explanation for the happiness trends - is that women now have a much longer to-do list than they once did. They can't possibly get it all done, and many end up feeling as if they somehow fall short.

There is no question that the research have their limitations. Afterall, happiness is highly subjective. But who is to be blamed for the rising unhappiness of modern women?

• Modern women are more ambitious. A big reason that women reported being happier three decades ago - despite far more discrimination, is probably that they had narrower ambitions. Many compared themselves only to other women, rather than to men as well.


• Although women have flooded into the work force, the society hasn't fully come to grips with the change. The goverment should introduce more policies which are friendly towards the modern women, such as a pro-working mother policy.

But women, society and government policy are not to be blamed entirely. Inside of families, men still haven't figured out how to shoulder their fair share of the household burden. Instead, they are spending more time on the phone and in front of the television. Perhaps, this weekend, men should consider volunteering to do a little of dusting in the house.

Man, help increase your woman's happiness index!