Haze Days

Despite THE HAZE, the show must go on. 

(This is what Singapore normally looks like)

I took this picture less than a week ago

Me when the haze is finally over:

The only cure for this Purple Haze is a little Purple Rain. 

The SMRT Gospel

I spend a good chunk of time on public transit in Sing. That is the understatement of the year- I spend A LOT of time on public transit. I've tried so many different tactics to make being crammed between people in what I think is consistently the strangest smelling combination of things (at least no Durian smell, of course) just a little more enjoyable. But the other day, when I left my book at home and my phone was flat, I thought a lot about the route I take everyday on the SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) and how its story is so similar to my experience with faith and my relationship with the gospel of Jesus.

First, my mentality so much of the time with the MRT is to "fight the good fight"...for a seat. I mean, sitting during my commute is of utmost importance for the outlook of my day and I WILL do whatever it takes (elbows out, mean mugging, etc). Me, me, me, I want a seat. In Singapore, it is expected that you give up your seat for pregnant women (#peoplegetcreative), older people, and kids but when I had my arms full of groceries and someone got up and gave me his seat, I realized it's not necessarily all about "fighting the fight" but learning to LOVE like Jesus-to put someone's needs before your wants. "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." (Plato)

Then, I thought about this: you know how you can get in the mindset of being unhappy about whatever that "big bad thing" (BBT) is in life at that season and you are convinced it will always be that way, because you can't imagine life without the constant nagging of that BBT (maybe your financial situation, your relationship status, your kids' baddittudes, my constant frizzy hair in Sing or my long commute...insert nagging BBT here). And how often I let the BBT put me in a funk. But aren't we always taken aback when inevitably something unpredicted does happen to change our relationship our BBT (like looking to my left one morning to a man in his 80s shaving his beard on SMRT next to me). haha No, maybe a better example: One morning I sleepily pushed my way onto the subway #morningsarenotmyfav and 2 stops later, the guy beside me had an impromptu Gangnam Style singalong/performance that everyone got into. Ordinary thing (commute) turned extraordinary...and totally unpredicted when I started my everyday common commute. So then I thought, why don't I expect interesting changes in life from an interesting Jesus? Like Robert C. Gallagher put it, "Change is inevitable – except from a vending machine" and of all the interesting things I have observed/been party to on the SMRT, even on the SAME seemingly "predictable" commute, there is a brilliant joy in the unexpected changes we spend so much time convincing ourselves will never happen. 

Being PRESENT. I have overslept my stop, gone in the wrong direction on the train line, and gotten off at the wrong stop so many times (shamefully unashamed). When I'm not present or paying attention, I miss what was intended for me and it takes a lot of work to get back to where I was going. I used to get upset when I'd mess up the route, I'd run up above ground and quickly flag a taxi, mostly because of stubbornness and just pure surrender, TKO. However, I think about how now, I correct myself, get back on track and make it there-sometimes the consequence is loss of time or loss of a seat (and we know how devastating that is for me), but the point is, I'm still able to get there. When I miss my chance on occasions in life or make mistakes of decisions, God's grace isn't always like the taxi that will easily chauffeur us to our destination but his grace is also sufficient for us to get back to the destination intended for us or to show us a new bus line or different train to make it there a different way from where we are. When we make mistakes, it doesn't ruin our chances of making it to the joy God planned for us in the first place-it just may look a little different, you might be a little more weathered, and the alternate route can be a little rough going. But I've seen A LOT of the city through being lost and have made discoveries I would have never seen otherwise. Same same in life.

So today might be extraordinary, but even if it's not, let us be motivated by love, expectant in adventure, and present in His grace. 


I'm SINGing: "Beautiful Things" -Gungor AND "Something Beautiful" -Needtobreathe

Me in a hurry to get anywhere in Sing:

Sing Population: 5.31 million
Size of Singapore: 274.13 square miles
Population density: 18,943/sq mi

Compare:
Size of Augusta, GA: 306.49 square miles
Population density: 816/sq mi 


Thanks Frogger for preparing me in 1996 for what I would need to know for 2013. The legacy lives on. 

I'm SINGing: "Bright Lights" -Gary Clark Jr.

WARM Christmas Wishes from the Equator

Singapore is like Clark Griswold for Christmas (click here)...and I love it! Sing, I wholeheartedly appreciate your enthusiasm for holidays! Double-confirm. 

Orchard Road (at the heart of the city) is famous for its Christmas lights and this year is no exception. Some of these pictures are mine and some I borrowed but please know, these are only a few snapshots, the Christmas mega-decoration goes further beyond your wildest Christmas decorated dreams. 

I.LOVE.CHRISTMAS!...and better yet, I will be hugging on some Comers this Christmas! Making the trip home to South Carolina TOMORROW to a shocking below 80 degree climate. (yesssss!) My hair is already singing the hallelujah chorus. 

But before I go, here are some highlights:

The Singapore Flyer (officially the tallest Ferris Wheel in the world) converted into the tallest Christmas tree. Genius.

Orchard Road                           

Lights over Orchard Road

Tangs department store front on Orchard

                                    

Raffles Hotel

Ion Mall on Orchard Road 

Just couldn't get enough Christmas lights?? (Can never have enough Christmas lights, right?) 

See more here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UnSC4e_lsQ

Singing: "I'll be Home for Christmas" -She & Him

After getting on the MRT (subway)/SMRT (bus) going the wrong way for the, let's just say, more-than-once time this week:

The realization after being on the MRT already for 20 min:

In an attempt to minimize casualties during transport caused by operator (me) error, I solemnly pledge to operate at 90% alert while on the SMRT/MRT  (leaving 10% of course for Scramble with Friends or Fruit Ninja...obviously non-negotiable). There will be no more leaving iPhones, keys, or bobby pins in cabs and no more riding the train in the wrong direction or taking the long walk back to the stop I just missed on the bus.

I am publicly declaring my pledge to be 90% alert while riding public transportation. #accountability #rideresponsibly

Sincerely,

Sarah Comer

Singing: "Runaway Train" -Soul Asylum

Livin' in a Muggle's Paradise

**Disclaimer: This is a Harry Potter nerd alert. However, for all the HP haters (Mike and Ben Comer), proceed with a Harry Potter gladdittude. I won't tell anyone that you both went to the midnight book release with me in NYC and wore the HP glasses...

Today I was reminded (not that I ever forgot) about all the things I truly love about HARRY POTTER! #gryffindor4life #HogwartsExpress #IheartMcGonogall Kathryn and I went to the Harry Potter prop/costume/movie set exhibit at the ArtScience Museum in Sing. Check out the exhibit here!

ArtScience Museum

First off, let me show you where the exhibit was (to the left). It's such a cool building, and it sits among some of the most interesting and unique architecture/buildings in the city.
Secondly, the exhibit was AWESOME, especially with my fellow HP fanatic, Kathryn! We learned all the behind the scenes facts (like the fact that they actually made a mechanical Buckbeak and later, the prop designers would make it follow different cast members around as a practical joke), and we saw all the costumes and set designs...we knew we were in the presence of literary and cinematic brilliance :) Unfortunately, we could not take any pictures in the actual exhibit but I can tell you, I was officially sorted into Gryffindor and Kathryn is an expert Quidditch player!

 Today was actually the last day of Singapore being home to this exhibit so we split a chocolate frog to commemorate the occasion!



All in all, one magical day well spent.

• Singing: "Hedwig's Theme" -Harry Potter