Today is mother's day, mum brought some bento take-away from my favorite japanese stall at causeway point food court. We sat together and have our lunch, first thing she said was "aiya mother's day everywhere full la, we just have a little lunch together it will be enough, and also ur dad has already celebrate with me yesterday when you were busy working". I said nothing much but just give her a regular smile for that i really appreciate it and hope she's happy, for that she knows me well enough, that, i find it very hard to say out "happy mother's day, happy birthday to you mum".
She's a simple mum feeling really contented enough to have a regular family meal where we can sit together, simple thing like this is a bliss in her eyes. Thats the kind of environment which i am brought up with, simplicity is bliss. But i've decided to make things different next year, when i get a better pay-rise, paying off the bills and fees, should start to have a good savings for future needs as well as treating my dear parents a good meal on special occasions. Now back to the topic...
I've been reading this book title, "the five people you meet in heaven" by Mitch Albom, its rather an old book i guess. I just had a sudden urge to buy a book to read on one lazy sunday afternoon. I then saw this title on the shelf of popular bookstore, suddenly remember that it was one of her favorites. If you know me well enough, i read alot of chinese novels, mostly by Ni Kuang, 倪匡, the author who wrote the science fiction "Adventures of Wisely, 衛斯里 and alot of other sci-fi titles.
Most of the English novel which i read are randomly chosen from the shelf of the library, among which only a few i really completed reading like "You'll die in singapore" a great book about a real story happened in world war 2 singapore, the others are just not my taste. I enjoy reading stories which will inspire you, bring you to thoughts, it doesnt has to be from a specific genre, from detective stories to romance, to sci-fi, i have a wide range of taste.
I just got to know myself too, that i actually enjoyed reading, i was kinda Anti-English books in my schooling days, as you can see, my command of the language is kinda weak. But as you grow older, you tend to see through all these childish thinkings, nothing is really that hard to accept, if you first, learn to accept yourself.
Back to the topic of this book, "the five people you meet in heaven". It's really one of the best novel i've read, the only book by far which leave my eyes red, i can really feel the emotions. I guessed i've grown to like literature, even though it was one of my worst subject in the secondary. The plot of this great enchantment novel goes..
The story begins with an elderly man named Eddie who works as a maintenance man in an amusement park called Ruby Pier. When one of the park's rides suddenly malfunctions one day, Eddie tries to save a young girl from being crushed beneath it, and loses his life in the process. As though awakening from a dream, he finds himself alone in the deserted theme park and decides to explore. Eventually, he encounters a blue-skinned man deemed a 'freak show attraction'. He explains that Eddie has arrived in Heaven and is meeting him for a reason.
This Heaven, is not the way most people think it is, a place for you enjoy eternally, no, it is a place for you reflect about your life on earth and understand your existence. There are five people you meet in heaven, each person was in your life for a reason. A reason which you might not known at the time, and in the end you will eventually understand the true meaning of it. It is only when you truly understand what happened in your life, that you will then finally cease to exist, the true happiness, heaven is in you all the time. These are not from the book, but its what i understand.
The first person Eddie meet in heaven, the blue man, is a guy whom he barely know, maybe he did appear in his life just like every other people you see walking on the streets, you see them, they see you, but do you feel anything about them? The blue man was killed indirectly by Eddie when he was a kid, and both of them dont even know each other, it was just a common car accident, a car lose control while trying to avoid a kid dashing out of the streets, it didnt crash, but the blue man suffered a shock from the impact which result indirectly to his death hours later.
When Eddie finally got to know of the incident, he was shocked, he thought he's here in heaven to repay for the sin. But no, the blue man explained, "You are here so i can teach you something". "That there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another that you can separate a breeze from the wind."
These words sorta inspired me, you hear them all the time, that you might not even notice the meaning behind it. Its like what the Buddhist says, 冤冤相報何時了, 一切都是因果報因. It is true that everything has a cause and effect, but you might not see the real cause behind the effect. Why be angry over something that has already happened, why keep feeling sad about your past, when the future is here for you to shape.
The blue man also mentioned that, "Fairness does not govern life and death. If it did, no good person would ever die young" and in the end, it isnt fair for the others?
Nothing in this world is really fair, if you really see it that way, you will feel that its easier to work things out. Just like when i was in the army, you see people enjoying out playing soccer on the field, while you are there being tekan by your commanders. At times you will get so angry with your life, why is it so unfair? but i still see one of my friend just enjoying doing the chores, staying happy everyday.
In the eyes of some people, they might think he's a stupid guy who's getting bullied without even knowing. But to me, he's a clever guy who see through this meaning of fairness which alot others, till the age they leave this world would not understand. Normally this type of people will be very popular among the friends, some people will then see it that they are just making use of him, but once again, they enjoy being together, happiness is just as simple as that.
Eddie then asked if he did save the girl eventually in the accident that caused his life. The blue man didnt answer him, Eddie then thought it will be a waste of his life if nothing is done. And here goes my favorite quote from the blue man, "No life is a waste, the only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone."
I've spent a long time thinking that i am alone, feeling sad over it. Thinking that by reflecting on the failures i've made, i would eventually solve the problem that is bothering me so much. But the truth is, the thinkings eventually brought me to a state of mind where i would endless ask myself, why am i such a failure, mood went down during that time, i've lost my confidence, and myself in the reflection. I remembered, "Never look back", was what my friend told me in the army last time. I disagreed with him, that one must understand his mistakes before he moved on. But i then realised that, sometimes if you cant find the answer, you have to move on, for its just the matter of time, you will eventually know the answer.
This book, The five people you meet in heaven is talking about, Heaven is not a lush Garden of Eden, but a place where your earthly life is explained to you by five people who were in it. These people may have been loved ones or distant strangers. Yet each of them changed your path forever. Some you know that they did, some you dont.
I really love this book, the words that the blue man said greatly inspired me, him being the first person you meet in heaven, and thus my nick on msn. "I'll be the first person you meet in heaven..." .... as i wished to tell this to someone; you have changed my life, my path, forever yet you didnt know that i once exist before you. The feelings i hold for you is special because its the purest form of gratitude that i wish to know you and thank you. We might never had the chance to know each other, but be sure, i will be the first person you meet in heaven, if there is one.
The story from the blue man is definitely not the end of the book, i am just here to recommend the book and i dont wish to give too much spoiler. The rest of the great stories is up to you to find out, for it has brought me lotsa thoughts and eyes going red after reading. If you know me, i'll be glad to share this book with you, just give me a call :)
And i am starting to read Mitch Albom third book, buying his first book soon also :)