When it rains, it pours. The world today is experiencing a “shakening” according to Elder Dr. Yeoh in his message on Sunday.

My slight shakening happened last Friday when I was about to go to work. I was reversing my car from my parking lot. As usual, the spot where I liked to park was the spot that was near a bend.

Having stayed in Bukit Awana for close to 3 years, I was aware that oncoming cars may not see a reversing vehicle around the bend. So it was my responsibility to make sure the coast was clear. I looked left (the bend) and then right - just to make sure both sides are clear. And it was. Maybe a few ants in the way, but there were no oncoming cars.

Then I start reversing. Suddenly, a loud boom-bang!!! And my head was banging - how could this happened! It all happened so fast. I was clueless but I knew the damages will certainly hit me.

Before I could exchange words of comfort, the lady driver started to scold me. She was fuming angry, and her face was showing. I was still puzzled by how the car ended up behind mine even after I have made careful observation of my surroundings.

Then I realized that she must be driving extremely fast. Obviously, the nature of human is never to admit they are wrong in a situation that favors them. And in this situation, I could never defend myself no matter if she was driving at break-neck speed. There was no avenue for argument with her.

My only wish then was if I could turn back time. Something like a divine intervention. I didn’t pray for it because I don’t have the faith that God will reverse time for me to get out of this situation. Somehow, I just know that I have to face it. Obviously, the earth continue rotating and I realized that the damages were already inflicted. It is now a matter of negotiating cost.

She just threw her namecard at me and asked for mine. I was reluctant to give but I relented. She hurriedly drove off after getting my card and exchanged some other info.

She called me from work and sounded more calm but her intention was simply to ensure that I don’t get away. To cut the story short, her husband, who was ironically a car mechanic, engaged his friend and quoted me between RM400-500. I asked around and finally got a contact of a bodyworks but somehow, that didn’t help as the workshop was reluctant to give a quote without looking at the car.

After some discussion with friends and to save all the hassle, I finally decided to settle the case for a sum of RM420 - much higher than my initial estimate but cheaper than making a police report and losing my NCB. This was because her car was using the pearl-type paint. Pearls!

Hmmmm…. a big hole in my pocket… and right before Christmas. There goes my Christmas shopping.

Just when I thought that was the only downpour for the day, another incident hit.

At 2pm on that day, our Managing Director called everyone from the factory into the auditorium, and made a shocking announcement: The company was going to lay off 600 operators and 45 exempt staffs. The reason was that our company was not profitable for 2008 and we are expecting a lower volume for 2009. According to finance report, we just about break even for 2008.

And that news just broke the morale of everyone for the rest of the day. The downpour has started.

As we move near to the end of 2008, signs of troubles are showing, so it is good to welcome 2009 with prayer and prudence. 2009 will be a year where lots of ’shakening’ may take place. Our relationship with God will be put to a test, and this is not a time to lose faith when the storms come. Let’s not be found ‘without the oil like the foolish virgins.’