here's a preface for a book that aunty kim teng is putting together for markus. this text might not make it to print, you might understand why after reading it!
i am certainly convinced that it is important because it has occupied my mind for the previous year, but after trying for a few days this is the best i could afford to do
do enjoy the read. in warmest memory and appreciation of a dear friend
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As you begin to explore this collection of Markus’ legacy, I feel it is apt for me to share with you a story that might set a good tone for the rest of the book, a memory I share with Markus that has been deeply etched into my character, that will follow me to the day I meet him again.
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A familiar park near where I lived was surprisingly always well badly lit even towards midnight, always calm, quiet and serene. That was where Ben, Markus and I had our meetings towards the end of 2006. It must have been a well hidden secret because we were the only ones there all the time.
It was a great meeting of minds for us friends; we took time to exchange thoughts on how to pave a clear path for the community we love to continue to pursue Jesus in a focused and effective way. Inevitably the discussion led us to have to deal with some difficult questions. Among them, we were asked if we were ready to devote our lives to Jesus fully and whole-heartedly, in complete abandon of our own plans and ambitions. Ben and I said yes almost immediately without hesitation.
But Markus took a long pause; it certainly surprised us that this straight-forward query would be considered so carefully, not taken as a simple formality. Perhaps it was wise to take more careful consideration before such a statement of commitment was made, even for what we considered a text-book question. We were certainly good with text-books.
But the expression that flowed from Markus’ face was one of genuine futility and resignation; he sat back and allowed his shoulders to drop beside him in abandon. “No” was his first and final answer. He still had such a great aspiration towards the causes we are now so familiar with. It was what I observed to be such a deeply moving and profound moment for Markus, where he was confronted with his struggle to reconcile the depth of his passion to tangibly serve his nation, with his love for Jesus.
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I must first confess to be guilty for some confusion about this story due to my shortcomings in articulating this clearly; but I must insist on how I am intuitively convinced, that veiled behind the details of this narrative, is a distilled silent wisdom that presents Markus at his best. Please allow me to challenge you to set this story to simmer at the back of your mind as it has mine for the past year, and hopefully come to the same discovery.
But even if this story isn’t as poignant to you as it is for me, at the very least this will still be a worthwhile portrait of Markus’ innate dedication and integrity to not swerve from what he knows to be true.
There is such a great deal of mystery in the world we live, and our inability to understand due to wisdom that escapes us - the wisdom of measuring the necessity of war and peace, justice and grace, need and want; and perhaps more relevant to us, life and death: the consideration if there is any Godly wisdom involved behind Markus’ early passing.
I suppose it is with this tone of reverence and mystery that I suggest we continue to measure and appreciate his penned thoughts, laments and experiences with his friends and family. Markus’ struggle with life as he perceived it has inspired what we must already observe as a generation of resilience and strength, embodied in those who knew him well.
May I challenge for you to leaf through the following pages with a great amount of love and respect. The legacy Markus measures for us, the wisdom that Markus’ instinctively understood and lived, is the same wisdom that teaches us when we are humble to listen.
