Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Keep watch!
If my life were a rollercoaster ride, then I must say recently it has been one hell of a ride! Indeed, recently I've been through a lot, and even so it seems to me like more of an understatement. Sometimes, it really takes an important - painful even - to wake you up and make you see the world around you...Okay. So I'm basically very, very bothered by an egregious mistake I made during evaluation. Regrettably to say, me and my buddy was caught during outfield sleeping during sentry. And while I was, initially, apprehensive about the remarks due to some factors that might mitigate the punishment or even to the extent of clearing my name, I soon realised that I was indeed at fault, and I've got no choice but to take it like a man.
What was very maddening was the way the punishments were... let's just say, presented to me. Just after that outfield, I fell sick and spent the whole National Day weekend in bed. And before I could recover, I received a call from my superior (shan't say who) about taking over somebody's duty ON THAT DAY ITSELF! I had no way of protesting because that was my punishment. So my block leave was interrupted, when it was due to start that day and give us a nice long break.
I received another call on Friday from the duty personnel, saying that the same arrow has shot me twice in a week, this time as SUNDAY GUARD!!! Great! My plans for Saturday night were effectively gone, including going to Marina Bay to watch the YOG Opening Ceremony. It wasn't till late - very late indeed - Saturday that I was told only to book in on Sunday morning, seemingly the best news for the whole week.
I couldn't help but become wholly depressed and emotional for the next few days, having endured so much s**t in the span of one week. I didn't want to tell anybody or let anybody find out about all these, and the hints I gave on Facebook were subtle (or at least I think it's subtle), but somehow friends could find out out of nowhere, such as when a good friend called the company office and I was the person answering.
And mine did as soon as the guard duty finished...
Enjoyed every moment of it! And with time available now at night, most of them are spent outside with friends, doing the things I love the most. Although it's going to come to an end this week, I'm glad that I've recharged myself by the time this finishes. I wouldn't have any regrets, that's for sure.
And thank you friends and confidants so, so much for all the support you've been giving me. In the sense of the word, you guys really make me feel loved. I'm so blessed to be among you people and will always be grateful to you guys. :)
But after saying so much, you might be surprised to know that this is not my focus for today's post.
I want to talk about the lesson I've really learnt from that initial incident, and along the way, I've been edified and encouraged in the same way. Bear with me, but I think this, for me, is serious enough to warrant such a long post today.
The incident about me sleeping during outfield has bugged me, but none more than that inner voice that reminded of the uncanny similarity between that and the parables in the Bible that taught about the greatest secret ever kept: the time of Jesus' second coming. In a nutshell, it is about being vigilant, to make sure you are never caught off-guard, like I did.
So it says in Matthew 24:
- 42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
I have been reminded by this very passage about my lifestyle. I've realised I'm not doing enough - keeping vigil in this sense - to earn that all-important ticket to heaven. And I was greatly edified during sharing on Sunday, when some guys reminded me of the exact same thing from their experiences. Seems like this passage has gotten my attention, if that's what God is trying to tell me.
And when I think about the signs of the end times, where one will "hear of wars and rumours of wars" and experience "famines and earthquakes in various places". Truthfully, I think the biblical birth pains are getting more apparent and may I say, ominous.
So, let's keep watch together!
8:48 PM By KayAik JiaYi 0 Comments
