Ten Minutes is a Long Time

Ten minutes. A few words of testimony, a couple of songs and it's all over. I wish it's that simple. But for someone bound to a wheel-chair, the simplest act can be awkward. Take the matter of getting on stage. Most times I have to be pushed or carried up, often times clumsily, only to find that the microphone not positioned at the right height and the music has started!

Ten minutes can be awfully long for one who has no control over his urinary and bowel movements. What if nature calls in the middle of a song? What if the drainage bag leaks?

And like any other ordinary person, I have my share of stage jitters. I worry about singing off-key, forgetting the lyrics and coming in on the wrong timing.

Sometimes, I long for the days of simple service: of ushering in church: of ferrying people to and from service in the church van; of preparing communion cups. But those days are over. My ministry these days is in the limelight. I am what friends call a "Christian artiste". But my feelings are more like the Lord Jesus' at the garden of Gethsemane, "Oh my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me".

But God has His purpose. I look back at the churches and schools that have opened their doors to me to sing and testify about Jesus. one school principal told me that I could say anything I wanted to the students. What a privilege, to be able to encourage fellow Christians and share with non-Christians about the hope that is in me.

In 1989, I produced a song cassette of original compositions. it is not an exaggeration to say that "With His Word" might not be produced it I were not disabled.

I thank God for these cherished experiences. When lives are reached and hearts touched because a fat fellow on a wheel-chair sings God's praise despite the circumstances, I stand in awe of the Lord of Hosts. Truly, God's strength is made perfect in weakness and He has taken the weak things of the world to shame the strong (2 Cor 12:9; 1 Cor 1:27).

To God be the glory.