Reflections for the moment #43 Spring Chickens (18nov09)

Dear…

'Now you shall say to this people, "Thus says the Lord: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.'

Jeremiah 21:8

A friend just told me that much as some have aspirations for Singapore to be one of the fashion capitals of the world, it will never happen, simply because as a country, we have a fundamental deficiency, that is, we do not have the benefit of the four seasons. Our tropical, wet and sunny weather do place limitations on creating diversity and scope for changes, for that is what fashion is.

But independent of the climatic constraints, we humans do go through broad seasonal changes, and I am not referring to our temperament, but rather our life cycles. Our birth is like the beginnings of a new Spring, with all its innocence and hopes. Summer finds us at our youthful best, moving from the vibrant youth to forging a wonderful new career. The roses in full bloom has never smelt better. With a surfeit of cumulated assets and burdens, the aging process does creep up on us steadily, and for many, much as we try to push back the Autumn of our lives, just like falling leaves in Fall, our crowning glory will peter out, or at least turn ashen grey. And what about Winter? A cursory glance of the obituary pages is a testimony to the reality that all of us eventually will not see a new Spring.

'Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures. Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, I am and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow. Nor shall I know the loss of children. But these two things shall come to you. In a moment, in one day. The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness.'

Isaiah 47:8-9

Statistical data does give most comfort that the median lifespan in our developed country, with its excellent health care and clean environment, would mean that lifespans are longer. For men in the 70s, and maybe for women a few years more. But reality is, life is unpredictable and can be snuffed out in all brevity, when one least expect and is prepared for. And even if one manages to stay within the norm as far as lifespan is concerned, is your life truly one of joy and peace or is it often miserable, once the temporal happiness of material cumulation or even self actualization wears off? Much as many try to anchor their discomfort in an insecure world through material accumulations and building perceptions and personas; miseries and a troubled soul cannot be squirrelled away like one's material wealth and even then, that is temporal.

In my younger days, we stayed in a kampung or small village, and owning a chicken coop put us one class above those who only had a few chickens running free range. I do visit the coop quite regularly, for it was much easier for a young kid to deposit the by-product of his wanton and often excessive indulgences, and the chickens cooped up in their designated spot, knew me quite well. Of course, I am not alone all the time, and the neighbours' strutting cockerels can be quite territorial and have no qualms about pecking me where it hurts, often mistaking the fledging child's symbol of future manhood for a bigger than normal worm.

Enough of childhood reminiscences. But the question that begs to be asked is, "is the well fed but cooped up chicken much better off diligently laying eggs every early morning till it is no longer productive and its final rites or service is to be served as cooked meat for Chinese New Year, any better off than the scrawny free range chickens running awry, always searching for food left on the dusty floors, or even that occasional worm? Today, it has become the trend to eat free range chickens, aka Kampung Chickens because they are perceived to be healthier, given that they are not couch potatoes like the cooped up chickens and they are less likely to be fed antibiotics. But have you ever seen what these Kampung birds eat? They might not put the gregarious goat to shame, but it will give your stomach more than a little churn.

'Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night,before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
Matthew 26:34

It will indeed be stretching our friendships a little dangerously taut if I were to equate any of us with the hare-brained birds. But for all our intellect, man is finite, not just in lifespan, for that is given, but even in our understanding and abilities, much as some might want to believe that they can control their destiny. Birds of a feather might flock together, but reality is, whichever breed one emotionally might belong to, to live a life that takes a bet that God is either not Sovereign or does not exist at all, can have ramifications beyond one's bodily demise.

The Dodo bird might be extinct, but for us men, bodily shell will turn to dust, our soul that gives us so much angst, for our mind is self deceiving might matter less when we fizzle out, but where will our spirit be in eternity? Will it be with the loving Lord our God, or in the permanent boiling pot with the wrong company of the devil and his demons. And I am not talking about the fictional book but a reality that you can affirm now by coming unto the Lord's presence while still kicking. No need to horrors of horrors find out too late when the disbeliever ends up as a broiled chicken in perpetuity.

'For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord bestows favor and honour, no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.'

Psalm 84:11-12

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(18Nov09)

Note
- do thank you for your forbearance with my whimsical thoughts today. Something light for a change, but if what is shared is true, then these are no featherweight matters to be taken lightly. To know God, you will have to want to move out of your comfort zone. It is true that most find it daunting to jump out of the hothouse, much as it is unbearable, but at least it is known, rather than into the unknown.

God understands our imperfections and our journey with Him is for most, a series of little steps. We can control our next step,much as we know not where it might lead to. And much as the free ranging Kampung chicken might seem quite deranged, skittering here and everywhere, but it knows how to zero in fast to the next available food that presents itself.

What about you? Do you know your purpose in life and more importantly, does life give you that joy and peace?

'Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.'
Philippians 2:4

And on that, look forward to having you join us at this Sat's Thanksgiving at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children's Home at 10a.m. The first step towards love is always the hardest.

And finally, just in case you are wondering, spring chicken as defined refers to young chicken of less than 28 days old and of a lighter weight of 400-450 gms. My bounce at least in physique is not the same, but I am still a sprightly cockerel with a renewed zest for life, a life that rest upon the Rock our Lord.