Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION

“You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”James 4:14

We often live as though tomorrow is guaranteed — but the truth is, none of us can know what the next hour may bring. Life, with all its beauty and fragility, is never certain.

On 9 November 2025, a boat carrying about 100 undocumented migrants capsized near the Malaysia–Thailand border. It was one of several vessels transporting some 300 people who had left Myanmar, split by traffickers into smaller boats to avoid detection. Driven by desperation and hope, these individuals sought refuge and a chance for a better life. Yet for many, that hope ended in tragedy. Their dreams disappeared like morning mist — reminding us how swiftly life can change, and how fragile it truly is. No matter our plans or ambitions, we remain subject to forces beyond our control: weather, conflict, injustice, and grief.

When we come face to face with this reality, it should awaken compassion within us. Recognizing our shared vulnerability moves us to empathy for those who risk everything for a glimpse of hope. It also calls us to live differently — to live ready, to live purposefully, and to never take a single breath for granted.

Such loss urges reflection: how will we, as individuals and communities, respond to human suffering and need? Will we turn away, or will we reach out with courage and care? May this reminder soften our hearts—to act with kindness, pursue justice, and cherish the truth that every life is sacred and every moment is a gift.

James 4:14 reminds us how brief and fragile life truly is. We are like a mist—here for a moment, then gone. This truth isn’t meant to make us fearful, but faithful. It shifts our focus from self-reliance to trust in God, from delay to purpose. When we grasp how uncertain each day is, we’re moved to live with gratitude, urgency, and love—doing God’s will while we still have breath.

“Life is not guaranteed a tomorrow so give it everything you've got."