Goodbye and Hello

Dear Diary,

Was reading up a little on Molinism, which is a doctrine thought out by a Jesuit priest Molina, to reconcile the concept of God’s grace and free will. It stands in between Calvinism and Arminianism in terms of concept. In more extreme Protestant circles, Molinism is viewed as Rome’s attempt to destabilise the “Sola Fide” concept of the Reformation during the Counter-Reformation era. Anyway, it sounds pretty convincing to me to a certain extent because I truly believe in the free will of Man. Not so much because I am ego-centric and love to subscribe to a concept that I hold the final decision to my destiny, but rather because I believe that God died to save the whole world and not just the elect (or what we commonly know as the predestined people). So everyone has a chance to be saved and to benefit from Christ’s redeeming sacrifice on the cross. While God knows the future of our decisions, we are freely able to make that decision by His grace. I never quite understand how it is possible but the “middle knowledge” concept of Molinism seems to cleverly explain that. Whether it is true or not, it is another matter though… Nevertheless, while it may be interesting to delve into such controversies, we must not forget that ultimately it is by grace that we come to God through the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Pretty happy that after more than 13 years as a Christian, I managed to at long last speak to a former primary school classmate whom I knew for 19 years about Christianity. It was on a Thursday (24 Jul) afternoon late lunch at 3.30pm. We were having some good food (slightly >$30/head) at Breeks café in Ngee Ann City when we spoke about it. Hope he really gives some thought on the Gospel I shared with him. We had earlier watched that incredibly good movie “The Dark Knight” which featured the late Australian actor Heath Ledger as the Joker. =) Sometimes, I really wish that coming to Christ is simple for everyone and that everyone will ultimately be saved. However, I know this is not the way things are going to be and that in hoping that, I am myopic in my human nature. I will never understand how God thinks but I fully trust that God in His divine nature will be fair and just to every single one of us even though we may not fully understand His plans.

Yesterday (25 Jul), a Friday, was the last day of my work in Watsons. That is if you haven’t know that I worked there all these while, haha… I went back to the outlet where it all started, Toa Payoh branch. It was quite proper that the conclusion linked back to the beginning, yeah? One colleague came along to pass me the Dinner & Dance 2008 door gift. I did not attend that occasion because I had to cover a major store so that the rest could attend. It was nice talking to him but a couple of confirmations on some shocking news made me… made me feel sad? It looks like the department has to do something effective quickly to boost morale and manpower, or else it will stay mired with restrictive burdens and never reaching its fullest potential. I typed a farewell email to the department, sent my over-time claims by fax for the last time, ate lunch from the Teochew porridge stall at the Hub’s food court for the last time, ate vegetarian food for dinner at the Fork & Spoon food court for the last time, sitting under the tree and breathing in that anion-filled air under the dark starry sky at that esplanade just in front of that Courts building… Yes… all the “last times”… maybe I will miss that retail / community pharmacist’s life? I don’t know. Two ladies from another branch came along and passed to me some stuff on behalf of a pharmacist. It was a gigantic card (probably A3 size) signed by many of my colleagues and a $120 Robinson’s voucher as a farewell gift. I am really touched by that.

Strangely, the last person I spoke to in person before I ceased being an employee of that company was an elderly male store assistant. I bid him farewell and he asked me when I would be back working in this outlet. I told him that yesterday was my last day, and before I could attempt to remind him again… He chuckled, “Yeah, must remember to take my Gingko regularly.” I had spent about half-an-hour that day, telling him how I am taking Gingko also and packaging that act as being “hip”. Yes, I was trying to promote patient’s compliance to curb his slide towards senility. Goodbye to my first job, the colleagues, the lifestyle, the friends, the patients, the customers, the memories… The two-month notice, which I thought was super-long, went by like a tinkling of an eye. Now, there is no looking backwards but ahead. =)Goodbye to the past.

Hello to the future! Hahaha... This morning, my parents placed an order for a new Toyota car at Borneo Motors. I am buying over Dad’s Opel Meriva. So, tentatively… by 1st August, I officially own my first car in my life! I meant… I have always tell myself that I will only buy one when I get married but it just goes to show that circumstances never usually go as planned, haha… This year is really the year-of-change… another turning point of my life. Maybe I will progress too in finding someone I can take care of for the rest of my life? ;-) It sure gets more exciting from now on, haha… I love how one Indian colleague signed off on my farewell card, “I sense great things coming your way.” Amen! Haha…Take care! =P

God Bless,

Andrew