The Reader

I was lost...

A few days ago,I was lost when I took the wrong turn.Immediately I blamed myself  for my bad judgement and lack of knowledge of the that particular area.I calmed down and slowed down my car and keep look looking for a way out...

As I was roaming around the area,I saw something that I was looking for more than two years.Thanks to Allah for getting me lost here.It was His way of guiding me.Earlier,I thought it was my mistake but it was His will that I went to choose the route and discovered what I have been looking for.Thank you my Lord for your Guidance.

Next time if you get lost,take it positively...Even though you don't discover anything new,it is still a good experience which you could fall back whenever you need them later.Or it is a way Allah wants you to delay your journey to avoid some bad thing happening to you.

As long as we know our destination,we may be lost for some time,but if we keep asking and looking,we shall arrive at our destination,insyaAllah.Things will be worse if we don't know our destination!I think the worst scenario is when people got lost and they donot know they got lost!May Allah forbids us..

 

 

Snapshot

Photo is a visual record of that was captured by a camera in very short time.In most cases,it is less than a second.With photo like above,it is anyone guess what is going on at that time and how many people were captured in this shot.Photos,just like words,are signs.If we donot know how bicycle look like and how people look like in this semi darkness, we can argue until the cows come home on how many people are shown in this snapshot.I knew for sure because I was there to capture the scence and I am the witness.Without eyes,we can't see but we also need the mind for cognitive power,the knowledge and the experience(skill) to READ this photo.What happened before I snapped this photo and after it is anyone guess except me because I was there but only for a few minutes...

Our lives are just like a few snapshots like above...That is why we need Divine Guidance to read the road signs on our journey of life.Life is just a moment,let it be a moment of obedience to our Lord,Allahu Rabbul'Alam.

Art of reading..

These days,we have so many  things exposed or imposed on us to read.Many a time ,we just browse through the text seeking to find information.In our haste,we never have enough time to think over on what we just read.We read and move on...just like when we saw an advertisement on the billboard along the highway....

Mr James Campbell has written a very good and thought provoking article on this subject.Kindly read it here.

As muslims,we are being reminded many times in the Holy Quran to think and reflect on the 'ayat' from Allah via His creations.If we don't have time to 'read' ,we may gain nothing from reading the 'ayats'.

To benefit from reading, we must know what is involved in the act of reading!

About five years ago,I wrote about reading a book in a response to a call to read.Here is the link.

Note on the photo: I took this shot of Wan Hulaimi@Awang Goneng reading a few paragraphs of his book GUIT.

 

A photo to behold and reflect...

For those who have not seen this photo,let me share with you...

Cara melihat..

19062010-Nice reflection..
Originally uploaded by Adibi

Tanpa mata dan cahaya,kita tidak dapat melihat pokok yang cantik di tepi tasik.Tanpa air yang tenang,kita tidak akan dapat melihat bayangan pokok di permukaan air.Mata hanya mampu melihat apa yang zahir,tapi akal dan ilmu di perlukan untuk memahami apa dan bagaimana sesuatu terjadi.Setiap ciptaan menzahirkan penciptanya...

Hanya hati yang diberi taufik dan hidayat dapat 'melihat' Pencipta(Al-Khaliq) segala ciptaan(makhluk).

Cara melihat

The Extent of My Knowledge

The Extent of My Knowledge
Originally uploaded by The Big Jason

This is a nice sketch by The Big Jason.I like it as it inspired me to do similar sketches of my books.Looking at the title,I start to wonder and wander about the meaning of it.

What and where are our knowledge?Some food for thought.

Distortions

Distortions
Originally uploaded by Adibi

The photo on the right was taken at The Curve.You could see the distorted images on the big glass wall.We all know about the distortions because we have prior knowledge that most buildings are upright.If we were aliens from outer space, we may have the impression that the buildings here are distorted looking from this angle.

Nowadays, more and more things get distorted.The truths, the news, what we see, what we hear,what we feel,what we think etc somehow got distorted along the way. In some cases, we ourselves get them distorted due to our 'impaired' vision,hearing and heart.

By the way, I love this photo because the distortion effect made it like a giant artwork!{another form of distortion}

The writings are on the wall

What is this?
Originally uploaded by Adibi

As I walked to the bookshop I noticed this big blue advertisement by Kinokuniya.From this oblique position,I can't read every alphabets. but I knew what it is because I have seen it before and I am regular visitor to the bookshop.As I moved closer,the words became clearer.For those who don't have a clue of this Japanese bookshop and Japanese language,the word "kinokuniya" is just a word that sounds Japanese-nothing more.

I am using this photo to demonstrate the implied meaning of "The writings are on the wall..".Only those who have the knowledge only can 'read' them even though they are staring down at us 24hrs a day .

The writings on the wall come in many forms without the words and the walls.One example is the killing of newborn babies by unmarried couple.This is one symptom of moral decadence we are having now.You can think of many more...

Similarly,if I could see more white hairs than black hairs on my head, then I must read them wisely and act accordingly...

Hidden views..

One thing I am positively or absolutely sure,some of the views(literally and metaphorically speaking) are hidden from us.Some may be for some time, but few are forever.It depends on your locations (physical) or 'makam' (spiritual/ intellectual). Remember the book The Roads Less Travelled? If you have been driving,cycling or walking along the same routes for the last 20 years, you shall miss all those along the roads we never cross or know of their existence.

Considering the vastness and age  of this world (and not to mention the whole universe )and compared that with our short life span ,we are just passengers on transit..

Let me give you an example of what happened during my photowalk around Putrajaya Lakes last Friday. There were 11 adult participants and there were only two of us who had walked inside the bridge.Most of my friends who were with me had been umpteen times to Putrajaya but they had never walked inside Putra Bridge.The photo on the right was taken via a window from inside the bridge.

By our nature,we prefer the familiar and the known.We don't like suprises.We love the predictables.

In real lives, no matter what roads we take,life is unpredictable.I read that Woody Allen, a British film director once said,"If you wish to make God laughs,go and tell Him your plan".

At PMI Global Congress

Yesterday was my first day at this International event where about 400 people from 32 countries congregated at KL Conventvenion Centre.I met a few Malaysians,mostly they are certified PMP's(Project Management Professional) and a few foreigners who are working in Malaysia and made friends with a few from Australia and New Zealand.

One thing I wish to share is the message from the keynote speaker.He talked about innovation in whatever work we do.We need to be creative in order to remain competitive and I wish to add, it is more fun doing thing differently and better than we did before.

If you wish to buy good books on project management,please visit the exhibition hall.It is free entrance.By the way, this Congress cost me USD550 and it is value for money.In return,it provoked my mind to be creative,learnt new knowledge and made more friends-local and international.