We shall be celebrating two significant events this month:
On 9th August, we shall be marking our nation’s 43rd national day, celebrating the Singapore Spirit.
On 17th August, we shall be celebrating our church’s 28th anniversary, in humble gratitude to our Lord’s faithfulness, in remembering our past and renewing our commitments to the Lord, our vision and to one-another.
We celebrate these two special events annually to remind ourselves of our identity as a nation, and as people of God. We need such reminders to help us consciously reflect on the purposes and meaning of our existence, and to celebrate God’s blessings.
In many ways, these celebrations are planned and rehearsed ahead of time. And why not? These are significant events. But they will pass. Another new day will dawn. The mundane (sigh!) will once again too quickly greet us. We’re used to this post-celebrative scenario and have come to expect it. It’s a predictable, repetitive annual cycle.
If we live by the dictates of this unhappy sequence, then we ought to break it by changing our mindset. The day might have ended but the celebrations must continue. Celebration is an integral part of Christian living. We ought to spontaneously celebrate our life in Christ daily. Far too often, we’re too dependent on special events to perk us up. Ordinary days don’t excite like celebrative events do as the latter often serve as welcome distractions.
Perhaps, that’s why we complain more than we celebrate – we fail to see God’s involvement in the ordinary. When we look out only for the extraordinary, we’ll miss the very essence and assumption of spirituality – God is present and participating in every circumstance.
Check this out: how many people, relationships, things, events, activities and privileges do you take for granted each day? Are you mindfully aware that they’re God’s blessings to you? Have you established an attitude of gratitude and appreciation? If not, you’ve yet to enjoy the fullness of eternal life.
For this month, I challenge you to find 3 things to be grateful for at the end of each day. The celebration of your Christian life requires you to cultivate that spiritual awareness. When you become more aware, you’ll be more conscious of the pieces of life’s jigsaw pieces coming together. You’ll begin to see the connections between your spirituality and your daily living.
We belong to an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken. As joint-heirs with Christ, we’re bountifully provided for. Let’s be consciously thankful for all we have and nurture it into a habitual practice. True celebration is not event-dependent. It’s a daily expression of gratitude to God.
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