"What is unfair?"
Six of us each had to provide an answer during a round of the game "Loaded Questions" last night. Responses ranged from "a foul ball" to "if you get a rabies shot and then a dog bites you, you still have to get another shot."
Then today, we were asked to pray for a Karen man not far from MS. His wife is a patient of ours. They are refugees from Burma. The man left the safe house where he was staying to see his sister-in-law for an important reason. On the way, he was arrested for being in this country, even though it is dangerous to stay in his own. We found out that during the two days he had been in prison, he had not been given any food at all. The Thai prisoners were fed; those from Burma were not. Now the man is being deported.
That is unfair.
This morning, I read Exodus 21. Verses 23-25 say, "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." That's definitely gruesome, but it's completely fair. And it reassures me to know that I serve a God who cares about justice.
So then what do I do with "the wages of sin is death"? (Romans 6:23) That's fair. If I sin, I deserve to die. That's the way it's supposed to be. And that's the way it would be, if it wasn't for Jesus' death in my place. "...BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Thank the Lord for his infinitely generous gift!
Our team was able to give the refugee man food and some money before he was sent back to Burma. My prayer is for justice for him and for his people.
And my praise is for a God who was willing to pay the price of justice on my behalf - not to overlook the standards of his holy nature, but to satisfy them completely with the blood of his own Son.
What is most unfair of all?
Grace.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
driving lessons
Two rules:
1. Ooze. No sudden movements, no straight lines.
2. Expect the unexpected. Every living object in range will probably do something that defies the laws of self-preservation.
I am learning to drive. In Asia in rainy season on the left side of the road in a manual truck with a tailgate that doesn't shut. I should have played more video games as a college student.
Here's what I've learned so far. Motorbikes will pass me on both sides. Signal lights usually indicate, not the direction the other driver intends to go, but where he is telling me NOT to go. Head light flashes mean, not that I should go ahead, but that the other driver is going to barrel through and I need to get out of the way. When a traffic light turns green, I should not go, but WAIT - until the congregation of bicycles and motorcycles and rickshaws (that just butted in front of me) have started into the intersection...then I may slowly start to go. If I run into a cow between 6am and 6pm, it is the owner's fault (for not corralling his animal). If I run into a cow between 6pm and 6am, it's my fault (for not seeing the cow). The general mindset on the road is this: everything that happens behind you is karma; everything that happens in front of you is free will. Translation: motorbikes dart crazily in front of me all the time and it is my responsibility not to hit them.
It's a steep learning curve. With a lot of lightning prayers.
1. Ooze. No sudden movements, no straight lines.
2. Expect the unexpected. Every living object in range will probably do something that defies the laws of self-preservation.
I am learning to drive. In Asia in rainy season on the left side of the road in a manual truck with a tailgate that doesn't shut. I should have played more video games as a college student.
Here's what I've learned so far. Motorbikes will pass me on both sides. Signal lights usually indicate, not the direction the other driver intends to go, but where he is telling me NOT to go. Head light flashes mean, not that I should go ahead, but that the other driver is going to barrel through and I need to get out of the way. When a traffic light turns green, I should not go, but WAIT - until the congregation of bicycles and motorcycles and rickshaws (that just butted in front of me) have started into the intersection...then I may slowly start to go. If I run into a cow between 6am and 6pm, it is the owner's fault (for not corralling his animal). If I run into a cow between 6pm and 6am, it's my fault (for not seeing the cow). The general mindset on the road is this: everything that happens behind you is karma; everything that happens in front of you is free will. Translation: motorbikes dart crazily in front of me all the time and it is my responsibility not to hit them.
It's a steep learning curve. With a lot of lightning prayers.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
what to do with 60 hours
The journey took a total of 60 hours. Buffalo. New York. Tokyo. Bangkok. MS.
I was tempted to use the time to reflect. Material was not in short supply. There was the fresh pain of saying goodbyes and the rich times spent with family and friends in the last several weeks that made leaving even more poignant. Or there was the prospect of impending cross-cultural inundation with all its myriad challenges and adventures. In fact, this brain food is still very much on the menu if I should feel so inclined. The marathon ended a mere 16 hours ago, after all.
But honestly, I didn't have it in me to contemplate any of these things in my sixty hour transit. I was spent. I simply lived one moment at a time and began to count the blessings that met me. There were many.
Mom and Dad, Dustin and Emily, Dan and Barb, Cliff and Deb, and of course Leo and Yuki, were all at the airport the morning of the 15th to see me off. This was especially miraculous as Dustin and Emily were both given the day off without even having to request it. They gave me a freshly picked sunflower on the way out the door, which is currently being pressed in my travel document folder.
I have never had as much leg room on a plane as I did on the 13 hour trans-Pacific flight. And there was an empty seat next to me, making it convenient to remain quiet, which at that time I definitely preferred.
I had the delight of spending my Tokyo layover time with Kaori and her gracious family. Not only that, but I was able to have a shower and a hot bath and a good sleep before continuing on the next leg of my trip.
Two very cute, very active Japanese preschool brothers sat by me for part of the flight to Bangkok. We built toy airplanes together.
The taxi driver helped me find a hired luggage cart lady. The cart lady helped me find the right counter lady to buy my bus ticket from. The counter lady wisely named me "Nicole" on my bus ticket since that could be pronounced by the bus driver if the need should arise. Though it didn't.
After I had been struggling a few minutes to make a domestic phone call on an international phone, a kind Thai gentleman came up to me and asked in English if I needed assistance. He paid for the call and dialed the number for me.
It was far from practical to navigate the bus station with 140 odd pounds of luggage. A Scandinavian woman came and sat next to me, smiling in a friendly manner. She willingly watched my bags while I took a much needed field trip to the bathroom.
I couldn't manage my luggage alone when my bus arrived. Another Thai gentleman asked me in English if he could help. He valiantly lifted all my suitcases into the bus for me.
At the end of my final all-night 8 hour bus ride, KS, my current hostess, was at the station to pick me up and take me to her home. And welcome me. And make me a yummy omelet with toast.
All my take-offs, landings, train rides, bus rides, and the connections between went smoothly. My luggage and body both arrived in tact, albeit a bit worn out.
I was very aware of all these wonderful gifts, and of the dear people I knew who were praying for such things as I went along. So while I didn't have the strength to be reflective about the past or the future, I was capable of being thankful to God for the present. So that's what I was. And am.
I was tempted to use the time to reflect. Material was not in short supply. There was the fresh pain of saying goodbyes and the rich times spent with family and friends in the last several weeks that made leaving even more poignant. Or there was the prospect of impending cross-cultural inundation with all its myriad challenges and adventures. In fact, this brain food is still very much on the menu if I should feel so inclined. The marathon ended a mere 16 hours ago, after all.
But honestly, I didn't have it in me to contemplate any of these things in my sixty hour transit. I was spent. I simply lived one moment at a time and began to count the blessings that met me. There were many.
Mom and Dad, Dustin and Emily, Dan and Barb, Cliff and Deb, and of course Leo and Yuki, were all at the airport the morning of the 15th to see me off. This was especially miraculous as Dustin and Emily were both given the day off without even having to request it. They gave me a freshly picked sunflower on the way out the door, which is currently being pressed in my travel document folder.
I have never had as much leg room on a plane as I did on the 13 hour trans-Pacific flight. And there was an empty seat next to me, making it convenient to remain quiet, which at that time I definitely preferred.
I had the delight of spending my Tokyo layover time with Kaori and her gracious family. Not only that, but I was able to have a shower and a hot bath and a good sleep before continuing on the next leg of my trip.
Two very cute, very active Japanese preschool brothers sat by me for part of the flight to Bangkok. We built toy airplanes together.
The taxi driver helped me find a hired luggage cart lady. The cart lady helped me find the right counter lady to buy my bus ticket from. The counter lady wisely named me "Nicole" on my bus ticket since that could be pronounced by the bus driver if the need should arise. Though it didn't.
After I had been struggling a few minutes to make a domestic phone call on an international phone, a kind Thai gentleman came up to me and asked in English if I needed assistance. He paid for the call and dialed the number for me.
It was far from practical to navigate the bus station with 140 odd pounds of luggage. A Scandinavian woman came and sat next to me, smiling in a friendly manner. She willingly watched my bags while I took a much needed field trip to the bathroom.
I couldn't manage my luggage alone when my bus arrived. Another Thai gentleman asked me in English if he could help. He valiantly lifted all my suitcases into the bus for me.
At the end of my final all-night 8 hour bus ride, KS, my current hostess, was at the station to pick me up and take me to her home. And welcome me. And make me a yummy omelet with toast.
All my take-offs, landings, train rides, bus rides, and the connections between went smoothly. My luggage and body both arrived in tact, albeit a bit worn out.
I was very aware of all these wonderful gifts, and of the dear people I knew who were praying for such things as I went along. So while I didn't have the strength to be reflective about the past or the future, I was capable of being thankful to God for the present. So that's what I was. And am.
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