The Journey

We attended my daughter's kindergarten year-end concert yesterday morning. It's been 2 years since we've been to one of these back when my second son was at the same school.  We were clearly excited to watch her performance, but I had forgotten how good these productions were. 

The concert started with the graduation ceremony for the K2 kids. Although my daughter isn't in this year's graduating class, it was still quite emotional to watch these very young bubbly kids complete this chapter of their lives and to move on to the much more arduous Singapore education system. The thought brought tears to my wife's eyes. It's a true joy to watch the kids scurry across the stage as their names are called to receive their graduation scroll. It's emotional to watch them take their bow to a carefree childhood where learning was mostly through play. No turning back.

The concert this year was entitled The Journey. In the year 3000, four children from Planet Alpha takes up a mission to rescue Planet Omega from monster worms and unlivable conditions. These children were given a red box, much like the one that the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew had, we were told. They were given instructions to open the red box to look for answers when they find themselves in tricky situations. Their journey through time and space and their ups and downs were told through the dances performed by the various classes who had practised their moves since the beginning of term 4. They danced to the turns of Mission Impossible,  Don't Worry, Lean on Me, You Raise Me Up and many more. The story ended with the kids from Planet Alpha finding those whom they were supposed to rescue. We will have to wait until next year for the sequel, The Promise, to see how the journey ends. 

As I watched, I am reminded of how fortunate I have been to have been able to journey with my kids. I wonder where they get all their energy, humour and ideas, and where all these will lead them. They are so full of potential, I pray that they will choose to use it for the greater good. Through the many life experiences, I know that that it is unrealistic to expect only easy days for them so my prayer is that they will remember to open the red box that God has placed in their hearts. I pray that in good times they will give God praise and in adversity they will take courage in His everlasting presence. There comes a time when parents have to bid their kids goodbye and let them sail on in their journey of life. Until that time, I am learning to trust in God with what I cannot see. 

The concert ended with all the kindergarten children and teachers singing The Journey for the finale.

What a journey it has been
And the end is not in sight
But the stars are out tonight
And they're bound to guide my way
When they're shining on my life
I can see a better day
I won't let the darkness in
What a journey it has been.

~ The Journey, Lea Salonga