The end of 2005... Give thanks...

Happy New Year! Just came back from supper with some of mission trip friends. We attended a thanks giving mass at Sts Peter and Paul church where our mission teammate Fr Anselm Phang celebrated the mass tonight.

Not sure why I was not that into any party or count down mood today. Not sure whether is it after what I saw in Banda Aceh that made me think & feel that it’s not that important whether we party or not. Or is it the news that I got this morning that uncle Eng Huat, my dad good friend who I was talk to last week at Christmas lunch, past away quietly in the hospital and also the birth of my cousin David and wife Wai Fun baby girl, created a mix emotions … which is quite hard to describe.

In today’s sermon Fr Anselm mention that some of us might have had a bad year, quite good year and some a good year. And in all cases we have to give thanks. As God has His purpose in it and that we are blessed. He brought up about the mission trip to Banda Aceh about the tsunami victims where many were still staying in tents or in wooden small hut house. And they do not have water. Everyday a big water truck will come by to supply them water. So we here are already blessed.

It was also interesting that he pointed out to us about the Christ birth at the manger and the shepherds. What do shepherds do? They just take care of the sheep. How interesting could it get just taking care of them in the grassland? After sometime things will get routine and bored. And just like some of us in today world where life will become routine and mundane. But then Christ came down to us. And in the end He had to die! Why?... Because He sees that our life is worth it! Think about it…

Also share with that in time our life things goes bad, e.g., your love one past away, encounter relationship problems, you lose your job for 3 years and money is running out… Reflect about Mary (mother Mary) on how she had to go through the struggles and suffering in serving God and giving birth to Jesus.

And he share with the youth is that one important thing in our life is that is you must be aware about God in your life and that is it.

I guess that God has His purpose in wanting us to experience certain ups and downs, good and bad. And certain blessing we will not see it as it has not come into “flower”. I believe God has His own time and own target for it to happen. I pray and hope I will have to faith and hope to see me through my trials and down time, just like Pak Sofian and the other tsunami victims who continue with their lives even after so much damage and suffering and taking each day as they come. And also remembering to give thanks in good times and bad times.

Written on the offering envelope is something to think about…

Thank You, Lord. Let this offering be a representation of the fruit of my labour. May it be a worthy and pleasing thanksgiving, for everything I have, had been given by you.

Thank you and goodbye 2005.