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A GRACIOUS PEOPLE
by Ong Kok Bin
Lee Kuan Yew, the august statesman of Singapore, had one of his rare moments in his life. For someone who was so honed to success and so used to getting his ways, it was indeed out of the ordinary for the man to admit to a failure. He was musing aloud to his fellow countrymen not too long ago that he would not be able to see a gracious Singapore in his lifetime. Much as he was able to transform a third-world Singapore into first-world, much as he could coax and cajole (and if cajoling would not work, then bullying) his people into prodigious mean machines of productivity, he was unable to imbue them with that abstract quality known as grace.
Not that he had not tried. He had those courtesy campaigns and 'Be Polite' sloganeerings. But grace is not born out of campaigns or slogans or from any forced effort.
Grace gives birth to grace, if I may be permitted. The refinement, the simple elegance of speech and mannerisms, the courtesy of politeness and good will can only come from an inner attitude that has experienced grace.
The biblical figure of Paul arguably had the same intensity of vigour and fervour in pursuing his objectives as the Minister Mentor of Singapore. Paul had very high ideals with matching zeal to attain his goals. He brooded no mercy to his enemies. He spared no effort in getting what he pursued. But mercy was his. He had a life-transforming experience, in which he found the grace of God.
Years later, he was to open his heart out to a young man named Timothy. "Even though I was once a blasphemer," he said, "and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 1:13-14). A measure of the transformation that Paul had gone through comes from this advice he was to give to the same Timothy: "Set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Tim. 4:12).
Yes, grace gives birth to grace. The unmerited favour of God generates a well-spring of gratitude, humility and gentleness that shows forth graciousness and genteelness in day to day relationships. Grace to the sociologists, makers and shakers of society may be a product of society itself - its customs and culture. But where does society through its customs and culture obtain its grace?
"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God" (Ex. 34:6).
Short-Takes
1. Conspiratorial Misrule
2. Redeeming the Time
3. It's an Oily Business
4. Lifting Holy Hands in Prayer
5. A Gracious People
6. Words, Words and Words
7. I Know Whom I Have Believed
8. Of Oddballs and Heroic Fights
9. The People Delivered a Tsunami
10. Joy in Troubled Times
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