I have two fathers who seem to be in conflict with one another with regards to what I should do with my life. Both wants what's best for me. Both love me very much. My father who art in Indonesia wanted me to have a secure and easy live under his wing. He promises a nice house on the hill overlooking the city, a new car every several years , new clothes anytime I want, and and guaranteed livelihood for as long as he lives. I have to work for it of course and it means I have to work for him. He promises easy life as long as I obey his commands.
My father who art in heaven wanted me to go with him on an adventure trip. I will get to sail on calm waters one time and rough water the next, climb mountains and seek that beautiful vista on top, track through they jungle and savanna and have a personal encounter with the lions, tigers, giraffes and others. He said the trip is not pleasant at times and it can be dangerous and tiring but I will have to believe that he is right beside me and will not let anything I cannot handle to overcome me.
If you're a girl in your early twenties, fresh out of college with not much work experience, who would you choose?
Seventeen years have passed since I had to make that choice to follow my Father in heaven. Just as he promised, the journey is not easy. For years I only bought 'on special' items when grocery shopping. My babies wore second hand clothes when they were born. I don't get to own my first brand new car until year 10 of the journey when my brothers and sister had changed cars twice. By the time we bought our first house, their mortgage is almost paid off. Life seems hard, but my Father in heaven always deliver on the promise that he is right beside me and showed me the beautiful vista, the calm waters, and the dangerous wild animals. The day can be tiring but he gave me a restful night sleep. Every day, I woke up fresh and recharged, ready for the next adventure in store.
Well, it turned out that live following my other father would not have turned out as smooth as promised. During the pass 17 years, my father had his hard earned profit wiped out twice, once during the Asian economic crisis and the other when one of my brothers mismanaged the business.
I am glad that I chose the father who laid down the foundation of this world, and who knitted me while I was in my mother's womb. He knows what in store in the future and he knows my dreams and my fears. I feel secure.
