My National Day (II)

A rather eventful National Day.

i was reminded rather pleasantly of what patriotism amounted to for me today.

i spent half the day at my aunt’s place in Bukit Timah, a gorgeous house in the style of traditional Asian architecture – high ceilings, wood, wood, wood, all around and clever openings for natural light to fill the house.

The whole Sng clan was gathered there today because another of my aunts, my father’s younger sister and the second-eldest behind him, was back from Germany for the first time in umpteen years (which roughly translates to about eight to ten years or so).

In honour of the occasion, she was treating the family to a catered lunch, followed by a sackful of mao shan wang or cat mountain king durians.

As much as i enjoyed the lip-smacking, phlegm-thickening and thirst-inducing durians, i found myself being truly thankful that the entire family, on my father’s side, was gathered under one roof.

What with my father being in the terminal stages of lymphoma, my grandfather struck down again by cancer, this time of the liver, my grandmother in the final throes of dementia, and my aunt returning to Germany on 18th August, it seems unlikely that this scene will soon repeat itself, if ever.

So i found myself rolling on the ground and lifting cousin after cousin into as the air, sometimes gliding them through the air, as my cousins, most of whom are in primary school, treated me as their one-stop, one-man, living playground and home entertainment centre.

i’ve written about my lil’ cousins before, but i just can’t get over their general cuteness and the simple wonderment they have at my ability to hold them aloft in the air as they flap their hands at the same time in the pretence that they are birds flying through the air. Or the joy they have at my tireless ability to induce electric shocks in them through my prodigious tickling skills.

i love my cousins.

i also met my cousin, Bernadette, the daughter of the aunt who has returned from Germany, again today. The last time i had met her, she was still a rosy-poofy-cheeked toddler. She’s now twelve.

Her brother, Christian, who’s eight, came in tow. i was meeting him for the first time today.

They’re both pan-Asian, because my aunt’s husband is a Caucasian German. I’ll post a picture of Bernadette soon, but all i’ll say for now is that the both of them are gonna break a lot of hearts in future.

Seriously, when they’re a little older, they’d be shoo-ins as the new generation of MTV Asia VJs.

They’re that beautiful. Gosh.

Later in the evening, i met up with my Varsity Christian Fellowship Executive Committee (VCF Exco) at one of my Exco member’s spanking new home.

We were all involved in VCF in our university days and in our final year, save two of us, we worked together as the Exco of VCF.

i can’t remember the last time i enjoyed pizza, Pictionary and casual conversation so much. It’s amazing how ten people, thirteen if i include spouses and spouses-to-be, can be united together by a common love for God and His kingdom, regardless of socio-economic background, personality, course of study and whatnot.

Because, when it comes down to the crunch, there’s only one reason we got to know each other in the first place and, even now, continue to remain friends, brothers, sisters and comrades.

That our bond endured through our one-year tenure as the leadership of a body of believers in NUS and continues to deepen and strengthen today over easy and comfortable fellowship is a testament to the love and power of Christ.

Precious. So very precious.

And that brings me back to my original point – what patriotism amounts to for me.

On this 41st National Day, i can honestly say that i love my country, and try to live as best for my country, and, if needs be, will die for my country.

Not because of some abstract concept of patriotism and unity.

Not because there’s anything monumental, whether of ideology or institutions or culture, in Singapore to defend.

Not because the government told me so.

And most definitely not because a few songs and music videos brainwashed me to think so.

But because my God, my Father in heaven, decided that i am to dwell in this land, according to His will, that i may love and cherish it for such a time as this, and, in so doing, glorify Him.

Because i will fight to the death for the family He has chosen for me – that of my natural birth – i will live and die for my father, my mother, my brothers, my sister, my grandfather, my grandmother, my aunts, my uncles and my cousins.

Because of the family of my spiritual birth, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ – the Church He gave His life for and built with His precious blood – them i will live and die for.

i love because You first loved me.

That’s patriotism to me.

That was National Day 2006 for me.