Solicitors don't go to court

Ever heard of a lawyer that never goes to court? 

It's probably the most normal thing ever, although most people don't seem to realise.

We're called solicitors.

And until yesterday, I was a solicitor who never went to court too.

Cos I made my first appearance in court yesterday!!!

Forget the fact that I got confused by the courtroom and the conference room, or that I had to run all the way from work to court and arrived panting and frantic, or that the appearance turned out to be unnecessary - I stood up, said "May it please your Honour", did not stammer, and made my case!

Yay!!  I am officially a lawyer...

What is the difference between love and being in love?

Love is…

… putting his needs ahead of yours.

… wanting to make him happy.

… wanting what’s best for him even though that’s not what you want.

… being willing to make sacrifices.

… the thrill that you get when you can do things for him.

… anticipating his needs and taking the initiative to fulfil them.

… respecting his opinions even though they may be vastly different to yours.

Being in love is…

… wanting to hold him and never let him go.

… when he’s the last thing you think about before you go to bed, and the first thing you think about when you wake.

… when you can never see too much of him.

… when you walk around with a silly grin on your face (who cares about the weird looks?)

… when the time you spend with him is never enough.

… hoping that it’s him every time the phone goes off.

… when you can’t wait to tell him about your day, no matter how mundane it is.

The characteristics of love are generally outward looking, wanting to please others instead of yourself.  There is an element of self-denial, of delight in being able to serve others.  This is exactly in line with 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. 

Being in love, on the other hand, seems to bring in some sort of self-centredness, some sort of instant gratification.  Being in love could almost be a bad thing.  If you were so in love with someone that you wanted to spend every moment with them, then could that not be characterised as infatuation, clinginess, or even possession?  Yet one could seek to justify it: “I love you and so I want to see you.”

Sure, that is being in love, but is it love?  One thinks not.  That is selfish desire. 

Is it wrong to be in love?  No doubt being in love misleads you from discovering and understanding the true definition of love, but is that wrong?  And then, where is the line to be drawn?

If to love someone meant that one should not be in love, then how boring life would be!  What would happen to the head over heels, the endless hours of talking on the phone, the counting down the minutes till you next see him, the roller coaster rides?

Surely, surely love and being in love are not mutually exclusive.  Surely wanting to share your thoughts with him is love?  Surely wanting to spend time with him is love too?  Sigh, perhaps one should stop over-analysing.  As long as I’m in the orange, who cares?

There is so much I want to write but can't.

That is why this blog has been sadly neglected for the past month.

But what can you do?  I have a thousand and one things to say, but to say them here would be entirely inappropriate.  Yet to keep silent means that I won't be keeping in touch with the people that read this (if any still do).

It doesn't help that work has entirely reduced my me time to almost NIL, meaning I have little time to talk to anyone on a more than superficial level.

On an entirely different topic though, I found out a few months ago (yes this just goes to show hold old my news is and how long I haven't blogged for) that one of my law school acquaintances that I have known for more than two years is a Christian.  And he, vice versa, found out that I am a Christian too. 

The revelation shocked me and disappointed me.  For one whole semester we sat beside each other in class and made small talk without ever saying that we spent Sunday at church.  For two whole years, I walked past him and said hi without ever realising that we shared a common God.  What does it go to show?

For me it went to show that I have not been doing my job as a Christian - I have not been shining the way I should, nor have I been telling everyone around me what makes me tick.

I have to pull my socks up.

This is a blog entry about the best day of my life (so far).

Despite the bad weather forecast, the dawn looked very promising, thanks to the prayers of cell group.  By the time we reached the carpark the sun was beaming down as if to say, "It's your day!  Enjoy it the best you can!"

Amidst all the helpful hands trying to arrange my gown and hoods we finally managed to make our way to the OGH marquee.  The march was awesome, although we were going at break-neck speed!  Every so often we'd get told off for not closing the gaps, and Mum, Dad and Nice were practically running after us trying to capture as many photos and videos as possible.

The march was followed by the law function in the marquee, which was simply an excuse to take photos with all the wonderful lecturers that had taught us over the years.  Then it was on to Albert Park for gorgeous photos with the colourful, newly planted flowers in the background.  Yum char at Dragon Boat was not fantastic, but we didn't let it spoil our day.