Week 6 - Clapping My Dirty Hands

This morning at church, the pastor used a familiar illustration for being made in God's image. In the States, it just doesn't work, but here in Thailand, the illustration made a dramatic point. The pastor held up a blank sheet of printing paper, pointing out that they are sold by the 500 and are, alone, essentially worthless. He crumpled up the sheet of paper and threw it disinterestedly at the projection screen. Next, he held up a sheet of the same paper, this one with a black and white printout of a picture of the King of Thailand. My mind immediately rewound ten seconds and I imagined the pastor crumpling up the image of the King. In Thailand, in the right place, that can get you imprisoned. In that room, someone might have jumped up and punched him in the nose, at the very least. This, he said, is why murder is such a grave offence and is forbidden in the Law. If it is a severe offence in Thailand to crumple up the image of its king, how much more to destroy a person on whom is imprinted the very image of the Living God. I think the message accords with our work here. We aim to impress upon the poor that, as images of God, they have more value than even the venerated image of Thailand's King.

The week went as usual. Other than Thai study, teaching English Wednesday and Saturday, and shared devotions, the days were essentially mine to spend reading, talking, or totally wasting. Only Wednesday was spent on outreach. It rained that evening and I felt a little bit mixed up. The evening, its pace, our work, also seemed mixed up. Thay may have been projection or it may actually have been that jumbled.

A few days later, Bethany asked me if there was anyone I felt I was connecting with on our street outreach. I found the question strange given I've only been out twice and also a little frustrating, because there wasn't. I said, "Not really. Maybe L___." L___ is a boy who sells gum on Nana Street. He is always alone. Later, while eating alone in a food stall watching it rain quietly, I realized I actually meant what I said. L___ needs the same covenant love of the family of God I'd been blessed with. And I wanted it for him. And I took an awestruck joy in how love works, suddenly and simply, like afternoon rain.

After some discussion, we decided it would be best if everybody went out on both street ministry nights: Monday and Wednesday.

Prayer Requests:

--For L___, for his safety and that he might be in the same comfort, safety, and love that we crave for all the children in our famly.

--For the strength of our community here. There's a lot to derive from living in Christian community and, consequently, a lot to be neglected. Pray we wouldn't neglect this grace and that, by receiving it, others may come to know our Lord Christ.

--Thank God for leading me to the church I attend on the Lord's Day. It has proven to be the very means of grace he promises.