Adversity & The Charmed Life

I had a "charmed" morning. Just as I pulled into the Shell station in Taman Bidara, Selayang, after a morning of running errands, the battery failed. This, on top of the gearbox of my 15-year-old Viva which was giving us anxious moments whilst driving these past few days. And did I tell you that I had just sent in the Viva to my resident mechanic in Prima Setapak yesterday, and who after having checked the battery, said that it could last maybe another two weeks?

Charmed life? Absolutely! Because just less than a 100 meters away from where the Viva refused to regain consciousness, there is a motor workshop. And...(this beats the cake!), in between both the Shell station in Taman Bidara, Selayang, and the motor workshop is the all-time national food favorite "char-kway-teow" in a food court! Yes, this gentleman who whips up a saliva-dropping plate of this noodle, complete with duck's egg and "lap cheong", produces a far better (at least in my wife's estimate) version than the much-touted ones of Penang. Oh, I tell you now that this gentleman is from Penang! Hence!

Point to note is that the "charmed life" is from the perspective of the one holding a view of life that is distinctly optimistic and positive. Yes, that's me. And my secret? I believe in a Sovereign and Gracious God. Yes, in this age of relativism and sheer cynicism, this faith in a Sovereign and Gracious God has enabled me to withstand the fiercest storms of life. Whether it be the ups and downs of the marital relationship, or the challenges of having more month at the end of the money!

I've discovered that I gain NOTHING, NADA, from bitching about the realities of life. I've learned that with my faith in a Sovereign and Gracious God, I can deal with the challenges of leading a team of teachers who labor to educate over 240 students from marginalized communities in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. We ALWAYS have a financial shortfall every month. Yet, this school (www.ctcsetapak.com) has not only grown in the past 14 years from a single unit in a Public Housing flat with 30 over students, it now boasts a staff strength of 13 journeying with over 240 students from K1 up to Grade 7. And with a financial reserve which will see us continue our operations as long as it takes.

The "Charmed Life" works well when the individual believes that he or she is charmed, and not by charmed circumstances. It really does depend on whether you have a North Star or not. It truly does.

Franklin Morais is Principal of Children's Training Centre (CTC), a UNHCR recognized and endorsed community learning centre for displaced communities. In addition, Franklin actively trains companies in Emotionally Intelligent Leadership. He is a Certified Facilitator (FINEEC), a Certified HRDF Trainer, a Certified Professional Coach, and a Visiting Lecturer. He just completed teaching a class of adults in Counseling Theory and Skills with Pusat Latihan Asia Pacific (College of Allied Educators) in the first quarter of 2023. He holds a Master of Social Science (Counseling), from the University of South Australia.