okay, we finished. I have just packed the books away! Guess we will all do slightly better than pass!
We have had our final exams last night. Got to tell you this. Of course, the 'smarter' ones finish earlier, and trooped out quietly. As they passed us, they whispered 'Merdeka'! Really it should be 'bebas' ie freedom instead of independance! Yes, it is great that it is over!
But when I went out, I was surprised to find that our classmates were still hanging around outside! Yes, there is a certain euphoria! There is this comaraderie, as troopers who have shared and battled for weeks. I will definitely miss that! Most heartening is - we all want to know when will Part 2 commence! Alas, we still have to pray about it, as we are not sure if there will be a lecturer available!
There is something about studying theology. There is a thirst and hunger that never seems to get fulfilled. For example, I recently met two other classmates who are back to further their studies. They have had graduated and serving in various lay positions. They have stopped like eight months; after promising their wives that they will spend more time at home, what with a full-time job and serving in church! It is not as if we need the 'qualifications' to further our career; and definitely it will not increase our monetary income. Why do we need the added hours of reading and pressures of datelines, not to mention the exorbitant costs of biblical books?
One of the reasons given was - 'there seems to be this emptiness and restlessness'. This is inspite of being told that what we have had picked up is sufficient for a layperson! Well, I could conclude, with a secular point of view that we are either simply mad or my favourite term 'masochist'.
I know the Holy Spirit speaks to us in the course of our reading and research. So the Holy Spirit is at work? He does not think we are 'qualified' enough? If so, yo! we need prayers, big time! We need more facilities and facilitators locally, for us, lay people, to pursue His Word, and continue to 'seek him with the whole heart! (Ps 119 v 2).
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