Altitude is, according to experts, the highest open roof bar and bistro in the world. At 63 stories, one can see Singapore in all directions. In the distance it seems as though you can see Malaysia and Indonesia. It is an amazing sight. From the shipyards in the west to the tall apartments in the east and the tropical rainforests in the north, there is a vibrancy and variety that is unique.
For some, it was as if we were standing on the ground with nothing around us. Their heads remained in the conversation at hand. Nothing could distract, not even the light shafts dancing through the clouds or the emergence of a beautiful sunset.
For others, it was an obsession. Buildings, landmarks, and the unknown grabbed their attention. They wanted information. They needed to understand. Facts and figures helped. Guidance was appreciated, as long as it was in the direction of their choosing.
There were a few like me caught somewhere in the middle. As we chatted with friends, the view triggered a reflection on what was and could be. The view was more than just landmarks and buildings. It was the sounds of a city wrapping ups its business for the day. It combined the known and the unknown – buildings and people, sights and mysteries. I looked to the west and wondered about the lives changed by what would be unloaded on the street of shipped queued up across the harbor. I turned to the east, thinking of the people struggling to live in a changing society. The north was full of possibilities – monkeys and more in the tropical forest around the reservoirs, new innovation zones to come, and even a Harley biker bar.
I imagined God taking it all in. “From high in the skies God looks around, he sees all Adam’s brood.” (Psalm 33.13) S/he is reflective engaged. Wondering how and where to help next. It is a great view. Some leave it alone. To me it is an invitation to engage, to try and make things better than what they are.
