Antoine exupery

http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/05/27/the-pilot-and-the-little-prince-peter-sis/

A life that's almost poetic 

Planning

I'm a total failure at logistics and finance, hence the utmost stress when planning for a trip. After all the energy and time expended, I somehow almost always ended up with the more expensive options, even though I always started with the goal of finding nice yet value for money lodging, flights, etc. 

I think you need to be an expert at math and logic, be meticulous and at the same time creative and resourceful in order to plan a perfect trip. Honestly I feel the best way is to not have options and not to compare. Then there's less of the beating yourself up and undue stress of making a bad choice. Studies do show that having more choices actually make one unhappier and stressed but a healthy dose of say 2-3 options make for a better emotional state.

Speaking of emotions, I don't know why I actually teared at BS. It surprised even myself and I was merely recounting some minor unpleasantries I encountered with someone I don't really care about or am close with. Do not like being overly emotional at all. 

God-given right

Feeling a little regretful over something I did. Had meant to help but I don't know if it's become a case of 越帮越忙。most things in life are not our God-given rights. Nobody owes us anything. Yet, people are starting to think and act that you being kind and accommodating, is your obligation to me. Often we forget that when we are given something, something else has been taken away from that person. We overlook the fact that sometimes people have to jump through hoops and huddles to accommodate us. Are we so self-centered to only see what we are not given, that only our inconveniences, effort and time mattered? Is our role in life to keep taking without expending any effort on our part? Perhaps sometimes people are too blessed their whole life to be surrounded by good and giving people that they failed to recognize a blessing as a blessing and to take things for granted.

I get so pissed over people like that and yet, another part of me says "let those without sin cast the first stone". Should I be so critical? Should I judge? Do I even have the right to get angry? Coincidentally this is something I have to lead the discussion on for BS this week. 

I know the answer only too well yet I can't help feeling the injustice of it all (although the injustice was not done to me). And it's a struggle. Am i obligated to remind this person of all these things, or am I not in any position to comment? 

http://poor-philosopher.blogspot.sg/2008/01/yes-man.html?m=1

Poet to his beloved- W B Yeats

I BRING you with reverent hands
The books of my numberless dreams;
White woman that passion has worn
As the tide wears the dove-gray sands,
And with heart more old than the horn
That is brimmed from the pale fire of time:
White woman with numberless dreams
I bring you my passionate rhyme.

Belief

Was discussing about prosperity gospel with a cousin. Definitely not saying that being rich is wrong etc. and I do believe that God provides. But why did Jesus say it is easier for a camel to go through a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God? 

Prosperity is a two-headed snake, and one of it may bite you in the butt if you are not careful. I just had a thought that could God possibly be using prosperity as a test for us, a test to see where our heart is? But God is an all-knowing, all-seeing God, why does he need to test us to see our hearts? I have a feeling that these tests are sometimes not so much to show him our hearts but to show us our own hearts; akin to handing us a mirror. 

Honestly I still can't accept that it's all about blessings or leaving everything to God and not lifting a finger. I think it is more of a partnership when it comes to God. We need to want to seek him, need to want to do things with/for him, take the initiative to resolve things but at the same Time, believing he is there with us to go through all tribulations, that when we are tired, he will lift us up. I need to believe all these. 

Dostoyevsky

http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/11/11/dostoyevsky-dream/

"All are tending to one and the same goal, at least all aspire to the same goal, from the wise man to the lowest murderer, but only by different ways. It is an old truth, but there is this new in it: I cannot go far astray. I saw the truth. I saw and know that men could be beautiful and happy, without losing the capacity to live upon the earth. I will not, I cannot believe that evil is the normal condition of men… I saw the truth, I did not invent it with my mind. I saw, saw, and her living image filled my soul for ever. I saw her in such consummate perfection that I cannot possibly believe that she was not among men. How can I then go astray? … The living image of what I saw will be with me always, and will correct and guide me always. Oh, I am strong and fresh, I can go on, go on, even for a thousand years.

[…]

And it is so simple… The one thing is — love thy neighbor as thyself — that is the one thing. That is all, nothing else is needed. You will instantly find how to live."

I find it really amazing that both of these great Russian writers seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion of the eternal truth - love others as yourself.

But fyodor was missing a part of the puzzle- love God with all your heart. 

I think all other things will fall into place when we do that. If we love God, we will love all that He loves.