A Cord of Three Strands

"Two are better than one, becase they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12

One of the worries that I had when I decided to stay back in Penang was to find a group of friends in whom I can rely on.
My support group; a group of people in whom I can hang loose, share my thoughts and struggles, vent out my weekly frustration, and to learn and grow from in every aspects of life.
I knew that leaving USM would mean moving on from PKA, a familiar territory where I've gotten comfortable with in my 3 years as a student.
And to have something so precious and significant taken from you, it wasn't easy looking another place of abode that would and could satisfy me.
Support is crucial to me, to us.

For the past 1 month or so, I've had the privilege to be part of Gateway City Church's first Young Adult CG (mind you, it's not Cell Group.. It's Connect Group. Get that right :P).
It's been great!
I mean besides the makan-makan session of snacks, chocolate fondue and all, it has been a great source of spiritual food for me as well.
By the end of each meeting, let me assure you that all my brain juice has been sucked out completely.
No more brain juice left.
Buttttttttt it's all good.
We wrestle, we laugh, we share, we debate.
Syeok wei.

To have a support group is essential, a commandment to follow even.
I'm not just saying in the Biblical context, even in our daily lives.
For instance, last night's training, we had to run the usual 15 laps.
My whole line were practically people who just ran the Penang Bridge marathon on Sunday and were still in pain.
Together, we made sure we completed that 15 excruciating laps.
And we did.
While resting after the run, one of them said to me,
"If it's not for you guys, I would have just walked that 15 rounds".

It's true.
If we lack the support that we so desperately need as human beings,
we will end up walking that long stretch alone.
Good friends will walk with us,
But great friends will run with us even when we are in pain.