I am a Christian.
I played competitive badminton from secondary school to university level. Some values and principles were ingrained in me: If one gives of one’s best, it is good enough; defeat doesn’t mean failure; and winning graciously is as important as losing graciously. I experienced the empowering impact of teamwork, camaraderie, friendship, humility, integrity, honesty, diligence and responsibility.
I was a sickly child and had three major operations. I remember a nurse telling me “Jesus loves you” when I was wheeled into the operating theatre for my first operation. I remember watching a boy, the only son of an elderly couple, die. My mum and I couldn’t stop crying. I was exposed to pain, suffering and death but I look back very fondly on those long hospital stays because the doctors and nurses treated me with so much love and tenderness. Those days were also some of the happiest days of my life.
- Jim Elliot
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
- Philippians 3:7-12
When I see Christ, these are the words I want to hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
My words and my actions have also been underpinned by what I hope people will say about me during my funeral:
- I was a faithful servant of God
- I was loving and generous towards my family, my colleagues and my friends
- I was always encouraging and empowering people
- I made a positive difference in other people’s lives
- I left the world a better place than when I first came into it
- They saw Christ in me
I ask God daily for four things: the love and compassion of Christ for people; the passion for Christ and His Word; the wisdom of Christ; and the increasing revelation of Christ in my life.
I like my job because it allows me to be creative and to use my abilities well. I have a few very close Christian friends in the workplace. I also e-mail a once-a-month newsletter to some Christian colleagues about Christian issues, articles and events. I’ve been in the same job for about 13 years. I’m still a “Jonah” because I’m not prepared for God’s calling in my life. I’ve asked God to be patient with me, to forgive my disobedience and to give me courage to conquer my fears.
Regardless of whether I am married, I am content with my life because I have God, my family, and my friends, both Christian and non-Christian. Thank God that He has gifted me with the ability to manage loneliness well. I am 35, single and happy most of the time. With God’s grace, I should be able to manage growing old well on my own.
10 years from now (or earlier), I hope I will grow in maturity in my faith. I want to have the ability to support myself (and my parents) if I were to quit my job and take on a part-time one which involves social or community work. I want to pay off my home mortgage. I want to take one year off to help out at orphanages around the world. I want to volunteer with the Singapore Children’s Society or World Vision.
To me, a good life is simple living and meaningful work grounded on faith in Christ and relationships with people.