Signs
Wonderful Tess and I have some decisions in front of us and I have some decisions in front of me. Not light decisions, either, and some of them directly plugged into my spiritual world. Some background: on Friday I attended a Christian breakfast where a friend gave a testimony about his time in prison. This individual was released from prison in January 2010 after serving a 3+ year sentence related to financial irregularities and wrong doing in his former business. He shared how regardless of our lot, station or cell in life, many of us are imprisoned by something. For my friend he was imprisoned by society's laws, spending three plus years in Hong Kong prisons. For many of us we are imprisoned by possessions, money, career, relationship issues. We are even imprisoned by dynamics that we may not even know are at work on us: shame, guilt, fear.
In time, content to be shared but one of the decisions in front of me is whether or not to take on a significant leadership role in the next Walk To Emmaus retreat. Normally this would be a no-brainer – YES – the fluidity of other pieces of my life have me questions whether or not I should say, “Yes” or might be better to say, “Not Now.”
I have been hesitating on this decision. I didn't sense I had clear indication or confirmation that now was the correct time to fulfill this role. The other day while driving, I received a phone call from the person who extended the invitation on behalf of the Walk To Emmaus Community. Just after answering the call – yes I was wearing a headset – a white truck pulled in front of me. My friend and I spoke for about fifteen minutes, debating back and forth how one would know if they were following God’s will for one’s life and if I was to accept this invitation. I explained to Dave that I wasn't getting a clear sign to pursue this role at this time and I was worried about the time commitments. Deep inside I felt as though I was being silly and the answer was an obvious yes… just be obedient and follow God. The discussion went on for about twenty minutes while I drove from one side to the other side of Hong Kong – the entire time following the white truck.
Unexpectedly the truck’s signage connected with my self-centered mind. “Oh my gosh, Dave,” I said. “The entire time we’ve talked I’ve been following a Trappist Dairy truck.”
“You're kidding… Trappist Dairy,” Dave replied, “you don’t see those very often!”
“Wow, what a sign. I think this answers the question that I should be the Lay Director,” I said.
“It would be hard to dispute that,” Dave confirmed.
I love Trappist Dairy milk and buy it whenever available in the supermarkets. I also love the Trappist Haven Monastery on Lamma Island. Although I have yet to visit personally, I have always heard great things about the place.
From Wikipedia: The Trappist Haven Monastery (Traditional Chinese:熙篤會神樂院 or 聖母神樂院) is a monastery at Tai Shui Hang (Chinese: 大水坑), on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. It is home to a number of Roman Catholic monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, or Trappists. It adopted its new, official name Our Lady of Joy Abbey on January 15, 2000.
The monastery is famous for producing the Trappist milk (known as Cross Milk 十字牌牛奶 or Priest Milk 神父牌牛奶 by Hong Kongers).
