"Waiting the Coming Day"

"Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord."

The opening lines of this well known hymn run through my mind as I contemplate Jesus' death. What must it have been like to be a follow of Jesus at this time. He had explained to them that He must die and that He would rise again. But they didn't, couldn't, understand. They were waiting the coming day to see what would happen. Jesus was waiting the coming day to reveal Himself risen.

As I was musing on this; I thought about how I am "waiting the coming day." Many changes are approaching in our life. Philip has received an invitation to be a visiting researcher at Walailak University in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. This will allow us to get the visas we need and remain in Thailand through the end of the year. God has opened this door to us, and it is exciting. However, Nakhon Si Thammarat is 800 kilometers (500 miles) away; we know no one there; we don't know how to move our stuff. God has a plan, but we don't understand it.

Now our waiting for God's plan to be revealed is not as dramatic as watching Jesus laid in the tomb and awaiting His resurrection. But it does remind me that God's plans are wonderful and beyond my imagination. Jesus had clearly explained to His disciples that He would rise again. The only reason they didn't comprehend was that they couldn't imagine such an event was possible. In my case, I need to leave all the possibilities open to God and let Him reveal His wonderful, perfect plan. In the meantime, I ponder the wonder of the cross and "serve a living Savior!"

The "Too" Excuse

My children always want to know what is for supper. Right after lunch, sometimes earlier, they start asking, "What is for supper?" I'm not sure why they want to know. But it has entered into our Thai lessons with Khun Moey. Last week, as usual, near the end of our lesson, they tried to ask "What is for supper?" in Thai. I asked Moey how to say, "It is too hot to cook." Her response revealed to me a new difference between Thai and American language and culture.

I realize that when I say it is "too hot to cook." I am putting responsibility for not cooking on the weather. It's not really my fault that I am not cooking supper; it is the weather's. In Thai, I had to say, "The weather is very hot; I don't want to cook." Now I have actually state that it is because I don't want to cook and the weather is just an excuse. There is no word in Thai for "too" as in "too much." It can be very late, very difficult, very wet; I can be very tired, very busy, very hot; things can be very expensive, very small, very spicy. I'm not sure if Thai people see it this way, but in English translation at least, taking too out of the language removes the ability to blame circumstances for our behavior.

Here are just a few excuses that would have to be changed in Thai:


"The skirt is too expensive," translates to "The skirt is very expensive; I don't want to buy it."

"The food is too spicy to eat," becomes "The food is too spicy; I can't eat it."

Thai language is too difficult to learn. changes to "Thai language is very difficult; I can't learn it."

"I'm too tired to plan for tomorrow's school," becomes "I am very tired; I don't want to plan for school."

"I'm too busy to read my Bible," changes to "I'm very busy; I don't have time to read my Bible."

The English sentence for the first three examples does not include "I." We can remove ourselves entirely from criticism. No one can blame me for not buying a skirt or not learning Thai; I'm not even in the sentence. But it Thai, it becomes clear that I am the one choosing to act or not act a certain way. In the last two sentences, the excuse seems plausible with the "too." It is not really my fault that I'm too tired or too busy. When I actually have to state "I don't have time to read my Bible," it sounds terrible. Then I realize that I need to take responsibility and do what needs to be done.

I'm sure there are plenty of ways to make excuses in Thai, but I've learned a to think about what I am saying more closely when I use the word "too." In Philippians, Paul states that he has learned to be content in whatever circumstances. I would like to learn the same, so I'm never "too busy," "too tired," or "too hot." Something is never "too difficult." I will lay aside the excuse and do what God would have me do. But if someone says something I agree with, I can say, "Me too!"

Following the Path of Life

Lately, life has seemed hard for me, "too hard." I just want life to be easy. I want to live in a country where I don't have to worry about a visa every year for the rest of my life. I think it'd be nice to be somewhere I could understand the language and the culture was not so radically different from my own. I'd like a break from teaching seven days a week. I'd like to order school curriculum whenever I felt I needed it, instead of right before my parents visit. Doesn't all that sound lovely?

For the last six months, we've been trying to find a way to get a year long visa to stay in Thailand. We strongly believe that this is where God has us. Despite the difficulties, we believe that God is using us here and growing us into His image. But I hate waiting, and I hate uncertainties, and I hate not being able to do anything about it. All of this, pushes me toward wanting to give up and return to the United States, for the "easy life."

I recently reread Patricia St. John's Rainbow Garden. In that story, Elaine learns about "the path of life" which leads us "the fullness of joy." It is a great reminder about where joy and peace really lie, not in pleasures on earth, not in a road that seems carefree, but the path God makes known to us. In my heart, I know this to be true. If we moved back the States right now, life might seem great for awhile. But I would soon become restless, knowing that it wasn't where I am supposed to be. And once there, it would be so much harder to get back here.

So we continue to chase "contacts," hoping for a visa from this or that university; plan a second visa run to Laos just days before Philip heads to the United States for a short trip; and stretching our faith that God will provide in His timing. I remember when we first moved to Thailand, God promised me a house with a garden. Three months later, I was ready to give up and look for an apartment instead. I was convicted to hold on to God's promise, and at the end of the fourth month we moved into a large house with a beautiful garden. Holding onto God's promise for four months seemed a long time; this time it is going on six months. See how God is working in me!

No "easy life" for us. God does not promise this for His followers. In fact, quite the opposite, we must take up our cross and follow Him. He does promise that He will help us on this path. We will not be left alone, and we will be able to accomplish what He calls us to. God has made known the path of life, and I will stay on it to remain in His presence in fullness of joy. But I do look forward to finding out what around the next bend in the path!

You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11