Peeler

It started with the 10-year-old  nephew whom I babysit. Isaac likes to help in the kitchen so I taught him to peel carrots. From carrots, it naturally moved to peeling apples. It occurred to me - hey, my own children should learn this too! 11-year-old Ethel was so fearful she put the apple on the plate instead of holding it while peeling. But she progressed and was happy to no longer need Mommy when she wants to eat an apple. Alas so soon, I heard her distress that she had peeled her own finger! "Ooo, my darling got cut peeling apple," I crooned, "grow up already." As for 13-year-old Calder, he was fearless with the peeler, which made it more frightening for me. No mishap so far, hence I decided to let him try cutting his own nails. As expected, the nails were anyhow clipped and went flying everywhere but it's a good start. Unfortunately, this is not something can be practised frequently (nails take time to grow), unless we allow him to cut our nails too. Ummm let's not think about that for now.

C is for Calder

It being a school holiday, I brought the kids (Calder, Ethel and their cousin Isaac) to Changi Airport for lunch. On the long bus ride home, Ethel and Isaac wanted to play word game and we decided to let Calder try. In this game, someone starts with a word and the next person thinks of another word starting with the previous word's last letter. Calder didn't understand what "last letter" means but could contribute (given time) if we prompted him with the beginning letter. His entries were surprising. "C" is for "calculator" (we were so impressed he knew what's a calculator), "C" is for "Camp of the Gypsies" (that's his piano piece), "C" is for "cannot" (looks like our admonishments e.g. "Cannot poke mei mei's eyes", "Cannot clap hands when people are sleeping", "Cannot bump bump people" etc. have made an impression). Others unexpected entries included "P for person", "O for Ostrich", "S for Serangoon". His sister pronounced him to be actually a genius, while I mused: What an interesting child God has given me.

Blessed by the Camp

It started one Sunday when 11-year-old Ethel came bounding from Sunday School, "Are we going to the church camp, Mom? All my friends are going and I want to go too!"

That's how I found out that Yio Chu Kang Chapel is heading to JB in June. Since the family didn't have other vacation plans, and Singapore was so hot without air-con, we decided to join the English congregation in Hotel Renaissance.

Delightfully, the camp theme was Hearing the Voice of God. How apt, since I was seeking God's direction about my career. I had spent two years writing a book on independent autistic adults. The book was completed and in fact sent to print the week before start of camp. And I'd been wondering - what do I do now that the project is over?

In my choice of work, do I pick based on what's easiest for me? Or what pays me the most? Which door should I knock at? What if it's the wrong door? Do I wait for God to open a door or do I go around knocking? If I inquire, does it mean running ahead of God? Does "waiting upon the Lord" mean doing nothing until circumstances point a clear direction?

Such was my uncertainty when I attended the camp which our heavenly father graciously guided me to. And what relief to he reminded that our God is a loving father. That seeking his will is not walking on a tightrope with no safety net beneath. It is holding his hand and trusting him to lead me to green pastures. I need not fear mistakes in decision-making because God can always reshuffle the cards for a fresh new start.

I also learned in this camp that God wants to speak to us everyday; it is not his intention to hide from his children. And so I resolved to meet him in Quiet Time every morning and every night (I am following the devotional Morning & Evening with Charles Spurgeon), on top of homework for Bible Study Fellowship.

I am happy to say that God has been very real in his communication through his word. Perhaps because I no longer treat Bible reading as chore to be completed, but a letter from a loved one that I look forward to receiving.

Beside teaching me to hear from God, this camp has blessed me by blessing my son Calder. Calder is autistic so he'd be jumping and clapping and laughing non-stop - generally creating embarrassing scenes where we have to apologise for the disruption. But church members have come to us to assure us that it's ok, that we are a community that looks out for one another. In fact, a few even affirmed his special-ness in a very positive way - "I really like how he worships God", "He responds in rhythm to the music!", "Such wonderful joy". One youth even told us they missed him when he's not around.

And because the church was supportive rather than judgemental, we could relax and enjoy the camp. Thank you for being so welcoming. You have welcomed us as members of a different congregation. You have welcomed us despite the strange character that we bring around with us. Indeed there's hardly anything stranger than the idiosyncratic ways of an autistic child. Thank you for welcoming Calder, the "stranger".

Allow me to edify by sharing this illuminating passage:

Matthew 25: 31-40

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne...

Then the King will say to those on his right,

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For... I was a stranger and you invited me in..."

Then the righteous will answer him,

"Lord, when did we... see you a stranger and invite you in...?"

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

(This letter to Yio Chu Kang Chapel was published in their bulletin the weekend of 4/5 Aug 2018.)