ten years swim

Today in the coffee shop I ran into someone I hadn't met in ten years. Ten years ago, Mr. Paul Ting delivered a bible to my home. I still have the copy in which he signed, dated October 1998. Today, I ran into him in the coffee shop.

Ten years ago, I was in my last year of highschool. I had just come back from Japan. My friend Christina brought me to a special event in her church. She was so into the whole Christian thing then but I had heard from a chance encounter with her brother a few years ago that she wasn't so into it anymore. I had lost touch with Christina since high school.

But anyways. Ten years ago, Christina brought me to church. When they asked people who chose to accept Christ to walk up to the stage, I went up. Then they took me to the basement and it was Mr. Paul Ting who was talking to me about the Bible. I talked to him for a long time.

I came up from the basement. Christina was waiting for me. She had the most radiant smile on her face. I was only eighteen then, and nowhere near the sensitive being I am today, but still, I made a note to myself then that that smile was the most radiant I had ever seen from anyone.

I had long lost touch with Christina. And tonight I think of her.

And to Mr. Paul Ting, I am very thankful. We are both ten years older. I was a lost highschooler then and now I'm a somewhat established member of the working society. I asked Paul, "In this ten year's time, how have your relationship with God changed?"

I'm glad to see Paul still spreading the faith. I told him what he does is very meaningful.

As for me, my relationship with God had never been closer. This, I am convinced, though rarely do I go to church or read the bible.

God is in my heart.

Ten years. What of that? All I know is we're all swimming in the same ocean. And for this, I feel infinitely blissful.