In five minutes, the train was supposed to arrive at its destination. Suddenly, an emergency occurred, resulting in at least an hour of delay. This real-life travel experience mirrors my current life situation—filled with pauses and unexpected turns.
The Malaysian embassy in Germany once told me, “Please be patient, your new passport is coming.” I received that email some time ago, and I’m still patiently waiting.
“It is coming!” (Es kommt!) is considered a very positive comment I received from my teacher in the organ lesson. If I can be patient when learning the organ, why not in other areas of life too?
In my free time, I try to equip myself with business knowledge. To sustain the things I love doing, I need to understand how to make them viable, financially and otherwise. That’s how I stumbled across the concept of ROI (Return on Investment)—which, ironically, stands in complete contrast to my decision to learn J.S. Bach’s Trio Sonatas for Organ. It’s too quiet and too long for most worship services or funerals, not showy enough for concert programs, and though it sounds simple, it is extraordinarily difficult.
“It is difficult, but these are not unsolvable problems,” my teacher said.
By believing this, I’m able to keep moving forward—in music, and in life.
Since May, my schedule has shifted frequently. Without forcing anything, these changes have ended up working in my favour. Students come and go. Funerals come and go. Some exciting opportunities have appeared, but the dates conflicted with commitments I’ve carefully protected, and so I’ve had to say no. Still, no matter how the circumstances change, I find peace in when I can practice the organ, read a book, and write something.
My visa is valid until the end of July, and until then, I plan to fully immerse myself in the cultural landscape of Germany. I will travel for friendship, especially to spend time with my beloved goddaughter. I will travel for literature—to explore the works of Heinrich Heine and Erich Kästner more deeply. I will travel for music festivals: Heidelberger Frühling, Mozartfest Würzburg, Dresdner Musikfestspiele, Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele. I will travel for the organ—especially to study J.S. Bach’s Trio Sonata in E Minor, BWV 528. I will travel for art—to see Light and Landscape: Impressionists of Normandy in Freiburg im Breisgau.
In short, the journey continues…
What are your reasons for traveling?
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