Submitted by Justin Lai

A man’s steps are directed by the LORD.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:24

Think back 5 years ago. Where were you in life? I was a senior in high school and at this date (3/6/03) I didn’t know that I would be going to MIT. In fact, I was already set to go to Georgia Tech, with deposit paid and roommate chosen. MIT had given a deferred decision in December 2002 and for those next 3 months, MIT was out of the picture. Much to my surprise, I found a large envelope in the mailbox in mid-March from MIT with an acceptance letter.

Looking back on my college decision process is always a concrete reminder about how God has been faithful in my life. As an undergrad, it was easy to often wonder, “Why am I here at MIT?” We experience hard times in all aspects of our lives as students, especially suffering from the coursework. As the sun rises and you see your pset buddies sleeping under the table in the lounge outside your room, you ask yourself if there is purpose to all this work.

I’m not providing an answer to all the MIT-induced suffering. Often God doesn’t reveal the reasons. See the book of Job. If we are fortunate, things may make a little more sense later on. What we can know is that God has a reason for the things in our lives and the direction in which He leads us.

How has God been faithful in your life? In Mark 6:30-44, the disciples experienced the feeding of the five thousand. However, two chapters later, in Mark 8:1-10, when there is another hungry crowd, they completely forget how God had provided so abundantly before. I look at the disciples and at first think that they are very forgetful. But then I realize that I am exactly like that, too. Once God answers this or that request, it is so easy for me to worry about the next immediate thing, losing sight of His providence in the past. What are the things two chapters ago in your life that are so easy to forget and not be thankful for?

We are all at different stages in our lives. We can spend time thinking about the past and the future, whether positive or negative things. But one important thing to remember is that God has brought you up to now. And there’s a reason. Sometimes clear. Sometimes not so clear. But you have now. God directs our paths, so we should trust and depend on him.

(I would like to acknowledge that much of this reflection is taken and or inspired from messages and Bible studies I’ve heard.)

Lead of Love
by Caedmon’s Call

Looking back at the road so far
The journey’s left its share of scars
Mostly from leaving the narrow and straight

Looking back it is clear to me
That a man is more than the sum of his deeds
And how you’ve made good of this mess I’ve made
Is a profound mystery

Looking back you know you had to bring me through
All that I was so afraid of
Though I questioned the sky, now I see why
Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view
Looking back I see the lead of love

Looking back I can finally see (I’d rather have wisdom)
How failures bring humility (than be)
Brings me to my knees (a comfortable fool)
Helps me see my need for thee

Justin is a first year grad student in mechanical engineering, studying product design and a part of ABSK. Now in his 5th year in Boston, he wishes he could find the elusive cup of sweet tea or hear an occasional “y’all.”