There’s an old man who lives next door to the church inChantaburi.
Let’s call him George (because I don’t know what his name
is).
is).
He walks around with a cane, and has a speech impediment that
makes even his Thai impossible to understand.
makes even his Thai impossible to understand.
Judging by the look of him, I’d guess seventy or eighty.
And that judgment would be completely wrong.
George is 52, and Buddhist.
Ten years ago, he owned the land Chantaburi
Methodist Church
now sits on.
Methodist Church
now sits on.
He sold the land to Pastor because he thought that putting a
church in the neighborhood would make him money.
church in the neighborhood would make him money.
When it didn’t, George got angry.
When groups started coming in from around the world (Korea,
USA, etc), he
started going off on them.
USA, etc), he
started going off on them.
About eight years ago, George started in on a girl from one
of the teams from America
(I think America,
anyway) about becoming a prostitute.
of the teams from America
(I think America,
anyway) about becoming a prostitute.
Not speaking Thai, she had no clue what he was saying.
That’s when the speech impediment showed up.
And the dramatic aging.
Now George has a bitter streak a mile high and a mile wide.
He still comes yelling at groups that stay here at the
church. Sometimes it’ll scare the living daylights out of people.
church. Sometimes it’ll scare the living daylights out of people.
Occasionally, he’ll even bust in on a church service and
start yelling at Pastor.
start yelling at Pastor.
If you asked George if he was an enemy of God, I’m sure he
would say yes without hesitation.
would say yes without hesitation.
If you asked me if the thought of what George could do in
his rage scared me, I know I would say yes without hesitation.
his rage scared me, I know I would say yes without hesitation.
But if you asked me whether that would stop me from praying
for him, the answer to that would be a resounding NO.
for him, the answer to that would be a resounding NO.
Why?
Well, at the end of the day, I know two things.
One- Jesus said to love your enemy.
Two- George is human, just like I am. Therefore, he was
created by God, in His image. Just because he doesn’t realize it doesn’t make
it any less true.
created by God, in His image. Just because he doesn’t realize it doesn’t make
it any less true.
And God is jealous for George.
He wants George,
and is broken hearted at the thought of not having him.
and is broken hearted at the thought of not having him.
Who am I to deny George the same kind of relationship I have
with God?
with God?
Who am I to not pray for that relationship to form?
Who am I to not love the enemy in the best way I possibly
can?
can?
Who are you to not do the same?
