DEAR Readers,
Greetings! As I write to you from my temporary home (hospital) in Beijing, I reflect on the past 67 days.
Thank you for following my journey and keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. Your support has been a remarkable source of strength during this chapter of my life.
This morning, a word came to my mind as I pondered what to share with you: ‘Magnificat’. This word is not just a term; it embodies deep praise and gratitude – an expression of glorification.
How fitting it is to consider ‘Magnificat’ at a time when I am compelled to offer immense praise to the Lord for all the blessings that have been granted to me, especially during my ongoing health challenges.
May arrives with the gentle embrace of spring. In this month, I find myself drawn to the colour blue, a colour that signifies tranquillity.
Whereas other colours may denote passion or energy, blue encapsulates the serene, peaceful essence that I seek at this moment.
On darker days marked by fatigue and uncertainty, the colour blue reminds me that stillness and calm are always within reach.
It represents the divine peace that surpasses understanding – a blanket of calm amid the cold of turmoil.
Tranquillity is not merely the absence of chaos; it is a deep, internal state of calm that we can evoke even in the face of life’s storms. The Bible speaks of this in several passages.
In Isaiah 26:3, Scripture assures us: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
This tranquillity comes from placing our hopes and fears in the hands of the Almighty. Guided by faith, we cultivate this peace, allowing tranquillity to envelop us.
Such is the gift of believing, for when we trust, we feel cradled by divine hands, and our burdens become light.
Across cultures, the colour blue is often associated with the divine and the heavenly. In many traditions, it represents immortality and spirituality.
In Hindu culture, blue is the colour of Krishna, representing love and divine joy. In other religious contexts, blue signifies the heavens, reflecting eternity.
Thus, the selection of blue in May resonates with celebrations of renewal, love, and divine connection, particularly during this month when Catholics honour Mother Mary – a model of unwavering faith and maternal love.
Women around the world celebrate the beauty of motherhood and the nurturing spirit symbolised by Mary, drawing parallels to the serenity that blue embodies.
As I reflect on May and the word ‘Magnificat’, I find a profound synthesis. The ‘Magnificat’, stemming from Mother Mary’s hymn of praise, is a declaration of faith and a profound expression of gratitude.
Historically, it captures Mother Mary’s response as she embraces her role as the mother of Jesus, celebrating her surrender to God’s will. In this moment, I too magnify the Lord amidst my struggles.
I choose to define my life as a learning journey. I may be bedridden and reliant on medical interventions for my recovery – a process complicated by internal bleeding due to a lung condition and complications from my breast tumour, which is undergoing a shrinking process. Yet, despite these trials, I am witnessing miracles.
The treatment has required meticulous care from my medical team to manage the delicate vascular structures affected by my condition.
I have faced medical challenges including severe anaemia, causing a lack of oxygen in my body.
Through regular blood transfusions from gracious donors – an unexpected miracle in itself – I continue to be sustained, empowered by the divine love that flows through me from every blood donation.
There is a precious grace in knowing that generosity and compassion still thrive amid adversity.
Within this context, I resonate deeply with the notion of miracles. A miracle is not merely an extraordinary event; it is a divine intervention that reminds us that we are not alone.
It is a poignant recognition of the sacred moments that stitch the fabric of our lives together, offering evidence of God’s loving presence.
His divine healing is often gradual and intricate, asking us to trust in His timing and wisdom as we navigate the valleys and hills of life.
As May presents me with challenges and reflection, I use the acronym ‘MAY’ to express my ongoing gratitude and reverence for the divine: M for ‘Magnificat’, honouring all blessings; A for ‘Abundance’, celebrating the miracles that abound each day; and Y for ‘Yearning’, reminding us of that deep longing for spiritual connection and peace amid life’s challenges.
The abundance I have experienced, even in scarcity, resembles the wide expanse of blue skies—vast, hopeful, and inviting.
Despite the intense feelings of suffocation, the pain from the tumour, and the physical discomfort of my condition, I feel an overwhelming sense of lightness – a divine embrace that makes unbearable burdens lighter and lighter. Jesus carries me.
My heart is filled with profound gratitude, testifying that serenity can exist alongside struggle, and that peace can spring from the depths of hardship.
Every day, I find myself more connected to God, understanding that He orchestrates miracles in our lives and arranges our circumstances for good.
As I reflect on this journey, I am reminded of the attitude required to experience God’s merciful love – a commitment to embracing tranquillity, to finding peace amid the storm. It requires surrendering our worries and fully entrusting ourselves to the hands of the Divine Pilot.
Dear readers and friends, may each of you find tranquillity in your own journeys this May.
May you embrace the colour blue and all that it represents: the calm of reassurance, the peace of faith, and the gentle embrace of Mother Mary as our guiding star.
With each passing day, I recognise God’s surging presence. I choose to believe that healing will continue to emerge, for all things are indeed aligned for good, and miracles happen at every turn.
My heart echoes with trust and gratitude, for the Lord is my shepherd, and in Him, I find solace.
May God’s love encompass us like the vast blue sky above.
Blessings to you all. “Magnificat!”
Esther
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at lawleepoh@gmail.com.
