Reflections from Rudy Hu

Dear friends-in-christ,

Just received this from Rudy via email and it was a sobering reminder. May you be edified as I was from this post.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: 17th Oct

(Places have been edited to keep confidentiality. Other than that, the text was posted as it is received.)

Hi friends,

I have just lost a friend. His name is Vick, a colleague. I know Vick since my first day at work. He was assigned as my buddy, a person who helped new staff to adapt to his new office. Given his character, it was easy for us to get along very well. And as years went by, I regard him as more than just a colleague. He's a dear friend who shares interest in music, arts, photography, science, food, to name a few.

Vick passed away on Friday, 13 Oct 2006, about 6pm. It was a very sudden shock for all staff. A colleague and I rushed to NUH on that afternoon when he was still in ICU. We prayed to God to have mercy on him and I made a promise to boldly proclaim the gospel to him when he recovers... but he never did. Vick is an Indian and he's kinda free thinker. He knew about Christianity but only regarded it as a historical fact, I think.

This is my sixth year at my workplace and I had spent most of my time working with Vick as a team. Our cubicles are next to each other. Today is my second day in office after he's gone. It's hard not to be sad when you realised a friend who were sitting next to you five days a week now no longer in this world. I have previously lost three friends from the Christian Fellowship (POSA) in University of Indonesia. They are brothers and sister with whom I serve together in the POSA music ministry. When they're gone, I know and am sure that they have put their hope in Christ. But it's different with Vick. His departure is too early for me and for everyone. He has not really understand the good news we have in Jesus. This is what makes me really sad.

I know that death is a reality of life and I can accept his departure. But I do regret that during five and a half years of our friendship I don't really seriously talk to Vick about Christ and his love for us. I should have done that when he was hospitalised a few months ago. He looked better after being discharged. However, I lost the battle against time. I was to slow to speak about the Truth to him. God, please forgive me... I learnt my lesson and I repent.


Rudy Hu
"For me, to live is CHRIST and to die is gain"