Have you ever felt like your life is a constant series of meaningless motion, hemmed in by life's constant demands, pressures from society and often overwhelming hopelessness and uncertainty of where your life is heading? I have and I'm pretty sure that just about everyone feels that too, some time or other, and more than once too.
For the young child, it's the security of knowing that he/she is constantly loved, protected and provided for. For the teenager, it's wondering what he/she will become in his/her adult years. For the young adult, who will be his/her life-partner. For the adult, how will he/she carry the responsibilities of caring for the family and for the senior adult, the resources for the golden years. Do you notice that at every stage, it's towards
achieving or obtaining something, for the next stage in life? It's a never-ending pursuit, probably necessary (to most of us anyway) but meaningless. It's never enough, just keeps going on and on with no end in sight, until the day we die and return to dust. And the best part is, we can't even take what we've accumulated on earth into our "next life"...Ha! Who ever said that "life was like a box of chocolates???"
This whole long process of life has left many weary and burdened. Is there no hope? Is there ever going to be meaning to our efforts and struggle? Jesus knew what we are all going through. Jesus himself probably felt as if his own ministry on earth was a "bleak" situation. He started off on his own and subsequently faced violent opposition from the religious leaders and the task of training his 12 very "un-educated, un-polished and un-prepared" disciples to carry on the gospel to the world. If anything, Jesus ministry seemed a very "hopeless" situation. But if done by divine power, anything can happen...the impossible became possible. And Jesus experienced His Father's love and power, giving those who are weary and heavy-ladened his promise as recorded in Matthew 11:28-30 :
"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
God is the Creator of the universe and all that's in it, so who knows us best but God himself. We were all made with a purpose and God brings about experiences and challenges into our lives, not to make life difficult but to mold and train us to our highest potential, as he sees us and not as the world sees us. But most of all, to draw us into close fellowship with him. Each one's "yoke" is custom-made, so that the yoke itself would not be a burden but instead to help bear the load effectively. That's why, each person's life is different, unique and planned by God. If we compare and wish to have the life of another, we are wanting to use the ill-fitted yoke of another to carry our own load. The grass is never greener on the other side of the fence.
I was just sharing with a friend that life with God is like a roller-coaster ride.
Life is filled with the ups, downs and loops of blessings, challenges and un-expected circumstances that can really throw you out of your seat. During the ride of your life's journey, you're filled with fear as the track flips you upside-down and takes a sudden plunge into the unknown but there are also the peaks of triumph and elation as you climb and toil up the mountain of achievements and blessings. But through it all, there is that sense of security because God is right there, holding on to us tightly with his seat-belt of love, grace and peace. And like the roller-coaster, at the end of the ride, you're just so glad that you've made it safely to the ground. With God, life is never boring...with God, life is indeed "like a box of chocolates...you'll never know what you're gonna get..."
Everyone...Let's gather round and sing the birthday song...
The family gathering around Ee Ee's homemade fruit cake (which contained 1/2 bottle of brandy...no wonder the 3 kids looked kinda tipsy in the next photo... ;p)
Living it up, karaoke style...the making of a new band with Ee Ee as the lead singer and MH & MJ as the backup singers (or dancers) or would they prefer to be Ee Ee's bouncers/bodyguards...
One family photo for the road...
Another family photo for the album....great night, great night!!!
