Chapter 8: Define the Word "friend"

Define the word "friend". I know it sounds idiotic.

Till now, I should admit... I do not understand the meaning of "friend" anymore. For these two years, I have been fighting for my career and my honor. I had been through many which not everyone could know. I learn one thing which even sometime the Bible says so. Not entirely the friends around you are your friends. They shall be called "friends", not friends.

Though this is a stunning fact, i do believe many people have this experience.

You might be wondering... When you organize a tea session with them, they do come and have fellowship with you. They do everything the same with you. They play with you; they do stupid things with you. As time goes by, they can be considered as "brothers" or "sisters". When this kind of relationship has been set, you should be thinking that no matter what you do or accomplish, your "brothers/sisters" are supposed to be joyful for you because you have done something meaningful.

However, this is not true. Your "brothers/sisters" or whatsoever "close friends" do not really support you. In fact, they choose to ignore your work. Sometimes we do feel sad, because we are all thinking about the same thing, "Sometimes I do think this way: why are the strangers way better in supporting me than my close friends?"

Yes, this is the fact. Strangers whom you do not even know, they recognize your life; they recognize your hard work; they acknowledge your passion; they boost you up; they give full support; they sometimes even offer their precious helping hand to you. Why? I thought our "close friends, brothers or sisters" are supposed to be helping us, fully support us, share the joy with us. But they are not.

Yesterday, people commented on my videography ideas. They love it. They acknowledge it. They even ask me to collaborate with them in making great videos. They even offer to help on my videography ideas. Who are those people? Those who like my "Jack's Stuff" page and I do not know who they are. When I saw their support and appreciation, my tears fall, rolling down my cheek. In my heart, I said, "Thank You, God. Sometimes I do receive tge joy from Good Samaritans. They make me feel alive."

Then I check out some of my "church friends", and sad to say, they know what I am doing. They understand me much better than the strangers. I post on their walls. I share my videos and hope they will support me strongly. However, I see no support from them. They share other people works and tell people to support those whom they do not know. They "like" those photos from unknown photographers. But they will never appreciate your hard efforts in making the good photos or videos.

Those "church friends" know I wanna be a director and make Christian movies. I have many beautiful scripts and many ideas on how to bring out the meaning of Christianity. They first heard it, they showed their support. At that time, I really believe them. Right now, I did meaningful videos. They neglect me. They even share some pointless videos. They "like" others, and they never share mine. Am I really sure that they are supporting me?

It goes the same for "brothers/sisters". To me, they all are just too fake. I am disappointed, not because they did not "like" or share my videos. It is because i do not SENSE their support at all. They "like" and share strangers' videos or photos. And it applies the same for me as strangers "like" and share mine.

I am kinda frustrated with "church friends, brothers and sisters". They make me feel that they are completely out of my circle. I might as well pay attention to those who support  and encourage me. And I would find a chance to collaborate with the Good Samaritans. Agree?

Those "close friends, church friends, brothers, sisters" came to you when they NEED you to help them. After that, they will neglect you once again. Sad to hear, but even God knows this fact.

Weird, is this how we define our meaning of "friend" today? If you ask me whether I do the same as "friends" did, I absolutely say I am not.





Job 19:19
"All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me."

Chapter 7: On the Dark Street

During that night, it was raining gently. Looking at raindrops rolling down the glass, leaning my head back the chair, looking at my watch, it was already 12am midnight. All I could hear was the sound of bus engine.

I was extremely tired, and without any notice, I felt asleep during the journey back to Penampang. Suddenly, the bus stopped, I woke up. I turned my head around, and I saw a Chinese man besides me, and a Kadazan old couple behind me. On that bus, there were only five persons left including me and the bus driver.

The Chinese man was a muscular man. He was bald headed. He looked scary, or should I say he looked dangerous? I was actually terrified, because I was only sixteen years old. He turned his head back and look at the Kadazans sternly. Then he went towards the Kadazans and said fiercely, "Return back his things!"

The Kadazans were very afraid as the Chinese man was a tough and rough guy. Immediately, the Kadazan man took out the takeaway box and returned back to me. He apologized, "I am sorry." 

Then I realized that my takeaway box was stolen during my sleep! The food in the box would be my breakfast for the very next day. The Chinese man then sat down and look at me, "Hi, young man. Be careful with these people. They are not good people. You need to be alert. I will be leaving at the next stop. So, take care." 

The Chinese man left the bus after the next bus stop. Hence, only the Kadazan couple and I were the passengers in the bus. I was so afraid during that time. Looking at the watch, it showed 12:30am. I needed to endure for two more bus stops then it would be my destination. I was trying to stay calm, and make myself more relaxed by singing songs softly. After two bus stops, I immediately left the bus and started to walk as fast as possible. There were no street lamps, no light to show the front. All I could do was to move forward.

Though I heard nothing except the raindrops hitting on the ground, I kept imagining there was someone else walking behind me. I needed to go home as fast as possible. That walk to my house was to take 30 minutes at least without LIGHT! I was not a Christian during that time. But I PRAYED! Though I did not know what prayer is all about. In my mind, I prayed, "God! God! God!"

I kept imagining all the good things such as happiness, funny matters, video games... All of these thoughts were to replace my fear. I even sang songs to continue my walk. If readers know where KDCA is, that was the road I stopped my bus. From there, I walked to Supertanker without street lamps. I knew I was extremely tired but I still needed to move on.

When I reached Supertanker, I found the street lamps! From Supertanker to Jalan Shantung, another 15 minutes walk. Along the way to Jalan Shantung, strayed dogs were hanging around that area. The dogs were fierce and they barked at me. Their bodies moved forward towards my legs as if they wanted to bite my legs. I picked up the stones and the dogs quickly moved backwards. They continued to surround me with all sorts of annoying barks. Then I found out I was actually standing there for 5 minutes. At this time, I ran back. At last, I reached home and feel so warm. Looking at the house environment, though I was living alone during that time, I felt so secured and warm staying in the house.

Readers, this is our life. We always have fear to move on. However, if we are daring enough to think positively and act on our goal and dream. We will eventually reach our destination. No light, no safety and no security, if you were me, will you move on? Or would you rather stay on the same spot and complain, "Why is my life unfair?" Would you let the dogs bite you and say, "This is life. We cannot do anything."?

We do have many obstacles in life. As I have mentioned in Chapter 3: Road Block, will we overcome every bit of the problems and move on till we reached our goal? Now I believe most people who do not succeed in life are facing this factor - fear.

Proverbs 29:25
"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe."

Chapter 6: Credit Card

"Hello. I am calling from HSBC Bank. Is this Mr Wong?"
"Yes. I am. Anything I can do for you?"


"We would like to offer you a credit card -Visa card. These few days, we will send a letter to your home address and you can come and verify yourself after you have received the letter."

For the first time in my whole lifetime, I never have a credit card. I do not know what to do about it. Therefore, I called many people for their advice.

Some said, "Actually, credit card is quite good for some situations. However, do not always use the credit cards for purchasing items. Or else you will be in full of unnecessary debts. Having a credit card is not a bad choice. Keep it for future purposes. It will be very handy sometimes."

Some said, "Well, when you need it, then use it. When you do not need it, never use it."

Some said, "Once you got credit card, you will need to pay annual fee and some sort of payment for the continuing of credit card usage or duration.You may need to find out how to waive the payment and try to get it as low cost as possible. Hence you will not be in trouble of having all sorts of ridiculous payments. Credit cards are quite useful nowadays. You must use it in a right way."

Lastly, I called my brother Gary for advice. He said, "Never apply for any credit card. Never accept the offer from any bank regarding to credit card. Credit card is "debt" card with high interest. If you do not pay by this month, they will continue to add high interest every month unless you manage to pay off every bill."

"People said it could be handy in doing some situations." I replied.

"The banks nowadays are having a strong competition in demanding the customers to apply credit cards. They will definitely offer every customer for applying credit card. During our grandfathers' time, the banks only offer the wealthy men to have credit cards. Right now in this generation, it is different. They offer everyone including the poor. Rich men use more, they pay more interest; poor men use less, the banks still earn their interest. You know what? One of the successful men in this world teaches us one thing - never apply any credit card. He is a millionaire, yet he has no single credit card. He says credit cards only collect debts for you. Credit cards never earn money for you. When time moves on, you will collect whole piles of unwanted debts which most of them are INTERESTS."

I was stunned. He continued, "Only by investments, you can succeed. This is what that millionaire says. Therefore, I also do the same thing. I used to have two credit cards. And it is true. I always have all sorts of unwanted payments to continue the usage. I seldom use. I remember I used once or twice for my transactions. Guess what? I pay 16% of interest for purchasing some items only. 16% interest! This is ridiculously HIGH! Why let the bank earn your hard-earned money? In the end, I cancel both my credit card. What we can do right now is Debit card. Debit card is so much better. You can manage your own money. It is because Debit cards depend on the amount of saving you have. Do you have one?"

"Yes, I got Maybank Debit Visa Card."
"Then that is good enough. Listen to me. Never apply for Credit card. Even when you succeed in life, getting richer and richer, no credit card. Then you will always live in wealth and not debt."

At night, my dear had dinner with me. I also shared with her about the Credit card. She answered, "Never apply for Credit card, because it is a "debt" card with high interest."   

Proverbs 13:10
"Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."