Every night, high above the shadows and city lights of Chiang Mai, Thailand, lights glisten, beckoning, calling out words to me. They shout, they cry, they long to be heard. I stand there watching them, higher and higher they rise into the black night sky. They are small in comparison to the buildings that tower on the seemingly distant but oh so close skyline. Higher, Higher, Higher they rise, until all of a sudden, their light is lost in the night. These little balls of light speak out one word each time I see one rise into the sky, FREEDOM.
During my time in Thailand, I could walk out on the roof of our building on any given night and see lanterns floating up over the city. Freedom is the word that comes to mind every time I see one. Sometimes I would stand out there alone and seeing each lantern brought tears to my eyes. These lanterns were more than just something fun to go do with my team or squad, these lateens had taken on meaning for me and seeing them made my heart ache. Chiang Mai is a city that is known for sex trafficking. I saw it with my own eyes, I walked into brothels and bars, I saw men with their arms around young Thai, Cambodian & Burmese women all month. Something pulls at my heart each time I witness these things and it made me even more desperate to see freedom and justice brought to these dark places.
The shadows and city lights hide and mesmerize, but down those alley ways, or right there under the flashing signs, sin, evil, and injustice are taking place for no more than $6.00. It is sickening and disturbing, it caused sleepless night and terrifying dreams. There is so much darkness that the world has been covering up and I want to expose it to the light so badly.
The lanterns being release over the city was a breathtaking sight to see. It reminded me of God’s light, his joy, his beauty, his delight in each and every one of us. It reminded me of my own worth, my own beauty, and my own freedom. I was freed this year from the bondage I lived in from my past, it was brought to the light. Darkness and shadows cannot hide it any longer. I want each and everyone of these girls to be exposed to Gods light! I want the light to pierce the darkness because light is consuming! I wish I could light a lantern and release it into the sky for every woman, girl and boy that are trapped in this underground billion dollar industry that mot of the world has no idea about.
I stood on the roof so many times imagining a night sky illuminated with lanterns that symbolized the freedom that could be possible. It would glow, burn, and exasperate the darkness in such an immense way, people could not help but to notice it! I cried out, sang out, and prayed freedom over that city night after night and I know that God's light and love are making ripple effects day by day there.
“Redemption. It will never cease to thrill me.” -Piercing the Darkness
