My Malaysia in 2014

Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku, Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju,
Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan, Raja kita selamat bertakhta....

The words sprang easily from my lips. I had been taught that song in a Convent school with 'real' nuns in the early days of my childhood. I grew up hearing that song played on TV1 after the last programme of the night. I still sing that song now, every Monday, during morning assembly, with all 8 classes of 4,5 and 6 years old Malay, Chinese and Indian kids in the kindergarten where I work. I am sure they don't understand much of it. They only know they must stand straight and face the 2 flags flying from the poles. They dutifully follow their teachers' prayer to bless Malaysia. I think they know a little bit of what that means, because they have been taught blessing is good.

Surely that's precisely what the song is all about, translated my way...My nation, land of my birth, A united and progressive people, May God bestow upon her grace and joy, May our Ruler reign secure. And as I stood at attention to sing it with thousands of other M'sians gathered in the convention center on 16th September 2014, it took on new meaning in the light of so many recent events in this land I call my Malaysia. Ordinary people from different churches had gathered together to pray for Malaysia, and what better way to celebrate 51 years of nationhood than to seek God's blessings once again on this land.

Surely there's much to celebrate, despite and in spite of all the negative voices that shake their heads at the way things are going and complain about this, that or the other. It's gotten so bad I heard of someone who has packed his bags all ready to ditch the land of his birth for another place in the sun out there somewhere. Isn't there anything left worth celebrating in Malaysia? Of course there is. We don't need any social studies or research polls to tell us although there is much wrong,  we all know there is much that is right too. We should be grateful, not to any political party or man, but for the simple fact that we are Malaysians, uniquely one of a kind in this world. We should be grateful this land is blessed with many natural resources, meant for all to enjoy, so that all - not just some - may  truly prosper well.

Unfortunately celebration without more is simply making lots of noise, rehashing old slogans and parades of colorful costumes. That's why every Christian is called not just to celebrate but to pray. So we prayed the highest blessing upon Malaysia - that God's good and perfect will be done upon this land that He created so beautiful. We prayed in 1 voice, with 1 heart as 1 church of Malaysia that God would be gracious and merciful to heal this nation, because it is  He made Malaysians (not Malay, Chinese, Indian or Orang Asli. In His book, there is no category termed 'race'; He goes by nations.)

And we do need healing; there is no shame in admitting we have done wrong things, harbored wrong attitudes one against another fellow human being; and whilst we are at it, let's not just point fingers at leaders. If we don't admit the wrongs, we can't move on to do the right thing. That's why Nelson Mandela started first with forgiveness and reconciliation before rebuilding South Africa. For the reality is not in making politically-correct speeches about unity, happiness or prosperity. These ring all the more hollow when we get back into business as usual mode the morning after Malaysia Day, as we see (and complain some more about) the fissures that continue to split this nation into 'us' vs 'them' divisions. How it must grieve the heart of God that what He united as 1 nation under His sun, man pulls asunder.
But there is always hope. Our national anthem recognizes it is the hand of God that bestows blessings. The first precept of our Rukun Negara calls for a belief in God. Man can and must work, but there is something beyond the best of human endeavours that no human strategy can ever achieve. That something is our lost love for one another.

You can't regulate love, nor can it be whipped out of a pot of idealism. Love is tough. It's like marriage; when the honeymoon is long over, and you are stuck with the other half's wrinkly skin, pimples, warts and BO. When the other half doesn't do his/her share of the work and instead expects to be fed all the time and to add insult to injury, demands for whatever reason you sleep on the couch instead of your 'rightful' place on the warm bed, can you, would you say I still love you? Why should you? Because of this thing called love. After saying that, then you would go get some nice cushions for the couch so both can cuddle up together, and oh, hand over that deodorant. Both will need it.  At one time or another, we all stink.

That kind of love says I still 'do' love you.... can never come from man. It's divine - our fore-fathers got it right the first time.

May God bless Malaysians and Malaysia.

May God bestow us grace to love one another as He first loved us.
May God bless Malaysians and Malaysia.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/my-thoughts-of-malaysia-day-christine-sk-lai#sthash.NjLBS7PR.dpuf

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land".......... 2 Chronicles 7:14


(Published MMO 16/9/2014)