Christmas in Singapore, a catholic market becomes a way to talk about God
Singapore (AsiaNews) - For many years in December, Pauline sisters in Singapore display a purple-red push-cart displayed with books, CDs, DVDs, cribs (mangers) and various religious articles to help people prepare for Christmas. Various articles and messages are displayed on all sides. The purple-red push-cart we are using now was once used by Jurong Point Department. It is really a new "areopago" (marketplace) where we can meet diverse people of different nationalities; it is a good opportunity to reach out to people beyond religion and race. Not only Catholics but Christians of other denominations, Buddhists, Anglicans and Atheists peep in or browse. Some people even confess how nominally Catholic they have become.
On the first day of launching our push-cart at Jurong Point, a passerby looked
into our exhibition. So I asked her, "Are you looking for something?" "I just
want to talk with you. I'm so sad and depressed that I feel there is no God in
my life..." "What happened?"
"I lost my job..." "Oh, did you? I'm sorry to hear that."
Then, I spontaneously recommended a book entitled "Never Give Up: Lives of
great personalities who never gave up." "Oh, Sister. I never give up. I don't
need it." Then, I recommended another book entitled "If God Is So Good, Why Do I Hurt So
Bad?" "No, Sister. I don't need a book. I just want to talk. I don't know what
to do now." So, we talked for a while.
Day in and day out, we all face various kinds of difficult situations that we
can't explain appropriately. Most of the time, we can't but pray, meditate,
wait and persevere constantly, because the inner power comes from an encounter
with the Lord. When facing a crisis, there are times when talking or
words don't make sense at all; words are sometimes unnecessary, burdensome and
redundant. On the contrary, attentive, compassionate and thoughtful listening,
or just being together can provide consolation, inspire and heal us.
Looking around the world, so many bad and sad things are happening. Natural
disasters continue to occur, and daily newspapers are full of negative and
gloomy stories. Sometimes being desperate and miserable, people often ask, "Why
does such a thing happen to me? I didn't do anything wrong. I am good as far as
I know. Why does God do such a thing to me? Why?"
When people ask such a question, I don't know how to react. One thing I can clearly
say is that we can participate in the salvation history of God and share in the
suffering of Jesus Christ when we are willing to face and suffer trials and
pain. Only faith can give us the power to endure and accept every situation
with serenity and composure.
One day, one of my friends in Singapore discovered that she was in the second
stage of cancer. After discovering this, she cried and cried; she kept asking
many questions whenever she met people. Though deeply hurting and confused, she
couldn't but face and accept the reality as it was. I was so sorry because I
couldn't do anything for her. So I began to send short SMS messages to
cheer her up and I named one message "Healing smile." Later on, I expanded the addressee; I am now regularly sending the message of
Healing smile in groups through KakaoTalk.
Our lives are colored with diverse experiences: sometimes moody and low,
sometimes sunny and cheerful. Both sides always exist together. Every moment
comes and goes. As we experience and undergo various moments of life, our
hearts become more generous, understanding, open-minded and compassionate. Pondering,
deepening, meditating or contemplating the words of the Bible is a very
inspiring and renewing way to remain at peace in the face of adversity.
*The writer belongs to the Daughters of St. Paul
.png)
