What I've Been Doing for Thirty Years

My blogging friend Marcus Goodyear was the first to introduce me to the concept of memes earlier this year. Now he's sprung another meme on me - What Have You Been Doing for Thirty Years?

So, I'll play along - why not, it's a wonderful life ~

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Thirty Years Ago

In Malaysia. I'll spare you the pictures of an uncoordinated, painfully reserved, 13 year old, spending every free moment playing soccer or basketball. Little did I know that in a couple of years, God would graciously intervene in my life with his glorious illuminating gospel - from death to life - blind, now I can see - yes, blessed assurance.

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Twenty Years Ago

In the United States. I'm in college, on the brink of graduating, laboring through the Electronic & Computer Engineering program, struggling to keep my GPA respectable.

In a year or so, I'll be making plans to be married to my girl - best decision I ever made. I've also found home as far as church is concerned - Sovereign Grace Church - except back then it was called Fairfax Christian Community - that's before they changed it to Fairfax Covenant Church.

Professionally, I stayed with my first job for all of six months, before I figure out that what I really want to do is software development. So I join a startup...before startups were cool. At one point, I didn't get paid for 3 months. Funny thing is, I kept showing up to work every Monday.

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Ten Years Ago

We have three children, learning how to navigate through marriage and family life. Frankly, I'm not sure where we'd be today without God's sustaining grace. Ten years ago, I'm enjoying a successful career, having advanced from writing code to Vice President, R&D for a public company. We're plugged into our church community, serving, prospering, doing all the right things - life is good.

But then, in 2001, we discover Kathy has cancer - it was simple check up for an unrelated pain. It seemed so surreal. It was a painful trial but it was the kindness of God.

You see, when you're 37, you don't expect to hear that kind of news - after all, you're invincible... except you're not. When you're enjoying a successful career - you're the captain of your own destiny...except you're not. When you are so busy building a life on earth - sometimes you forget that you're an exile and stranger in this world.

So God reminds us - we're not home yet, we've only one life to give and everyday together is a gift from him. That's what grace and mercy looks like.