“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Have you ever been asked, “what is your biggest regret in life?”, or, “if you’re given a chance to make another choice in one thing in your life, what would it be?”
Some would say that their biggest regret was not showing and expressing love towards their loved ones who had already left them when they were still alive. Some others would say that they wouldn’t have done or said something that deeply hurt their parents, children, brothers, sisters, friends or colleagues.
What would be yours?
Last September, at an elderly sit-in in solidarity for protesters arrested in the social movement in Hong Kong, a retired gentleman told me, perhaps his biggest regret was not doing “enough” in his time of youth, so that the youth of today have to face the consequences of his lack of actions.
Maybe yes, maybe no. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Whatever happened, happened. But while we could not change the past, we may perhaps decide what the future lies.
And sometimes, with new insights and knowledge we learn as we age, past regrets may become the foundation of future satisfaction. For better is the end of a thing than its beginning; the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.
In the words of Apostle Paul – Keep alert, stand firm in our faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that we do be done in love.
Remember that Jesus can be our ever present help, in every environment and in every moment, if we are willing to walk humbly with Him. And as we go forward with Christ, we learn to cast away our fear and put out into the deep water.
So let us hear the words of our Lord once more, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Adapted from the transcript of my Reflections on Peace on RTHK Radio 4 in 2016.