By Lydia Teh

A conversation between a cluster of chairs in a church.

“Emma, you looked so lonely last Friday night. Where was your owner?” asked Harry.

“Oh, she was working late,” Emma said.

“Again! This is the fourth time a row she was absent during bible class,” Harry said.

“Yeah, she’s been working hard on her special project. She’s got to please her boss. She’s eyeing a promotion.”

“Oh yeah, how about pleasing the Boss up there, huh? Isn’t He more important?”

“I really can’t speak for her, Harry. But it seems to me like she’s got her priorities wrong.”

“You can say that again. My owner is a really busy guy too. He’s a departmental head in a multinational company. On other days he works late, at times up to 9 pm, but when it comes to Fridays, he’s out the door by 5.30 pm. At the outset he had told his boss that he would get his job done, but when it comes to Friday nights and Sundays, he has to fulfil his commitment to God,” said Harry.

George who has been listening quietly spoke up, “My owner is absent quite frequently too. She used to be very regular but this year, she has gotten into the habit of skipping services too.”

“Mmm, I wonder why,” Emma said.

“She has exams to study for, dates with the boyfriend and so many other pressing matters,” George explained.

“But her good friend who’s studying engineering and has a lot of family commitments can make it for bible class. Isn’t that right, Matilda?” Emma called out to her friend in the corner.

“Yep! I take my hats off to her. She’s super busy. She’s also giving tuition and helping her mum with the housework. She’s just like your owner, Harry. Though they’re both so busy, they schedule God into their calendar,” Matilda said.

“Sssshhhh! Someone’s coming!”

The chairs fell silent.

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²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; ²⁴ and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, ²⁵ not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.  Heb. 10:23-25 (NASB)