Written by Lemuel Teo (Photo by: Joseph Koh)
Every city has a distinctive cry, what is ours?
It was about 1 a.m. on a cooling night in June 2011; the platoon was approaching the halfway mark of our 28 km route march. I was sitting on a gentle grassy slope whilst leaning on my field pack still attached to my back; my rifle was on my right and my helmet on the left. The Kranji Reservoir was behind me, and the Straits of Johor in front. A brief 10-minute rest was all we were going to have before moving off again. A light wind blew across my fairly damp face, and as I breathed in the cold night air, I had a moment to pause and reflect…
The lights of Johor Bahru were shining brightly in the darkness as I gazed across the strait. It reminded me of our shared past. Familiar Singaporean historical narratives were being retold in my mind — the founding of a British trading port, the Japanese Occupation, the subsequent push for independence, the merger, and of course, the separation. The presence of Kranji Reservoir behind me became more acute to my senses: it represents Singapore’s desire for self-sufficiency, our seeming ability to make what we have work for us, and the tenacity we have cultivated as a nation.
However, it feels like Singapore is entering a new life-stage in recent times, like a child nearing adolescence (even though we are 49 years old). Singaporeans are increasingly crying out for change: for stricter immigration policies, for diversity in our parliament, for better management of our public transport system. They are essentially crying out for their pleas to be heard in government discussions. We, as a nation, stand at a critical juncture today, whereby the intensity of our situation is almost palpable. In the National Day Rally (NDR) last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong opened his stirring speech by stating his intention to “signal a change, to emphasise that this is not the usual NDR. Singapore is at a turning point.” I believe he is right: we are indeed at a turning point.
Youths who are eager, loud-mouthed, and demanding are often labelled as “rebellious” or “troublesome” by society in general. However, Glenn Lim, a Singaporean social entrepreneur and youth-expert, believes that these supposed delinquents are simply seeking for their voices to be heard and to be part of the process leading to an outcome. I think this accurately describes the changing attitudes of the people of Singapore. As we cry out for changes in Singapore, I don’t think that we are merely making noise and complaining about petty things. Instead, Singaporeans are striving to be heard and involved in the nation-building process. But I wonder what we are crying out for.
Every city has a particular character and in that character lies a distinctive cry: Amsterdam for drugs and prostitution; Calcutta for poverty and congestion; Macau for gambling and triads; Los Angeles for freedom and human rights; Syria for war and revolution; Bangkok for shopping and transsexuals. The cry from each individual city all around the world rises up to the ears of God; both of the wicked and the righteous, He hears them all. (Genesis 18:20; Exodus 2:23–24) How about the cry of Singapore? What is distinctive of Singapore? What are we known for?
We need to be a generation that raises up a righteous cry to God! Even as Singaporeans are perceptibly more vocal, clamouring to be involved in the shaping of their country, Christians should desire likewise. There is a dire need for our cries of righteousness to be heard by God, and our hands to be intimately involved in His work in Singapore. In fact, when the Israelites were exiled in Babylon, God instructed them to “work for the country’s welfare. Pray for Babylon’s well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you” (Jeremiah 29:7). He wanted the Israelites to invest their strength, resources, and prayers into a country they loved to hate, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity, and progress for that nation.The principle: wherever God has called you to, love and pray for that country.
We have to love Singapore. Singaporeans are experts at complaining; our complaints range from the influx of foreigners to the MRT breaking down, even to the snaking queues for the latest Hello Kitty toy from McDonald’s. It is imperative that we learn to stop grumbling and start appreciating, to shift our perspective from the negative to the positive. As I travel across the island (usually on the East West Line), I enjoy pausing to take in the sights, sounds, smell, and feel of my surroundings. These personal interludes often lead me to appreciate what our forefathers did in the past, be grateful for what we have today, and believe in the hope of Singapore’s future. When I was at Changi Airport recently, I felt particularly thankful of how comfortable the airport was, and cognisant of the foresight our city planners possessed decades ago.
What is one element of Singaporean life that you have recently experienced and are grateful for?
Let us live life with gratefulness, and may it spur us to start getting more involved in our immediate communities. It could begin with buying tissue packets stacked in threes from the auntie with a hunchback or by thanking the cleaners who ensure that your table is cleared at the hawker centre. It could also mean greeting the neighbour you meet in the lift or helping a pregnant lady find a seat on the MRT. The idea is that we ought to love our country and invest in our society.
Let us also pray for Singapore. I firmly believe that the cry of a few righteous people can and does affect the destiny of a city. In Jonah 3, repentance started with the people of the city. It eventually reached the king, who then declared a fast over the entire region! Christians in Singapore, we need to rise up in intercession for our city. Our society is gradually losing ground to the disintegration of the family unit, to mindless consumerism, to xenophobia, among others. Let us pray that as “the enemy comes like a raging flood tide, the Spirit of the Lord will drive him back” (Jeremiah 59:19).
Would you be counted among the few people raising up a righteous cry to God?
As our nation enters our phase of “young adulthood”, let us make this turning point a defining moment by investing our strength, resources, and prayers into Singapore. May our hands, stained with the love of Jesus, be involved in doing His work for our community. May our zealous voices raise up a righteous cry unto God.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them.” (Psalm 34:17a)
Mz
18 February
Just to share, one element of Singaporean life I’ve experienced over the years and I’m very grateful for is the education system. From state assistance in terms of subsidies in school fees, bursaries, laptop grants, it has really used education as a social leveller. From someone who barely passed English in primary one, I am now studying law in a local university. Of course I acknowledge God’s grace and plans over my life, as well as a nurturing home environment. But I am also grateful for a government that invests in its future generations. :)
You are right, as Singapore stands at a turning point, we have to love Singapore, and be a generation that raises up righteous cries for Singapore.
Lemuel Teo
18 February
Hi Mz,
Thank you for sharing! It must be quite a story (testimony) from primary 1 to uni. Yes, I agree with you; I am also very grateful for our education system. :)
Like the government investing into education (moulding the future of our nation), we also have a part to play in investing into the spiritual climate of our future generation. It starts with us interceding for Singapore now.
Love Singapore :)
– Lemuel
Abigail wee
19 February
Hey Lemuel just wanna say that now a days I’m always truly bless whatever it’s on the table to tell you the truth I told myself that hey other people don’t have food , water and when I see all the people in the hawker center see all of them wasting food I told myself abigail finish what is on the table and be grateful for everything you have :D I always thank the hawker cleaners and even my canteen aunty also :)