45th Birthday Reflection: Teach me to number my days that I may gain the heart of wisdom

Maybe I love the sea because one of the images that I used to describe my journey is the windsurfer. Indeed riding the waves by catching the wind is parallel to the journey thus far: Catching the wind of God to move me up in various seasons of my life.

Maybe I love the sea because another image that I would use for reflection of my 45^th Birthday is the rower. The rower looks back to go forward. In rowing, the rower sits in the boat facing the stern (back). He rows with his back facing the front of the boat. The rower moves towards his destination with his back towards his destination and his front view behind. 

From the image of the rower, what can I learnt and what are my prayers?

1) Complete the race WELL.

I want to reach the destination. I want to complete the race WELL. Maybe I have mellowed in my competitive nature 😊. I can afford to lose other games or sports but not this one. I want to complete it WELL. I do not want to lose sight of my destination: Christ. I do not want to lose my bearing of becoming more like Christ. I want to be able to navigate well. Because one can lose sight of the destination and the bearing.

Therefore, my prayer is that I would be taught to number my days so that I may gain a heart of wisdom. That I would use each day well in my navigation towards Christlikeness. Much grace is needed.

2) Motivate others along that route    

The rower looks at the back of the boat as he rows forward to his destination. I picture myself in this scene whereby there are also rowers behind the route that I am taking. We are in the same journey All of us need motivation. And it is so encouraging to know that someone ahead of you have reached the next checkpoint or target. This gives confidence that it is possible or attainable, even if along the route we have setbacks and we made mistakes along the way. Remember that according to the rower’s imagery, those setbacks and mistakes have passed. We look back at setbacks and we row forward. We learn from our mistakes and we row forward. I want to be one who will be able to produce such motivation and encouragement to those behind, especially in my 2^nd half 😊.

It will be so joyful and even glorious to have all complete the race together.

Therefore, my prayer is that I would create positive memories, milestones and means for those coming alongside and behind me, especially for my wife and 2 daughters. May I not stumble them in their journey of faith. Instead, may I model a positive example of what it is to be on this Christlike journey in all seasons. May this ‘work in progress’ (me) be an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Much grace is needed.

 

Do I really love the sea? Yes. I love its color and the activities one can engage with. Maybe later I will drop by to say hi. But for today, my prayer is really ‘Lord, teach me to number my days and make each day useful in my journey’ 

 

Reflection on our 17th Wedding Anniversary (One more day…)

 

One more day and it will be my wedding Anniversary. Married on the 6^th March 2004, tomorrow is my 17^th Anniversary. I did a calculation recently to have a feel of the number of days together as a married couple. It was about 6208 days. 6208 days and counting will be my journey with the one whom I made a vow before God: “…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy law…”

I am thankful for this journey with Michelle. I am thankful that given the number of days together, we had grown closer intimately, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. If each day reflects a step towards a destination, I want to number my days in wisdom and perseverance to that. At the end of our journey, I want to say that we have become more like Christ and we have left an example for the children to follow: an example of loving God by loving each other.

Loving each other authentically will be a great visual for the children to see. Having a great marriage gives the next generation confidence to have a great marriage themselves. The best gift to the children is a great marriage whereby they can see how love is being demonstrated and how love can transform individual.   

I am thankful for the environment that I have in this journey with Michelle. It is an environment that I am safe to be who I am and be transformed to who I can really be. The environment whereby safety, protection, patience, kindness, care, forgiveness is available. It is in such safe environment that I can openly ‘shout’ my views and make decisions (some are bad decisions) and yet have a loving wife embracing me. It is in such a fun environment that I can crack a joke and talk ‘nonsense’ and have that ‘look’ given to me 😊. It is in such nurturing and patient environment that mistakes made were corrected and mindset and heart were corrected and challenged. I am thankful for this environment whereby positive formation can take place. And this will not be possible if the Lord has not provided a good wife. Truly as written: ¹⁰ A good wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. ¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. ¹² She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. Prov 31:10–12 (RSV)

I am thankful and I am counting more good days ahead…I am blessed.