Our Worth

Dear Diary,

Frankly, I do ask myself why I am still typing on this blog, haha... a quick glance through my former classmates’ blogs and I realised that most of them have given up their online presence. Maybe it is part of the growing up process... I don’t know. This morning, I attended a wedding ceremony in my church. It is actually the first time I attend a wedding held in my church with that Anglican liturgy. The holy matrimony process could be better I guess... it is just too solemn! I mean we need to be serious at times since marriage is indeed a covenant and a vow unto God to be committed in matrimony, but I am sure the bridegroom could incorporate some speech or maybe even sing a song... I think I probably got influenced by some highly “entertaining and flamboyant” marriages I attended previously. Oh well... even a simple ceremony requires a long tedious process of preparation and planning.

After the holy matrimony service, we proceeded to have buffet lunch at the Plaza Market Cafe nearby. It was a nice time of getting together. Managed to meet up some church friends whom I hadn’t seen for ages. I don’t know if that is coincidence or what... but it seemed like the we sat in segregates subconsciously... the active young adults and the young adults who do not attend meetings regularly (me included). Nevertheless, it was a nice afternoon of international food buffet and catching up with some old friends. It is amazing how people know you are getting on because of the Facebook updates! The power of such online social portal... It just occurred to me that many of us were successful people... executives, lawyers, bankers, engineers... many had rich fathers...

What if... yes, what if the first Singaporean to die in a terrorist attack in Mumbai is not a young rich lawyer who enjoyed her life? What if her husband and other family members are not prominent figures? What if she is not from a top college (VJC) or university (NUS) or profession (law)? Will the media still report with such compassion and lavishing attention? Will people still moan her loss and be so fixated with it? It may sound harsh but I believe that the answer is a flat “no”. The world has always credited attention that is directly proportional to the social status and achievement of that individual. Achieve something which is regarded as a success in the world’s perception and people will praise you to the skies on almost every aspect. At times, I do wonder what kind of media coverage I will generate if I was that Mumbai victim? Will people have anything nice to say about me or will I just fade quickly into oblivion? Then again, is it important? I remember the old story of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain when he and his pal Huckleberry Finn attended their own funerals! Hahaha... Of course, they only heard good stuff about themselves! ;-)

Yet, I am reminded that it is not fame or men’s approval we should seek. Those are temporal. Thankfully, there is a God who looks beyond all our capabilities, our achievements, our eloquence, our beauty... He looks at us as his children. However, as much as God loves us, He cannot tamper with our free will. If we turn to Him, you can be sure that He will receive you as a long-lost child as depicted in the parable of the prodigal son, absolved of our sins and reinstated as a child of God. If we do not acknowledge God in our lives and choose to live a self-centred life, we will be held accountable for our deeds and judged appropriately by a just God at the end of times.

May we live a life pleasing to God and leave an eternal legacy recorded in the pages of heaven! ;-) That’s about all, have a nice long weekend if you are a Singaporean!

God Bless,

Andrew