292nd Reflection💬

“How to follow the Lord single-mindedly❓”

Ignore all that not leading to the goal.

……

17/08/2023 (Thu) 10:50 Administration Building, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA)

Student registration centre

Staff said, “Sir, may I help you?”

I said, “I’m coming for student registration.”

Staff said, “What?”

I said, “My assigned time is 11:10. I’ve arrived a little earlier.”

Staff said, “What’s your name?”

I said, “I’m Yip Wai Hung.”

Staff said, “OK. You’re our student, Yip. We’ve had some email correspondence before.”

I said, “Yes.”

Staff said, “Can you show me your certificates?”

I said, “Here they are.”

A moment later…

Staff said, “The registration is completed. Please move to the student service centre and fill in some forms.”

I said, “How to get there?”

Staff said, “Simple. Go through the exit, turn right; walk to the end, open the door; turn right and walk straight and you’ll find it.”

I said, “Thanks.”

……

17/08/2023 (Thu) 11:10 Student Service Center, HKAPA

I pushed the door open.

Staff said, “Take a seat please.”

I said, “OK.”

Staff said, “Students, scan the 2 QR codes and fill in the forms. When you see the 2 words “Thank you” upon completion, please show me. Thanks.”

A moment later…

I said, “Completed. Could you please take a look?”

Staff said, “OK. On the wall pasted 3 more QR codes. The one in the left is for student registration. The two on the right are for full-time students. You may scan the left one.”

I said, “But I’m a full-time student.”

Staff said, “Alright…then scan the ones on the right.”

After I’d done the scan and started turning back to my seat, a lady walked near and pointed her finger at the seat beside me.

The lady said, “Brother, take this seat and fill in the forms.”

I turned right and saw a teenager who looked like a secondary school graduate. When I turned back to my phone screen, I found that another teenager, probably an exchange student looked at me from the opposite side.

I went on filling in the forms.

……

Upon completion, I walked to the glass door.

Another me said, “MTR Student Travel Scheme! Full-time student, apply for it.”

I said, “Great.”

I switched on my camera, scanned the QR code and started filling in the form. The moment I pressed the ‘submit’ button, on the screen came a line of red words, “Applicants must be aged between 16 and 25.”

I looked at the staff.

I said, “Excuse me, I’d like to know whether full-time students over 25 are eligible for the MTR Student Travel Scheme.”

Staff said, “No, you’re over 25, aren’t you?”

I said, “Over for a long time.”

Staff said, “I’m sorry. You’re no longer eligible.”

……

Another me said, “You’re embarrassing.”

I said, “Where?”

Another me said, “You’re so old. But you’re trying to look young.”

I said, “No, I don’t.”

Another me said, “You don’t? Years years ago, you graduated. You still see yourself as 20 something?”

I said, “I haven’t seen myself as 20 something.”

Another me said, “You’re nearly 40 but you turn yourself a full-time student. The registration staff saw you as a passer-by. The student service centre mistook you as a part-time one. Even the MTR can’t hardly stand you. She rejects the application for the travel scheme by such an old guy as you.”

I said, “Just a few rejections, so what?”

Another me said, “So embarrassing. I don’t know where the Lord is guiding you to, somewhere far from glorious, but so close to embarrassment.”

I said, “What glory are you looking for?”

Another me said, “I don’t mean I need praise from tens of thousands of people around. But at least don’t push the old one in a playground full of kids, too funny, too embarrassing, and too disgusting.”

I said, “I don’t care all these.”

Another me said, “How those in HKAPA will see you, don’t you care?”

I said, “No, I don’t.”

Another me said, “How you yourself feel, don’t you even care?”

I said, “No, I don’t.”

Another me said, “What do you care?”

I said, “I care about compositions. The Lord guides me to HKAPA to learn composition. Why are you caring so much about something irrelevant?”

Another me said, “…….”

……

17/08/2023 (Thu) 11:35 Student Service Centre, HKAPA

When I was about to leave, I took a look at the counter.

I said, “How many souvenirs here on the desk can I take? 

Staff said, “As many as you want.”