“It felt like a beautiful gift from God,” said The Commandment Co’s founder, Edwin Lim about their collaboration with #GoSilverSG, a social media campaign by St Luke’s Hospital to defy stereotypes about ageing in a fun way. 

Earlier this year, Edwin was feeling lost and troubled by the lack of direction for his business that sells Christian-inspired gifts which he had built out of a faith adventure with God back in 2014.

From its inception, God had never failed to give Edwin a clear direction for the business every year.

This time, God had been silent.

Willing but unable

Then one day, God spoke to Edwin through a chance encounter with an elderly man scavenging through a large rubbish bin outside his shop. It seemed like the old man was looking for food to eat. Something compelled Edwin to approach the man and offer him a $50 note.

It was flatly rejected and the man turned back to the bin.

One of the art pieces created by The Commandment Co for #GoSilverSG. The lush imagery and bright colours convey a message of growth and vitality, highlighting the beauty of ageing. It emphasises the importance of faith in God’s grace and the unique paths that come our way, says founder Edwin Lim. Image courtesy of The Commandment Co.

“I felt helpless and didn’t know how to help him,” said Edwin. It left him with a profound sense of helplessness and a recognition of the unmet needs of many around him. He wanted to help, but he realised he was not equipped to create meaningful change.

He felt God telling him then, that The Commandment Co was more than a gift shop. It would be a place and platform for people to inspire and be inspired. Organisation-level collaborations were the way forward. God was assuring Edwin that his design skills would be used to communicate and amplify the good work of other organisations and achieve meaningful outcomes.

“I’m an introvert, so I do not know how to influence people like others, but God gave me other talents so that I can help other people,” said Edwin, who is 38 this year.

Gifts made by TCCO, which include bags, homeware, apparel and accessories, is how Edwin uses his talent to build God’s Kingdom. Its best-known range features verses and encouragement wittily placed on designs that echo the packaging of supermarket provisions such as luncheon meat cans, chocolate wrappers and detergent bottles.

So when approached by SLH, Edwin was overjoyed at the opportunity and the “sense of divine providence” that came with it. Together, they crafted a visual narrative of growth, vitality, and the beauty of aging. Edwin’s designs encapsulate faith in God’s grace and the unique journeys life offers us.

“It affirmed my belief that God truly works in mysterious and beautiful ways,” he enthused.

Flourishing as God’s cherished ones

The team at TCCO, along with several other local artists, is creating exclusive designs for #GoSilverSG weekly giveaways, and Edwin hopes to encourage everyone to remember to “smile at the greys, for God says it is splendid”! (Proverbs 20:29)

Low Lee Teck, a 74-year-old ex-patient of St Luke’s Hospital and self-taught artist, creating a painting for the #GoSilverSg campaign.

“The essence of #GoSilverSG is to embrace the idea of adorning silver hair through the Instagram filter as a symbolic gesture in support of our seniors,” said A/Prof Tan Boon Yeow, CEO, St Luke’s Hospital (SLH).

Screengrab from #GoSilverSG hashtag on Instagram. The Instagram filter developed by St Luke’s Hospital gives users a lush head of silver hair.

Launched in 2021 as part of SLH’s silver jubilee celebrations, the filter was developed with the intent to initiate discussions, challenge stereotypes, and promote positive perceptions of aging.

This year’s campaign is themed “Art Collective: An Ode to Silver” with local artists like The Commandment Co, Chokmah.sg and others sponsoring weekly giveaways as part of #GoSilverSG.

SLH believes the campaign’s objectives extends beyond a social media presence to have a tangible effect on the elderly.

“In our interactions with patients, we often see that patients with positive mindsets tend to have better health outcomes,” A/Prof Tan said, noting that the act of challenging stereotypes promotes a positive attitude and reshapes societal perceptions towards ageing.

“The answers to some struggles are beyond the reach of medicine,” he added.

“We hope this campaign inspires a renewed sense of purpose and the understanding that we can all continue to thrive and flourish, making valuable contributions regardless of our age,” said Edwin. “We are forever cherished as children of God and He has a plan for each of us in every stage of our lives. All we need to do is to be willing to be used by Him.”

#GoSilverSG runs from 1-30 June 2023. Look out for the upcoming weekly giveaways from Chokmah.sg, Curlyheadmakes and Kow Fong on @SLHGSP between 1 and 30 June 2023.

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