SEASON 5 EPISODE 3: A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS...

In the last episode, I wrote about the discipline of “waiting” in 2 areas of my life: (1) Career and (2) Relationships. It is still status quo for (2) and still waiting.

For (1), since that last entry, the period of waiting involved making applications for jobs in various places: from law firms to MNCs and even registering interest in a conversion programme to be an Arts Manager.

However, through very unusual means and circumstances, the LORD chartered a direction for me that I never expected at all. I was offered a job at my first workplace (where I did my Industrial Attachment during my polytechnic days in 2002) yesterday just after having lunch with one of my bosses the day before!

At this point, all I will say is that the career prospects are good and it is in line with what I personally want to do in a couple of years time. I am still involved in the legal profession, only from a different angle and I believe my legal training gives me the edge to understand the workings and challenges lawyers face in running their practices. More will come as I get into the grind of things.

I have accepted the position today and will begin on 1 April 2009.

This acceptance is the apex of a series of events that began last Sunday where, during second breakfast after church, I found that the place I enjoyed my working life was at my poly internship firm. This is evidence of the maxim that the LORD’s timing is always the best. When the time is ripe, all things will fall into place. If not anything else, I take comfort in this and look forward to that perfect timing for (2) as well. Till then, I will just leave things as it is and build the friendship through amongst other things, Christian service and fellowship.

This new chapter is an illustration and affirmation of Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God never fails to surprise us (and at times, make us laugh).

Another eventful moment in the season of Lent 2009!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

SEASON 5 EPISODE 2: LENT 2009 & THE MONTH OF MARCH

The season of Lent this year has already been very eventful. Just within the first week of that season, many life-altering things have happened.

The first is on Ash Wednesday last Wednesday, the beginning of Lent where I believed there was another buzzword for me for the season. That word is “Wait” and I want to quote a couple of passages from Bishop Dr Robert Solomon’s in his article “Waiting on God” that was published in the March 2009’s issue of the Methodist Message:

“We must note that the LORD Himself chose to see time in a kairos (God’s special moments) rather than a chronos (chronological) way. Often He would say that His time had not yet come, meaning that He waited for the right opportune time, never rushing into it. And when it came, He noted it and fulfilled His purposed. Jesus often waited in His life and ministry. He waited 30 years for His opportune time.”

Bishop Solomon goes on to say:

“The spiritual discipline of waiting is not a passive act of hopeless surrender to fate, but an active commitment and consecration to the living God, who shapes us according to His purposes and into the image of His Son. While we wait for God, something happens in us – we become strengthened, the spiritual sinews of our souls become exercised and we grow in grace...

Often the discipline of waiting is exercised through prayer. Prayer slows us down; it teaches us to reject the urge to go our own way, to trust in our own strength or smartness, to take things into our own hands. Prayer helps us to wait.”

Wait for what? Well, this year, there are 2 aspects of my life I believe the LORD wants me to wait on Him and be patient.

The first is in my career. It was on Ash Wednesday itself that the thoughts of leaving the job came to mind through a chat with my mother. She sensed that I was not happy where I was. Well, on Saturday, the opportunity arose to tell my boss how I felt about the situation.

I was glad that both employer and employee believed that it was a “job mis-match” and I felt a burden being lifted at being at peace. I also believe that the departure from the job was a kairos moment. It happened so quickly that I immediately packed up my things. What’s next? Well, for now, it is just a break and re-assessing my goals. I truet that the LORD will provide the next step.

The second is in the area of relationships. While I am more or less certain that I might have met “my match”, through all that has been said and done, it is not the time to proceed further. I shall be patient and wait on the LORD to reveal that kairos moment.

While waiting, from what has already happened, I think what is needed of me is to build relationships with others and be a friend to others around me. The most important thing is that I pray for the strength to remain patient and like the parable of the growing seed in Mark 4:26-29, allow the seed of friendship to grow “all by itself”, take comfort that the seed is growing though I "do not know how" it does and I look to the day where I can “put the sickle to it because the harvest has come” (v29).

To round it all off, I saw a double rainbow on the way back home from work. The second rainbow might not be very clear from the photo, but if you look a little more carefully, you will see the faint shades of it. I managed to capture that moment with a photo from my mobile phone.

A very pretty sight, don't you think?

The saying goes that your wishes will come true when you see a rainbow. In this case, it is a double rainbow! But, while I am hoping that the desires of my heart will be granted, I trust the LORD will provide - in His time and in His special way.

What is required of me? Following Bishop Solomon's advice: pray because it helps us to wait.

SOLI DEO GLORIA!