Sunday, 14 June 2009

I could really use a Robin


About five years ago, Batman Wannabe scolded me for disrespect because he misunderstood what I was trying to say. It happened on a Sunday after Second Service, sometime during the middle of the year. That time, we were at the Old Market ordering dumpling noodles at for the Dom7th girls. Duck II was also there with us, and he was equally shocked at Batman Wannabe's violent reaction. Like me, he didn't know what Batman Wannabe was thinking.

Of course, Batman Wannabe soon realised his own (momentary) dopiness and started apologising profusely. It must have occurred to him that two totally innocent junior tenors under his charge now had of him some kind of undeserved negative impression. He even treated the guys to an extremely large serving of carrot cake to atone for his needless rage. It was humorously embarrassing. Batman Wannabe was 18 years old then.

Currently, Batman Wannabe is doing very well in Chicago. Thank God for that.

I know what it feels like now. I'm certain that at that time, my misunderstood remark was simply a drop of water - okay maybe a bucket - in the flood of emotions that fractured his dam of composure. It was not easy to be Batman Wannabe at 18 years old. Education at Bishan Junior College and selfless service to the Eternal Kingdom is understandably beleaguering. Yet, I look at myself now and I'm somewhat convinced that I really have more on my hands than he did at that time. Probably more than the average above average youth today. But surely this is by no means any justification for a drowning man not to cling on to a nearby life buoy. I think Batman Wannabe knew his limits, and therein lies our difference, which may be to my detriment at the end of the day. May be.

Many eternal and not-so-eternal things depend on this year. I don't know how they shall be resolved in the future. Occasionally, even the distinction between the two is not clear to me. As of now, I'm counting on my passions. I trust that God didn't put specific convictions into my heart for no reason.

Batman is special. He's certainly a superhero. But at the same time, he knows that he is totally human. And he works with that.

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