Out-of-the-box Speaking

Let me tell you a short story.

Once upon a time, I got an invitation from a well-known direct selling multinational company for a marketing manager job. It was during a moment of steep economic decline and in a time like this, most companies were on 'freeze hiring' or retrenchment. The timing was quite spectacular. But I wasn't really looking for work. I knew in my heart that I was not meant for the corporate world. I was taking up my Masters in Entrepreneurship and alongside it, I wanted to learn more, read, travel, write, impart some knowledge and improve some skills.

I knew from my past jobs that being held in an 8 to 5 office schedule would eat up most of my waking time and that I would be left with only few precious hours for more meaningful things.
But then, I thought what the heck, might as well try it out. I would need to save for my future anyway.

I entered their office the next day. It was quite small and bare. I was still hesitant as I looked for the HR manager who was supposed to interview me. I found a pleasant lady who waved at me and invited me to her office. I walked in and we had a short chit-chat. She then asked what my expected salary would be. After a long and fruitful interview, she told me to wait for her call within seven days. I wasn't looking forward to the call. Then on one afternoon, when I was enjoying preparing a pot-luck party at home, I got the call. She told me to come to their office the next day for contract signing. There I went and I found out that the salary they were offering to me was twice as much as I was expecting. To cut the story short, I accepted the job. I worked and saved most of what I earned for a house. It was a 5-storey house, Carribean style with white walls and tall glass windows situated on a hill near a fresh river. I was saving it for my future family.

After some time, I finally got the opportunity to transfer to the house. When I was walking towards it with my baggage, I was filled with awe, thinking Finally, I have now fulfilled my dream. Suddenly, a fire struck the house. I didn't know how it started. Probably it was a faulty wiring or forest fire. My memory of that time wasn't clear. All I remembered was the blazing tongue of the bright yellow-orange flames annihilating the white structure. The house burnt to ashes and all my years of hardwork drifted like vapor in the wind. That very moment, I realized everything is indeed fleeting. God gives and takes away. Then I woke up.

It was all a dream, colorful, vivid and very much up-to-date (I actually applied for the same job in my waking hours). Praise God for He taught me great lessons through a dream and not with a real painful experience. One thing I realized is that God can easily give and take away anything and anyone that we hold onto dearly. Whether it be a house that you've saved up for ages, or a family that you've reared, God can take them away in a blink of an eye. This is extremely painful if this 'anyone' or 'anything' has taken the place of God in your life, and this place is the CENTER.

I'm also reminded about a teaching of Jesus, that we cannot worship both God and money. It's either we worship, follow, depend our decisions on God OR money/savings/car/house/etc. It's one or the other. I know the house in my dream or the money Jesus was pertaining to is not entirely evil, but it does distract us from focusing on God. It makes us do things based on our slowly-but-surely-comfortable way and not God's out-of-the-box way.

It's fascinating how God speaks. It's literally out-of-the-box which goes to show how powerful and magnificent is He.

Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

~ Psalm 37:3,4