I, like most people, have always dreamed of living by the sea. Now I am. Now I am reminded that the first time ever I saw the sea was when I went to live in San Francisco, the when I was 24. Edmonton, Alberta Canada was landlocked, so too the province of my birth Saskatchewan.I Although planning to stay in SF for only a year, I stayed for fifty years. Did not live right next to the sea but very close by in West Marin, where I owned property, then lost to San Pablo Bay, driving to work through China Camp along San Pablo Bay. This is the first time I have lived on the beach. Mashallah it is a dream come true.
Alas and alack, if is a sea I have never heard of. I never have heard of the South China Sea – never in my long life (81 in days) My Malaysian Sister’s family came to visit on Sunday. Her husband told me that iI was not living on the South China Sea – instead I was looking at a Strait. It was all rather disillusioning. I desperately need an atlas and a globe, living here in uncharted territory. I am an old fashioned girl – need atlases and globes. This Internet stuff is not working for me with my rather challenged sense of direction.
I do recall writing about my very confused sense of geography. The only way I could find out about foreign lands was to meet a man from a foreign country – then I would look it up. They very first foray into the unknown was Joo Kim Thai. Where did he come from? Malaysia . Honest!! The year was 2017. Then I met a man from Columbia – found out it was near Venezuela. Then along came a guy from Uganda – inland Africa, Pearl of Africa. My December 2023 encounter in Kyoto Restaurant in the Medina Oberio brought forth this conversation.
He: No, my I am not from Britain. I am from Nigeria.
Me: Where’s that?
Now I know. I do have an invitation to visit Nigeria, but that will be later. Need first to get settled her, have a home base before I travel. I love visiting and living in countries (like Malaysia) with a favorable rate of exchange to my US dollar. I am checking these things out since being in Bahrain. My advice to you is this:
Me: Do not go to Bahrain.
Alter Ego: Why?
Me: In Saudi Arabia they would tell you how much something cost and you would divide by about four. In Bahrain you multiply by four. It makes sense for them, but not me.
Alter Ego: Why does it make sense to them?
Me: The Sinning Saudis drive over the causeway every Friday and spend their money on booze, women and song. The Bahrainis just gobble up their money. Bahrain is the cesspool for Saudi Arabia – it is dirty work so they should get paid to do it.
My decision to remain in Malaysia is confirmed by the rate of exchange which can differ from day to day. Today my 100 US dollars is equal to 469.08 Malaysian dollars. 100 US dollars are equal to 143.30 Nigerian dollars. .
Alter Ego: You should stay in Malaysia.
Me: I am planning to! Well, unless someday somebody makes me an offer I cannot refuse.
Alter Ego: What could that be?
Me: I suppose an enormous dowry might fill the bill, so to speak
offer one can’t refuse (plural offers one can’t refuse) is an idiom An offer from one side in a transaction with terms so attractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept. It is from the movie, The Godfather.
Fill the bill is also an idiom meaning something is exactly what is needed in a particular situation: Used in a sentence: the dowry will fill the bill nicely.
Who knows what my destiny shall be?? I am developing the patience of Job which is used to describe someone who is extremely calm and tolerant. I have NOT always had the patience of Job, indeed quite the opposite. I have it now, for many reasons.
According to the Sunni worldview, patience, a core concept in Islam, leads to peace or peaceful relationships between people and is considered to be “half of faith.” In the Qur’an, it is said, “Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy, and take our souls unto thee as Muslims” (7:126). The population of Muslims worldwide is more than 1.5 billion. The Sunni, derived from the Arabic word “Sunnah” meaning the tradition of the Prophet Mohammad, is the largest branch of Islam, constituting 90 % of the religion’s followers, stretching from Indonesia to Morocco. Malaysia is Sunni.
Knew that I had written about patience in the past therefore typed patience (patiently) into the search engine of the blog discovering patience appeared 73 times. The analysis found in the June 13, 2023 seemed the best,. Therefore I shall patiently copy and paste, putting myself in quotations.
“Patience is in the Quran, it is essential. In the Quran, Allah said: “And be Patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.” (Quran, 8:46). From this ayat of Holy Quran, we can say that no matter what’s the situation we are facing we should be faithful and patient as Allah is with us He will never leave us alone.
Do admit that patience was never one of my virtues, but I am slowly getting it. Sometimes my patience utterly amazes me. I does work – sometimes everything has to be place, in order for something big to happen. These wise words were published in January 7, 2020 by Ismail Ahmed; The Reward of Patience
A person who loves Almighty Allah finds it much easier to be patient and to persevere. This is because he sees everything as coming from Allah, and if it comes from Allah, there must be a reason for it. A person who loves wants the Beloved to see him in the best of states, and so he proves the best of patience. Patience is a virtue, which enables the individual to proceed towards worthy goals. So many times in our lives something happens to us and we feel that this is the worst thing that can happen to us. But then after the trial, when relief and ease come, we realize that the difficult times had happened for good to come. So, it is important that believers have to be patient and know that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) is sufficient for us and is the best arranger of all our affairs. He will guide us to that which is good for us in this life and Hereafter too. If we don’t get the reward of Patience in this world then it will surely be saved by Almighty Allah for the Hereafter that will never end. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Whoever persists in being patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience.”
I did have lingering questions, wondering if their was a limitation to patience – sort of enough is enough. Found a scholarly article, if you have similar questions it might make a good read. https://www.dompetdhuafa.org/en/does-patience-have-its-limits-perspectives-in-islam-examples-from-the-prophets/
This is a summary of the paper’s findings.
“Allah does not impose a burden on anyone beyond their capability. Hence, as we face trials, we’re endowed with the resilience to be patient. Reaching our limit, Allah grants solace and ease subsequent to hardship. This is echoed in Surah Al-Inshirah (94:6-7), “Indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”
It is certainly easier to develop patience when one is in peaceful, companionable, tranquil surroundings. I have found, here at Lexis Suites peace, friendliness, tranquility and companionship. Observe the following photographs. The grassy beach with simple chairs overlooking the water, Malaysia encourages all religious expression. Found on hotel grounds was a colorful altar. Simple shacks surround the shore. A selfie with two of the wonderful Lexis Suite staff. Soon I shall venture out of the womb of Lexis Suites to become a typical Penang tourist. But not for a few days. Never have I found such peace and tranquility.
One can almost fall asleep reading the tranquility synonyms: peace, restfulness, repose, calm, quietness, quietude, stillness, serenity. The antonyms will wake you up: commotion, busyness.
