One issue that has bothered me recently, if not left me almost thoroughly depressed, is that of the ebb and flow of the Christian faith.  I might not have lived many years yet, but in these thirty odd years I have seen the faith of many Christians burst like fireworks into the night sky, and then dissipate into the darkness leaving little trace of its existence and impact on the daily lives of its spectators.

"A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among throns, which grew up and choked the plants." (Matthew 13 : 3 - 7)

Some friends whom I had laboured with in ministry as a teenager now only cast a faint shadow of their former faith. 

"I’m still looking for a church to settle in", I recall one had told me at a wedding some time ago.  It’s been seven years.

Another is busy pursuing a post-graduate degree overseas - nothing wrong with that in itself - but he has no place for faith in this pursuit.  What happened to the once burning passion to reach out to unreached peoples overseas, or to help build up the newly established local church ?

My parents, who gave me a rich heritage of faith by leaving their Christian books around the house which I in curiousity picked up and read as a child - I think it is now rare if my mother picks up her Bible on any day other than Sunday.

We are running a marathon and not a hundred metre race.  Hebrews reminds us of this

"… let us throw everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us" (Hebrews 12 : 1)

In a marathon, what matters is not just starting, but finishing, well.  Sadly many Christians fall out and fade away after the first few hundred metres.  And recently I’ve been reflecting on whether Joyce and I - in the busyness of our work and parenting - will be able to finish this race gloriously and in good time or whether, like many others before us, we would also fall behind.

I think it is not easy to be a faithful Christian in our complex world.  We are constrained by some apparently very real needs - like providing for our loved ones - and distracted by other very real enticements - like upgrading the car or apartment.  It is not without reason that Jesus taught that

"… small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7 : 14)

Still we must press on - giving up is not an option - looking to the saints who have walked before us for example and inspiration, learning to live as foreigners to this world which entices us to take the straight and wide road which leads to nowhere -

 "All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them from a distance.  And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own … they were longing a better country — a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11 : 13 - 16)

Having lived only thirty odd years, and not expecting (or hoping) to live much longer than the person next to me, I do not know if the story of every Christian who was once passionate for his faith will end in mediocrity.  I do not know if my story will end that way.  I can only draw encouragement from God’s promise that He will see that seed of faith planted in our lives will reach the potential that He had intended it to.

"… being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1 : 6)

"If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for the cannot disown Himself." (2 Timothy 2 : 13)

We decided to send Jed to playschool for half a day every day out of concern that he might get bored with staying at home (he’s very active) and to save my mum’s sanity.  He started this week and here are pictures of him in uniform !

Well, thankfully not.  I get to keep my head on my shoulders for another day.

Our foreign domestic helper returned to Indonesia today, as we no longer have a need for two helpers now that my dad has passed away.  I’m not sure if everyone in my family realises how blessed we were to have her (and the previous helper before her) to help us with Jed and the household chores, especially when my dad was very ill. 

Very sadly, helpers or "maids" as they are often referred to in Singapore, are regarded by many Singaporeans as a sub-class ranking only slightly above construction workers, and (mis)treated accordingly.  The reality is that many families would find it difficult to live as comfortably without their help, that many women would not be able to go out and work full-time (to supplement the family income or to earn personal income) without their help, and that the national economy would not benefit from the contribution of our female populace if we did not have such foreign helpers to help mind our homes.