Editorial -Life is as Precious as a Flower

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Editorial -Life is as Precious as a Flower

JUST minutes before writing this month’s (and this year’s) roundup, I was in my garden, with lightning flashing in the background and thunder growling away, looking at the two tall stalks of Tiger Orchids blooming magnificently.
These two stalks took me more than five years to nurture and wait for since I bought the little plant in Kuantan. It is the biggest orchid flower in the world and to me it symbolizes life.
Each flower signifies life – just as a flower emerges from its bud to its full bloom and withers away in time.
We appreciate the flower at its prettiest and best just like we cherish our happiest moments be it at work, at home or with family and friends.
We strive to head to the top, just like the stalk of orchid does, in order to grow to its optimum.
But do we take the time to cherish the happy moments longer, just like how an orchid soaks in the sun and absorbs the droplets of rain that trickles down its veins?
This year itself, I have seen the many smiles we brought to young children who are unfortunately stricken with illnesses that we cannot cure. From as far south as Kluang and Melaka to as far north as Kedah and even across the ocean over to Sabah, the Children’s Wish Society of Malaysia has successfully brought some semblance of happiness, even for a short moment, to the many facing the greatest challenge of their lives – LIFE itself.
Just today (Nov 30), I received a call informing me that the skeletal remains of a woman had been found in the house in SS14. I rushed over and yes, it was true. She had been dead for months and no one even noticed it. But you know what’s sad? The tragedy is not the death but the fact that she had to die alone, without family or friends beside her.
The year 2009 is almost coming to its last chapter as we prepare to switch to a new book – 2010. It is the greatest opportunity for us all collectively or individually to work together for the betterment of Subang Jaya and even for the country, and not splitting hairs over trivial matters which are at the end of the day merely a difference of opinion.
I have noticed the stalk of orchid bend forward as the flowers it holds up get heavier by the day. It ‘humbles” itself as it gets prettier, a precious lesson for us, if only we stopped to learn from it.
We have all had our triumphs and tribulations this year. Let us all leave them all behind and learn the precious lesson of forgiving those who have wronged us. Let’s start from the very beginning once again.
It is time for us all to step out of the Jurassic Park we are all in and get ourselves “Back to the Future”.
There’s a lot waiting for us to do before we wrap up 2009. Let me start it by saying “Maaf Zahir Batin” to anyone I may have wronged or put in an uneasy situation be it by my words or deed.
Let’s look forward to celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve and herald the dawn of 2010.
I look out at the Tiger Orchids in my garden again as I wrap up my editorial this time around. In the glimmering moonlight, the true beauty of the flowers has shown itself to me, just as what 2009 has unraveled.
The year 2009 has also earned me a dear, dear friend in the community. You know who you are!
For our friends in blue, please do join me in a minute of silence to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing away of our dear friend and comrade, Chief Inspector Foo Teik Fong who left us in December last year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!