About a month ago I had an early conversation with a colleague, whose son was having some medical issues. I remember making an entry about this colleague’s journey.

A few minutes ago he stuck his head into my office and said to me that his boy has cancer.

I didn’t know what to say to him. I asked him a couple of questions but it’s obvious he’s very affected so he said it’s all still early days in terms of investigations, and that he’s heading home for the afternoon and will take some time off over the next few days.

I had been praying for Kendall’s son Liam but had not done so these past few days. Chances are my awful neglect these past few days had little to do with the confirmation of diagnosis but I still feel awful. As a man – a person – you want to do whatever little you can to help someone in that situation and when you fail to, that neglect frustrates you.

I’m now on the tail end of the gospels – John 13 was where I stopped this morning.

Jesus had such profound impact on the lives of people around him. Many had illnesses and other infirmities healed. Others were freed of oppressions from the evil one. Many had adverse impacts simply by having their world views and stations in life, challenged – rocking priorities, life values and goals and vocations.

When I stand on the right hand section/column of the hall in St Alf’s on Sundays and utter the Lord’s Prayer, I often wonder what it meant for me to say “Your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth“.

As Kendall turned to head back to his desk, I said I would keep praying. I wonder if that meant anything to him and how that made him feel. I wonder how God’s Kingdom can come on Kendall and his boy Liam as they journey ahead on this perilous path.

 

We had Hui Wan my cousin, visit us last night. She’s here on a business trip and we caught up after work, had dinner and she stayed over in our home before coming out with us early this morning.

Hui Wan is the youngest child and only daughter of I Meng, my late father’s younger brother. He’s probably 75 years old this year. He and his wife are both still living in Klang, as is Thean Lim, his eldest child. Thean Lim is married to Soo Chin and they have 3 children. Thean Seng (Alex) is the middle child who recently married a Sarawakian lady. Alex and his new wife live in Singapore.

As Tress droppped me off at work this morning, Hui Wan moved from the back seat in the car to come and sit on the front passenger seat. As we approached each other to say goodbye, she stretched out her hand for a handshake. I looked at her and say no, and gave her a hug instead.

Later this morning Chris, Hui Wan’s partner, will arrive in Melbourne. He has been in Singapore, where his father passed away a couple of weeks ago. Hui Wan and Chris will spend a couple of days in Melbourne before they both return to Auckland on Friday night.

As we chatted over dinner at Persian Flavours on Springvale Road last night, I am again reminded about how life is often about the simplest and seemingly mundane things in life. We talked about work, where we lived, our pets, people we live with or spend time with, our church… the little things which make life what it is.

We told her about our plans to spend Saturday with Ruth, another cousin of ours. Ruth lives in Maribyrnong and works with Western Health as a doctor. She and Jonathan her husband will no doubt be excited and busy for the next couple of days as they plan the first birthday party of little Micah, their son. We are looking forward to seeing them again, together with Uncle Stephen and Auntie Paddy. Uncle Stephen is 6 chek, younger than I Meng, who is 3 chek.

In the car this morning, Hui Wan said Melbourne is beautiful. We couldn’t agree more. It sounds like she would like to eventually move to Melbourne, which would be wonderful. Having more family so near would be great.