Truly Asia

I went on a trip to Malaysia for my work on Thursday and Friday with a full plate of things to do. My boss gave me a lift to Senai airport in JB and I was basically on my own. From JB I had to fly to KL, do some stuff there and then fly again to Penang on the same day (Thursday). Stay one night in Penang, do some stuff there then fly back to JB and find transport back to Singapore (Friday).

I thank God for guiding me throughout this trip and providing me with friendly people that gave me friendly directions to get to certain places in the best possible way (apparently taxi is not always the answer). I also thank God for stretching my time making me able to catch all my flights as my schedule was very tight, in fact I almost missed the one from Penang to JB.

Two incidents come to mind as I think about my trip there. First, I was in KL taking the Malaysian version of the MRT to a bus interchange to catch a bus that would get me to the airport. Some guy I approached for directions suggested the train instead of a taxi to avoid the rush hours jams which are massive in KL. It was a brilliant suggestion as I got to the airport with enough time to check in and have my dinner at the airport. I also saw the jams when I was on the train. They were MASSIVE.

But when I was on the train, someone who apparently thought I was a local asked me for directions. He asked, "hello, are you familiar with this area or not?" I said no and that I- like him was not from KL. I don't think it takes too much observation to figure out I was not from KL. First I have a piece of luggage that I was carrying around the entire time I was there. Second, I was blur as sotong during my train journey, anxiously looking for my stop and checking constantly to see of the train I was on was the correct one. I stood out like a sore thumb. Yet the gentleman apparently thought I looked like a local.

The second incident happened when I returned to Singapore. Finally smelling home air after two days of hard work in Malaysia, the feeling was good. I boarded a taxi at Kranji to return to my office in Macpherson. During the journey my taxi driver and I engaged in some small talk. Part of it when something like this.

Taxi driver: "wah, its been raining here everyday. How is the whether in Malaysia?"

Me: "ok lah, it was also raining the 2 days I was there"

Taxi driver: "hah? 2 days only ar, you not Malaysian meh?"

Me: "No I am Singaporean."

Taxi driver: "orr.... I thought you Malaysian..."

Judging from these two incidents, I apparently look like a Malaysian (no offense, I think Malaysians are nice people :) ). Which reminds me of one last thing. I met a potential customer in Penang to give him some brochures of the machines we sell and their prices. When he saw what the machines costs he quiped, "with the amount of money these machines costs, I can buy a plot of land in Malaysia build a house and stay there." Maybe I should do that, since I already look the part.

Love

It is ironic that when the greatest love of all is given so freely, human love has to be earned. It is also often costly and not worth the effort.

Reactions

Sometimes the true colours of a community can be seen not by something horrible and wrong done by someone to or from that community, but by its reaction to it. Still not following? Okay, take for example september 11th, a horrible act no doubt. But it brought to light the unity, determination and tenacity of New Yorkers and the entire American community at large. The reaction to the disaster brought to light the true strength and human spirit of those affect by it.

Unfortunately this time I am covering something less positive. Ted Haggard president of the National Association of Evangelicals (30 million strong) admited to using drugs and the services of a gay prostitute. When the whole thing came to light, he resigned his post and is now suspended from the association he helped found. What made things worse for him was his aggressively anti-gay stance, in fact he recently did a gay bashing sermon in his "Jesus Camp" movie. Now that clip is all over the net serving as an ultimate point in irony and hypocrisy.

Now there is no denying what he did was wrong, there is also no denying that he will eventually bear the consequences of his actions. What Ted Haggard did is not my point, we all have sinned and fallen short just like the Bible said so I am not about to judge. It is the reaction to what he did that I am concerned about. Just watch this.



Jokes aside Jon Stewart in my view was spot on about the reaction of other Chirstian leaders in America regarding this issue. They really seem to be "holier than thou", marginalizing Haggard and dropping him like a political hot potato not even giving thought to how his congregation and his family are affected by all this and how to go about helping them, some went as far as to question the unity and integrity of his congregation most of whom I believe are upstanding Christians. Remember the story where Jesus said, "let he who has no sin cast the first stone"? I think some of the Christian leaders have already casted theirs.

Now here's the thing, if a politican drops a former political ally who has fallen from grace like a "hot potato" we would not even bat an eyelash. Such things are happening in the case of Mark Foley in the US and Chen Shui Bian in Taiwan. Why is that? Because politics is dirty, simple as that. But is reacting that way a right thing for Christians to do? Are not we Christians judged by a higher standard? How will we react if something like this were to happen in Singapore? Why I am asking these questions? Because our true colours might be shown through our reactions.

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

When the sun is high, in the afternoon sky
There will always be something to do
But from dusk till dawn, as the clock ticks on
Something happens to you

In the wee small hours of the morning
When the whole wide world is fast asleep
You lie awake and think about your problems
And never even think of counting sheep

When your troubled self has learnt its lesson
He would help if only you would call
In the wee small hours of the morning
Thats the time you need Him most of all
Thats the time you need Him most of all