Hey there!
Welcome again to this little adobe in the net! Feel free to relax and spend some time here. Otherwise...if you're in a rush go ahead and go to another webbie and so on (and enjoy yourself too).
I have just come back home after being released from camp. Actually I left camp earlier and went to a friend's house for a little while.
But what I'd like to share is an amazing encounter I had with a nice chap today on the way back on the bus back home. His name is Peter, a 40 or year old Chinese man) and he did leave an impression in me. I do wish to share it with you.
So without further ado...(your eyes better be prepared to go wacky :P)
My Way BackMy way back was quite exceptional due to a few factors. Well, here's a list of them:
1. Extremely Quick + Legal Game of MonopolyI played a game of Monopoly with 3 others which somehow ended in 1 hour (1000pm - 1100pm) because of quite exceptional circumstances...
Francis (one of the players) got the red group, traded with me so that I had a complete dark blue group. I built hotels, while he built from houses then to hotels. As the hotels and houses were up very early in the game, the other two soon became bankrupt.
Usually these games take about 3 hours or so.
2. 1145pm Bus from Friend's HouseCaught the last bus (911) that passed by a bus stop near the friend's house. It was at 1145pm I suppose...quite late and had half the mind to take the cab before the midnight surcharge comes into effect. The bus went to Woodlands Regional Interchange.
From there, I planned to take the train directly to Newton (where I live).
3. Chose to take the MRT from Woodlands to Yishun
However, the train that came terminated at Ang Mo Kio (way before Newton) only. Then I remembered from a friend who had to take a Night Rider (a public bus that runs late in the night) back home from Newton...
He took NR1 from Newton to Yishun. If I wasn't a nice guy and stayed with him late in the night until he got his bus, I wouldn't have known this route to get back home. So I planned yet again...
I was to get off at Yishun, look whether the next (and last) train does go to Newton. If it does, I'll take the train back directly. However, the last train also terminates at Ang Mo Kio.
So I went on to Yishun Bus Interchange for NR1.
4. Peter was Late and Missed his busI was leisurely listening to the radio until he came to the bus queue, and asked me whether this bus went to Chinatown. I said it was my first time taking the bus, and he should ask the driver.
Fortunately, the contact did not end there! He then stated he actually missed his original bus, and had to visit a friend in Chinatown. Hence, he had to take the bus I was taking, which was not his usual case.
While waiting for the bus to come, we chatted awhile about the frequency of the bus number and an assorted amount of small talk. I nearly thought I was stretching our conversation topics to keep the chat going on...
The bus came and we were the only ones to board the bus at Yishun.
5. I had the guts to sit next to him.
After boarding the bus, I promptly went to a seat and sat there for awhile. Peter chose a seat far from me, and I started to question myself whether I should continue the talk from the bus interchange...I thought of respecting his personal space and dared not to sit next to him to chat.
Thank God that I was reminded of the need to actively seek an auidience with non-believers, to show God's Love for all and possibly bring back more lost sheep.
I was initially hesitant of sitting next to Peter as I didn't know him too well, I didn't have any conversation topics on hand, and my shy side also rose up to hinder any attempts to approach him. Thank God once again I could overcome the negativity and shyness in me, as I was reminded of the Lord's rejoicing over a repenting sinner. and chose to sit next to him the next time when the bus stopped. I was driven to speak to him.
From then on we talked all the way back to my home!
What was amazinng about itHe shared quite a number of interesting experiences he had, gave me a glimpse into his character, and a lesson about approaching others with the Love of Christ.
Peter was someone who was gifted in being able to spot spirits who inhabit this world, and from my knowledge these people are rare. His experiences were very educational, but sharing them here would be rather inapproriate. Not that I don't want to invite bad karma, but it might bring undue attention to anyone of us. Getting to know these experiences is rare as these people don't come by too often.
He was a Taoist, and believed that people should not be forced to believe in certain religions. He does respect Christianity, but he doesn't welcome efforts to force others to believe, regardless of what religion it was. Guess I could learn that hard evangelism won't work to well in multi-cultural Singapore...
Well, the whole thing was a test of my willingness to step out of comfort and to speak to total strangers. Fortunately both of us were willing to talk and that made breaking the ice easy. Perhaps in my future, I will be meeting more strangers in my life and I would utilise my social nature and take steps to know them as people.
Don't be shy :)
And lastly...the bus went by my Church! So on the way I pointed out to him which church I go to. Told him a few things like it was actually there for awhile, but the buildings are new. Felt good about introducing him to my church and for him to know me a little better...and maybe the church too haha.
Man, my eyes are really getting wacky from all of this typing into 3am in the morning! Well, hope you did learn something from my experience, or at least had an emotion that was aroused by this entry.
Anyway, my nation is having her birthday today and as a Singaporean...HAVE A HAPPY NATIONAL DAY!
See ya
Joshua
