From the picture, we can see that a map is useful as it tells us where we are, and indicates the possible places for people to go. In the fellowship outing held on Wednesday at the Singapore Botanical Gardens, we arrived knowing what we wanted to do, but with no fixed location in mind. In the end, we simply wandered until we stumbled upon an open space which suited our activity nicely.
On hindsight, it seemed strange. Why didn’t I (or anyone else for that matter) feel worried about not having a place to settle down and begin playing? I guess the answer is pretty obvious. With such a large area to choose from, there is certainly no shortage of space.
This leads me to consider the parallels that can be drawn with the nature of missions. Firstly, the general mood of the group of us was high, possibly because we looked forward to fun times ahead. Unfortunately, when it comes to missions, I am unable to cultivate the same level of enthusiasm. Perhaps this is the reason why many missionaries are held in high esteem. It is never easy to leave the comfort of our homes and venture into other areas to spread the Word. Seeing how we are commissioned to spread the Word, it is therefore important for us to look forward to letting others know about the Gospel. For myself, I am still hesitant about venturing into these areas, but I sincerely hope that a day would come where I would be able to fulfil the duty that is bestowed upon me.
In such a large park, there is no shortage of places to play. Likewise in the world out there, we are all aware that there are plenty of areas for us to go forth and spread the Word. Yet, worries about livelihood and survival are one of the most commonly cited reasons why people are unwilling to risk travelling to unknown territories to conduct missionary work. This also brings me to the map. Often times, missionaries do not have the luxury of having a map telling them where to go. Even though they may be sure of what they set out to accomplish, there is always a lingering worry that there might not be a suitable place where the people are receptive to Gospel teachings. When we entered the park, there was not a shred of doubt that we wouldn’t be able to find a place suitable for us. It is this confidence that the Lord will provide that I hope to instil in people that may wish to do missionary work, probably myself included. We can say that we must be strong in our faith that God will provide, but in reality, we find it hard to walk the talk.
At the end of the day, I truly hope that when it comes to evangelism, I will be able to approach it with an attitude that is similar to how we felt on Wednesday. To be able to anticipate the events ahead with joy, yet without having any worries about the future at all, because He will provide.
On hindsight, it seemed strange. Why didn’t I (or anyone else for that matter) feel worried about not having a place to settle down and begin playing? I guess the answer is pretty obvious. With such a large area to choose from, there is certainly no shortage of space.
This leads me to consider the parallels that can be drawn with the nature of missions. Firstly, the general mood of the group of us was high, possibly because we looked forward to fun times ahead. Unfortunately, when it comes to missions, I am unable to cultivate the same level of enthusiasm. Perhaps this is the reason why many missionaries are held in high esteem. It is never easy to leave the comfort of our homes and venture into other areas to spread the Word. Seeing how we are commissioned to spread the Word, it is therefore important for us to look forward to letting others know about the Gospel. For myself, I am still hesitant about venturing into these areas, but I sincerely hope that a day would come where I would be able to fulfil the duty that is bestowed upon me.
In such a large park, there is no shortage of places to play. Likewise in the world out there, we are all aware that there are plenty of areas for us to go forth and spread the Word. Yet, worries about livelihood and survival are one of the most commonly cited reasons why people are unwilling to risk travelling to unknown territories to conduct missionary work. This also brings me to the map. Often times, missionaries do not have the luxury of having a map telling them where to go. Even though they may be sure of what they set out to accomplish, there is always a lingering worry that there might not be a suitable place where the people are receptive to Gospel teachings. When we entered the park, there was not a shred of doubt that we wouldn’t be able to find a place suitable for us. It is this confidence that the Lord will provide that I hope to instil in people that may wish to do missionary work, probably myself included. We can say that we must be strong in our faith that God will provide, but in reality, we find it hard to walk the talk.
At the end of the day, I truly hope that when it comes to evangelism, I will be able to approach it with an attitude that is similar to how we felt on Wednesday. To be able to anticipate the events ahead with joy, yet without having any worries about the future at all, because He will provide.
Benedict Cheong
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