The bubble tea craze seems to be on a resurgence mode. One has only to look at the queue at the Koi outlets to know. One friend of mine dubbed it as "The teens'4D queue". :P
Anyway, today' reflections are brought about by 2 seemingly unrelated incidents, one with bubble tea, the other with work. Last night after dinner, I popped by the Koi outlet in Toa Payoh for an order. To make my efficient use of my time, I went off to purchase something else in a nearby shop, instead of waiting there for my queue number to appear. When I returned, naturally my number had been over. In the usual scenario, similar to that of collection of meds in polyclinic/hospital, if your queue number has passed, they would leave your items in the "outstanding" corner for collection when you produce your queue number. However when I went there, seems that my order had been "bubble-tea-nappped". The person at the collection counter was quite apologetic and offered to make it promptly. Thankfully I wasn't in a foul mood yesterday and was happy to accept. When I left with my bubble-tea, then a not-so-wise thought crossed my mind. In the case of the store, you pay immediately after you place your order and a queue number is printed, without specifiying the actual description of the order. The descriptions of the order are in their database only between the time the order is has been made and the collection. Once the order has been collected and the queue number ticket returned, it is deleted from the database. Which means that I could have up-sized/increase/upgraded my order. It was only after I left when I realised this and sighed to myself for losing such a bargain.
Well, God taught me a nasty lesson by having me drop me bubble tea on the deck of the bus. Luckily, it did not spill out onto the bus but seeped into the plastic carrier bag. Yucks...
After my cell group that night, did I realise something figuratively similar to this had happened in the workplace, albeit in a slight change of scenario and sequence. Think of it as having been given a upsized bubble-tea order and having walked off half-way only to discover it. Should I return with the bargain and tell them my original order?
As I do not intend to disclose any details, let's just summarize it as me being given the opportunity for getting a "bargain" with working hours for a company event. Initially when I was given this offer, I was overjoyed as it meant I could get more with doing less. However when I reflected on the bubble tea incident with this, did I see the enormity of the bargain. What if, after I get the "bargain", everyone else starts demanding for it too? Even if I did not care about what others think/comment/do, do I deserve it? Quite honestly, no. Despite trying to reassure myself that it was offered by someone of authority, though verbally only, I still couldn't put myself at ease. Even if the entire world (except the one who came up with the offer of course) were ignorant on the matter, God knows fully well that by accepting this offer, it is disobedience to Him. Thankfully I made the wise choice then.
In today's service at church, the pastor was preaching on how everyone of us is equipped within our means to serve God. The only issue now lies in the age-long thing of choice: whether or not we choose to obey God. One especially memorable concept raised by the pastor is that obedience is about one's attitudes, not actions. Applying it in the above two events:
1. Bubble-tea test: correct action, wrong attitude = fail... :(
2."Bargain" test: correct in both action and attitude, though I almost made the great folly being wrong in both. Phew! :)
As the pastor concluded with my current favourite verse from God's Word, to check whether you are truly obeying Him, or you are too distracted by other people, issues, even yourself, just read this verse outloud and answer yourself honestly. I think it works very well for me. As least the bargain test proved it!
If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? YOU MUST FOLLOW ME.
John 21:22
