When men in uniform with guns on their hips tell you to pull over your motorbikes generally you oblige. We did.
Southeast Asia, recognized for its unbelievably chaotic and aggressive drivers has turned me into quite a proficient motorcycle operator. Learning how to simply maneuver in jam packed, everything goes traffic in Chiang Mai, Thailand and Cambodia really instills in you a very necessary, aggressive mindset that is then accompanied by confidence and competence on a moto. Top that experience off with over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) of ‘highway’ and dirt miles up and through mountains in rain and shine and by golly I’d contend I’m a pretty good driver.
Not once in 3 months did we have any serious problems, with emphasis on the serious part. That was until we arrived in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. In reality, all that happened was that in multiple occurrences, corrupt policemen from Cambodia hounded my friends and I with threats of taking our bikes, arrest, fines, and even some fiddling with guns in our presence. What did every incident come down to? In Cambodian words, “I will be friendly to you and you be friendly to me.” In essence and also bluntly spoken, “You give us money for beer and we will leave you alone”.
Everyone is aware of corruption around the world with policemen, specifically targeted at tourists. It’s no surprise. The easy way to deal with it? Throw the dog a few bones and be done with it regardless if you have actually done anything wrong. For the sake of time and frustration, nearly everyone does it.
You know, or you believe you know you have done nothing wrong and are being unjustly detained and so they really can do nothing to you but the thought crosses your mind that “What if I did do something wrong? Even something miniscule but something none the less that would allow them to make a small problem bigger? Do you give in? Do you tell a small lie and tell them you have what they want but it is back at the hostel, gambling that they are bluffing about their superiors coming or about taking you to the station? Do you lie, telling them you already paid other policemen that day? How far do you go to get out of something you recognize as corrupt?
What if you can’t play their game? Not because you don’t have the $20 they want or because you don’t understand the game they are playing but rather because your conscience does not let you tell a lie; you are held accountable to a higher standard than what “nearly everyone” holds because the Holy Spirit resides in you.
Throughout my life I have been distraught with conviction over not telling the truth. In any situation, however small, I physically shake and become anxious to the point of being immobilized if I do not tell the truth.
I thoroughly believe it is the Holy Spirit constantly reminding me of the commands in the Bible to “be holy as God is holy.” I know these truths from God’s Word and they are so instilled in me that I cannot escape them.
In the situations where we were harassed I was essentially frozen. Regardless that I understood we had done nothing wrong, I could not lie and tell them I had the paperwork they wanted or tell them I had paid previously and should be left alone. Even though I recognized they would not do anything drastic, I was unbelievably anxious. For many hours after the incident and every time the incident was spoken of anxiety welled up within me to the point of nearly being sick. I felt helpless. If it wasn’t for my friends being better at lying than I, who knows how long I would have stood among the policemen trying to make them let me go.
It was a disturbing experience not because of this small case but because my mind constantly correlated my response to a more serious situation. In a more serious situation where it may actually be life or death, where a simple lie might be the key to freedom would I be justifiably unable to lie? What should I say? Do I let myself be taken advantage of?
These thoughts coursed through my mind, leaving me distraught because of the deeply rooted corruption throughout the world and especially at the higher levels of government.
What are we then supposed to do? In.a society where those supposed to be looking out for us are out to take advantage of us? Can we make sure we follow every law, every precedent flawlessly so they have nothing against us? No, there will always be something we overlook, let alone do people have the time to know and jump through every hoop they create. Do we quote our rights to those who are supposed to uphold them and yet are in complete disregard to them?
This situation in Cambodia is small in comparison to the larger picture of corruption among governments and businesses around the world and yet it perfectly replicates the helpless feeling of many when they look around the world, specifically the United States of America. In regards to being a follower of Jesus Christ and the struggle to live in this world and yet not of it, how are we to act as responsible citizens and uphold a Christ-like morality?
Practically I am not completely sure but we can hold onto the promises of our God where he commands us to “fear not” for men cannot harm us. The very worst they can do is take our physical life, but they can never touch our soul which is the Lords. So we can walk into any circumstance with integrity of heart and clarity in our conscience because we MUST not fear men, but instead walk in the light for fear of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth who will one day eradicate sin from this world. We are to always walk in truth, not in fear of criticism or trickery because if we are pursuing righteousness through Christ-like living, even when bad things do happen, we can rest assured that the Lord is with us as our Shepherd. Watching over us and protecting those who are living according to His commandments.
We must persevere with integrity, holding ourselves not to the world’s standard but rather to the standard that Christ has laid down for us.
His standard of holiness.
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My good friend and teammate Francis is still in need of around $2,000 of financial support. Having begun walking with the Lord only within the last year or so, I have witnessed the Lord working mightily to remake him in His image.
While the race is nearly over, AIM has given him the leverage to finish the race, trusting the Lord will provide the remaining funds. So please consider being the hands and the feet of Christ and helping to fulfill this need!
You can donate on his blog —> http://francisfaucher.theworldrace.org/
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