Greater Than Cupid: Clarence & The Handles of Destiny
10 years ago I made a decision for my life that has lead to many series of interesting events. Serving in fulltime ministry for these many years have had it's fair share of challenges but one of the wonderful rewards of being a pastor is that you get to be involved in so many wonderful peoples lives. I'll be dedicating some time to write some stories of people that I've met, some still a part of my life now. So the first of these posts will be of a childhood friend of mine and how I have somehow played a part in the handles of destiny and romance 馃槂
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It was around 15 years ago I met my childhood friend and one of my best mates, Clarence Cheong, in children's church. We enjoyed many times on encountering God's love together as teenagers and served God in various areas for what has been one and a half decades now and counting!
After our SPM results came out it was then time to make decisions in our lives that would set our journey of adulthood into motion. I chose to be full time in ministry and he, tertiary education. As much as it seemed like we chose different paths, one thing remained the same which was to love God and obeyed His leading of our lives.
He enrolled into college in May 2006 and on a faithful night of May our (his) next journey to his soulmate began!
It was the first time we were going to meet strangers with the purpose of wanting to share the love of Christ. We were so nervous with even greeting people that we then relegated ourselves to sitting at block J of TARC hostel 'longkang' (drainage) to "wait on the Lord".
We sat there for quite a long time (a very very very long time, in fervent (nervous) prayer as Clarence overheard another 2 guys talking about what course they were talking. Somehow I stood up and Clarence mad enough, followed behind me as we approached them and chit chatted with them.
A month later it was the finals of the 2006 World Cup and a group of us were at the local mamak in the area watching the match. (Side story: I predicted that there would be 1 goal each, at least a red card and it would end in a penalty shootout of which Italy, the team I was supporting, would win it then. People should pay attention more to what I have to say, haha)
(Back to main story.......)
We bumped into one of the guys we met at the 'longkang' with his friend, Justin, which we didn't know at that time and a week later I went to the hostel again and managed to meet Justin and Justin's friend Navin.
Through Justin and Navin a year down the road I met David, which will be a story for another day, and a year from then I found out from Navin that there were a few rooms that was gonna be empty which means new students would be taking up those rooms of which I met a guy from Kuching named Bong Yang and his roommate Jonathan (interestingly J block as well).
As I mentored and taught these people, Bong Yang soon brought an interesting, quirky, bubbly, prancing, overly enthusiastic, full of herself (in a good way) beautiful girl who called herself MTTG, Jocelyn, to church on a Sunday morning and the rest is history.
It's interesting to think that one act of passion from Love (us talking to strangers at a 'longkang' which has nothing to do with finding a life partner nor was it motivated with said purpose) led from one thing to another, a series of unexpected events of which a sacred union of a man and his wife took place. Chance? Coincidence? I think not!!!
God has His ways all mapped out for our life not to confine us but for us to be fulfilled fully!
Surprises always happens when we embrace a life of mystery walking with God over the security of our planned pursuits.
Sometimes all we need to do is sit at a drain and wait.