Pretty. empty.

I was just talking to someone yesterday who works in TTSH, screening cases of people who need to have their medical bills waived because they can't afford it. I asked him how much these people earn on the average. He told me they earn about $300-$900 per month, per household. I was rather appalled. Sometimes we forget that there are actually people towing the poverty line in Singapore.

It's so easy to get caught up with the rich and the fab. Everyone in school is pretty well-to-do. Every other person drives, we flee public transport like the plague, we won't move if there's no car to chauffeur us around and we shamelessly PRIDE ourselves in being spoilt that way, we spend all our time in lectures online shopping, buying the expensive clothes, shoes, bags. Nevermind that it's $250 for a pair of god-knows-what-expensive-brand sandals. I want it and I want it now. Nevermind if it's $300 for a piece of jewelry. I want it and I want it now. It's cool, everyone has it, I also must have. Never mind if I'm busting all my cash on clothes and accessories. I need to look good. I want to look good. You know some people don't even have money to see themselves through a month of food? I don't think you can even own a handphone on a $300 income. Freaking hell, they can't even think of buying a slightly fancy $12 pair of slippers from the pasar malam. They can only buy the $3 kind that looks like shit and will break within the next month or so.

Having said all that, it's not like it's wrong to care about fashion and buy clothes. But sometimes we're just so damn obsessed with material things, with getting this and getting that. We bemoan the loss of that pretty dress cos we didn't post comment fast enough. Or the fact that the top we got from ASOS or whatever doesn't fit that well. There are other people bemoaning the lack of a meal. Or two. Other people who bemoan getting sick cos it means doctor's fees and a day away from hourly waged work.

It's just so screwed up. We just live in our freaking air tight bubble and think that ya what, that's all there is loh. Everyone is rich what, no meh? HUH! you mean you have to take public transport to school? So poor thing oh no. (ya you know some people don't even have car. they have no freaking choice). Then when our minds are finally cognizant of the fact that there are actually people who Do live in 2-room, 1-room flats, we put our hands over our mouths and gasp in shock and horror. Like, oh.my.god. you mean people actually live like that? Freak, yes they do. I wish we would have that hand over our mouths everyday when we complain about walking up the hill, not having money to eat expensive lunch cos we just spent it all on further beautifying our empty selves, having to take public transport once in a while etc etc the list goes on to the bottom of btc hill.

I can't help but extract a few verses from Cheryl's blog cos I think she's had a similar epiphany.

Isaiah 3:16
16 The LORD says,
“The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
tripping along with mincing steps,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
…

18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, 20 the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings, 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.

24Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;
instead of a sash, a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.”

All the clothes and accessories and the whole looking great business is great. But what's more important? Looking like the IT girl or cultivating inner beauty? there's nothing wrong with shopping etc. But at the same time, where does your worth lie? Does your worth lie in looking good, wearing the nice clothes etc? Do you still give to the poor while you contribute loads to the very economy that makes it difficult for them to carve out a living? Are you generous with your money towards others as you are generous upon yourself? Do you give recklessly when you need to? Do you tithe? Do you give to the Lord? Are you being a good steward of God's money or are you just squandering it away on all the non-essentials when they can be used for so much better?

"Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. Physical attractiveness without discretion soon wears thin. We are to seek those character strengths that help us make wise decisions, not just those that make us look good. Not everyone who looks good is pleasant to live or work with. While taking good care of our body and appearance is not wrong, we also need to develop our ability to think." from Cheryl's blog.

I think we just need to shut our mouths and stop complaining and learn how to spend in restraint. I wish that people, and myself included, had more awareness about the plight of some others living right under our noses. I wish we could be more conscious of our spending habits. I don't think it's damn cool to pride ourselves in not being able to be thrifty or not being able to resist a purchase cos it's just so damn gorgeous. Somehow the culture of the day has validated such indulgence. Why? Why is the lack of wisdom being exalted? That's just damn stupid. It's even worse to see Christians succumb to the same ideologies.

3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,

It's an utter waste to see a pretty girl, well-dressed, beautifully adorned, but with little depth and minimal character. What's the use of being pretty when you're just an empty idiot? Hello. It's NO USE. What's the use of being all spoilt and rich, and expensively clothed when your character sucks? When you've got not much depth? NO USE. It's a waste of your looks, please donate it to someone else. I think we should all just go home and cry. Everyday buy so many things, look so pretty, but at the end of the day, if we really strip ourselves bare and look at ourselves, do we have anything else to vouch for?

I really hope I articulated myself coherently and clearly. I don't write too well when I'm just typing in loose streams of consciousness. And I hate it that my points may not have been too emphatically or targettedly put across. But I really hope people reading this will understand what I'm driving at.