 |
| Today's haul mainly shoe soles and other rubbish |
If you ever had the opportunity to hike the forest, the first thing you ll appreciate is the pristine nature all around. The air is super fresh, and everything about the forest is noteworthy and admirable ( from the dead /decaying flaura/ trees , to fresh shoots eagerly vying for the sunlight among the thick canopy of trees. Everything has its place in the cycle of life in the forest.)
But soon you'll also notice the contribution of humans, plastic water bottles, cigarette boxes, broken shoes, soles, and yes once even baby pampers .. (Tras-h)
To keep the hiking enjoyable, some of us have taken the task of picking up this litter as we go all along the trail .
There is this particular character who is a regular feature here, always armed with a big trash bag, and quietly goes about picking up the litter. He is not really a hiker in a true sense of definition but he has become such a familiar figure even the forest rangers recognize his contribution and he is left alone to 'do his thing' (collecting other ppl trash) even as he ventures into the restricted areas (beautiful waterfalls) of the forest. Maybe that's also his self acclaimed 'license' to trespass,..
Interestingly, if you ever had opportunity to be with him, you'll soon find he has a default mode swearing at the litterbugs. Yes, even as he is picking up (trash), you'll sense under his breath he is cursing at them. Once i heard his tirade in Cantonese, ".. these motherf%&$rs in their own house they will keep it so clean, but here throw everything everywhere..", niamah..
Hmn.. well true dat.
Regrettably, there is a palpable disdain about him, ( he gripes not just at litterbugs, but at every possible injustice in life,.. government, people, race, etc etc).
I have another friend, a classmate who, not long after i introduced him to hiking at bkt wawasan, on his own initiative began picking up litter even as he went on his weekly hikes. No one told him to do that. I could tell he appreciated this gem of a natural refuge in the city, that he would do his little bit to keep it pristine.
At the end of the hike, he'd proudly showed off the rubbish he picked up and proceeds to put it in its proper place. An effort of love fueled by a desire to keep the forest beautiful. No swearing necessary.
The attitude could not be more contrasting. Both labor to keep the forest clean.
The former in his daily clean up of the forest somehow transfers his unhappiness against them.
The other however focuses on the beauty and pleasure of its surroundings (and desires on keeping it that way)
As for me, I'm a little bit of both. While i love the forest and take ownership of it (keeping it free of rubbish), at times i find myself appalled (and yes cussing) at the careless and inconsiderate manner of the hikers.
In any case, I've have since learned not to allow negative thoughts to veer towards the offender, but rather focus on making forest beautiful .
The negative energy is unnecessary.
In life, (as well as at bkt wawasan) , I'm reminded the most important thing is to keep our hearts free of bitterness even as we go about with the business of living.
A small, but NOT insignificant difference.
Heb 12:15
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
In the book of Hebrews, apostle Paul warned some about falling short (losing focus) of the grace of God (Jesus, what his sacrifice means for us..)
It's easy to become bitter at life, (or at anything else) esp when there are
seemingly legitimate reasons to gripe at the unfairness of it and/or (any) situation that confronts us.
But the moment we lose sight of the beauty of 'what God has done for us thru his Son' ,.. bitterness invariably show up in our thoughts and speech.
Do not allow it to take root in our hearts .
This is a favorite chorus i cherish.
"To behold the beauty, the beauty of the Lord, to inquire of his temple (his presence), the temple of the Lord" .
Keep beholding the beauty of the Lord Jesus
From the song "One thing have I desired"
