I read with interest the article in the Straits Times of 15 May 2016, on the events regarding the initial intention to maintain a common currency and reserve bank for Malaysia and Singapore in the immediate aftermath of separation in 1965, and the discussions that led to the decision in 1966 to have separate currencies and reserve banks instead. Coming hard on the heels of the August 1965 separation of Singapore from Malaya, it must have seemed to many Singaporeans, and indeed our own leaders at the time, that things were falling apart.
Today, it seems inconceivable that we could have had a common currency with Malaysia. From par value, today the exchange rate between the Malaysian ringgit and the Singapore dollar is almost three times, demonstrating the vastly different needs of each country over the years, in managing their respective economies. It seems equally inconceivable for the two countries to work with a common central bank , given how differently our philosophies of reserve investment and management have developed.
I have two takeaways from this. The first is, even when things seem to go wrong, sometimes, they are for good. I was good at my first job. I worked hard. I volunteered for everything - even stuff no one else wanted to do. I was technically sound. I was nice to others. I led a cell group in the office. Colleagues asked me how to do this, how to do that. But in the seven years I was there, I got one promotion. And that was the "automatic" batch promotion. Obviously I wasn't doing something right, but the worst of it was that I didn't know what - every year the boss would say I was doing fine. But obviously not - things were going wrong! Eventually, it got to the stage where I felt I had to leave a job that I no longer enjoyed.
If you think things got better immediately, the answer is, not really. It took me months to find my next job. When I finally did find that job, the hours were terrible. Worse, my new boss told me every day how useless I was, no matter how much work was done. Nothing I did was right. Within three months, I was desperately trying to interview somewhere else. I constantly regretted leaving my iron rice bowl first job.
Then finally, finally, things slowly turned. There was a organisational reshuffle. A new function was created and I was moved there. A year later I was moved out altogether to a completely different part of the company. A year after that, I had the opportunity to lead a function, then two. The years passed. More stuff happened. I left, then came back to yet another different role. Had the chance to really make a difference.
Today, I work much the same way I did right at the start - I pride myself on being good at what I do. I volunteer for stuff. I try my best to be nice. Colleagues ask me stuff. I bring friends and colleagues to cell group and to serve the poor. But of course I have learned to do many things better - things I learned only because of the fruitless times. And only when it became obvious that I had to improve. Learning not to be scared to ask questions when I don't know something. Learning to appreciate that relationships are important, because no one likes to help a stranger. Learning that selling something well is almost as important as doing something well, because even ideas that make sense still need to be sold well.
Work can still be frightening and frustrating at times. Of course. But the fruitfulness of the same effort, applied for all these years, is finally seen. And I really enjoy going to work now, meeting people, and having the chance everyday to make things better, help people succeed. And I would never have been in this position to be fruitful, if the first 7 years had not been so fruitless, because I would probably never have left my first iron rice bowl job, and never have had any reason to learn to be better.
So if things seem to be going wrong, well... you never know how things are going to turn out. I consider myself lucky. Only had to go through those years to slowly learn what I was doing wrong. Some people only need to wait days or months. But I know others who have to wait for decades! But the turning point does come if we keep at it - do good work, do the right thing, don't be too proud to admit you're wrong and change. 2 Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance". This verse refers to the time given to all of us to receive Christ, and God is indeed patient in waiting for us to turn to Him. But the time that He gives me has to be used wisely. If I don't change, then I am wasting His patience!
The second this, even when things seem to go wrong, well... are they really wrong to begin with? This has to do with our definition of success. In the case of currency separation, one definition of success could have been, to achieve the economic benefits of a common currency. The eventual separation of currencies would then, by definition, have been a failure. But turn the definition of success around, to restate it as the achievement of monetary policy independence, and we have a success.
We sometimes look at people and think to ourselves - what a success! Or a what a failure! Maybe we know a Christian friend who serves the Lord faithfully, but seems to run into roadblocks in his career or studies. Well, let's think about that. Why do we say that such a person is a failure? Because our definition of success is shaped by what the secular world says. Mediocre grades. Dead-end career. No visible results. Oh man, that guy is a failure, right? Hmm.
Let's turn that around. What if you have a Christian friend who is not much of a Christian. Irregular at church. Doesn't really serve anyone. Most times cannot tell that he is a Christian at all. Then he gets all the promotions, and his investments all succeed. People love him! But is he a success or a failure? Hmm.
Who is my audience? I must remember that I have an audience of One. Am I a success or a failure in His eyes? With the time, and the energy, and the resources He has given me as His steward, have I multiplied them? And have I multiplied them for my use or His?
So the next time we look at ourselves, or those around us and think about whether we are a success or a failure, let's think about our definition of success. Colossians 3:23 says "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters".
To the missionary who travels to the ends of the earth and slogs it out, penniless, while his peers make pots of money on Wall Street. When we gather to give out bread to the poor, and they don't even want to accept it, or close doors in our faces. When we choose to do the right thing in the workplace and lose business, or get passed over for promotion. When we spend time to serve others, and we worry about our own children getting less time with us. God is taking the time to mould us. To prepare us for something even better. Not just on earth, but when we meet Him again. And even as we struggle, never mind what others think of us - we are a success in His eyes.
I don't need my name in lights
I'm famous in my Father's eyes
Make no mistake
He knows my name
I'm not living for applause
I'm already so adored
It's all His stage
He knows my name
He Knows My Name - Francisca Battistelli
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