How Are You?

It's been a hectic season of reunions and endless teas.

Loads of people returning to sunny severe sauna Singapore before going back to their adopted countries to enjoy nice cold Christmases.

Asked one of the returnees, a very old but unfortunate Christian friend who was the long-suffering subject of much vitriol in my anti-Christian pagan days, in his oddly-authentic London accent,"How are you?"

"Fine, fine. Still trusting in God, so quite fine."

[scornfully]"Come on, that's not all there is...how are you, really..."

[slightly thrown off]"Err...that's all there is. Really."

[laughs]"Yes, that's all there is! Praise God for his undeserved mercy!"

********

Answering a similar query from a non-Christian appears far more difficult.

If we'd acquired a new boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse in the interim period between meetings with friends, we could talk about those wonderful new relationships. Or if those relationships have continued and grown, we could happily update friends on such joyful progress. But how do we explain the massively wonderful continuation of that life-changing relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, the increasing awe of him as we learn more and more about him in the Bible and the thankfulness just for our mere perseverance in the faith?

Perhaps..with love and wisdom and truthfulness and with a worried eye on their salvation, with gentleness and respect, always being prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks us the reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).

What a marvellous task.

:-)