The Parable of the Lost Wallet

In Jesus' parables of the lost coin, lost sheep and prodigal son, there is a common theme: despite an initial loss, they all end in celebration.

And so my preoccupation about how to cope with the fallout of my lost wallet has been replaced by a thought of how to celebrate the resurrection of my lost wallet.

Grimly, I listed the contents of my wallet at the police station. I calculated a net loss of about $400 in cash and kind, excluding those of priceless sentimental value. I chided myself for being so careless. Ruminating on the erstwhile contents of my wallet, I was rather embarrassed at the things that were found there, especially all the membership cards from F&B outlets! We really are such foodies.

I traversed Sengkang in search of it: looked at home, in school and even painstakingly retraced my route from home to school that morning - nothing. I was in despair and had given up hope. I remarked to the police officer as I signed the report, "What are the odds, eh?" He had said that they would call me if someone returned it.

Eventually, I found out this morning from my colleague Jennifer that I had left it in my class cabinet. I still don't remember how it ended up there.

Long story short, to quote Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton in Big Yellow Taxi: "You don't know what you've got till it's gone."

So, c'mon - let's celebrate! But maybe after SA2 lah.

The Ant & The Grasshopper - A Malaysian Parable

The Version You Know

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer, building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool, and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.

Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed.

The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.
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The Malaysian Version

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer, building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.

The Grasshopper thinks the Ant's a fool, and laughs & dances & plays the summer away.

Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be warm and well fed while he is cold and starving.

TV1, TV2 & TV3 show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

The majority of the Malaysian Parliament are stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this poor Grasshopper be allowed to suffer?

Khairy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant's house.

Nazri goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.

The Malaysia Government immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the summer so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers.

Hishammudin makes 'More Special Reservation' for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions & in Government Services.

The Ant is fined for failing to share 30% of his food with the Grasshopper.

Prime Minister announces that this is part of the NEP. Every ant must not question it.

Many years later...

The Ant has migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company there.

100s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite the 'Special Reservation'.

Losing lots of hard working Ants and feeding the Grasshoppers, Malaysia is still a developing country.

All because the ANTS are just doing their work.
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