My father did not go to school. In the 1960s, he had an illegal job. He drove what was then known as a “pirate taxi”, meaning that he did not have a license to pick up passengers.

Nevertheless, driving his Volkswagen van, he would wait at the Finger Pier Harbour for businessmen arriving from the nearby Indonesian Riau Islands.

Having negotiated with them, he would then be their private unlicensed taxi driver. These businessmen came to buy and sell, get medical checks and run a host of errands. Instead of getting a regular taxi, they hired my dad for the day – except this was the time before Grab, Uber, or private car hires.

My dad was therefore doing an illegal part-time job. On good days, he would come home saying that he has earned the princely sum of $25. At other times, especially during the December monsoons, when fewer Indonesian businessmen came, he would have nothing.

One day, my father brought me to a road sign, the sign for “Old Airport Road”. As we stood together there, a little boy and a much taller man, he pointed at the road sign and said of himself: “I am a blind man.”

I was perplexed. Here was my father, driving around, telling me, a pre-school kid, that he was blind. I did not understand, so I asked him what he meant.

He said: “This is Old Airport Road. I only know it is Old Airport Road because somebody told me it is Old Airport Road. But I do not know what these letters say or mean. Even if you changed these letters, I would not know what they were. Therefore, I’m a blind man.”

He continued: “You should keep going to school, so that you will not be blind. If someone changes the road sign, you will know that the sign is incorrect or the road is wrong.”

That was my sober beginning to schooling.

Singapore, a modern Ephesus

Like Singapore, Ephesus was a seaport.  There were all sorts of people coming and going, and many ideas, myths, legends, gossip and philosophy would swamp the port.

The Apostle Paul wanted the church to be grounded in truth, attaining the unity of faith and maturity in Jesus Christ.

Christians have to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, especially when there is so much fake and dishonest news around us. For a start, we need to value truth and veer away from gossip and the frivolous forwarding of photos, messages and  unverified “news”.

Communication should be used for connecting with others, to engage and build relationships, and not just to broadcast.

My father wanted me in school so that I would always know where I stand, and therefore where I am going.

As Winston Churchill cautioned: “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”

Throughout this Covid pandemic, we have been assailed with fake news, half-truths and inflammatory racist incidents.

In my memories from childhood, I still picture my big daddy standing by the roadside telling me the importance of growing in truth and learning so that I will not be misled.

Spiritually, I visualise the Lord standing at the foot of the cross and telling me that I need to grow – and to speak the truth in love. 

Such mental pictures remind me to be discerning about what I read and which videos I forward when my thumb moves around on my handphone. We need to engage with others by listening and speaking “truth in love”.

These are not mere words, but indeed a lifestyle to grow up into.

Lessons from a bus card

In the 1970s, public buses in Singapore were usually packed, mostly standing room only.

In those days, the bus conductor would walk up and down the bus as it travelled, punching a hole in the ticket which the commuter purchased. As students, we could buy a monthly concessionary card which reduced our fares.

There were two types of concessions: One was for short distance travel. The other, which cost a few dollars more, was for longer distances.

The distance from my home to school was a few bus stops outside the short distance zone. There was a time when I plotted to buy the cheaper concession card. I would look to see where the bus conductor was before I boarded the bus.  If he was at the front, I would board the bus by the back door; but if he was at the back, I boarded at the front door. That way, I would be in the short distance zone by the time he got to me.

I mentioned this to my dad and happily said that we could save a few dollars; after all, we were not rich.

In response, I recall him looking out of the window as though into the sky and his soft but stern voice telling me: “We are poor but we don’t cheat. If you really want to save the few dollars a month, then walk a few bus stops towards school and you can use the cheaper card.”

My father was speaking the truth in love. He corrected me and gave me a good and honest solution. I learned not to blame or game the system.

Walking in each other’s shoes

As the Apostle Paul goes on to write in Ephesians 5:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15-21, ESV)

Let us know and understand the truth through disciplined and discerning study. Let us engage the community around us by listening, and then responding (only after checking the road signs) by speaking the truth in love; being ready to walk the extra mile with those that we relate to. We must not be found foolishly forwarding fake news, angry complaining rants or unfounded opinions.

Healthy engagement with people around us grows when we walk in their shoes and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

There are no bus conductors on buses these days. If there were, I know my dad would want me to observe where the conductor was, go right up to him and greet him with a “thank you” or “good morning”.

Truthfulness is good for building relationships.

This article was originally published in Dr Tan Lai Yong’s latest book, Encountering Covid, Embracing Covenant, Engaging Community, and has been republished here with permission. Please see below on how to buy copies of the book.