Contributed by Adeliyn • Jan 31, 2023

January was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Christmas just went past,  Chinese New Year celebration hot on its heels right after, and in the midst of that I was back in the workforce after 3 years away. As much as it was a joyous time with two festive seasons, one after another, and for myself getting back into doing work in a different space, it was a time of much readjustment and recalibration for my family and I. On the first day itself I had to change my work schedule as it was clear it would not work for our family. The whole family had to deal with changes with the new arrangements at home, school and work. Even if I had expected it, I still experienced cognitive dissonance at the workplace at how it is working, and the potential and arising concerns.

As a person who wants to immediately dive into the work, I am constantly reminded of the term “festina lente” – an oxymoron meaning “make haste slowly”. As much as there are things that can be done and should be addressed on priority, things cannot be done rashly. Understanding the weight and urgency of what needs to be done is not an excuse to do things just because. Rashness in this case may very well be that spark that lights the bonfire and burns down the house, instead being the solution it could be if time was given to think through a little bit better. 

I believe that there are many things to be done and will get done. I believe that I am uniquely placed where I am, and that I had the privilege to have the breadth of experiences leading up to this day in order to do the work I will be doing. Even at home as we are navigating as the new normal, each of us are taking time to change for each other. More importantly, I’m reminded again this weekend to bring Christ wherever I am because I believe He has a heart for all the work that passes through my hands. How about you?

Lord, thank you for the privilege of serving wherever we are. Thank you for equipping us to do the work You have in store for us and the people around us. Help us see what You see and be in tune to Your Heart instead of being bogged down by what we can see and do. Lord, I just want to invite you again into everything that my family and I will be a part of, and trust that You will lead and guide us as we seek You in our everyday. In Jesus’ name, Amen.