On one particular day last month during our time in Thailand we were asked to join the teachers of our school at the grand opening of the temple next door to where we live. Without much of a choice we agreed to attend, if only to observe the Buddhist culture and honor our hosts in their beliefs.
As we approached the temple I could not help but be astounded at its beauty and admire all the work and talent that must have been put into the creating of it. As we walked around the structure we observed monks in lovely, bright orange robes, along with other Thai men and women who were exquisitely dressed, bowing to everyone we passed as we smiled and said “Sa-wa-dee-ka”, as is the proper and honorable way to greet someone in Thailand. We took our seats just in time for the ceremony to begin. Everyone positioned their chair to face the entrance of the temple. Those inside the temple had removed their shoes and had a long string fastened around the crown of their heads, the other end of the string attached to the temple ceiling. I later discovered that these strings are called “Sai Sin” (sacred thread) and the Buddhists tie them around their head (which is considered the most sacred part of the body) in order to become one with their gods and to receive the blessings directly.
Then over the loud speaker began a series of prayers and chants in Thai as everyone bowed their heads and placed their hands together in front of their faces. The prayer lasted for over 40 minutes and then a speaker took over for the next hour and a half.
All the while I could not keep my mind from thinking about the beauty of this building. I thought back to the day we spent in Bangkok and the temples we had visited there. I was blown away by the creativity that went into building and designing each one of these unique structures.
These temples are some of the most gorgeous pieces of art I’ve ever seen. The unique and creative architecture, the vibrant colors, the shimmering gold and the precious stones used to adorn these buildings literally glisten in the sun—so much so that you almost have to avert your eyes from their brilliance.
These temples and structure are simply stunning.
And as I began to think more on their beauty, a new thought crossed my mind. Yes, these temples are beautiful, but what is more beautiful is the breathtaking and magnificent architecture of the immense mountains; the brilliant colors of the trees and wildflowers that The Lord has adorned His creation with; the radiant glow of the millions of glistening stars that illuminate the night sky.
What is more beautiful is that our God does not live in a shiny temple. You don’t have to walk a few miles down the road or even next door to meet with Him. You don’t have to dress a certain way or tie a string around your head or stand facing a certain direction with your hands held any precise way.
My God, He lives in the beautiful mountains I see; in each unique cloud or star that fills the sky; in the cool blue waters of the oceans that cover the earth.
What is more beautiful is that we can stop and stand exactly where we are, exactly how we are and we can know our God is there, standing with us. That He is wherever we are and that His intimate and holy presence surrounds us and lives within us.
What is more beautiful is that the beauty that we see in these temples or in the trees and the mountains and the seas is no where to compare to the beauty God sees when He looks upon us, His most beautiful and treasured creation. He sees a beautiful piece of art. He sees our unique and creative architecture that He so “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the image of Himself. He sees the vibrancy of our characteristics and personality that He adores in us—that add color to this world and that set us apart. He sees us as His precious gold and His radiant gems—the most precious and valuable stones in the world.
“Having the glory of God Her brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” (Revelation 21:11)
We have a creator who uniquely and beautifully made us, and who we could not do anything to make love us any more or any less. Who adores us and delights in us. Who is filled with joy when He sees our joy and who weeps each time we shed a tear. Who looks at us and does not see the dirtiness of our past but rejoices in our victories and sees the beauty that our future holds.
A God who can be found in each breath of air we breathe and a God who meets us right where we are—A God whose home lies in the temple of our soul.
And what is more beautiful than that?
The grand opening of the temple right next door to where we lived for the month.
This photo was taken at a different temple we visited in Bangkok. Those visiting burned incense and left flowers to honor their gods and the spirits of their ancestors.
The architecture that goes into these structures is breathtaking.
I did nothing to edit this photo. You can see the gems and gold used to adorn these temples literally sparkling in the sunlight.
A woman praying outside the temple walls.
