Yoda Punya Susu

I Break Ice in Church

In church one day, we played an ice-breaker at the start of our young adults ministry. The game went like this: Everyone would name themselves with an adjective starting with the first alphabet of their name. So for example, Anne could be called "Awesome Anne" and Michael would be "Magical Michael". The participants in the circle will have to introduce their 'new names' and try to remember (and later recite) all the names in order.

I called myself: "Kannot-Spell Kevin."

To which someone said, "Cannot is spelt with a 'C'."

Now, Everyone Can Fly!

So my brother, Quinton,  is now a Youtube sensation thanks to saymawa who posted this video of him making the safety instructions announcement prior to taking off. The AK804 flight was from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi.  Since the video's posting four days ago, the total number of views has surpassed 350,000 with about 460 comments on Youtube.

Facebook being one of the main causes of the video going viral has contributed approximately 180,048 of the views. The video has become the latest buzz around Malaysia and Singapore, with commentators wondering if the person making the announcement is Singaporean or Malaysian – as the accent and speech mannerisms seem to border Singlish and Manglish. A number of commentators were skeptical about the video's authenticity, suggesting that the video was dubbed or doctored. However, several attempts were made by my brother, John, and I, to validate that it was indeed Quinton who was making the announcement (we are familiar with his 'script' as he would share with us how he would do it differently on some flights). A few flight attendant friends had also commented in support.  Several commentators were fully convinced that the person making the announcement is Chinese. However, a Yahoo News post clarified that it was Quinton Dinesh Thomas who was the voice behind the announcement.

Over the past few years, Air Asia has become the talk of Malaysia. With a recent acquisition of some of MAS' (Malaysia Airlines - Malaysia's oldest serving airlines) equity, the recent sponsorship of Queens Park Rangers and constant and consistent travel deals that send Malaysians into a travel frenzy,  "Air Asia" has landed into our daily vocabulary. As a corporate leader in Malaysia, Air Asia takes pride in its innovative approach to serving customers. With the mantra of 'Now everyone can fly', gone are days when flying or living in hotels were reserved only for the elite. This company has proven to go against the grain, only to make possibilities happen for all.

It is no surprise that such a creative safety announcement was allowed to be done on flight. As I understand, the cabin crew is given the liberty to make their announcements lively, while keeping to the parameters of the safety instructions. Their goal: to get the message across. However, there has been some opposition to this non-conventional way of delivering the instructions. The concerns mainly revolve around how the serious subject of safety is communicated in such a lighthearted, jovial and (perceived to be) trivial manner.

While this is worth a second thought, it has to be noted here that the seriousness of this safety demo was not compromised. In fact, unlike the conventional pre-recorded, mind-numbing safety instructions commonly played on board, passengers who have heard the creatively done announcements have responded with rounds of applause, whistles, warm smiles, laughs and strangely, the ability to recall the safety instructions verbatim.

If the goal of the safety demonstration is to merely conduct a safety demonstration, then the conventional method is good enough. But if the goal of the safety demonstration is to inform and educate passengers on taking precautionary measures in an untoward situation and to help them remember those necessary steps in an emergency, then the way this announcement was done really works. I, for one, can now recite the safety measures and even know how to use the emergency apparatus, by heart.

The power of humor, metaphors and associations in communication is vital. It is no wonder why people can easily remember a really good joke than an important chapter in their geography text book. And if they do, there was probably something attractive in the chapter or the way the chapter was taught that made it retentive.

So the question now is, should such creative safety announcements continue or stop? I understand that there has been some talk on this. Well, airline companies and other industries that rely on communicating safety procedures need to ask themselves this question: Is sticking to protocol and formality more important than actually saving a life in danger? I think this article gives you a solution.

Interestingly, this youtube video is making such a huge impact that over 300,000 viewers will now know the safety instructions by heart. Now, everyone can fly.

Worst Friday Ever

This Good Friday is possibly going to be my worst. My puppy died. Toffee, our 24-month old puppy which my brother had found a year and a half ago near the Gasing Forest Reserve (abandoned with a twin), became a member of my family. In the last few weeks, Toffee was losing weight drastically. Oblivious to his real condition, I assumed he was just sick, and didn't pay enough attention to him. My family have been great, caring for all our dogs at home. It was early this week that my brother took him to the vet, only to find out Toffee was struck with tick fever, and the next few days were critical and bleak. The vet gave us his honest assessment, and gave up to Sunday for the dog to live. But God had other plans.

This morning, we brought Toffee to the vet again, and there were signs of improvement. Despite his fragile, shrunken frame of bones and skin, Toffee was able to walk, wag his tail, and stare poignantly at us, like he always does. We came home on a note of hope. I returned to the office grudgingly, to get work done (looking back, I shouldn't have).

At 3pm, my brother called to say that Toffee had passed on. Toffee had apparently walked into my room, and walked out, frothing in his mouth, and died. When I got the call, I heaved a sigh, not knowing how to respond. On the drive home, I tried holding back tears. When I saw Toffee lying lifeless on the floor, I couldn't hold back any longer, I choked, cried, weeped, and moaned uncontrollably. No words could express how I felt (and am still feeling). Maybe Toffee went into my room to bid one last farewell, wag his tail or stare poignantly one last time, before meeting his earthly end.

I was angry at God. Pissed. Because I prayed that God would heal Toffee, and I had complete faith He would do so. But that didn't happen. I even prayed that if possible, God could make a swop: give my life to the dog, and lay upon me Toffee's fever. I figured I could medicate myself if that was done. But nothing happened.

I apologised to God for being angry at Him. I don't want to be angry at Him (especially Him). But I was upset that He wouldn't do me that small favour of letting my dog live, or even letting me take on Toffee's suffering in exchange for my life.

In my prayers and mulling, I realised that that was exactly what Jesus did. At Gethsemane when he chose the cup of suffering and sin, he did it because he really loved us, in the same way I really loved my dog. Jesus was willing to take on our sickness in order that we might have his life. It made sense to me. He really loved us.

Perhaps Toffee knew the significance of dying today on Good Friday. Maybe God wanted to remind me that he had to go through the same thing, watching His son die. Not that he was being sadistic in taking Toffee's life to remind me, but perhaps he wanted me to know that He understands how I feel. The anger and frustration, amidst the sadness. But with Jesus' death, the story didn't stop there. We celebrate Easter Sunday because Jesus rose from death two days later. He defeated death, and gave us hope. For all who believe in Him, our sins are forgiven, we have an eternal life and hope. One day, our tears will be wiped away. There won't be anymore sickness and death. In Jesus, everything will be made new.

I'm reminded that there will be an Easter for Toffee. While some would disagree with the theology that animals have an eternity, I chanced upon a verse in Ecclesiastes that spoke of a hereafter for even animals. And I look forward to that.

I know some of you may not be able to empathize with this loss of mine. To some, it's only a dog. But to me, it's losing a loved one. I don't expect you to completely understand the depth/complexity of my emotions. I realise not everyone may see things the way I do. And I had no intention here of 'creatively' massaging the gospel message into Toffee's death. I couldn't sleep since 5am, was thinking of Toffee and I needed to write. Thanks for reading.

Turning Thirty Three

So I've turned thirty-three. Some have reminded me that this was the age Jesus, urmm..., the year he was crucified. [For the record, crucifixion isn't on my to-do list before I die - although I'm crucified with Christ and I'm forgiven of every wrong]. Well, unlike Jesus, who had somewhat a view of the big salvation plan, I can't see beyond and I don't fully have a plan ahead of me. I did once upon a time.

When I turned 25, I drew out a masterplan with markers on what I should be doing, reading and getting involved with. The plan spanned about 10 years (25-35 and beyond). I even had timeframes for courtship, marriage and ministries to serve in. At age thirty, I re-drew those plans, basing my life on Jesus who served his three final earthly years spreading the good news. But shortly after those plans were drawn out, I regressed. Failing in almost everything.

Now, three years later, I'm staring at my present and future, without a plan. I have an idea where I should be going, but the details aren't so clear. And somehow, I'm happy that I don't have those details worked out yet. Sometimes, it's fun to guess the picture on a puzzle set that's being formed than to be worked up by geting all the pieces nicely fitted in place.

For now, I'm enjoying having a palindrome for an age number. No matter how you look at it, it's still the same. I don't feel older. I hope I don't look too old (my friend's client who came by my office yesterday and thought I was in my twenties. Yay me!). And so, I'm just going to take simple steps, trust God for His plans, and breathe all the air I can as I seize the moment.

Cheers.

Kevin

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