When we left Sydney in 2009 to work abroad, there were two of us – my wife and I. Our son was born a few years after that. In March this year, all three of us came back to Sydney to visit family. Our four weeks holiday quickly turned into a long outdrawn stay when the COVID-19 pandemic worsed, closing borders around the world.
We were meant to fly back to Bangkok on 20 April. But a cancellation email from the airline came as expected. The Thai authorities issued a ban of all incoming international flights till the end of April. This ban was subsequently extended a number of times, several weeks at a time.
Living with uncertainty makes it very difficult to plan one’s life. Without knowing when we might return to our ‘home’ and having to visit this question every several weeks. We resorted to not focus on the ‘when’ but instead cherish the moments we get to spend with our family and friends (initially virtually but as the lockdown measures were relaxed, we were able to see others face-to-face).
We were fortunate enough to have families we can stay with. However, there are still decisions that need to be made in our day-to-day lives. With the weather getting colder, do we buy more winter clothes (knowing fully well that we will not be able to use them in a tropical location like Bangkok)? Do we continue to pay rent for our home in Bangkok? How much should I invest to set up a remote office? What do we do with our son’s schooling?
It turns out that our journey on earth is not much different from this period of time we are facing right now. When Jesus talks about the second coming in Matthew 24:36 (NIV), He said,
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”.
Nevertheless, while living on earth, we have many decisions to make in our day-to-day lives. We make plans about where to live, which school to go to, what career to pursue, where to go on vacation, and many other important decisions. These are by no means unimportant questions that we should address, but we must remember the good old hymn “This World Is Not My Home”. We need to be careful of not settling in too well in this world at the same time to focus less on the ‘when’ but rather what we can do while here.
I found reflecting on the three questions listed by Bob Goff in his recent book ‘Dream Big’ to be useful in reminding ourselves of our ultimate destination:
Who Are You?
Positive psychologists believe that from our early days, our experiences shape our sense of identity. But when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal saviour, we received a new identity. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Where Are You?
Goff says “think biography not geography”. We are all at different stages of our life journey. But no matter where we are at, one thing is certain, there will always be challenges and struggles. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) – 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
What Do You Want?
A good part of Goff’s book is about answering this question and setting our ambitions. Philippians 2:13-14 (NIV) – 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing. What we want to do is closely related to what we are talented. One must examine the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25 but that might require a different article.
As we continue our journey on earth, let us check in on these reflections every now and then. In my case, I will now put 1 Peter 2:9 on a post-it note and stick it on the bathroom mirror, at least, until we return to Bangkok.
WRITER: Ka-Fa Wong, attends Bangkok International Church of Seventh-Day Adventists.