Freedom

Yes everyone, I know it, you know it, almost everyone knows it...

MY EXAMS ARE OVER! FREEDOM BECKONS!!

I know many people who would be so very happy to relish the fact that they can finally say this statement out loud; I even know one or two that would jump into a swimming pool fully-clothed to celebrate, BUT the fact is, I have mixed feelings over this statement. The reason, well for one, I'm not sure how I fared this time around, it wasn't exactly an easy paper, in fact it was THE SINGLE, TOUGHEST, MOST SWEAT-INDUCING examination I have ever sat for!!

You want proof: The invigilator tells us meddies that time's up... You can see the look of despair and frustration on our faces. No, we wanted more time, we wanted to be able to hand up something of more worth, not hand in unjustified pieces of paper that could bear with more words, more scribbles, ANYTHING to fill in the blanks and "transgress the whiteness" of the papers. We were divided into two groups for this exam, and because the other group finished earlier, they were relieved a few minutes earlier. Even inside my exam hall, I could hear some of my fellow meddies swearing and cursing outside. For the record, I'm sure I'm pretty good at defending my points and arguments, so I shall stop here. :)

But amidst all the confusion and mind-racking that came from answering 74 Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs) and 8 Short Answer Questions(SAQs), I am finally happy that it is OVER, FINISHED, DONE WITH! I have many other things to look forward to: 3 weeks of holidays, sleeping (yeah I think I need that after 2+ weeks of intense revision), watching my favourite TV series, going back to JB (again!), etc. As you can see with my updated countdown timer (previously it counted down to my exam that I just sat for hours ago), I'm now looking forward to the CF camp that will be held in a place in Seremban. According to Sarah, the venue is similar to the one they use for the DNA. I will be going with her, along with Grace, Rachel, Jun Yet & Nick. I'm hoping it will be a great experience for all of us to fellowship with one another, and a refreshing encounter with our Lord. :)

When we are given choices (oh, I was given a lot of choices just now in the MCQs =p), it gives us a sense of freedom in making a decision or coming to a conclusion. As we grow older, we mature (hopefully) physically, mentally and emotionally. But the big question is: Do we, as Christians, mature "spiritually" as we get older?? What is your definition of a "spiritually mature" Christian??

Unfortunately, I will not answer those questions as I'm not qualified to give a definitive answer, and yeah I'm studying medicine, not theology =p. However, let me tackle the issue of freedom from another angle. As we grow older, we are given more freedom, more responsibilities, and ultimately, more choices. DECISIONS & CHOICES, life would be much simpler without them, but a whole lot less fun! This applies especially to tough ones where very often, it is not always obvious to us which road to take.

However, the Bible tells us to ask God for wisdom. Psalm 32:8 says, "'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you,' says the Lord." The Bible doesn't say that God will tell us exactly what to do, instead it says that God gives us wisdom to decide. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

Now, I would like to share with my readers a heart-warming story about a disabled boy whom due to a single, unselfish choice that another person made, was given the opportunity to do something he never thought he would or could do. The story is quite a long one (and emo), but I can assure you that once you finish reading it, your perspective on making choices will never be the same again! YOUR CHOICE!!

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children,the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked,"Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

Everyone was screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay".

Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."

Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Just something to think about...

Each of us is given some form of freedom and countless opportunities to make a difference in our world. Paradoxically, the crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice:

Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity, or do we pass up that opportunity to brighten the day of those around us who are the least able, and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said that every society is judged by how it treats its least fortunate amongst them.

So make the right choices today ppl... With Love,

~Tim~