A few of my bestest friendships were made while I was studying in Southampton, England. One of them was with Indran, my big "gentle" giant friend. My partner in Delirious (back when they were well-known to only a handful of christian communities) gigs, pot-luck gluttony makans, late night CM sessions, and that "notorious" Scottish road trip which we still laugh over after twelve years. Originally from Taiping (his dad is the Top 2 richest man there), now he lives in Shah Alam. One of the most funny, humble and greatest guy I know.
The purpose for this Penang trip was to visit Vincent, a friend and a pastor, back for a holiday and teaching engagement in a Bible seminary in Penang. This friend is unique and truly God-sent to my spiritual life over the years. I do have many fond memories of Penang also. In fact, some of my bestest friends are from the north. For true best friends, you don't need much effort to keep in touch or correspond. We can always continue where we left off, years after we last met or spoken. These bonds are not easily severed by the tolls of life, and by any distance in length or time.
We didn't give much thought to the trip. It was a no-brainer. Indran, Vincent, Penang....it's a YES GO, LET's GO and WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR kinda respond! Indran, Sherene and I hit the highway at 6am Saturday morning. I was dead tired that weekend in more ways than one. But I was so alive.
It was a sweet (and yummy!) getaway for me from so many things here. Work, ministry, people, problems, burdens. I was so close to snapping. I need a therapy which only bestest old friends can provide. And of course accompanied by the best of Penang flavours!
I could write a few entries for my blog from this trip alone. But for now, the title's 'Well Fed'. We were really pigging out in Penang, joint after joint in quick successions. We shared so much food. Never ate like these for years. And we still practice the 'fighting to pay for the food' culture. Everything was ours, not mine or yours or his. You see, we used to cook together for each other at times in University. Many spiritual people fast and pray. But for us, we talk theology in the presence of abundance food. We're not that spiritual. ;)
But I was well fed spiritually too. Vincent is the most genuine Bible scholar and teacher I know, his dedication and wisdom are renowned wherever he goes. I count myself blessed to have cross my path with his many years ago. Very few spiritual teachers impressed me, but to have one of the best as my friend....wow! He was still a Phd student when I left Southampton in 1998, but soon threw away his Phd to go into full-time ministry, and live a single (single-minded in focus and married to ministry), "undistracted" life. Every few years, I'd catch up with him to listen to his (changing and unchanging) views on God stuffs and life. Though not without flaw, his views often act as one of my inner compasses. And because he's not without flaws, I could see the genuine, abounding grace at work in his life. So transparent and pure. Don't need someone perfect as a role model. Though from seemingly contradictory denominational backgrounds, we both have deep common respect for each other.
Vince didn't know what was my inner condition during this trip. And I don't think he realised how much our conversations had encouraged me. And also his preaching on Deuteronomy 6 that Sunday in a Baptist church. The last time I heard him preach/teach was more than a decade ago. I needed so badly to hear great expository preachings like his. I can't remember when was the last time I heard such a solid and yet ministering message in recent years. And I greatly value his personal ministry advices too. The best of the lot is "you got think of going into full-time ah?" Before I could respond he said "Don't". Hahaha! How often can I get honest advices, especially from those who work in church?!
Probably one of the greatest compliment I can ever give to a spiritual leader is "he made me want to read the Bible more". Or "he led me to new joys of discovering truths". Or "he made me wanna ransack the Word for all its precious treasures". I really don't mind those superstar preachers (as long as they're not heretics). But only someone like my friend Dr Vincent is a man that deserves my high praise for a Kingdom servant. Spending only two days with him have blessed me so much more than hearing other preachers for many years. I actually went home with renewed vigour to "ransack for more precious treasures". It was a delight serving alongside him and others in ministry during Southampton days.
Ask my wife what she thought of my friends, and she said she was so glad to have married me! :)
Me, Vince and Indran. For more pics, go view my FacebookMy next post will probably be about Penang, or perhaps on one of the more troubling topics we chatted.
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