Reverting to & honoring original commitments

Grandma in Ipoh is sick. The message we got was that she was deathly ill and we were advised to go see her as soon as possible.

This was an interesting predicament. Not only is Sunday my sure-must-work day, it was also the day for the SG direction meeting, and I had promised to standby for Crystal to play keyboard and was supposed to play keyboard for the BM service.

It made me choose to prioritize. Work or family? I chose what I believe God would want me to choose, and that was to go back and visit grandma, if only for the last time. The SG meeting didn't need me. The BM service would find a keyboardist. But I only have one paternal grandma.

After removing myself from all the promises and responsibilities, dad SMSes me to say that there was no need to rush because we would leave at 4pm. This meant, I could standby for Crystal, and attend the SG meeting for at least 2 hours.

I had a choice though...I could have disappeared, and excuse myself early from church. But God has taught me to make right decisions to honor previous commitments and to bring honor to Him. So, I went for the meeting. Halfway through, dad SMSed again to say that we weren't going back to Ipoh because mum found out that it really wasn't as bad as they said.

This meant, I could play for the BM service.

Sometimes, when I think of it, I just wonder why I don't take the advantage and just disappear, take a break since I was already originally excused from these responsibilities. I could go home and sleep and no one would know the better. Or so I would think...

Playing for the BM service was a joy. I was pleasantly surprised that Jojo was willing to help play with me. And it proved to be so good! I enjoy playing with a guitarist strumming. It was good. Even Li Ching said it was God's providence! Ya, playing for the BM service was a joy.

But I was also tired, and after the worship, that's when my perseverance gave in. I just didn't want to do the 'right' thing of staying to listen to another sermon. I know that if I do, He will speak and I will hear something. But I was just so tired of doing what I was not prepared to do. I decided, I would excuse myself. So I did. After some moments of solitude in the sanctuary, I went home, an hour earlier than scheduled.

As the day closes, I know that I have done the right things, in honoring original commitments. It has come to a point where there is no need to question what is the right thing to do. Technically, there isn't a wrong thing. But what I mean by 'right' thing is that the thing that would preserve integrity, making one a person of their word, and I believe bringing God pleasure in the obedience.

Perhaps the Egypt issue really has helped a lot. Having said that, in the past, I would have done the same lah. Just that I think these times, I am more conscious of my actions and decisions.

One can plan the day and change all the plans made originally to do what is important and urgent. But when things get topsy turvy, what do we do? By default, I think I am 'programmed' to revert to original commitments unless some very good alternative plans had been made to overcome the sudden ad hoc changes.

The Lord's name be praised for the lesson I learnt and am still learning.