No father should have to bury his child.

We received news that my colleague's son - Christopher age 11 - passed away.
His son was diagnosed with leukemia or some tumor in the spine (one led to the other) 2 years ago.

Shattered, the family moved his son to be treated in Singapore. He seemed to make steady progress, and moved back to Jakarta half a year ago, and even attending school. Then it went downhill very quickly, a fever, vomiting, hospital, ICU, then sadly passing away - all within 24 hours.

We visited the wake yesterday. There, lying in the casket was his favorite car models, one just purchased a few days back, and half completed. With my mom's wake/funeral still vivid, having been about 2 years ago, it was familiar, and yet, so different. It was heart wrenching. I sat, and couldn't imagine what it is like to have to lose a child. I've accepted that one day, I'll have to "bury my folks". It's a "natural" order of things. But having to bury your own son (or daughter) - every part of me shouts out that it unfair, unnatural and wrong.

What a reminder that we live in a fallen world. We live in a world marred by sin, and with sin. We were not created to live as such. It is unnatural. God created us to live in a perfect world, a paradise with us ruling the world with God as our God. And yet, we decided that we know how to run our lives, better than God knows how we should live, and we know how that turned out....

But we do not live in without hope. God doesn't leave us in our own muck of sin. Despite our own sin, our own rebellion against him, God, so loved the world, that He sent his own Son into this sin-filled world, a world of injustice, unnatural deaths, a world that is wrong - to die on the cross - to pay the price of our sin, and to remove that barrier between God and us.

And because Jesus rose from the dead, he defeated death, our final enemy, and promises us hope - a hope when we can be in the presence of God again, a world that is "right".

Christopher, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to know you. But despite your short years, I think you've fought the fight, and ran the race. You got there faster than the rest of us, and now waiting at the right side of Jesus. No more suffering, no more tears.

My prayer is for the family remaining, now having to grief, and deal with the loss. I cannot say anything that will erase the pain. But hope awaits. 

Revelation 21:1-4

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Turning the Other Cheek on Murphy's Day

Sunday was an interesting day.

Started out bringing my youngest son cycling, having just bought our bikes a couple of weeks ago.

So we woke up 6ish, headed out at 7 to Jl. Sudirman (main street in Jakarta, right smack in the middle of town, but closed to traffic on Sundays for people to walk, jog, cycle etc). When I got there, we met our friends, and I had discovered my bike strangely having a flat tire, despite it being brand new, and I had cycled it back from the mall recently. So we pumped it up, and pumped, and pumped.

Hmm, still flat. There must be a puncture? But the bike is brand new, and I only rode it like 1 km back home and parked underground in the bike parking area. Anyway, my son heads off with our friends, and I pack up my bike. Not too happy about waking up so early for nothing! I did notice that there was a tear in the tire, looked like a "natural" tear, along the tire grooves, about 2 inches. Hmm. Grrr.

Time to go back, there was a massive jam trying to get out of the parking area. A newspaper (Kompas) had organized some charity run event, and it was a bottleneck getting in and out. We did eventually get out, and headed home, running very late for church!

So we quickly bathed, headed out the door.
Whilst at a traffic light, we were stationary, my phone buzzed, and strangely, saw an sms from my youth pastor saying he is running late for church? But before I knew anything, my car rolled forward (I thought my foot was on the brake fully), and bumped into the little car in front! Oh no.... good grief. Yes, I fully blame him, obviously.... couldn't have been my fault right?

I get out, see a big dent in his bumper, although my car looked fine. I apologized profusely, and we moved our car to the side. Young chap, wife and young child in the back - I was expecting him to be mad, but he was really nice. Asked if I had insurance (I do), gave him my name card, he gave me his handphone number, and off we went. That was it - he didn't get my driving license, a copy of the car registration. I could have given him a false name card, and easily change my phone number.

I realized later I had forgotten to take a picture of the dent, so I asked him to send a picture through his phone, which he kindly did. Even thanked me a few times... ?

Anyway, the next day, when I got my office to liaise with him, about the claim, we started chatting through whatsapp. Found out he was a Christian (which I suspected him putting his faith into practice when we had our little accident) - and he even offered to buy my family a meal if we ever got into his part of town.

Wow, hit a guy, get invited for a meal.
That is bizarre, but made me so thankful to God to meet a such a nice guy on a dreadful day. But it did then remind me of someone else. What can I say, it's really nice to be on the receiving end.

Matthew 5:38-41
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Happy Birthday?

After replying 100+ meaningful FB/SMS/BBM/Whatsapp happy birthday wishes, I must say that I take absolutely no credit in being born. All credits go to my parents *duh*..... and God, for the miracle of birth. So please go wish my parents (dad) a happy 42 years since the birthday of his son.

Ok, still being alive after 42 years, that... I can take some credit for.
So maybe people should wish - happy being alive for 42 years.

So why are birthdays happy? I guess when you are young(er), you look forward to certain milestones, being a teenager, sweet 16, 18 so that you can drive, 21 as an adult.

Then its all downhill after! Each year/decade that passes, means that our bodies are that much weaker, things start to creak, joints ache, you watch what you eat, watch out for high cholesterol, you aren't as fit as before.

Maybe we should greet each other - oh, so sorry another year has passed - my condolences. Clock's ticking, tick tock.

See, when you get to my age, you start rambling :p
Happy Birthday indeed.