'Blest Be The Tie That Binds'

In the absence of atheists, somehow a conversation was struck concerning God's existence and how science proves it to be so; theories which I think are well-worn battlegrounds for such discussions, debates--if only there were some form of opposition, with us, at the dinner table. Now that would have been interesting. So, in some natural form of balancing antagonism, I was forming statements against what was being said in my thoughts, as I ate my scrumptious Christmas dinner. I nodded outwardly with each passing remark though. Pastor was seated on my left and my aunt, she was on the right. There were about ten or more others.

Pastor will be leaving for his next appointment in Malacca next Wednesday. It has been seven years since he has served here in Taiping. I keep telling everyone that it just feels like four for me and they keep replying that I was away studying for three years, can't I remember.

As I got out of the house and into my car for his farewell dinner, the evening sun was still shining through the ominous-looking clouds; heavy rain. A dim light, but nevertheless, still a shine.

I never bothered to look for the rainbow as I was already running a few minutes late.

Even in the end, his was a style of meticulous planning: as we were all given an order to his farewell. And this was concurred on, after the dinner / farewell, amongst members of the congregation. The turn-out was a well representation of the various groups within our church.

The following was part of the benediction used in the said order:

May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
may the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

A new chapter begins for all of us.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays, everyone.

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