We Were Robbed....

During these long MCO (Movement Control Order) days, I spent some time going through some of my clutter and I chanced upon a copy of this letter that I wrote to a pastor in 1993 immediately after we were robbed.

27 August, 1993

Dear Mr Lieow,

We were robbed last Monday.

We withdrew RM20,000 from the SEA Park Maybank and proceeded to the MBf Finance at PJ New Town.  Just as I parked my car right in front of the Finance, a man smashed my window screen with a chopper knife and demanded for the money in my trousers pocket.  I gave him all of the RM20,000 in cash.  What else could I have done?  I could have tried to be a hero, but who knows whether I would have been slashed?  The man then left immediately with an accomplice waiting on a motorbike.  We reported to the police immediately but I think the chances of getting back the money are practically nil.

Question:  Why did it happen?  Probably the best secular answer would be, I was careless.  I did not expect it to happen.  I thought this only happens in the newspapers and in the movies.

Should I search for a spiritual lesson from it? (Romans 8:28)  I can’t; it is difficult to find a satisfying lesson/reason.  Do I always need to search for a reason for everything that happens?  I mean, things just happen, don’t they?  I kicked my toes accidentally against the wall, I cut my finger with a knife, I slipped on a slippery floor, I get sick because I fail to observe physical health laws, I get summoned because of a traffic offence, etc . . . . they just happen because of human carelessness.  But to search for a spiritual lesson for all that happens, that’s tough!  So, in order not to let this event have any opportunity to shake my Christian faith, I just accepted the fact that it happened.  Period.  Is that a correct attitude?  We even refused to reveal this incident to our friends or relatives, for fear of shame, embarrassment, ridicule, and most of all, a further humiliation of my male ego, for not having been able to do anything.

Probably an item of thanksgiving would be our safety and protection.  We were not harmed, at least not physically.  If I had resisted and fought back, I could have been injured, but then again we will never know, will we?  It is not easy to get over a bruised ego, especially in the presence of your wife.

I am taking it pretty well.  But on and off, my wife would bring up the “what would have happen if we had or had not?” question.  The money lost is not at all a small amount.  But it did not make us paupers overnight either (1 Cor. 10:13)

God has been gracious to my family.  He has provided all our needs, a house, home, car and other reasonable luxuries of life.  Maybe, the spiritual lesson should be a timely reminder of the fact that “the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away”?

Regards,

Some restrospective reflections:

a) Christians are not immune to misfortunes (see many Bible characters...)

b)  Crisis & adversity will bring out either the best or worst in us.  Things that we love the most are the things that will hurt us the most when taken away.  Our responses to these crises will reveal our grade.

c)  Reminder of God's mercies

d)  Blessed is the man who does not fall away because of the Lord (Luke 7:23).  Thank you for counting me worthy to undergo this event.

e)  We have to finish (undergo) the examination before we can know the results of the examination.....