It’s been an exceptionally eventful birthday week.
While this has probably been the most quiet in terms of celebrations, it has been memorable in other ways.
Receiving my favorite gift, a card, from my favorite person was nothing short of amusing- we have an inside joke that when we fight, we are like two porcupines trying to love each other!
On a more serious note, a letter I had sent in to the papers got published. It created a bit of a hoo-ha on social media as it went viral.
I thank God for the incredible support I’ve received, and for Cliff’s constant encouragement that it was the right thing to do. I will share more about it another day, about why, for the first time, I was publicly vocal about something which weighed on my heart.
What startled me was the uncanny coincidence, that on the same day this letter was published (a day after my birthday), Forbes Asia announced that I had been selected to receive their “30 Under 30” award under their Healthcare & Science category, “highlighting young leaders and entrepreneurs who are disrupting and changing the face of their industries”.
How uncanny.
I asked God why.
I felt Him say, that as much prominence that He chooses to give us in our field of influence, is the degree of responsibility, stewardship and effectiveness He expects of us in return.
To whom is given much, much is also expected.
In light of the letter and award, I became acutely aware of the responsibility we have in society, not to impose what we think on others, engage in “keyboard warrior” battles, or become embroiled in arguments for the sake of making a stand for what we believe in.
Rather, we have a responsibility simply to be “salt and light” in our world.
Salt, a soft but permeating influence in the world, to tastefully flavour that which surrounds it.
Light, a quiet but powerful source which drives out the darkness, and brings hope, faith and love in a broken and dying world.
As I turned 29 rather eventfully this week, I was reminded that each and every day of our lives, we are called to be faithful to what we have been called to- be it at home, at work, or by or bedsides on our knees.
Because there will come a day when we may be called to make a stand, when it may take more courage than we expected, when we discovered that there is no middle ground- that inaction does not mean neutrality, but tacit submission to the chaos we allowed into our world.
Will we be ready to make a stand for something greater than ourselves, on the day we are called to “such as time as this”?