What marked the last two decades of my working life were airports, hotels and business meetings in faraway places. I had spent the first five years working for multinational corporations before delving into the exciting world of business. I joined the trading business which Connie and her brother had set up. My role as Director of Business Development meant that I had to bring existing products to new countries and new products to existing countries. As a result, I had the opportunity to develop business and friendships all over Asia and Europe. I burn the air miles having to service the agents and business partners in the various countries as well as countries which I have never been to but had much potential. There was something exciting about all this and I enjoyed it to a certain extent.
Connie and I would often look at how fast our children were growing up and realize how they would soon have their own lifes. Funny how this thought never arose when they were learning to walk or when we were frantically changing diapers amidst cries from attention deficit siblings. Instead, now when they are at the door of adolescence just before they take off to college we ask what would it be like for us? Is this what they call mid-life crisis?
One thing that has remained constant in my life since I was 9 years old is my faith in Jesus Christ. As my understanding of what a relationship with Jesus meant, I grew fonder of my faith. I grew to realize that grace meant I can come to Christ in my weakest and most broken moments. It was not about how good I was but how loving He was. This constant was what drove me in most of what I did; my family life, my business, my relationships and my future. It is this faith which has taken me to the next step of my life.
Early this year, 2012, I embarked on a journey unknowing of where it will take me. I entered a seminary as a student in order to study the Bible full time. I have always wanted to study the Bible in a seminary part time but knew I could not juggle all that was on my plate. I do not know what the next 20 years of my adult life would hold (God willing that amount of time) but I know that whatever I have accumulated over the last 20 years will culminate in something significant. Whatever experience I have received and lessons learnt will prepare me for the next phase of life. Like a sojourner going off to the distant hills carrying his kungFu, clothes and staff.
Do you ever get the feeling you are at the door of something significant but don’t know what to expect? This is it - a journey of faith and excitement. I know I am exactly where I ought to be for now and I will see where this road leads me to. Whatever it may be….. I have my faith, my family and my life lessons to carry with me.
