Many Holidays & Much Work

Malaysia has too many holidays. I could not get a few thingss done until tomorrow since Monday-Wednesday are public holidays. Even my book in KL has been delayed, as many took the opportunity to go on leave so they have a whole week without work. I received no news from my printers for two weeks already. I had a buyer of two of my books on Sunday but I could not send the books by poslaju until tomorrow.

But I am glad I kept myself occupied and I have started on my new book. It is likely to be a commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes which I wrote a lengthy proposal for a book project in the hope of a writing scholarship three or four years ago. But that fell through, and I picked up where I left off, and now I am onto my 8th page, more than 2,200 words and counting. 

Why am I commenting on Ecclesiastes? It is a book written by Solomon in his old age, in his late 50s or early 60s. So I am at an age where I can look back on more than 44 years of following Christ and more than 31 years of serving Him full-time. 

About 7 years ago, I began my study on Ecclesiastes in earnest. I even preached on it several times before the pandemic as I had reached 55 years old then. 55 is a significant age in Malaysia as one can access one's retirement savings. If not for waiting 18 months before joining a local Seminary 3 years ago, I could boast of my EPF (Singapore's CPF) of only several hundred ringgit per month. 

The only year my EPF was more than 1,000 ringgit was when I worked outside of SIB for one year (24 years in SIB full-time plus 6 years in Singapore). And that I used up in 5 months while waiting for my appointment which I took up December 2024 and I was a pastor for 15 months until I resigned in Feb 2026. 

It's been a ride, and reading and writing on Ecclesiastes now (in my early 60s) gives me a real perspective of lived experience, all kinds of joys and sorrows, in want and in abundance, in the interior and in the city, staying at home, driving 4 or 5 hours into the interior. I had gone through all that for the sake of Jesus Christ and I made sure my works are wrought in God or else everything will be futile. 

Our motives for serving God must be right. We must love when others hate, we must hold on to our integrity when others choose to be malicious and betray one's companions. I have seen much, perhaps not to the extent of King Solomon, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, I am sure this commentary on Ecclesiastes will be a blessing to many especially those over 40s, 50s, 60s and even in their old age in their 70s, and 80s.