I'm not a fan ever. And when I say this, I'm referring to sports. You can have your conversations all day about certain things that you may be passionate about and I will generally be moved by your passion, but not when it comes to sports. It doesn't move me one bit.
But this month I was very moved.
In the warehouse I have been living in for the month in Malaysia, we share a wall with a barber. His name is Raj and his wife is Yati. They have taken care of us this month and answered our questions and helped us lock up every night and open every morning. They celebrated their one year anniversary this month. Raj was Hindu and he converted to Muslim so he could marry Yati. And they love each other very much.
I had painted a mural on one of the walls in our English center. I was surprised that God would let me use some gifts I wasn't quite sure if I really had. Yati came in one day to see what I had done. The next day, Raj said jokingly that he wanted me to paint in his barber shop. I laughed with him.
Here are some photos of my first mural and then of our team photo shoot for Christmas.
(Our funny little Christmas stick, I mean tree.)
I began to rethink his request as a true opportunity for something more than a painting.
So I sought him and Yati out to ask what they would like me paint on the wall.
He is a huge fan of Liverpool football. He said he wanted the logo on the wall and I told him I didn't know what it looked like. He was so surprised to know there was someone who had never heard of them. To be honest I've always thought of soccer as cheap trick to get you to just run back and forth. I couldn't tell you much more than that about the sport.
As I painted, I took so much pride in that team. I wanted the colors just right and argued with Raj over the colors and how it had to be just right. I spent most of the day painting while standing on a table and praying over Yati and Raj. My teammate, Cabe, prayed along with me.
And for the 3rd time in Asia, much to my surprise I was using art to bless others. A thing that hasn't happened in my life. I pray that those walls so connected to our side full of His light would now also reflect His light in the Barber shop.
Liverpool's logo says You'll Never Walk Alone. I told Raj that I loved that. It was very comforting to know I have Hope in the One who walks with me every day.
Raj and Yati though married, live apart. Raj works here and Yati 2 hours there. There are many lonely days apart and walking alone. Even marriage doesn't promise to fulfill that need of companionship all the time. Only One can truly promise that You'll Never Walk Alone if you choose to let Him.
