Ryan Lui: The Called One

The number you called is busy. Please try again later.

In this world and age in which people are always holding their phones, it is ironic to note that people are so busy that they are unable to receive and entertain the ringing calls.

Sometimes, the busyness and the lack of breather in this world can cause people to be so preoccupied and lose their way.

But how do people find themselves? Some people explore the world beyond where they stand. Some people dig deeper and deeper within their hearts to discover the core of their being. But for author Ryan Lui, finding one’s self means the search for what will fill the void, and this means responding to a different kind of call.

Ryan, who was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, grew up wanting to be many things.

An architect, a lawyer, a Social Studies teacher, an actor, and even an overseas English teacher – name it – the profession might have crossed his mind once or twice. At the same time, Ryan is in love with many things – public speaking, teaching, and mentoring.

For him, there are just countless possibilities on what path one should take and make.

For Ryan, to ponder about life and how to wander is a wonder; yet sharing is another.

“I would get together with a friend for coffee, walk around the beach or through downtown and talk about our current understanding of the meaning of our life and the direction we believe it should go.”

But truth be told, he was not always like this. While life has been kind enough to care for him and bless him, past moments were a blur compared to how certain he is now in the direction he is taking after responding to that call that he got.

Stable and irreplaceable connection

Broken families are some of the roots of disarray, even mostly translated on television screens that are supposed to reflect real life. However, Ryan proves that not all things that shattered remain broken.

“My parents separated when I was about six years old. Though many may think that I had a less than ideal childhood, I grew up with two loving and present parents.”

As the only child, he may have been the one stuck in the middle of the separation, but he did not let this tear him apart. In fact, every week he dines with his mom and stepdad, and of course, gives time to his father every week or a couple as well.

Ryan also considers himself to be blessed to have most of his immediate and extended family members living within Vancouver. This makes most family celebrations and bonding close and livelier.

“My father’s side and I would get together weekly for family meals and my mother’s side would celebrate all the holidays and special occasions with turkey, roast beef, and ham.”

Being single, having family close to his house and to his heart reminds him that not having a partner in life does not mean one is lacking something fundamental in life.

“I continue to learn and grow in appreciation for the blessing of family and the work needed in today’s society of individualism and self-interest.”

As he continues to count his blessings, he could not help but mention how unique his relationship with his father – one of his greatest supporters – is and that this allows both of them to engage in talks about life, love, faith, and work.

Ryan shares that for a season, they went to several book clubs in which they learned a lot about themselves and about each other.

“We have learned to have honest but loving conversations which has resulted in a healthy father-son relationship.”

As a whole, Ryan sees his family as one of the pillars that shaped him from his understanding of the world, to his education, and faith and values; and this makes him grateful for them.

Out of coverage area

Something was still amiss though the situation of Ryan’s family did not bring him down, and interestingly, nothing much has succeeded in pulling him way down to the bottom.

“Though I feel guilty in ways for saying this, I haven’t experienced many challenges, if any, that I would consider ‘great’ in life. For the most part, life has been rather smooth.”

Though he is saying this, Ryan, like many, still faced his own fair share of struggles which was “the question of calling.”

“Who am I and what am I to do? What is the purpose of my life?”

These remain to be some of the vaguest questions in the world that has no definite answer – and these questions also joined Ryan’s pool of thoughts.

“Ever since I can remember I never felt that I had quite fitted in. I couldn’t relate entirely to Caucasian people or Asian people. I could relate more to Asians born in Canada, yet I did not share many of the values, hopes, and fears that so many of them possessed.”

While Ryan confesses that this did not really bring him to the lowest point of his life, he rather claims it to cause ‘frequent’ low points.

“This lack of identity and purpose always comes and goes.”

Responding to the call

In this air of confusion, who knew that responding to a call was the way to clear it all?

Some decide their educational paths for a more concrete path to the future, yet as life can be a huge compilation of surprising events, some discover something more in studying.

As a marketing major of a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, Ryan admits the he really had no interest in business, yet it seemed to be the wise choice at that time.

“My parents were proud, it was a more ‘useful’ degree, and I liked the knowledge of being in a somewhat prestigious program.”

The year 2010, however, changed this mindset.

“I sensed a potential calling or at the very least, a desire to pursue theological education.”

“In the short span of a year, I had become a very different person through the speaking, writing, and relationships with several people who had blown me away by their intellectual, motivation, and loving approach to life and its purpose.”

By 2012, this then pushed Ryan to take his Master of Arts in Theological Studies at Regent College in Vancouver. The decision to follow his calling did not only push him to take the course but to get his eyes open to various things.

“I had realized early on that there was a lot about life and faith that I and most of the world did not know.”

Ryan described himself to have a very simple perspective on life and faith and going through his master’s degree gave more meaning to how he viewed a lot of things.

He now has a strong belief in the value that formal education on faith can have for every individual who seeks a deeper life.

“I find myself uniquely positioned and educated to help people approach life both lovingly and practically. I’ve learned that people need to be heard, listened to, and cared for. But people also need plans and practical steps to move forward in life.”

Communication & connection

“What I love about writing is that I could connect to someone entirely different than me on a very deep level.”

Some people use colors and shapes to relay their message. Some use signages to give out warnings. While there are those who weave written words on paper to share a story. Ryan, an author, used to read words written by others.

In 2010, he says that a large part of his change was because of the books he read, and one of the things he notes is that he felt that reading is something he did not only enjoy but it also gave him something more.

“As a child, I loved entering fictional worlds of fantasy and getting lost in my imagination and in stories. But never had I experienced the gift that I had received from non-fiction.”

“I believe ideas and words can change lives and the world. It certainly did for me. I guess that’s why then that writing a book has always been a dream of mine.”

Years ago, the path to being a writer started for Ryan when he began writing a blog. While initially, he only used it to update his friends and family to the travels his feet were making, writing soon became something more that he enjoyed every word he inked.

“Over the last two years, however, I have began to realize it is something I must do – something I have to do.”

“I have learned that if I do not write, I deny some part of me. I deny myself life and a reason for my being.”

As Ryan takes holds his pen, he only does not recognize it as his passion that gives him pleasure, but he senses a new purpose in writing.

Just like how the books and words affect him, as a writer, somehow Ryan wishes to give the same effect back.

“I believe words and ideas can change people. And when people change, the world changes. Now I am not that naïve to think that the world will change because of my writing, but even if one person could benefit from something I enjoy doing, why would I not write?”

Being is Greater than Doing

The previous paragraphs revealed Ryan Lui as someone who wanted to touch people’s lives through writing. With so much story to tell from the changes that his calling brought to him, Ryan knew that the best way to do this is by his own words. His wish to do this manifested in writing his very own book – “Being is Greater than Doing.”

“For a long time, even to this day, I have struggled finding my place in the world and where I fit in. What should I do with my life? How should I measure it? Through my studies and experiences, I have become convinced that life is about becoming somebody. A specific sort of person. Someone who loves deeply, embraces their brokenness, gives to others, and lives by values.”

Meeting different kinds of people in his life has changed Ryan’s perspective on how life should be lived and how the world can change. He’s come to believe that people’s lives and the world will become better as people become better.

Ryan reveals that he considers this book as his baby – created out of love and labor. He says that although it is a guide to life for anyone, this book is foremost, written to himself.

“If there might be one message that I need to hear for the rest of my life, it is that being is greater than doing. That personal transformation is worth more than gold. I need to say that to myself over and over everyday, so I don’t get lost among all the various temptations and distractions of the world.”

“I need to remember, that life is about being and becoming. Being me and becoming my best.. ..”

For this author, accomplishments are not the sparkles of gold but to succeed in becoming kinder, having more compassion, love, care, and joy.

“You should read this book if you want your best life possible. If you aren’t sure if what you’re doing, is what you should be doing. If you need motivation and encouragement in being who you were made to be. And if you wish to have a greater impact on those in your life.”

“What possible downside can there be in slowing down and taking the time to think about your life and the person you are becoming?”

When Ryan found his purpose, the void of confusion just melted into nothing but joy and satisfaction that are deep in his heart.

“It’s why I believe that finding our calling is the key to many of our challenges.”

All of these were answered simply by listening and responding to that one call.