This article is again written in Christian love to those who face great challenges when they suddenly realized that their age is on the wrong side of 30’s, 40’s 50’s or even 60’s.

27 days have gone in 2008 and there are only 338 days left (one day bonus for being a leap year). I started the year a bit “embarrassed” because we suddenly started to give emphasis to birthdays. There was continuous Happy Birthday wishes and greetings and the sweet ladies have even started a birthday cake cutting celebration during the agape feast – just to make sure you have grown older!Do you really look forward to your birthday? Or do you put on a brave front with a comforting declaration of “I am not older, just gone a bit wiser!”?I really felt being ‘old’ when I devoted a bit more time to the Campus Ministry. Every single student whom I acquainted with was addressing me Uncle this and Uncle that! They make me discover that I was actually, not a so young man trying his level best to ‘mix cool’ and ‘dance’ to the tempo of a generation who is easily less than half my age! However, the final knock out punch was delivered to my already low self-esteemed ego was when I visited the homes of some of these students.Our Malaysian culture has taught us that when we visit the homes of our friends (and these students are really my friends), we must show respect by greeting their parents as …… Uncle so and so and Aunty so and so. Hence, as I practiced my rich cultural values, I suddenly realized that behold ………. I was actually older than these uncles and aunties whom I was greeting! I was greeting the student’s father as Uncle Tan while at the same time his son was addressing me as Uncle Gan! With hindsight, I now realized why Mr Tan was so polite in addressing me as just Mr Gan! To all my fellow uncles and aunties in Wangsa Maju, we all know being young has many advantages but with age comes the joy of REFLECTION ON GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. David reminds all of us in Psalms 37:25 that say “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken.”Honestly, as we look back the years, has our Almighty God ever forsaken us when we have been righteous? Never! As each of us look back (and the older we are, the more we are privileged to look back) we can reflect on how numerous occasions He has permitted us to face what seems like insurmountable difficulties, problems and events which we now realize and can conclude that they were just to shape us up – to bless us with the perseverance, character and hope. We can now smile at those who are younger and offer advice and love when it is their turns to face these challenges that we had gone through. We have with age and experience, the privilege to assume the role of God’s ‘earthly counselors’.As we grow older each day, we also grow more thankful to God’s many mercies. We have learned to be more contented. We learned to appreciate the times of our life. We start to learn to count our blessings and we start to realize that, though we stumble so many times, the Lord is always there to hold my hands. Ps 37:24 So do not worry when we grow old. Just seek first His kingdom and His righteousness….and do no worry about tomorrow’s birthdays. Matt 6:33 For me personally, I suddenly realized that so many things in life which I consider to be my weaknesses have suddenly been transformed by God to be His strength, as I endeavor to serve Him in Wangsa Maju. Although I am far from perfect, God has used my weaknesses to be a peace maker, an arbitrator, a good listener, a shovel and a loyal supporter.Never in my wildest dream would I have thought I will be put in charge, by you, uncles and aunties, of the Campus Ministry. So far, it is still a ‘struggle ministry’ to me, especially when I strayed away from God’s directions. This ministry needs more workers, more uncles and aunties. If you think you are old, this is an excellent opportunity to rejuvenate. Come and spend more time in this ministry – God will make you feel, think and act young again!God is looking for ordinary people to do extraordinary work because your long life is God’s gift to you – make it your gift to God.HAPPY BIRTHDAY, everyone!

GCB