Since I came to BTS in 2020, I have been writing on Gratitude every November because it is the month of Thanksgiving back home (in America). This year is no exception. 

Our BTS Lectures’ speaker for 2023, Dr John Ortberg, issues the challenge for a two-day experiment in his book “Soul Keeping”. On the first day, we should begin all our conversations with a little complaint. Then the next day, consistently greet other people with a word of gratitude. After the two days, ask yourself which day you feel better. Dr Ortberg predicted that for most people, it will be the second day. Why? Because the soul is made to thrive on gratitude. 

In many of his letters, Paul prodded us to give thanks in all circumstances. Therefore, on 20th October, I decided to take Dr Ortberg’s experiment to another level. 

I was sitting in a dental chair for 90 minutes as Dr Tay fashioned and fitted a temporary crown in one of my innermost molar. My mouth is small by Asian standards which renders difficult access to that inner molar. As she reached down into my mouth, I could imagine seeing her drops of sweat. There and then, I decided that I would run an experiment to have a heart of gratitude throughout that gruesome 90 minutes. I learnt three precious enablers to a thankful spirit that day – a photographic mind, an unassuming heart, and a sharpened tongue. 

First, a photographic mind is one that remembers well. The Psalmist said in Ps 103:2 – “Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not his benefits”. Then he proceeds to name a few benefits that we usually forget – forgiveness, healings, spiritual renewal, recoveries from earthly failures, and the kindness of God. Our minds are often so forgetful. Someone said, “the most difficult math problem is … counting one’s blessing.” As I sat in that torturous chair, I decided to relax my knuckles and tackle this most difficult math problem. 

I started being thankful for the people closest to me that I tend to take for granted – my best friend (my wife Michelle), my dear boys (now in their thirties), and my closest BTS colleagues and QBC comrades. I was thankful for the latest breakthroughs of the school: the highest number of students applying for the January semester, the recent sharpening of the vision of the school to become missional, and the addition of one faculty member in 2024. I was thankful for the breaking of my teeth just in time to detect the dead root underneath. And before I knew it, the 90 minutes were over. Dr Tay asked me – “How come you are so relaxed this time?” I smiled. Dr Ortberg was right – the soul thrives on gratitude.

Second, an unassuming heart. One of our 21st-century favourite sins is “thinking too highly of ourselves”. It is a spirit that we deserve everything good that is happening to us. We deserve to live in a prosperous Singapore. We deserve the HDB flat that we live in. We deserve the peace that is around us. People who believe that “they deserve it” are not usually happy people. The spirit of entitlement silently kills joy and gratitude. Ps 103:10 reminds us that we are undeserving – “He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities”. 

A critical enabler to gratitude is an unassuming heart – a heart that feels that I do not deserve it – a humble heart. Only one who has a humble heart can remember receiving good gifts and responding in gratitude. As I sat in that dental chair under the deafening drilling noise, I was thankful that I have a faithful dental surgeon who has been taking care of my family since 1989. Since 2007 when I got diabetes, I am thankful for the good doctor friends (Dr Gwee, Tan, Tung, Ang) who entered my life and have been compassionately taking care of me. I don’t deserve any of them. The list goes on and on. 

Finally, a tongue that has a sharp aim. Gratitude does not become thanksgiving until the tongue gives praise specifically to the One whom all praise is due. I may remember good things and feel good. I may have a humble heart and feel grateful. But until I thank the Lord Jesus, I have not given thanks. I remember the story of the ten lepers who were healed in Luke 17. Ten lepers were healed. I am sure that they were happy, that they felt grateful but only one came back to thank Jesus. Jesus asked a penetrating question in verse 18, “Was no one found to return to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

I have learnt recently to end my praise always “in Jesus’ name”. It reminds me that a photographic mind and an unassuming heart only prepare me for thanksgiving. But it is the words that rolls from my tongue straight towards Jesus that makes the act of heartfelt thanks whole.

And as I rose from the dental chair, I thank the Lord Jesus for every one of you – for your heart for the kingdom, for loving BTS because of your love for the Lord, for your persevering support throughout the pandemic and our discouraging days. “Oh, thank you Lord Jesus Christ.”

Rev Peter Lin
President