Kairos is a Greek word often associated with charis or grace. It carries the connotation of a decisive, God-appointed moment, drawing us to faith, a time filled with purpose and meaning, saturated with God’s grace. Rev Derrick Lau recently went on a group tour to Northern Xinjiang in China and writes of his encounter with kairos along the way.
My wife and I were among a group of nine travellers from Singapore on a 12-day tour of Northern Xinjiang, China, in September 2025. Together with a local guide and bus driver, our tour took us through unforgettable, picture-book vistas of snow-capped mountain ranges and vast grasslands dotted with yurts, horses, cows and sheep. Once, as we were approaching one of the many popular scenic spots, we were warned to be careful as there were already over 50,000 tourists ahead of us, but to our relief the massive crowd was very well-managed. Along the way, across hundreds of kilometres, we witnessed China’s adoption of green technology, including enormous wind turbines and the solar panel “sea” touted as the largest of its kind in the world today.
Amid the mesmerising beauty of Northern Xinjiang’s natural landscape and farmland and the captivating food and cool weather, we developed friendships with our fellow travellers that made our trip even more delightful. Rather quickly, we were able to adapt to the locals’ distinct way of life.
Altogether, we were blessed with a wonderful and relaxing trip, but the highlight was surely the kairos moment that came about on Day 4 of our tour.
From the start, we were all looking forward to travelling along the iconic Duku Highway. This highway was built three to four decades ago to reduce the travel distance across Tianshan by a staggering 500 km, passing through some of the most highly-praised, scenic parts of Xinjiang’s landscape. However, due to the dangers of ice and landslides in severe weather conditions, it is only open four months in a year, and only passenger vehicles of up to seven-seater capacity are allowed on it.
It was therefore disappointing when, on Day 2, our guide Xiao Lu briefed us that the weather in the past few days had been unfavourable and our route might have to be altered. We were told to wait for weather updates. If the skies were clear on the morning of Day 4, we could take the Duku Highway, but if not, we would have to forego it, reverse our long journey and make a detour of nearly 1,000 km!
I can vividly recall what happened at the dinner table on Day 3. While we were enjoying the local cuisine, I felt greatly convicted to proclaim to our fellow travellers that I would pray to our Almighty God for the Duku Highway to be opened for us. A tense and awkward silence fell over the table, and I had mixed feelings. Why did I say this to people with whom I was barely acquainted, and whose faith and beliefs I did not know? How could I make such a bold prediction when we were not a religious gathering, merely a tour group? On the other hand, I felt strongly led to direct everyone to focus on what God could do via the prayers of his people.
I was relieved when someone remarked that we might well see a replay of Moses raising his staff and parting the Red Sea.
After dinner, I prayed fervently throughout the evening. “Lord, cause your glory to be seen among men! Open the Duku Highway, please!”
On Day 4, I was up at 5.30 a.m. with the same earnest prayer upon my heart.
When Xiao Lu stepped up to our breakfast table and announced that the weather had miraculously turned for the better during the night and the highway was now open to us, the spirit within me ignited like Zechariah when he heard the news that the Messiah was to be born! It leaped for joy, joy unspeakable! To my fellow travellers who told me that my prayers were so powerful, I said, “No! It’s not because I prayed a powerful prayer, but because we have a powerful God who hears the prayers of those who seek to honour his Name!” It was a kairos moment aptly captured in Don Moen’s song, “God Will Make A Way”.
Our hearts sang as we traversed 500 km of stunning views along the Duku Highway: picturesque rivers flowing through valleys sandwiched between snow-capped mountains, lush green foliage mixed with autumn’s golds. The Duku Highway reminded me of the “highway” of the Lord, or “Way of Holiness” (Isaiah 35:8) that God built for those he has redeemed and which leads to Zion (Isaiah 35:10). With promises that we shall “return … with singing” and “everlasting joy shall be upon (our) heads” while “sorrow and sighing shall flee away“, the views along that highway to the celestial city must be unimaginably lovelier!
My spirit rests assured that with Christ as our Living Hope, God will open a new highway for us when the path we are treading is closed by men.
Rev Derrick Lau is the Executive Director of Methodist Missions Society. / Photos courtesy of Derrick Lau.
