233rd Reflection💬

‘Does the Lord need our advice before He acts❓’

No need. He is self-sufficient.

……

25/06/2022 (Wed) 11:30 at Band room

My classmate came over to practice the Piano Duet in preparation for the student recital for the Junior Certificate in early June. After practice, when I was about to leave...

Classmate said, ‘Have you asked The HK Academy for Performing Arts (APA) yet?’

I said, ‘Yes, I did.’

Classmate said, ‘Can you enroll in the Master Degree?’

I said, ‘No, unless I applied for the Masters of Arts (MA).’

Classmate said, ‘But you’ve already finished a Master degree. Why do you need to study anpther Bachelor degree again?’

I said, ‘Yap.  Because I do not want a MA, but I want to study a Music Degree.  Therefore, I’ve to start from Bachelor of Music (BMus).’

Classmate said, ‘So you’ve to study full time for BMus, don’t you?’

I said, ‘That’s right.’

Classmate said, ‘How long?’

I said, ‘4 years.’

Classmate said, ‘Waaaa, then you can’t teach at the university for the next 4 years?’

I said, ‘Yes, to be more accurate, it should be 5 years.’

Classmate said, ‘Why should you study one more year?’

I said, ‘I’ve asked the lecturer. He said that considering my music ability, APA may not accept my application.  Even if she does, I may probably asked to take the Music Foundation Diploma for one more year.’

Classmate said, ‘No, then you won’t be teaching in the University for five years. How are you going to make a living?’

I said, ‘Well, I’ll work as a private tutor after school.’

Classmate said, ‘Is that enough?’

I said, ‘If it isn’t enough, I’ll settle the course fee with my savings.’

Classmate said, ‘How about your family?’

I said, ‘They’re financially independent.’

Classmate said, ‘No financial responsibilities for the family?’

I said, ‘Yes, I do.  However, since I start being a full-time student, I may not be able to give that much and can only do the most I can.’

Classmate said, ‘How about your living?’

I said, ‘I really don’t know and it depends on His will then.’

Classmate took out a card and passed it to me.

I said, ‘What is it?’

He said, ‘Do you have a name card?’

I said, ‘No.  Oh, you’re right, I’d better prepare one for private student recruitment.’

Classmate said, ‘Go ahead.’

I said, ‘Hold on, do you have the template of this name card?’

Classmate said, ‘So you want my template design, change the text there and get it printed?’

I said, ‘Yes, I kno nothing about design, do you mind?’

Classmate said, ‘No problem, let me go home and find you the template.’

I said, ‘Thank you and the Lord.’

…….

25/06/2022 (Wed) 16:39 Whatsapp

Classmate sent the PDF template to me.

Classmate said, ‘I tried to edit the text with Adobe Acrobat Pro, but it didn't work; My designer might have designed with a software like photoshop, save it as an output file, and then go for card printing in e-printing. You might need to download free Photoshop to try it out.’

I said, ‘Got it, thank you so much.’

…….

25/06/2022 (Wed) 18:16 WhatsApp

I passed my name card to my younger sister and told her the story behind the name card.

I said, ‘I want you to check if you can open the template with the softwares installed in your company computer. I want to edit the text inside the file.’

A moment later,

My sister said, ‘No such software, you may try to download Adobe AI or Photoshop.’

I said, ‘OK, thank you.’

……

Another me said, ‘You may need to have a try on your own.’

I said, ‘OK. Fine.’

……

25/06/2022 (Wed) 18:25 Whatsapp

I forwarded the name card template to Maggie and Lok Hang on WhatsApp. I shared with them on how the Lord helped me to expand my private student network in preparation for my full-time study in the future today.

Lok Hang said, ‘Now that your classmate gave you the name card template, you’d like to replace the information with your qualification?  Then, are you going to distribute your name card in hard copies in person or in electronic copies on the net?’

I said, ‘On the net.’

Lok Hang said, ‘If you don’t mind, and even though not experienced, I can try to help you with photoshop.’

I said, ‘Wow, wonderful.  Thank you and the Lord.’

Lok Hang said, ‘In fact I can find some other template for you. This design neither suits you nor looks good. .’

I said, ‘Sure, you decide.’

Lok Hang said, ‘I can also help Maggie if she needs one.’

I said, ‘Great.’

……

Maggie said, ‘It’s the best if you can find a designer to design the name card for you.’

I said, ‘The Lord’s arranged one for me already.’

Maggie said, ‘Who?’

I said, ‘Lok Hang.  He also said if you need one, he can help you as well.’

Maggie said, ‘Thank you so much. I’ll contact him if I need one.’

…….

Another me said, ‘When did you and Maggie pray for a name card?’

I said, ‘No, no such prayers.  Honestly, I did not pray, and I haven’t heard from Maggie either.’

Another me said, ‘No? With no prayers, who asked Lok Hang to help?’

I said, ‘Have you ever heard that I asked Lok Hang for help?’

Another me said, ‘No, I’m asking you, who asked the Lord to ask Lok Hang to help?’

I said, ‘Noboby but the Lord Himself asked Lok Hang directly.’

Another me said, ‘If you had made no such prayers, how could the Lord have done it?  Don’t fool me. I’ve been a Christian for 13 years.’

I said ‘Who do you think I am? Why does the Lord need my prayer before asking Lok Hang to help?’

Another me said, ‘How about your classmate?  Don’t tell me you had made no such prayers but the Lord asked your classmate to pass you the name card template?’

I said, ‘Exactly.’

Another me said, ‘Impossible.’

I said ‘I didn’t even have the faintest idea about a name card, then how would I have been able to pray for a name card?’

Another me said, ‘If you had not made such a prayer, how could the Lord know it?’

I said, ‘He knows everything.  Now that I did not pray, the one that doesn’t know is not the Lord but you.’

Another me said, ‘You mean I’m ignorant, don’t you?’

I said, ‘You said you had been a Christian for 13 years. You don’t even understand the fact that He knows everything. Aren’t you going to tell me that you are not ignorant?’

Another me said, ‘Then, prayers turn useless?’

I said, ‘Why?’

Another me said, ‘Now you had made no prayers but the Lord made a decision.  That means He doesn’t need your advice.  It’s still fine if His decision is favorable.  What if the next one isn’t?’
I said, ‘He never needs our advice before He acts.  He needs no discussion with us.

Another me said, ‘So He ignores whatever I say.’

I said ‘If He does, why would He have listened to us?  We, who are ignorant and deaf-like, always give prayers that is in conflict with His will. God never gets mad. He is so patient to reveal His will in many different ways.’
Another me said, ‘Don’t make it sound so caring. What happens is that He acts on His own will even after he’s heard what I want in my prayers.”

I said, ‘Why should the Lord what you want?  Do you know who you are?  Are you dreaming?’

Another me said, ‘I’m crystal clear that what I say carries no weight and the Lord will not act on it.  Then, why do I still keep praying?

I said, ‘Why do you desire your words to carry weight?  Why do you have God follow what you say?  You want to be the Lord, don’t you?’

Translated by Janus Ho
Edited by YipWH