Information Centre Point

Imagine this. You're in England and your friends are scattered all around the world. Some back home, some in Melbourne and New Zealand and Singapore. Each of them tells you stories on how they have been. How the Lord has been gracious to them. Some surprised you with news of their attachment with someone while others update you constantly with their gushes and crushes.

And there, here am I in England, the centrepoint where information is being exchanged. It's like being at a information counter with headphones and microphones on. Tit tit..a call is coming in. It's from down under.

A dear friend from Melbourne shared her her bit of story with me. I'm taking it as an attachment though she claims that they are not official yet. But her story is amazing. Her special friend is from Norway. Both were studying in the same uni although they are in different courses. But somehow their paths crossed and as they get to know each other better, it was clear that it was God's leading. She went through an agonizing period of waiting and was even more uncertain when he left for home upon completing his course. I could not imagine how she would have felt. The distance must have terrorised her. Future would seem bleak. The light at the end of the tunnel would seem diminishing. But God remain gracious. The light remained dim but not out. Recently, she broke a happy news to me that he's coming back to Melbourne for a semester. I smiled when she told me that. God is truly leading

Another call is in queue. This time, it's from back home. This sister's story is even more amazing. I find it hard to believe. They met during a bible conference some years back. He was from the Netherlands. After the conference, they corresponded through emails for two years. Feelings grew but not without confusion. The second time they met again was during a bible camp in Johor. I was there but didnt notice a thing. She too went through a period of waiting and more praying followed suit. She recently related the story to me and all I could say was, "Wow!" I was amazed at how the Lord can being two persons from different backgrounds, culture together. He has proven to me yet again that all things are possible. They recently got attached after confirming with God and each other. I'm really really happy for her. And this dear sister told me soemthing that struck me. She said that sisters should wait in silence. Even all those buds unfolding sessions in church, this was fresh to me. She quoted Ruth 3:18. Although we went through the book of Ruth in church, I didnt realise the connection till she brought it up. In Ruth, Ruth waited at the feet of Boaz during the night and saith not a word to wake Boaz up. She waited in silence. And Boaz, being the gentleman he was, kept his promise and married Ruth in the end.

In today's world, we see the opposite of matters. People not only rush into relationships and ended up being heart-broken, but marred the lines tremendously. I wonder how it was centuries back when guys are more gentle and ladies quieter. It must be interesting to live in those times!

Tit tit..another call from home from a dear sister who relates to me her bit on praying. Nothing is concrete now yet. She's in confusion. But I wish her well. I'm not sure if he was meant for her but now during her waiting and praying period, I really wish her well. I hope it turns out good. But above all, I hope that through this experience of praying, she is drawn closer to our dear Lord. In both earlier instances, they prayed not to be together but to seek His will. That made the difference I suppose. I soemhow felt that we live in a box. God put pathways, hills and valleys in it. He knew where we would end up in the end. But He allowed us to walk our own ways. We will be on the right track if we follow instructions and obey Him. However, whenever we stray or decided to be smart, we more often ended on the wrong road than not. But even so, he gently guided us back to our supposed pathways. How amazing! A friend said that God take His own sweet time and direct us. Truly, a day to Him is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day! But we are assured that He will make sure that His will for us is fulfilled and not return void. Amen to that.

So at the end of the conversations, I guess life is about callings. But callings alone is not good enough. Someone has gottta pick that call up and answer it and do what the Caller says. In this case, I'm supposed to pick up calls and answer them the way the Caller wants it to be. I'm sure I hear some ringing tones soemwhere. Am I picking them up? Pick up..

Knocking from above

Why do you need something to be gone before you learn to appreciate it? I was in a friend's house recently. He is musically inclined, plays the piano (keyboard now that he's here because buying a piano here would cost him an arm and a leg) and guitar. I didnt know that he could play these instrument so well until that visit. I was in the room and he played the keyboard. It was just some simple cords but the moment the sound of keyboard filled the air, I was immediately transported to back to the once so familiar period of singing with my fellow friends in church. How I miss those moments! It didnt take me long to think back of the times we had in camps, singing through the night with her playing the keyboard and guitar. It has been a long time since those beautiful hymns and songs were sung. Those periods of us practising harmonising in preparation for the presentation for Watch-Night service, the casual moments of us surrounding the piano and just sings, the unforgettable moments in camps where she plucked the strings of the guitar and us singing songs of praise of all kinds.

He then played some jazz songs. As I watched his fingers running across the keyboard, I cant help but marvelled at his ability and yet at the same, ashamed of my own short-comings of not being able to play any musical instruments at all. He must have realised my thoughts. He then told me of a testimony he heard and reminded me of the beautiful truth where different people are gifted differently. Some play musical intruments and some don't. Some can do certain things better than other. But in all these, it displays not the weakness of an individual but rather the individuality of gifts in its diversity. Certain people are better in some things that others are not. This was what I really needed to hear.

Since attending Clumberhall, this matter has been at the back of my head. They really lack some people who can help out in playing the piano for the family service. Grace hasnt been playing for a long time and she is trying to pick it up again slowly. I wished I could play each time I see her play. I'm not underestimating her by any means. I just wished I could help her out. I wish I know how to play the guitar so that I could sing to Him when I'm here. I wished I could discern notes better. But I thank the Lord for showing me some otherwise truths.

He moved on to playing the electric guitar. We sang some Christian songs together. Oh man, it has really been a long long time since I hear and sing these songs. Thank you Lord for the short but pleasant moment of fellowship.