The fellowship of kindred minds

"I am part of all that I have met" declares Tennyson in Ulysses.  Relationships with family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances - all play a part in our lives. They help us to grow, to find fulfilment and blessing.

It was good last Saturday evening to meet our officer friends, plus Territorial Headquarters' Heads of departments and their families at Jalan Peminpin residence of our Territorial Commander, Colonel Gillian Downer. We gathered near the swimming pool to have barbecue. We had a great time having fellowship.

I spent some time with Mr. John Ng our Property Director who kindly showed me some of the latest development of properties. Thanks to modern technology, he was able to show me on his Ipod pictures of the various projects in Banting (which we have never visited) and Kuching our family ground for we spent three years working there in the Church and Boys' Home.

It was good to be able to go round chatting with the various people. Then we came home and I kept thinking of Colonel Burridge.

The last time we had such fellowship was on Sunday 18th April 2010 when we met at the residence of Colonels Keith and Beryl Burridge. In fact last evening on the way to Jalan Pemimpin I kept thinking of the Burridges such lovely Christians who in a short space of time did much for our people in this territory.

That Sunday evening a group of us met at 80 Sunset Way, the quarters of the Territorial Commander. We had fellowship and dinner and when that ended, they shook hands with all the guests. That same night he had a heart attack and was taken to be with the Lord.

It shook us all, we just could not believe the news. When someone phoned me on Monday morning all I said was "No, it can't be."  What a loss to our territory! We bade farewell to a great man who in a very short period of time, did a lot for our people. Well, it has been nearly three years since his promotion to Glory, but his influence lives on. We can never fully understand life's mysteries and who God allows certain things to happen, but we believe God never makes a mistake.

I was privileged to be requested to give the message at the Service in memory of our dear friend on Tuesday evening 22nd April 2012.

The quarters is now rented out and Colonel Gillian Downer our current Territorial Commander lives in a  rented unit at Jalan Peminpin not far from our Headquarters. She made a very wise decision.

"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love!
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.

We share our mutual woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
That sympathising tear.

When we asunder part
It give us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.  John Fawcett

Yes, I am part of all I have met! Cherish our relationships.