Farewell, Mr Ho

Mr Ho was a member of my team at my workplace. He was a jolly guy with a hearty laughter, and popular with most because of his chatty persona and easy-going demeanour. He was also the public face of IT support as far as the 300 over users region-wide are concerned because 5 years ago, it was a one-man IT department and that one man was Mr Ho.

Yesterday, we gave him a farewell lunch. I didn't say anything to him, and not in the preceding days. Not because I have anything against him, but whatever needs to be said, has been said already.

When I took over the IT department one year ago, I looked at this man in the eyes. Behind all the laughter, humming of songs & loud talking is a depressed man full of fears and false hopes. Many areas in his life had gone horribly awry. As we exchanged our hearts and shared with each other our stories, this man came to tears, not once but twice, because he recognised the state of his life. I remembered our one and only trip to Malaysia together, when I shared with him about who I really am, about my adventures in life since knowing God, about how he can too be transformed as never before if he commits his life and hopes to God.

After our heart to heart talks, I would pray with him and for him. I wanted him to know that the answer to his challenges in life lies with Jesus. Only Jesus can help turn him around, because that's what He did for me many years ago. I invited him sincerely to boldly lay down his hopes, plans and life and just leave them with God, and trusting God to lead him, even if it means having to throw away some or all of his plans.

Some weeks ago, he began to experience a strange manifestation which in his words, "has never happened before". One side of his body was numb. He desperately sought treatment from hospitals and sinsehs. And then last Friday, he tendered his resignation.

At the farewell yesterday, I looked into his eyes again from across the tables. They reflect the same things that I have come to be familiar with.

Mr Ho,
You may have detested me. You may have thought that I came to wreck your life and career. Your life seems to be at peace before I came. I'm afraid you have been mistaken. You were working in a Christian organization but your heart did not belong to God. Whatever peace you experience was merely on the surface. Deep inside you lies tonnes of insecurities, deceptions, and bondages.

I came to help. I came to minister. I came to set free.

I am not a trained pastor but I preached with my life, as one who had been in chains but is now free. I have laid all my weaknesses before you and told you that God works through these. I have hidden nothing from you. I too have my hopes and fears, but the difference lies in the fact that God is in the picture.

Now that you have left us, I can only pray that you will turn to God and just let Him into your life. There's still hope. Your walk in life is not over yet. Don't leave God at the door; invite Him in. And see how He will change you and set you free.

May I wish you all the best, and only the best in Christ.

Thomas