Nathan is looking like a kid but still sounds like a baby!

Nathan passed his 3-month old mark 2 weeks ago. We had a lovely day last weekend outdoor with him after catching up with some good friends for lunch.

He really enjoyed the occassion outdoor under a bit of sunshine. Dad obviously enjoyed taking pictures for him.

Hey, these picture is making Nathan looking like a kid. But then, he can't hide the fact that he is a baby when he cries!

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

From Baby Nathan 朗研

Mourn, we should. Be thankful, we should.

Here I am on the National Mourning Day in Australia. It is a National Mourning Day for the bushfire victims.

I can boldly say that there has not been an event in my life that humbles me this much. There has also not been an event that allows me to emotionally experience the truth in those very basic Christian practices - be prayerful and be thankful at all times - as much as this event.

I am a fan of Christian writer Philip Yancey. Two of his books are my favourite - "Where is God when it hurts?" and "Prayer - Does it make any difference?".

The one key message from each of the books I gain is (not Philip's words but my personal gain from the books):

- "Where is God when it hurts?" - When we see all the tramatic events happening, perhaps the question to ask is "Where is the Church when it hurts?". As a Christian, I should reflect on what my own circumstances and be truly thankful. Whatever that is happening around me, eg job instability, pales into insignificance. I need to be thankful to God.

- "Prayer - Does it make any difference?" - The key to prayers, perhaps, is not whether it can change God's decision or not. Prayer is a key vehicle to make God visible to people. God loves the people around us. I, as a Christian, pray for people around us because of God's love, because I love them - even though I don't know them but their stories sound so close to me.

Both messages are about God's presence in this world. I am sure that a lot of people ask why God allows these things to happens. I ask the same question but I know that God will not answer my questions as He gave me answers through Philip's books long time ago.

I sincerely wish this National Mourning Day can have an effect on those affected people in such a way that the healing path can start for them. I mourn with them. I am thankful that I can mourn with them. My prayers, although cannot be heard through human ears, I am sure that God can hear and He will work through people's hearts.

God, please have mercy on us in these devastating fires.

It has been a long and warm night.

After 46.4 degree Celsius day in Melbourne, the night was not all comfortable to sleep in. Fires have been burning around the state of Victoria. As I woke up on and off during the night, I listened to the radio hearing the escalating situation. I cannot imagine how much more uncomfortable a lot of people are feeling out there.

I heard on the radio that fires kept burning out of control, homes lost, people's lives lost. Urgent threat messages kept popping up on the radio. It was quick, urgent, sudden and scary.

As I slept in my comfortable home, I suddenly felt small. I felt small because I could not imagine how it was like right there at the various fire locations. I felt small because things all happened in such speed.

I heard a lady called up the radio station telling her story: She got a text message from her son in Traralgon being trapped in his house because there was fire burning around his house. She then lost contact. Her other son and his father tried to drive there but the roads were closed. It was not until 4 hours later that he called again saying that he was still holding on. He was able to fight the fire and kept himself safe.

Story likes that makes me feel small. I cannot imagine how fearful and worried that the mother was when she did not hear from her son. I cannot imagine how helpless the father and son was when they tried to get there but could not. Above all, I cannot imagine how it was like to be fighting the fire right there at the scene.

I also heard a story about a family that lost their home. They had to stay in their car on a road during the night because they did not know which road was not closed so that they could drive to somewhere safe.

It is a world that human boasts about the strength and achievement of mankind. This day reminds us that we are all very small in the larger scale of the fierce nature.

On a smaller scale, perhaps at individual level, what happens in the last 24 hours puts things more into perspective for me. Boxing day Tsunami, Sichuan earthquake and today's wild fires in Victoria all make me very humbled and small.

I remembered that all I was worrying about 24 hours ago was how hot it was going to be. Did I think about people in the bush were not worrying about the heat but the high fire danger? Did I think about those people who could be trapped by fires and closed roads?

All my problems seem to pale into insignificance. I also feel helpless. I think about what I can do to help. Perhaps, I can at least pray to God.

Lord, please have mercy on us. Please have mercy on those people that are affected. Lord, I plead to you that you help us all.