Today I’m sitting in a Nepalese coffee shop, writing to my loved ones who live halfway across the world and haven’t even woken up for the day yet. Yesterday I worshipped with a year-old church held in a room the size of a broom closet. On Friday, I helped to cook a Nepalese meal for 100 people. On Thursday, I visited a slum and encountered the most heartbreaking and severe poverty I’ve ever seen. On Wednesday, I praised Jesus as we walked amidst Hindu festivities and idol worship. On Tuesday, I hiked to the tallest point in Kathmandu and marveled at the beauty of God’s creation. Needless to say, I’ve had a few “pinch me” moments. If you had told me this two years ago, I’d have never believed you.
As we walk the streets of Nepal, my thoughts are filled with gratitude and sadness, joy and confusion, praise and bitterness. This country is full of color and life. The people are incredibly friendly and personable. It’s surrounded by majestic mountains and a bright blue sky. But for about 95 percent of the people here, everything is heartbreakingly upside down. When we visited a Hindu temple inundated with cows and birds and monkeys, I just wanted to scream, “You’re worshipping created things, not the Creator! Oh, if you could only see there’s so much more. God is so much bigger than what you’ve settled for.”
I’m struck by the creativity everywhere– from the handmade jewelry to the painted murals to the intricately embroidered outfits to the architecture of the temples. God has placed His characteristics in these people; they are created to be creative.
There was a day last month when I went for a walk, just God and me. I was listening to some music and singing along, when I felt the urge to dance. We were in the bush of Africa, so there thankfully weren’t any spectators. Honestly, I’ve seen God do many cool things in the past few months, but I’ve never felt so close to Him as when I’m dancing.
We’re fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives when we live out the characteristics he’s placed in us. We actually are bringing him glory by being ourselves.
My prayer for Nepal is that they would unify the source and the direction of their creativity.
Father, open their eyes to you, the Artist and Author who spoke the mountains into existence and intricately knitted us together in the womb.
