Monthly Archive

Yesterday, my Singaporean host parents invited me to attend the last wake service for a Methodist brethren who died of cancer on Friday.  Initially, I was hesitant to join because my Filipino church service ends past 7 pm and the service was to be held in a columbarium on the outskirts of the city.  I later found out that the columbarium was in the middle of a vast cemetery.  Nevertheless I said yes if only to witness with my sociological eyes how a wake service was carried out in Singapore. 

Aside from the fact that everyone including the family leaves the funeral hall after the wake service, I did not notice anything astoundingly different from the way Christian services are carried out in the Philippines.  Although I thought it was unimaginable for a Filipino family to leave a relative’s wake, it was later explained to me that Singaporeans would encourage the practice so as not to heighten the physical and emotional stress on the grieving. 

But what caught my attention really was the sincerity of the entire wake service.  Of course, a wake service has to be sincere, if only its function is to console the weary.  But here, I am referring not only to the careful execution of the programme and the delivery of eulogies and songs but to the emergent theme of the service.  (By this time, I already dumped whatever sociological inquiry I had in mind when I first stepped onto the hall.  I was absorbing every detail as a Christian.)  Although the eulogists were talking about Kelvin’s life, each one had the courage to exclaim "Praise the Lord!"  I was pleasantly awed by how the focus of the wake service was transferred from Kelvin to God.  Even Pastor Poh ended up challenging the audience to consider living for the Lord.

Even if I did not have the privilege of knowing Kelvin personally, the simple yet inspiring stories preached about him were enough to introduce him to me.  Sure, he was imperfect, Pastor Poh said, alluding to some of his character weaknesses.  But over-all, this guy’s life, even to the end, was all about living for the Lord.  In Kelvin’s last blog entry read by a youth he mentored, he wrote "I would rather have cancer and have God than not have cancer and not have God." 

When Pastor Poh visited him weeks before, he asked Kelvin what he wanted to pray for.  Pastor Poh was astonished by the request: "Please pray that I won’t be irritable of the pain because this is not a good testimony for the Lord."  Kelvin did not seek healing, but instead character-formation.  He was still concerned, despite being at the mercy of cancer, of reaching out to the unreached. 

It was, after all, Kelvin’s life that paved the way for the emergent theme of his wake service. 

While listening to each eulogy, I couldn’t help imagine what the people would say of me granted that it’s my turn.  Though I never met Kelvin, I am certain that we will in due time.  When that time comes, I hope to thank him for inspiring me to carry on living a life of meaning for the Lord.  I think alot of people (many were young men and women) whom I saw crying also will.

my bedtime routine involves Bible devotion with the aid of Our Daily Bread, my mom’s gift to me last Christmas.  a couple of days ago, the assigned reading was from ecclesiastes 1 and 12.  it has been my practice to review the historical background of a Bible book especially if it is rarely opened.  (we seldom read our old testament minor prophets, for example.  don’t we scramble for the table of contents whenever the preacher asks us to transfer to, say, habakkuk or zephaniah?)  my Spirit-filled Life Bible is particularly helpful when it comes to providing exegetical information and commentary. 

although the certainty of ecclesiastes’ authorship is yet be achieved, one can associate it with solomon using its internal evidence.  one can also surmise that he wrote this at the end of his kingship, which sadly was ruined by having 700 wives and 300 concubines.  these ultraelectromagneticsuperextra-marital affairs led the wisest man who ever lived to commit idolatry and its most abominable practices such as offering children to deities.   old king of the world’s superpower then, solomon could be considered as having "been there, done that." 

and he thought he had every reason to be happy.  but chapter 1 proves him wrong.  in his own reflection, he confesses that all is vanity, that life is but a breath.  after many years of hibernating, solomon’s wisdom was bugging the man again.  the next chapters of ecclesiastes deal with his regrets and sentiments on the life that would  soon be over. 

but did he die utterly disappointed?  looks like he did not.  in chapter 12, a resolution appears.  after having "been there and done that," the author finally enjoins the reader to "fear the Lord and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all." 

here, solomon (or the author), like the prodigal son, was returning to the source of his life.  that short sentence became a resounding reminder to me that my life is but a breath and the only thing that will make it worthwhile is by living it in humble obedience to God’s purposes for me. 

2005 is over and a new year has begun.  My previous year was full of breakthroughs in terms of professional and academic growth and spiritual maturity.  but i know for a fact that one way or another i got myself into trouble by going back to the old life defined by behavior idolatrous and adulterous to the God i love.  and so for this year, i am challenging myself to seek God’s direction, to desire increased faith, and to follow His will.  i have one more year in singapore and i’d like every day to be sincerely meaningful.  because all other things are mere vanity.