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| | Modern lifeJulian Chew is a bright young prospect. He's been blessed with a middle-class family and an urban upbringing in PJ. Not exactly a very RICH family, so he didn't go to international schools for his primary and secondary education. But not a very POOR family either, so he was free to skip form 6, head to Taylors for his pre-u, do a twinning course which gave him a year in the UK, and graduate with a "University of London" business degree. He's fluent in English, having spoken it both at home and at school all his life. He's conversant in Malay as the national language, Cantonese as a born-and-bred KL-ian, Mandarin from the soap operas his grandma likes him to watch with her, Hokkien (the southern variety) from family reunions. He's Chinese, and his maths/logic skills are pretty far above average.
Pretty much a solid base, then. The world is his oyster, as they say.
Then he gets his first job. He's got an overseas degree, and the market never has enough of such people, especially when they are conversant in so many languages and dialects. He was a bit worried, having read about 80,000 unemployed graduates, but came to realize most of those were educated in sub-standard environments and not very interested in working hard anyway.
His job pays pretty well. 2.3k starting pay, pretty good benefits. Yet getting his first car means upkeep payments, in addition to the loan repayments. He's filial, gives some of his salary to his parents. He's searching for an apartment in central KL to beat the jam, that's going to cost him. His peers are all working adults, and meal costs have suddenly shot to a level he would have balked at even in London. He's having to consider life insurance and medical insurance, more bills at the end of the month.
And so he needs more money. Yet that's not a problem. He works hard, and he's very capable. Soon he finds his boss giving him a promotion, with accompanying pay benefits. Within 2 years, even though he kinda likes the company he's at, a head-hunter offers him almost double the salary at another company, and he can't really turn down half a dozen K per month. So he jumps company. More work, but the pay is worth it. He's young, and there's lots of time left, so he invests it into something useful. His future, or at least his financial future.
About a decade or so on, and somehow he's found the time to get married to his long-time girlfriend. She doesn't really mind his hours, as she keeps similar hours as well. He's heard of friends who, in spending most of their time at the office, developed clandestine relationships with female colleagues. But he's better than that, and he DOES have a wife to go home to at night anyway. Most nights.
By now he's in a managerial position, pretty high up. Cuts some pretty sharp deals, catches the CEO's eye. Yet he's only one a half a dozen born leaders at his level. He needs to stand out, so he starts his 'campaigning'. He makes sure he's involved in the highest-profile projects, and he does what he has to do to ensure they succeed. There's a lot of backbiting and sabotaging at this level, but he decides to rise above it all. He takes the setbacks as they come and doesn't retaliate. His reason? He has a young son at home, and he wouldn't want the son to find out years later he was playing crooked. But he's not stupid. He makes sure the CEO 'finds out' what's going on behind the scenes. And so the CEO's respect for him increases.
He's a rising star. Business trade magazines have heard of him, he's mentioned by heads of different companies as someone they've heard good things of. And his earnings have increased to the point that his wife has left her job to raise their two sons. When he gets back, he hears how they've been doing, from her. It was difficult for her to give up working, initially, but she's been understanding. He tries his best to keep up-to-date on his sons. Manages to make it to their school events, at least once a year. Once in a while he tries to get home just that bit earlier, to eat dinner with them.
He's out of the business world, now. Has enough money, if there's ever such a thing. He's invested in almost every type of investment there is, and some of his friends say his investments are so diverse, half the planet could blow up and he'd still be able to retire gracefully to an island somewhere. Money is just money, after all. Yet he's still relatively young, just crossing the midpoint of his 50s.
He's into politics, now. There's an opposition party with plenty of potential, and the global economic climate means he understands that power is likely to shift. That most people vote opposition when the going gets tough. And his reputation as a business leader means his name carries weight. Candidates listen attentively to his suggestions. He's almost like a network coordinator, connecting those rising into power with those who need an audience with those in power. His wife is always there beside him as he attends the important functions, the dinner parties. His two sons are off in the US studying. They call home, like all filial children, about once a month. Doing well, as well, they've inherited the sharp minds of both parents.
He's getting old. The sons are well-established. The health problems are starting, but he has the best treatment money can buy. His name is in the newspapers regularly. The unkind label him the 'puppet master' for the new government, but most concede that he's earned his position by merit, unlike those before him. He's built relationships with the powerful at the right time, showed allegience to the right people. His wife is spending most of her time nowadays with a group of like-minded ladies, wives of important and powerful men. And so his days are spent in comfort. Alone.
It was his funeral yesterday. Many spoke well of him. Very well, in fact, especially as his sons were listening. His own sons spoke of how their dad has been an example to them of the value of hard-work, the importance of being driven with a goal. Both are following in his footsteps, one as a businessman, one as a lawyer. Many are those who remember him fondly, who say "Now there was a man who achieved greatness". Political leaders, business leaders, were at the front rows.
Yet consider the fact that no real tears of sadness were shed at his passing.
Consider the fact that the sons did not, could not speak of a dad who loved them.
Consider the fact that many people respected him, feared him, yet none truly loved him.
Consider the fact that his own wife would spend their waning years socializing rather than together with him, enjoying the fruits of a well-built relationship.
Was Julian a successful man? The answer must be a resounding yes! He's made the most of his life.
Or has he really?
Jesus was tempted to turn stones to bread. To use His power to convert what was common to something filling to the body. What can be more common than time, especially when you're young? What fills you up more than money?
Jesus was tempted to throw Himself off a temple rooftop. To show to the whole watching crowd and nation that someone special is here. Who can resist the lure of a good name, of being honoured by all and sundry?
Jesus was tempted with all the kingdoms of the world. Ultimate power. And there is no power greater than political power over a nation. Is there?
Jesus responded to each temptation with words God had spoken.
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"
"Do not put the Lord your God to the test"
"Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only"
Its been 2000 years, yet we face the same things He did. And we give in, where He did not. We obtain for ourselves every good thing, but something is missing.
And that's modern life.
| | | Posted 4/18/2008 8:01 AM - 4 comments
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