The Big Day

12May08

10 May 2008 marked a big day for all of us.

Watching hubs finally don his graduation gown and receiving his Masters in Divinity (道学硕士), I realise that I had been patiently waiting for this day for the past 3 years. A strange mix of pride and mission welled up within me when the ceremony began.

Words can’t express how proud I am of him.. and he looked so darn handsome and smart in his black gown and red hood.

Even lil Qiqi wanted to be part of the action. She was exceptionally active throughout the graduation service, kicking and pushing against my uterus wall vigorously. It was as if she knew it was her papa’s special day and she was intent on making sure she was part of it all too!

“Hey dad! I may be only 33 weeks and 6 days old but I’m here too!”

Haha she certainly made her point visually when parts of my tummy bobbed up and down unmistakably throughout the service. Her movements were so obvious that half the time I was worried the person sitting in the next pew would notice and stare at me strangely … hee…

And despite hubs’ inisistence that the ceremony wasn’t that big a deal, he was beaming from ear to ear the whole afternoon. As further proof of his excellent mood, he took me shopping after the ceremony and even splurged on new 420TC jacquard bedlinens

On a more serious note -

As the choir, pipe organist and brass band struck up the grand entry hymn of “O Worship the King”, the cross-bearer solemly marched into the sanctuary, holding high a gleaming Cross and led the graduates to their seats. What an appropriate entry, I thought. As of today, the lives of these graduates were no longer theirs to own. They now marched under a higher calling, the banner of Christ.

I know it seems silly or overly romantic of me to indulge in such symbolic notions but I can’t help but be moved by such visual displays of an invisible loyalty that’s stirred by the Love of God.

Towards the end when the music entourage led the recessional hymn, “Onward Christian Soldier”, tears came to my eyes as the graduates marched out of the sanctuary.

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!

I considered hubby’s future henceforth. He has taken up the charge and sworn himself to a lifetime of service to the Lord. Like a soldier sent on a mission, there was no turning back from here. Come what may, his life was the Lord’s and the Lord’s alone.

I briefly thought about the possibility of hubs dying for his faith, like the many chrsitian martyrs who, through laying down their lives, paved the way for christians today. What would our lives be like if he was called to be a martyr one day?

You may think that this will never happen in a modern pluralistic society like Singapore, but with the mad chaos going on around the world today, nothing is never impossible.

His death was a painful thought but no soldier goes into battle without first counting the cost, and no family sends their loved one into battle without considering the possibility of his death.

I know hubs would consider it an honour to lay down his life for God, and as painful as it would be for us, I pray for strength that Qiqi and I would have eyes of faith to see it as an honour too.

Indeed:

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”

- 1 Peter 4:12-14

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