Women, Truly Captivating - Part I

Some of you may have read of two Singaporean women with two very different careers being honoured for their outstanding achievements sometime last month. The first is Major Esther Tan, Singapore's first female navy diver who was awarded the "Her World Young Woman Achiever 2006". The second is Ms Lim Soo Hoon, the country's first Permanent Secretary who is now serving as Perm Sec for the Public Service Division. She received the "Her World Woman of the Year 2006" award.

I have personally met both women before. Esther is an avid adventure racer and I have met her on several occasions through a friend of mine, Josh, an ex-Navy regular. I had the rare priviledge of meeting Ms Lim and having a short email correspondence with her when she attended a Leadership seminar I orgranised for my company nearly 2 years ago. Both women were down-to-earth, unassuming and for the most part, very kind. It was hard to see the tenacious and strong willed character behind their smiley, friendly faces. I am more accustomed to associating passionate, driven (and sometimes controversial) personalities with high profile women in society like Ivy Singh-Lim or Shelley Siu.

I have always applauded the achievements of women in society. Especially those who break the age-old chauvinistic belief that "Women are not as important/strong/capable as Men". You know, I think it's rather interesting to observe how the situation has improved these days. Boys are now taking Home Economics while women are allowed in Technical courses. More than half the intake at Singapore Universities are now women. And a third of the senior managers and professionals in the workforce are female, as opposed to 20% in 1990 (sources according to Newsweek). Hey, that's exciting news. I'm always a proponent of women rising up to greater challenges and taking on what traditionally was seen as male-dominated careers/sports/programs. In my church, the women are making an amazing impact in their workplaces and families and their spheres of influence are ever widening!

Way to go girls.

I recently bought a book on women. It wasn't so much for me but a female friend of mine. It's entitled, "Captivating". Well, here's a message from the author to God's precious daughters:

"Your heart matters more than anything else in creation. The desires you had as a little girl and the longings you still feel as a woman--they are telling you of the life God created you to live. He offers to come now as the Hero of your story, to rescue your heart and release you to live as a fully alive and feminine woman. A woman who is truly captivating."

Live out the life you were intended by God to live, women. Find your destiny, your calling, your purpose. You were designed for greater things too. And made just in His image. Hey, and if you're a woman reading this, I'll like you to know... "You're Beautiful.".

Fishmonger