I fell in love.
I can’t quite place the exact moment, or even the day, but it’s happened.
I’ve fallen in love.
The location: Cambodia.
The love interest: Tuk-Tuks.
While my first official tuk-tuk ride didn’t happen until my third day in Siem Reap, that’s not when it happened.
See, I correlate tuk-tuks with adventure. My first one took me and my new team to town to help us make a memory. We visited the market, got coffee, ate, you know, all the good stuff.
The next day, Lin, our driver for the day, took me, my new teammate Joey, and two other squad mates to see number 2 on my bucket list. He drove us around Angkor Wat for hours while we patiently sat in awe of what we were seeing. He guided us through the area and dropped us at the best locations. He helped us have an amazing day.
Third time is the charm though.
Scene: Phnom Penh in the rain.
Feelings: Love and fear all at the same time.
My team took a bus to Phnom Penh, our ministry location this month, and our host picked us up at the bus station. However, she didn’t come in a car. No, she was on the back of motorbike, and she had two tuk-tuks in tow. So, the five of us piled in, split up two and three, and we headed off into the downpour. Andy and I prayed our way through the city, but I couldn’t close my eyes.
There are 5 million people in the Capital of Cambodia, and apparently they were all out taking an afternoon drive in the rain because we wove in and out of more cars, motos, trucks, and fellow tuk-tuks than I had seen in my life. I thought we would inevitably crash or get hit. Thankfully, and magically, we didn’t. Now that I’m processing through this love story, I think that was the moment I fell…hard.
And they’re everywhere.
You step outside of the church, ‘You need tuk-tuk?’
You walk out of the grocery store, ‘Tuk-Tuk?’
You and a teammate simply walk next door, *beep*beep* ‘Ma’am, tuk-tuk?’
I could spend all my money on tuk-tuks. I know that sounds weird, but think of traveling through a new city, wind in your hair, someone to drive you places you’ve never been, and you don’t have to really think of anything. It’s like a ride at Disneyland, but every time you get in, it’s a new adventure.
When I say they’re everywhere, I really mean everywhere. It actually didn’t hit me until last night (yes, this is where I make the connection between a real life situation and Jesus). These tuk-tuks, are like Jesus. He’s there when I need him, and patiently waits for me until I realize that I do.
My team and I walk just about everywhere, so typically when tuk-tuks ask us if we need a ride, we give a shake of our heads and they politely step back and smile. They don’t hold our independence against us. However, last night it was dark outside and my team and I needed food for dinner. We agreed a tuk-tuk would be our best option, and after walking down the block, here came a driver to save the day. He even waited for us to get out of the grocery store and took us home.
I might be reaching, because they don’t always act this way. Sometimes they ask for more money, sometimes they’re a little too eager and ask multiple times if we need a ride, and occasionally they drive right passed you when you need them most. I could easily explain that as the enemy trying to taint our image of God. Regardless of how they act, I’m still going to ask for help when I need it.
God knows when we’re going to try and do things ourselves, but He’s there, just in case. Most of the time we think we don’t need the help and then find ourselves stuck in the rain wishing we had ride. Even though we denied His help in the first place, He’s there to give us the hand we stubbornly thought we didn’t need. For those rare occasions where we know that we don’t need to be dependent on our own strength, He’s instantly there to pick us up, no questions asked. We get to sit back comfortably because we decided to cast all our worries on Him, and He cares for us.
That’s the feeling I honestly get when I ride in a tuk-tuk. It’s really silly, I am fully willing to accept that, but it’s the only explanation I can give for the absolute happy feeling I get when I allow myself to sit back and depend on someone else to do the thinking. Maybe I am reaching. Maybe it’s the lesson God has been teaching me lately. Or, maybe, I’m finally starting to live that Philippians 4:6-9 lifestyle.
“6 Be anxious about no thing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philipians 4:6-9
