Living In A Jungle (Part A)

I have many hobbies and interests in my lifetime. Let me share one of them with you.

I used to trek in what you would call a jungle but I call it my paradise.

I fell in love with jungle trekking when my family and I took a holiday trip to stay in a ‘floating bungalow’.

This is a boat house at Tasik Kenyir, the largest man-made lake inSouth-east Asia. It is located at the edge of one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests.

We had hired a guide to bring us on a short walk but we ended up getting lost in the jungle.

For more than six hours, we trekked with no clue as to how to get out of it.

The sun was setting. We were thirsty and tired.

There were no water and food – unless you consider candies as food.

We were definitely not prepared to stay overnight, certainly not with the animals in the wild.

While walking, I could imagine them salivating and smacking their lips, waiting patiently for a good meal – me (I hope they realized I have high cholesterol and it would be bad for their health.)

All we could do was to motivate ourselves with stories and words of wisdom. Fortunately, I had saturated my life with loads of them.

There was nothing we could do except to press on bravely. Meanwhile, we prayed.

We came to a fork junction and were wondering which path we should take.

My wife sensed that our Creator was directing us to choose a particular track.

If we had taken the other track, we would either have become modern day ‘Tarzan, Jane and the family’ or fresh meat for the jungle party that night.

Miraculously, just before sunset, we managed to bash out of the jungle. I celebrated with grateful joy for the new lease of life.

Looking backing, I can still feel the thrill running down my spine.

I can still recall how scared I was even though I had to put on a brave front. I had to lead my family through the jungle with faith, hope and optimism.

After that setback; instead of being turned off, we went back into the jungle again the next day.

I know the values of fear as a warning signal. However, I need to make fear my servant and not my master.

I had to fight fear with fear. I had to conquer the jungle within me with courage and determination.

Since then, we have trekked many jungles, mountains, national parks, and nature reserves. We have stayed in tree houses, tents, rafts, and sleeping bags.

We have crawled through caves that were barely one meter in height to look at bats in their natural habitats. We have climbed mountains adorned with mesmerizing flora and fauna.

We have spent time with the Karen tribe. It is known for their women because of their elongated necks decorated with brass rings.

We have swam in cold crystal clear water below an amazing waterfall…

Living in the jungle is a spiritual recluse for me.

Go4It!

I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

Please go to ‘Notes’ found below my profile picture.

Visit my Inspiration blog at http://liewinspiration.wordpress.com

Visit my Transformation blog at http://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com

Please read them and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!

Question: How can we find meaning and learning lessons in every experience?