An Interesting Question

A former Pastor once asked the then Captain of 1st Penang Company:

"Is the BB (1st Penang Company) to continue in this church for the sake of sentimental reasons?"

The Captain replied frankly: "Yes and No."

"Yes", because this is the first BB company in Malaysia and the launching pad for other BB companies in Malaysia.

"No", because we cannot live in the past glory, but to move forward to higher ground. This ministry is proven to be effective even now in the era of high technology and modern living.

The above conversation was reproduced from First Anchored in Penang (2006, pp. 47).

Indeed, we need to keep asking ourselves this question. Are we sticking around in BB purely for sentimental reasons? No doubt, it could be partly due to sentimental reasons, friendship or comradeship; but we need to also remind ourselves that there is still a higher ground, a higher goal and a higher calling; more importantly, we are all still in the race to strive forward.

Let us take a moment to think about this question, re-aligned our priorities and motivations, re-energised and move forward as a company.

What are We trying to do?

While clicking through my email archive, I came across this interesting quote shared by our former Captain.

"What the Brigade seeks to do is to train up good, true Boys (and Girls), well prepared, physically and morally, for the battle of life, in whatever sphere they may choose."

These are the words from the founder of the Brigade, Sir William Alexander Smith, concerning what should be inculcated in the members of the Brigade. This is a simple and straight-forward mission, but more importantly, one that we will all be accountable before our Great Commander. Indeed, it is a great mission and therefore, let us all strive to do our best, in one way or another. With great hope, the ultimate goal of this mission is none other but to hear from Great Commander saying, "Well done, great and faithful servants".

Enrolment Sunday 2009

Enrolment Sunday for 2009 is fast-approaching. This is the once a year affair in every BB company where all boys and officers will gather to be enrolled officially as members of the Boys' Brigade. This is also an important yearly occasion for many boys and officers for a variety of reasons.

On a personal note, I had been always been excited about Enrolment Sunday, even before I joined the Boys' Brigade. When I was young, this is an exciting event where BB and GB members will all be in uniform with their shining badges and the "flags" will be marched into the santuary. It's such a grand occasion and I was really inspired.

Later, when I became a Boy, Enrolment Sunday provided a different meaning and dimension. Now, I'm the one in uniform and standing smartly in the Guard of Honour waiting to be inspected. It's now such an important occasion that I want to impress other young kids, like how I was once impressed. Looking at my personal BB Logbook, the importance of Enrolment Sunday to me was simply beyond imagination. This very day in the year records many of the important events such as promotion, badges and awards, that I had achieved.

As years go by, the excitement of promotion, badges and awards were diminishing. However, the significance of Enrolment Sunday remains a meaningful event. The significance is now the enrolment ceremony, where every Boy and Officer will stand before God and the church congregation, to pledge their commitment for another year of service to the Boys' Brigade. Although we only said, "I do", nonetheless, the significane of it is unmeasurable. This is the benchmark of commitment and loyalty that we are pledging ourselves for another year of service in the ministry. Regardless of the circumstances and challenges, we ought to remain "Sure and Stedfast", at least for another year, with the grace and providence of our Great Commander.

Therefore, as members of the Boys' Brigade look forward to the Enrolment Sunday of 2009, let us take a moment to reflect and ponder upon the pledge that we will be taking during the Enrolment Ceremony. Thought I won't be there to share the occasion with members of the 1st Penang Company, I take this opportunity to share a song lyrics that had greatly inspired me about the commitment and loyalty to the ministry of the Boys' Brigade.

"Find Us Faithful" by Steve Green

We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us, let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through Godly lives

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Chorus
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

Drill with Boys

Drill and BB is the intangible components. I can understand the rationale behind the reason Sir William Alexander Smith introduced drill into BB. Drill was suppose to be a tool of disciplining the boys and the most effective ways of getting their attention. After all, BB was started in the age of the Industrial Revolution in UK, where boys were generally uneducated and rowdy and Sir William was teaching them Sunday School.

For the past few weeks, I have been teaching the pre-Juniors and Juniors (aged between 6-11 years) drill. I began to wonder whether Sir William has thought about this age-group of boys when he began the ministry.

To put it simple, I classified such teaching experience as "challenging". You can teach them whatever is needed and they will be able to do it but within a few minutes, someone will definitely make a mistake. Such incidents really serve as a test to my patience.

However, even though the process of teaching them is tiring and challenging, nevertheless, the satisfaction seeing them being able to properly execute the movements greatly surpass the agony of teaching. To top all the satisfaction is being able to see their cuteness in action during dismissal and for them to do it correctly. That certainly ends the weekly parade with a happy note.

Sure and Stedfast,
CD

Band of Brothers

Band of Brothers on the long yellow brick road