#93 Travelling light(17jul06)

....godliness with contentment is great gain'
For we brought nothing nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.'
1 Timothy 5:6

In the days of the Cold War, one rarely hyped but very real fear was the fact that the old Soviet Union and Mao's Red China were ruled by a fair number of spetuagenarians and octogenarians.
For the bemused sci-fi fans, these are not new undiscovered creatures from the great unexplored reaches of our Universe but rather the highly skewed age of men whose very struggled commands could trigger the launch of a nuclear war and the decimation of our much abused Mother Earth many times over.
Given that mortality of man is not a myth, would the thought process and priorities of those nearing the Gates of Hades be the same as the rest of the world who have not seen enough of the changing seasons.

Today, thankfully, the worst fears of the world have not come to fruition. In fact, the very experiences that shaped the lives of the ruling communists elite has resulted in a materially more liberal world. Gorbachev signed away the shackles that gripped the old Soviet Union and its satellite nations. Deng Xiao Ping's farsighted recognition that 'constrained capitalism' will go a long way towards rejuvenating the ebbing powers to be, did wonders for China.

'....follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness..........'
1 Timothy 5:11-12

Letting go is not the exclusive right of Christians(though letting a God who loves seems to be). The varied range of secular and non-secular beliefs that men subscribed to, do offer variations of this route to nirvana.
Doing good, living good is also not the sole purview of followers of Christ. There are many monumental stories and examples of the good, a non-Christian man is capable of.

'Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you'
Jeremiah 32:17

The seeds of Adam and Eve, have been living a life of toil, and when all is done, return back as dust to the earth.
Immortality is a goal some have aspired to but never quite achieved. Material well-being and its sense of satisfaction, though temporary, has men since time immemorial, working as if it is for eternity, yet never quite fulfilling its promise.

"Born Loser" is that light-hearted syndicated cartoon that provides a humorous caricature of the life of a less than successful man. A man whose life many of us could identify with in various shades.

Not too sure if many of us are literally taking Darwin's evolution of life to its extreme interpretations, but societies today and in the past generally and implicitly encourages an 'aping' of what they, men hold as high benchmarks of achievements. But is the imperfect man, the right arbiter and appropriate trendsetter??

As you reflect upon this very nice caricature of Darwin, do ponder upon how life is often quite burdensome, even if one is blessed or cursed with all the attributes that society values. Just like the world is now reflecting upon what truly triggered that moment of madness in Zidane when he headbutted the Italian player, many of us would love to fathom what were the cross current of thought swirling in Warren Buffet's mind when he brought a whole new meaning to the word 'buffett spread' by his wonderful generosity.

I am a lesser man. I choose to take the route well heard of, but less understood and even less travelled. I rather not carry the burden of my own understanding and instead, choose to travel light by looking to the source of all grace, love and enlightenment, Our Sovereign God.


'.....................The Lord Will Provide........'
Genesis 22:14


'Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need'
Hebrews 4:16

Like the early disciples of Jesus Christ, let us learn to put do away with the necessary paraphernalia that the world deem necessary for our well-being, but rather, learn to be like Jesus Christ, who kept faith and let God lead him, even to the ends of mortal life.

'And without faith it is impossible to please God, for that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him..'
Hebrews 11:6

It is indeed difficult to be like Christ, for unlike God, we are not perfect. But to be like Christ, we must desire to be perfected and travelling light does not mean not travelling right. Do reflect upon the words of Apostle Paul when he urged us all to

'Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.......'
'...Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit......'
Ephesians 6:10-20

God Blesses

Eng Hieang