“I am going to your house for tea” – A Moment Of Importance.

'He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; (miry clay in KJV) He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.' Psalms 40:2

On 23 Dec 2010, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, and  Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Teo Chee Hian, visited my father in hospital.

My Father and My Grandson

My father, then 84 years old, had been lying in a single room isolation ward for 10 days prior, suffering from a multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. Dad had been wheelchair-bound due to osteoarthritis in both knees making it too painful for him to walk. He also had early senile dementia, along with diabetes, heart disease, bad lungs, thyroid problems and colonic cancer in remission. 

The VIPs were on a fact-finding visit to the newly-opened Khoo Teck Puat hospital and upon hearing that Dad was in the ward, took a detour to visit with him.

Imagine an old man, trapped in bed with an intravenous line inserted into his arm, feeling depressed and very confused when who should walk into his room but the most important person in the country. That very kind gesture made my father's day.

The next day, he was perky and bright, talking about the visit to anyone who would care to hear. My family really appreciated what the PM did - he engaged in small talk with my father despite knowing that he was entering an infection-control isolation ward.

When someone grows old, not only does he suffer physical weaknesses and disabilities but more insiduously he finds that he loses his psycho-social skills. Gradually, he will lose his social status and becomes isolated and shut out from friends and family. This erosion of the sense of well-being is the most disconcerting change that I had observed in Dad in the last few years of his life. It affected both his pride and self-esteem. The rest of the world had moved on and left him behind.

During the days of the making of Singapore, Dad was a political and trade union activist. In 1954 he was the PAP convenor when the People's Action Party was founded. He was often not at home when I was growing up because he was preoccupied campaigning for workers’ rights and working with the leaders in fighting for the independence of Singapore.

In his latter years, he had been largely forgotten and alone, confined to a wheelchair and beholden to two maids who looked after his daily needs. It is sad to see how time and age can strip down a proud man and make him so vulnerable. 

Ecclesiastes 2:11 notes this great loss in despairing tones, 

'Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.'

The VIP visit was brief. PM asked about his condition and they chatted briefly about old days of the political party.  Then PM left.  But this short encounter did wonders for my father. The PM’s visit left Dad feeling important and happy.

This reminds me of another brief encounter recorded in Luke 19:1-8.  Zacchaeus, the tax collector, was a short person.  He climbed up a sycamore tree so as to have a glimpse of Jesus as he was passing by.

Here was another man, an insignificant, non-descript entity amongst the crowd. His short stature made him unnoticeable. His was a tax-collector and was despised.  All he wanted was to see above the crowd and watch the proceedings. However, that day was meant to be different for Zacchaeus. On reaching the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting, Jesus noticed him and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house to spend time with him.  This non-descript person suddenly became important. 

Sometimes, a brief and everyday gesture of recognition can mean much to a person who is feeling unrecognised, insignificant and sorry for himself.  One moment in time can become truly inspirational - a great blessing. 

But that encounter more than 2000 years ago was different from any human discourse. It was a visit from God in Jesus Christ, the divine meeting the human. And the humanity in Zacchaeus recognised this. It was more than just a moment of importance for the short man who climbed up a tree for a better view, it was a life-changing experience. 

We all have a chance at this wonderful moment when the love of God reaches down to us, a love that lifts us up (Love Lifted Me!)

I was sinking deep in sin

Far from the peaceful shore

Very deeply stained within

Sinking to rise no more

But the master of the sea

Heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me

Now safe am I

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

Souls in danger look above

Jesus completely saves

He will lift you by his love

Out of the angry waves

But the master of the sea

Billows His will obey

He your savior wants to be

Be saved today

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

Love lifted me! Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help

Love lifted me

Lionel

Updated 1st Published on 12 Dec 2010

The Rat Race

'In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.' Proverbs 16:9

'Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it' 1 Timothy 6:6-7.

 

The Rat Race is a perennial struggle of human beings to get to the top. It is a endless competition to get ahead at all cost. This expression was introduced in the 1930 to describe a exhausting, pressured urban life spent in trying to get ahead with little time for rest. Here is a tragic depiction of modern society in a cartoon feature by Steve Curtis entitled Rat Race.

The Rat race runners try to burn the candle at both ends, they are always busy, busy, busy. It is an incessant push for success. Centuries ago King Solomon condemned it as an endless, self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. Since then, we have not learnt from the wisdom of Solomon.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon spoke of the uselessness and monotony of everyday life. He used the term 'under the sun' when he described that life as useless (Ecc 1:3). One can interpret this term 'under the sun' as life on earth. Solomon said in Ecc 1:4, "You spend your life working and what do you have to show for it."

Charles Swindoll in his bible study guide on the Book of Ecclesiastes entitled 'Living On The Ragged Edge' (Ref 1) gave a realistic appraisal of this futile race

• People Living Under Oppressive Conditions. Ecc 4:1 'Then I looked again at all the injustice that goes on in this world. The oppressed were weeping and no one would help them.'

• People Living Under Aggressive Competition Ecc 4:4 'I have also learnt why people work so hard to succeed: it is because  they envy their neighbours. But it is useless. It is like chasing the wind.' 

Charles Swindoll wrote, 'Solomon is not referring to healthy, ethical competition. What he has in mind is the one-on-one rivalry of pushing, fighting and clawing - the vicious determination of two people to outdo one another at any cost.'

The saddest insanity of all is the man who is alone without any relatives or children labouring endlessly to make his millions to leave to nobody. Ecc 4:7-8 'I have noticed something else in life that is useless. Here is a man who lives alone. he has no son, no brother, yet he is always working never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless too and a miserable way to live.' Here is a perfect picture of someone who is enslaved to the Rat Race, the pursuit of wealth.

But Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes did not paint just doom and gloom. Yes, the book exposes the realities of life but it qualified this by making the claim that this is only true when applied to an existence without God. The only way to get out of this cycle of futility of life is to believe in God and to live as He intended for us.

In the same way, the young people would do well to prevent themselves entering the Rat Race by believing in God early. 'Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, I find no pleasure in life' Ecc 12:1.

Living God's way as a Christian does not automatically mean we will have no struggle with life. Life was difficult for the early Christians and also for some today. Nevertheless we are told to persevere. Indeed Christians enter a different race of endurance and keeping the faith despite hardships and even persecution for some. 

St Paul told the young disciple, Timothy, 'Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs but tries to please his commanding officer' 2 Timothy 2:3-4. 

Like a soldier under discipline we do not get entangled in the rat race or be sucked into the lures of this world. 'Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs' 1 Timothy 6:9-10. Ecc 4:4 and 6 advised 'it is better to have a little, with peace of mind, than to be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind'.

We may plan all we like but eventually God will direct our paths. So what is God's way? In Ecclesiastes 9:11a, Solomon advised, "I have seen something else under the sun; the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favour to the learned; but time and chance overtake them all" Yes while man proposes God disposes and He has a way of leveling even the best plans of clever, powerful and assertive people. 

Hence St Paul advised young Timothy, "But you, man of God, flee from this and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of eternal life for which you are called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses" 1 Timothy 6:11-12.

Many people run the Rat Race but Christians should walk with Jesus. Enjoy this song, Just A Closer Walk With Thee.

I am weak but Thou art strong

Jesus keep me from all wrong

I'll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea

Daily walking close to Thee

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be 

Through this world of toil and snares,

If I falter, Lord, who cares?

Who with me my burden shares?

None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

When my feeble life is o’er,

Time for me will be no more;

Guide me gently, safely o’er

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

 

Lionel

Ref 1: Charles R Swindoll. Living on the Ragged Edge - Coming to terms with Reality, Insight for Living, 1976

  

And Miles To Go Before I Sleep

St Martin et Lofer, Austria 30 Apr 2006

'A time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend. A time to plant and a time to uproot. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them together.' Ecc 3:6-7

We were holidaying in the picturesque Austrian village of St Martin et Lofer in April 2006 and this scene confronted us from our window in a chateau where we stayed. At once the second poem of Robert Frost which I had memorised as a teenager  came to mind, 

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

A traveller, perhaps a villager, farmer or woodsman, chanced upon a beautiful scene by some woods on a snowy evening. He was captivated by the near-silent atmosphere and scene, was tempted to stay longer. It was enticing to pause for a while to survey the scene, to rest and to linger. Perhaps, he was a retiree and had the time to linger awhile. Instead, after a short reminiscent moment, he acknowledged the pull of other obligations. There was a considerable distance yet to be travelled before he could rest for the night.

That snowy woods scene in Austria stopped me in my tracks to consider my retirement from the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps on 1 July 2001 and now, two other retirements since. As we stand on the threshold of change in retirement, some like this traveler, may be tempted to opt out of the challenges of life. We may prefer to linger in the alluring attraction of life's more comforting moments.

The same sentiments were echoed by Solomon in Ecc 3:9-14:

 

"What does a worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in his time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and to do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men may revere him.”

In the necessary farewell rounds, we are often asked two questions. What are our achievements and what will we miss most in the job? 

Achievements? There should be nothing much to boast about or to recount achievements. They were quickly forgotten. Some years down the road what we thought were our crowning achievements would have lost their significance and lustre. These achievements would be surpassed by others who follow after. To recount them would be pointless.  

The Bible in Ecc 3:12 says that 'I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live'. What can be longer lasting than to have touched the lives of others? When asked what would he leave behind when he retires from politics, Mr Rajaratnam, past deputy Prime Minister of Singapore said that like the Cheshire cat, he wished to leave behind a smile. 

So what will we miss most? I think, people and friendships that have touched our lives - the esprit d'corps, the camaraderie, the mutual respect and esteem for each other. In the time that God had given in my three jobs, I have learnt to appreciate friends. Friendships made the work a calling and a joy, giving tremendous personal satisfaction. At my last retirement from the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, I said the lasting legacy I hope to leave behind and take with me are the fond memories. 

We all wish that good careers would last could last forever. We got our relationships, security and hope that this will not end. But God has ordained a cycle of life and a season for change, 'A time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend. A time to plant and a time to uproot. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them together.' Ecc 3:6-7

So three retirements will not stop me in my tracks. Now, I have more time to turn my attention to the opportunities God may provide in the 'silver years' of life.

For many younger readers, who have longer runaways, find God's will in all you do and meet the challenges, embrace the toils of life and overcome. Remember what Solomon said, 'This is the gift of God that you may find satisfaction in all your toil.' Ecc 3:13. Find fulfillment; the toil is the process by which we grow.

The Rev Tony Tan once told that there are trees in Australia call the Yarra trees. There at the Australian outback; they grow strong and healthy. These trees are much sought after because the wood is very strong and yet flexible and therefore, good for building houses.

Some years ago, an African agricultural delegation arrived in Australia to looks for trees that could grow well in their country. Located at about the same latitude in the northern hemisphere,  it was deemed that the climate and conditions must be quite similar. They thought what can grow well in Australia would do likewise in their own country. They exported the Yarra tree seeds back to Africa and planted them there.

The trees did grow fast and tall. However when they used the wood to build the houses, in no time at all, the wood would crack. It did not have the same tensile strength as those grown in Australia and cracked under pressure. That was puzzling. These trees are of the same genetic strain and the temperature and rainfall patterns are similar. The Africans finally discovered that there was one difference. It is very windy in the Australian outback whilst in Africa the place where they planted the trees was in a valley. There protected, between two mountains, there were no strong gales.

The Australian Yarra when growing from seedlings had to withstand and bend under the strong winds. The samplings were constantly buffeted by these storms and they had to grow under pressure. It was this constant friction and bending that made the Australian wood strong and resilient. Not so the African Yarra which grew quickly and easily but lacked the tensile strength.

There is a principle of the Yarra trees that we can apply. The tension, the storms of life and the hard work that we have to weather will in turn strengthen our resolve, build our ethos and make us strong and resilient. 

In the same way complete retirement and rest is not an option. Life goes on with all its attending challenges. In the words of Robert Frost, 'These woods are lovely dark and deep but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep.' There, by the grace of God, go I.  

Lionel

Acknowledgment: Story of the Yarra trees came from the Rev Tony Tan

Updated article. First published 3 Nov 2007

Lionel