Retinal Detachment

10 March 2018

Today is one month after my surgery for retinal detachment on 9^th February, 2018.  My retina has re-attached.  The worst is over.  The doctor wants me to take it easy now for the complete healing to run its course.

As I look back, I asked myself, “Where was God in all this?”  I cannot divorce God from my bad times, and only talk about in my good times.

One very obvious reminder of His goodness during this period was His impeccable timing.  If my retinal detachment had happened during the Chinese New Year period while we were travelling to Penang and Seremban, that would have been disastrous. And it happened just when I had completed my office assignment so there was no outstanding work to be done while I was on medical leave. 

During that pre-CNY week, so many of the retinal specialists were on leave, and I managed to get Dr Ronald who was formerly the Head of the Retinal Department in Selayang Hospital, to perform the emergency operation on me.

God is always on time.  He is seldom early, but He is never late.

When I asked my surgeon what caused my retinal detachment, he answered with one word, it was my "fortune".  In other words, luck.  And that it can happen again without any warning.  I did not like that answer.  I don’t believe in luck.  But I know we live in a fallen body that is tainted by sin.  These are constant reminders of our human frailty.

Last week, I was talking to Timothy.  It is always not a good feeling knowing that there are so many things in life that you cannot control, like our health.  As the man of the house, we worry how are we going to protect and provide for our family when we are stricken down with sickness.  But God continues to show us and reassures us in many ways that He is still in control.

Timothy was sharing about how surprisingly he was able to get accepted into the Eagles dialysis centre so easily, and how two years ago he thought he got a bad deal he had a new boss, but this boss turned out to be most understanding in his current situation.  These are little assurances that He has not left us alone.

Last Friday I found out that one of the approval letters required for one of our Company’s Development Order was still not signed, and the dateline was the following Wednesday.  The current District Engineer was transferred and a new Engineer was coming in on Monday.  What are the chances that the new Engineer would sign something that was not signed by the previous Engineer, on his first day of work in his new office?  It was so frustrating that this is so out of my control.  At the same time, I was very undecided whether we should continue our planned family Bangkok trip becos I was afraid my retinal detachment might just recur…..

So I told God, please give me a reassurance that you are in control by helping me get this approval letter from the JPS (Jabatan Pengairan & Saluran - Department of Irrigation & Channels) Engineer.  How?  I don’t know.  In fact, I had always prayed that God would prosper this project that He had so placed under my watch, for His Name-sake and for His glory.

Monday morning about 10:30.  I went to JPS office.  The technician-in-charge said the new Engineer has not come in yet.  Die-lah.  Never mind I said.  I will wait until he comes.  If he comes….  So I waited.  And waited.  And waited.  Then 15 minutes later, the technician came out with the approval letter.  Apparently another Engineer has signed on behalf of the new Engineer!  Like that also can…?

Sometimes God answers our prayers and give to us exceedingly far more than we can ever ask for or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20)

Whatever happens to us, whether as a result of our own doing, or becos of what others did to us, the pains & sorrows of life, when we call upon God, when we seek to honour Him and to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind & strength,  He will intervene.  He will reach into our experiences both good or bad, redeem our past, and cause all things to work out for our good (Rom 8:28).

God is good.  He is always in control.