Elder Tow just had a stroke and is in hospital making a recovery now. At 87 years old, all I've seen of him is an old man in a wheelchair, suffering from dementia and the illnesses of old age, a withered person. During church camp, watching him get out of the wheelchair and walking more than 50 metres to the conference room, albeit with assistance, was a pretty amazing sight. However, what tugged at my heartstrings was the moment he uttered "smile" as his wife got the few of us who were there in the conference room early to take a photo together. That moment was heartwarming, it revealed to me that this old man whom I only knew by sight, was once young, well-spoken, and capable altogether. It was his humanity that was shown to me; a living being so fearfully and wonderfully created by God, that even in his advanced age I am able to see the race he ran for God.

Just last week, during the moments that I was free early in the week, I was searching for bible college courses from Far Eastern Bible College, the college that has educated many Bible-Presbyterian ministers. To my astonishment, Elder Tow's name appeared as President of FEBC from 1989 to 2012. On Saturday, pastor was sharing with us his stroke and how he has free healthcare as a Malaysian doctor. The revelations in the past week made it extremely hard for me to connect his past stature with his current self, save for that endearing "smile" that he said during Church Camp. That was truly the window to who he really is.

The poignancy of that moment won't be lost for a long time. The calm but clear tone of Elder Tow's voice, the gentleness in which his voice faded, and the mere simplicity of that tender instance would be one to cherish and remember. A moment to remember the old guard that ran the good race, a moment of solace to know that we have a blessed hope that in the future I can speak to him in the full clarity of his mind one day, singing praises of God alongside him in the beautiful and peaceful vales of New Jerusalem. || posted by Kuan Hui