Drawing lines, drawing curves

Geometry defines a line as the shortest connection between 2 points. Every line needs 2 points.

Mathematics defines it somewhat differently, that a line is a perfect straight curve with infinite number of points. To put it simply, a line is what you get when you go from point A to point B via the shortest route.

The curve is more difficult to define...I am no mathematician. But from what I learnt in school, a curve is a skewed line on a plane, and that it has a path.

Our lives resemble lines and curves in many ways. We as individuals are the many dots of the universe. When we meet people, a line is drawn. As we progress to become friends, or enemies, the line is skewed and our line takes on a path to become a curve.

The past week, someone close to me experienced some turbulent times in her love relationship, what many would describe as going through a rough patch. She was emotionally distressed, and I as a friend could only offer some opinions. I said what I believed was best for her, even though some of my words were frank and even hurtful.

I think she must have thought that this might be the end of her relationship with this person, yet today they managed to set aside some differences to reconcile. I am glad for her, as she knows what she wants out of this relationship and has found a solution to their problems.

I am not an expert in relationships. Neither am I an excellent judge on persons. I see things very simply, and don't know how to read people well.

But I know how to smell warning signs. I can identify bad behaviours, atrocious manners, stupid comments, irritable tempers, even body odours. I am not making these the reasons to dump a person, just giving examples of unpleasant traits.

It is amazing how some people can love their partner as they are... They can see through all their flaws even if it was right under their nose. Their ears are closed to hurtful remarks made by their significant other. And they can still love them unconditionally.

I think this happens because of the invisible red thread that make lines into curves. The love between 2 individuals creates an unbreakable bond between 2 souls. Love can make the world a beautiful place, and love can also blur everything surrounding one so that nothing else exist but his/her lover. Love can be divine, yet love can also be spiteful. The more one loves a person, the more vulnerable one becomes. Fragile, breakable... yes, it is very frightening.

While I remain a dot, many of my friends are drawing their lines and curves. I hope that in the end they will create a masterpiece that celebrates love and life.

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This is a song by Jim Brickman called The Love I Found In You.

You are the air I need to breathe

the river of life inside of me

you are the half that made me whole

you are the anchor of my soul

and you are strong when I am weak

you are the words when I can't speak

you never fail to see me through

that's the love I found in you

you are my shelter from the storm

you are the road that leads me home

and baby with you here face to face

Oh I know I've found my place

and you are strong when I am weak

you are the words when I can't speak

you never fail to see me through

that's the love I found in you

and once in every life

you find the one that's right

and when you say forever it's true

That's the love I found in you

You are strong when I am weak

you are the words when I can't speak

you never fail to see me through

That's the love I found in you

That's the love, love I found in you

I think it pretty much sums up why people want to stay in love.

A Leap of Faith

This year is a good year for marriage. It is the year of the Golden Pig, and year-end is always an auspicious time for Chinese marriages. In this last quarter of this year, many of my coursemates have also gotten married - registered but have yet to host the ceremony. Still, they are married in the eyes of law. Most of these couples are my coursemates, as in both husband and wife are medical students with me. They met in med school, fell in love and in our final year of marriage decided to make this commitment of a lifetime.

My good friend Julian said that if you want to be trendy, get registered to the one you love. It is the new fad of the faculty.

There are many reasons for these couples to get married. I think the main reason is the fear of separation. When we graduate and become housemen, we can be posted all over the country. Married couples have a better chance of getting the same hospital.

Being separated from the one you love for a couple of years is terrifying. Many things can happen when you are apart... Insecurity, doubt, change of heart? Coupled with the stress of work and a new way of life, many need the constant support from their significant other.

I respect these friends of mine for their confidence in their love, and their commitment. Marriage is a HUGE step in life. It is a bond that 2 people share for as long as they live. They have decided that they want to spend the rest of their lives with their partner, and I am happy for them.

At the same time, I as an outsider who am not in love cannot stop wondering if being married is the solution. I see many more couples who are also like the perfect matches from heaven continue as they are... These individuals did not see a need to get married to keep or save their relationship. They believe in giving their relationship a test of faith. Ming told me of a friend whose opinion was that relationships in campus developed under a protected environment and they need to be tested in the real world when we start working.

I really like that point of view. These couples are giving themselves a chance as an individual to experience life and yet grow together. I am not taking sides. There are pros and cons to marriage as well as the reverse.

Eventually, most of us will get married. Some to people whom they are going out with, some to friends who have yet to turned lovers, some to people whom they have yet to meet. Marriage is a big leap of faith because when we do, we are willingly commiting ourselves to a life of constant sharing. No more the freedom of being single. We are entrusting our happiness to our other half. There is no guarantee that we will be blissfully married. Just the faith in your love one.

We wouldn't know where life can bring us, or who it will lead us to. When we leap off a cliff, we might land hard at the bottom...

or perhaps we may grow wings.

Drops from Heaven

The rain always bring out a different side in people... It changes people's mood in a blink of an eye. Some become gloomy, some hysterical, manic, or even apathetic. And people do strange things during the rain. I know of many who would see it as the best time to sleep. I have heard of people who sit by the window to listen to the sound of raindrops falling on the roof. Some go crazy(disinhibited) and would run down a field while getting soaked. Or perhaps dance in the middle of the rain. My dog used to try and bite the raindrops.

It is a blessing and a curse. To dry areas, stricken with draught and famine, what a wonderful gift from God can rain be... welcomed by everyone, celebrated with thanksgiving and hopes of a better tomorrow. With rain comes life, growth and vegetation. And the precious fresh water which we all depend on, and are ever dependant on. Yet, rain can take away everything as well. It would rob a fisherman his daily catch, or even his life if he was caught in a storm. Rain that would not cease will give rise to a deluge, destroying everything in its path with a vengeance, swallowing lives without conscience.

It had rained the whole day today. How many slept through the rain?
How many lives were changed today?