Spiritual Work - by Rev. Dr. Tan Soo Inn,Chaplain, CMDF Singapore

Another excellent and uplifting piece from Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn....

Saturday (May 1st) was a particularly hectic day. I had to preach at a Saturday Evening service then rush off to a Christian Medical Dental Fellowship gathering for new medical house officers. It helped that there was a common theme for both meetings --- to see all legitimate work we do for God as spiritual work. In the evening service I preached on the salt and light mandate (Matthew 5: 13-16), how we serve God’s purposes in the world by bringing Kingdom values into all we do. I challenged the church to resist any unbiblical attempt to divide life into spiritual and secular compartments and to give spiritual significance only to stuff we do in church or in church related enterprises. John Stott defined work as “the expenditure of energy (manual or mental or both) in the service of others, which brings fulfillment to the worker, benefit to the community, and glory to God.” I told the church that God is in the business of saving people from sin but He is doing more than that, much more. He is also in the business of maintaining and blessing His creation, and for that He needs all sorts of people doing all sorts of work in the world.

I wanted the house officers to know that practicing medicine is also spiritual work. I knew that they were about to face a very demanding year where they will have about two real off days a month and will not be able to participate in their usual meetings in church. Some churches are aware of the special circumstances of the life of a house officer but many are not. I asked the house officers to be prepared that church leaders may question their commitment to the church and to serving God. I also said that we also serve when we prepare. Their houseman year was going to be a hothouse experience in their journey to become the doctors that God wanted them to be. As long as the medical internship programme is set up the way it is, all newly graduated doctors will have to undergo the highly demanding houseman year. They should not let those who do not understand the preparation journey of a doctor, make them feel guilty.

I emphasized that their medical work was also spiritual work, no less important in God’s eyes then the stuff they do in church. I am not implying that church related work is any less important. Indeed after they finished their houseman year, and they get back more discretionary time, they could return to more regular levels of church involvement. But I wanted them to learn early that the practice of medicine is also spiritual work and that doctors are key agents in God’s healing purposes. Indeed, when they practice medicine with skill and compassion, they touch lives in a way that fleshes out the gospel. And when the time comes to verbalize the gospel, people would have already seen glimpses of the reality and the character of Christ in the interactions they had had with their doctors.

Medicine is a special calling. It enables those who practice it to impact people in a way few other professions can. And a good houseman year is a key part of the journey to be a good doctor. There will be many challenges. Indeed there will be challenges after their houseman year is over and beyond. This is the reality of serving the Lord in a fallen world. But if medicine is spiritual work, there are two implications. One, we are to try to practice medicine with Kingdom values. Two, we can depend on the Lord to provide us with the grace we need.

Indeed, I want to be able to practice medicine with Kingdom values....

Weddings..

Almost forgot about a wedding that I'm supposed to attend in 2 weeks' time.....finally found some time to buy a traditional Punjabi suit for the occasion.....had a fun time looking for a nice one....actually 2 pieces...one for the wedding and one for the salmeet... hahaha...
Anyway..found a perfect wedding card for them....a very meaningful one....

HOW TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE TOGETHER
-Reflections on Marriage for the Bride and Groom

Let love be your shelter.
The world is noicy and confusing at times,
so make a home that is a haven,
a peaceful place where you can listen to your hearts
and savor the comfortable closeness you share.

No matter how busy your days may be,
make time for yourselves.
Hold hands.
Unwind.
Surprise each other.
Find little chances every day to show you're grateful to be partners,
to be friends, to be married.

Life is not perfect.
You will make mistakes,
but each time you meet life's challenges together,
you will grow wiser , stronger, and surer of your love.

Cherish your yesterdays.
They are irreplacable souvenirs of your journey through life.
Make memories that will bring smiles and sighs
Whenever you look back ( Look back often!)

Look forward, too.
Dream together.
Plan together.
Make promises to keep.
Believe in your tomorrows, because tomorrows are what forever is made of.

To make love last,
put each other first.
That is the way to make a beautiful life together,
the kind of life you both deserve so much.

Congratulations!

...wow!! so profound! so appropriate!!