Doing what we are designed to do

Got this from a screenplay for the movie 'Adapation'.   Before that, a bit about this screenplay - God inspired this man to write the screenplay in quite an amazing way.   It's not linear.    Charlie Kaufman, the screenwriter, was asked to write a screenplay based on a book 'The Orchid Thief', which is basically a documentary book about the orchid flower.   Through the screenplay and movie, we somewhat learn a bit about the screenwriter himself, as he has written his own character into the screenplay.  Crazy and amazing - masyaaAllaah.

Anyway, back to the main topic - this part (which may have come from the original book 'The Orchid Thief') is quite simple yet deep for me :

LAROCHE

Everyone of these flowers has a specific relationship with the insect that pollinates it.  There is a certain orchid looking like a certain insect, so the insect is drawn to this flower - its double, its soul mate... And neither the flower nor the insect will ever understand the significance of their [relationship]..  How could they know that because of their little dance, the world lives?  But it does.  By simply doing what they are designed to do, something large and magnificent happens.  In this sense, they show us how to live.

God tells us to learn from Nature, there are great signs for people of understanding.

God tells us, we were created to worship God, and do good.   We have our roles to play, based on how God has created us.   Playing the roles we have been designed with to the best of our ability will be for the good of the people around us, for the society and the world at large, and most decisively for our own good in this world and the Hereafter.   

If only we understand and accept it.  Isn't this what submission to God is about?  What being Muslim means. 

Social Media is making us stagnant

A lot of people are beginning to realize that information does not equal wisdom.   You may argue that some information from the social media does add value and give us knowledge and tips.  However, it is like 10-20% out of the ocean of junk being thrown at us. 

Meantime, our mind, like sponges is absorbing all these other unnecessary contents, some weird, and some so totally not related to us.   Our minds, instead of focusing on our personal issues at hand, our family, the people around us and our lives - are distracted with thoughts and images from all those unnecessary inputs into our brains. 

The balance 10-20% of those useful tips and information we receive, needs action from our end - however we keep scrolling for 'more useful information' while constantly being bombarded with waste.

In this area, I think we should always challenge ourselves to BE BORED.  Don't take the easy way out of feeding our boredom with our phones.  It's only when we're bored, we are able to think - given the space and downtime from endless inputs.  It's only when we're bored, we can try to find OTHER things to do that does not involve our phones.  If you need information from the internet, maybe we can get it quickly and pen it down (penning things down help with studying and recalling) and refer to that instead. 

Social media has also affected our social construct.   I'm referring to the real-world society - the people actually living around us.   We are tricked into believing that our communication or reactions to social media inputs, is a form of 'socialising'.    That  constant practice has made us so attuned to just using our fingers to communicate, and not with our actual voices.   It's now normal to express how we are not comfortable talking in person, how we prefer texting.   There were some good in it, but now it is becoming more of a problem.    Even among own family members, I have become more complacent - not actually speaking to them, but just texting. 

Yesterday someone reminded me, texting is different from speaking in person.  When texting, you never know how the person truly feels.  A person can text you "I'm fine", but if you had heard the voice -  you might have detected something different. 

I'm reflecting on myself and my connection with God, and my connection with my family and friends.  My children who will soon or someday become a part of another family, needs to be accustomed to talking in person.   May Allaah help us is improving in that area.   May Allaah make it easy for me to take that first step. 

May Allaah protect us from the negativities of social media.    Aamiin.

A splash of sunset

 As I drove up the road bend from Changi Airport towards PIE/TPE at about 7pm in the evening - I could already see the metal railings turning into gold and vehicles starting to have an golden aura.  Then SPLASH! I was greeted by the beautiful yellow sun against the hues of orange glowing sky.  I exclaimed involuntarily "Woooo!  subhanallaah!  ma khalaqta hazaa batilaan subhanaka faqina azabannar!"  What a sight! 

alhamdulillaah for this sight, alhamdulillaah for the ability to see this, alhamdulillaah for the vehicle, alhamdulillaah for being here at this precious golden hour, alhamdulillaah for all that Allaah has blessed me with.  

Ya Allaah, when I am about to die, I hope I will experience this scene, this excitement or more, as I go over to the other realm.  

The sky was beautiful throughout my drive home - I honestly forgot all the frustrations at work. oops just remembered.. arggh noo... but the beauty of the evening sky just now was overwhelming, just awesome! subhanallaah.   

alhamdulillaah, and i wanted to record this down so I can read about it later.