Hazy days are upon us

The haze is a reminder that we are living in an inter-connected world whereby what happens to one country will invariably affect others.  In this case, the indiscriminate burning of plantations/ land in Sumatra plus the dry weather and prevailing wind conditions have exacerbated the smog condition we are currently experiencing.  Of great concern would be the health of all people living in the vicinity of the hotspots, especially the very young and the elderly, and those who have heart and respiratory conditions.  The Pollutant Standards Index as at 1pm today in Singapore rose to a high of 371, which is classified as hazardous.  We have never had it so high before over the past 20 years.   Let’s pray for rain and for our political leaders as they work with Indonesia to find a permanent solution to this perennial environment issue.

The haze will certainly affect our lifestyles  as well as tourism.  Tourists would avoid coming to this region or if they do come, would make a hasty exit.  It brings inconvenience to our lives as we have to avoid going out unnecessarily whether for recreation or meals.  Little wonder that surgical masks, including the more expensive N95, have all been sold out.  Yesterday, I was at Courts Megastore (Tampines) to buy an air purifier but discovered that there were no stocks for all brands they carried except for Novita Air Care (about 2 sets left), which was more expensive.   I eventually bought one which came with a free filter package.   As you can well see, it is not just the inconvenience we have to bear but also additional expenses; more so those with health issues.  Compounding this is the dengue epidemic we are also contending with.    

Our rights and liberty to fresh clean air has been infringed!  Maybe the day would come where we would have to buy fresh air just like they do in some countries.  The issue of personal data privacy is also in the news lately whereby a whistle-blower spills the beans with regard to what the American security agency is doing.   I believe it’s happening also in other countries as well, not just in America.  Our lives would never completely be private with technology advancing at such a rapid pace; what’s with the social media.  With the latest web technology, somehow whatever we do on the net could be tracked and monitored.   Financial institutions have also a lot of our information about us if we have bank accounts or credit cards.  It’s no wonder that untold information can be fished out in a court of law.

We all want freedom and privacy.  Indeed, God has set us free from the bondage to sin but we need work at staying free.  
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  Gal 5:1 (NKJV)
With regard to privacy, we have none.   God our maker is watching over our lives.  That’s where justice would be served eventually, if not in this world then the next.
“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”  Heb 4:13 (NKJV) 

The Gift of Pain

The Bible tells us that our body has been fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Ps 139:14).  God has so constituted our body that should there be anything wrong with it, one of the most common signs to inform us is pain.  Headaches and stomaches are common examples to tell us to get our body attended to.  Either we have to take appropriate medication and/or lay off taking certain food or action for the time being.  There are people who suffer from an illness whereby they are unable to feel or have lost their sensation to pain.   Thankfully, these people are in the minority. 

Early in the year, my wife suffered excruciating pain at the onset of her menstrual cycle.  She went to see the general practitioner after enduring several periods cycle with pain.  The GP requested for an ultra scan and subsequently referred her to see a gynae for a more detailed examination.  The gynae's diagnosis was a 5cm cyst in one of the ovaries and endometriosis.  The intercessors were alerted to pray for her.  She was operated on through key hole surgery (laparoscopic) and is now resting well at home.  During the operation, another 3 cm cyst in the other ovary, which was not picked up by the scan, was also removed.  Praise God the biopsy showed that the cysts were non-malignant.   

My point is that pain often signals something is wrong with our body and we have to get it treated, otherwise something more sinister may occur.  That is the gift of pain God has in-built within our body system. My office colleague was sharing with us recently that she was referred to another dental specialist by her dentist to help determine the cause of pain in her tooth.  Through patient examination, the specialist was able to detect the cause of pain was due to a neighbouring decayed tooth which the dentist couldn't detect.  With the root cause identified, the specialist was able to rectify the problem.   

Certainly we can pray for our bodily aches and pain.  That should be the first course of action to take.  But subsequently, we also need to see a doctor to ascertain the extent of our condition, whether it has been healed or medical attention is needed.  We believe that God uses doctors to bring about healing as well.  The gynae who attended to my wife is a Christian who sees his calling as a doctor to help the lives of patients that come to him.  Outside his clinic was a prayer plaque given to him by his patient which goes like this:

A Physician’s Prayer

Lord, Thou Great Physician, I kneel before Thee

since every good and perfect gift come from Thee.

I pray:

Give skill to my hand, clear vision to my mind

kindness and sympathy to my heart.

Give me singleness of purpose,

strength to lift at least a part of the burden

of my suffering fellow men,

and a true realization of the rare privilege that is mine.

Take from my heart all guile and worldliness,

that with the simple faith of a child

I may rely on Thee.

Amen.

May God help us to be sensitive not only to our pain but the pain of people around us.  In such a situation, ask God to give us the wisdom and courage to take the right course of action.