Team Agape has made it to China – shout it from the rooftops because we have overcome quite a few hurdles along the journey. And yet, here we stand. After our brief stint in the capital city Beijing, we found a bus to take us to a smaller city in the north-east region of China. We spend our first official day in China exploring the small, joy-filled city. Greeted with smiles everywhere we walked it felt like we found a home in this new country. Our second day, we took a trip to a wall. In accordance with it’s name, it took a great amount of transportation to get us there. Our travels included a taxi, a long bus ride, and a shuttle. This got us to the ticket center. From there, we walked up a road, that lead to a second road, which lead to a path, that lead to the wall.
After seeing this wonder of the world I think I am supposed to be amazed and so #cultured. I should boast at the incredible opportunity I am blessed with. Hello world. Notice me. Accept me. Love me. These worldly desires are never fulfilled and always seek more because your notice is distracted, your acceptance is hollow, and your love is fleeting. I have been released from the desire to receive man’s approval because I have found the more. The more is in God and it is written all over this darn wall.
The view of rolling mountains and a seemingly endless wall felt empty. I made a leisurely stroll to the top of a wall that took many lifetimes to build. The wall was constructed by soldiers, slaves, refugees, and prisoners. The purpose of the wall was to keep people out. [Disclaimer I did not know any of these facts prior to nor during my visit to the wall.] All this to say, a LOT of hard work was put into this thing. One of man’s greatest accomplishments, right? What now? Now the wall sees millions of yearly tourists who walk minuscule segments. Now the wall is falling apart, more that 30% has disappeared. Now the wall has lost its purpose.
The wall parallels my Old Testament readings this week. In Isaiah 40:6-8 it reads; “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” The wall was made apart from God, apart from His intend purpose for us. The “powerful” men who are credited for building the wall have withered and died. The wall is literally falling apart. And yet, God remains standing on the wall. He gives the wall more. God has repurposed this object that was intended to divide us into an object that unities us.
Now, the wall brings people from all walks of life together. Millions of people every year stand together for tickets, sweat together in the baking sun while walking up and down various sized steps, offer to take photos of one another, and have intentional conversations about mission trips. More is all around and waiting on you.
