The Quiet of my Home

I was following the news of the late Queen's lying in state and the royal family having to attend many ceremonies and church services in different cities across the United Kingdom in the past few days. Now there is a time to rest for the King and one TV commentator said that the Princess Royal had just returned to "the quiet of her home" for a day or two and deservedly so. I was touched by the phrase, "quiet of the home" and I realised how precious that is since it was only about three and a half years ago that I had returned to my home in Kota Kinabalu after 25 years in full-time Christian service.

This year also marks my 35th year as a working adult having started to work as a law tutor (part-time March-July 1987) and then full time as a legal assistant (chambering) in August 1987. But there is something extraordinary about staying home, though as ordinary as it may sound, I got up early this morning at 6am, went down to the kitchen, drank a glass of warm water before making myself a cup of coffee which has been my routine for years. That's the quiet of my home in the first hours of the morning when I sit quietly before the Lord, praying in my spirit and at most times praying silently and reading Scripture.

Today I read various passages from Jeremiah, Isaiah, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and Colossians: "Christ among you, the hope of glory" which will be a text that I will preach on this Sunday. The quiet of my home. Since the relaxation of the SOP in May, I had only gone out twice outstation for ministry and a couple more times to sell my books. In fact, I shall be collecting about 15 books left unsold from two pastors. There are only about 200 copies of the John's Gospel's commentary left out of the 1,000 printed with at least 100 copies given for free to those in need especially to theological students and church members in KK and remote villages. The 200 copies in stock are meant for the State of Sarawak which I hope to tour next year, now that I could fly freely without restrictions. And then whatever books that I have left, I would bring to Indonesia and have a tour at least in Kalimantan and Sumatra which I visited 17 years ago with my church's mission team. I trust in the Lord that by then, my Malay commentary on Paul's letter to the Galatians would have been published in the first quarter of 2023. In fact, I could not have written all my three books if not for the quiet of my home. May Jesus Christ, the King of Kings be praised forever more.