This is part 7 of a short story I wrote about our time in Vietnam. Please feel free to find the other parts here.
A few weeks ago I told my church about
Freddy at a coming home party at my parent’s house. I stood in front
of my parent’s big screen TV and talked about how he had never seen a
worship service like that one. He couldn’t have; he had just become
a Christian that day. He had never seen someone do anything like
that, fall down in the presence, because of the presence of
God. As I talked to them, I started to tear up and my voice got heavy and I told them what
a hard month I had been having, how I was
trapped in the pale walls of my hotel room, stewing in air
conditioning, playing MMA Pro Fighter.
Freddy at a coming home party at my parent’s house. I stood in front
of my parent’s big screen TV and talked about how he had never seen a
worship service like that one. He couldn’t have; he had just become
a Christian that day. He had never seen someone do anything like
that, fall down in the presence, because of the presence of
God. As I talked to them, I started to tear up and my voice got heavy and I told them what
a hard month I had been having, how I was
trapped in the pale walls of my hotel room, stewing in air
conditioning, playing MMA Pro Fighter.
I told them how in the midst of myboredom, my complacency, and even in the midst of my counting down
the days, I got to witness Freddy having this intimate moment with God,
lain on the floor by the Spirit in a strange and holy way,
experiencing God as he had never before.
I remembered how after the seminar
we hung around and talked. It was after ten. We started at
nine AM, but no one wanted to leave. They shared stories about what
God had done that day with wide, excited eyes. They laughed. I gave
Freddy a hug as I left.
we hung around and talked. It was after ten. We started at
nine AM, but no one wanted to leave. They shared stories about what
God had done that day with wide, excited eyes. They laughed. I gave
Freddy a hug as I left.
“Do you have to go to work now?” I
said.
said.
“Yes.”
“It’s going to be a long night.”
“It will be a good night.”
We left the Vietnamese and walked over
to get some late night frozen yogurt. We were still talking about the seminar, unwilling for the night to end. Finally it did. We were all
tired and when one person got up to go, the rest followed.
to get some late night frozen yogurt. We were still talking about the seminar, unwilling for the night to end. Finally it did. We were all
tired and when one person got up to go, the rest followed.
I was back in my hotel room. Alone.
Air conditioned. Pale walls. Comfortable. I thought about reading
my Bible or else just
sit and pray so this good feeling would extend forever.
Air conditioned. Pale walls. Comfortable. I thought about reading
my Bible or else just
sit and pray so this good feeling would extend forever.
Instead I got out my computer. In one
window I opened a movie. In another I opened Facebook and played MMA Pro Fighter. I watched a movie. After a few
hours, I went to sleep tired and unfulfilled.
window I opened a movie. In another I opened Facebook and played MMA Pro Fighter. I watched a movie. After a few
hours, I went to sleep tired and unfulfilled.
But the next day I woke up refreshed
and ready. I ate breakfast in my room and went to the coffee shop to
write. The person I had been those few weeks, the
one trapped by addiction to pale walls and hotel rooms seemed
dissolved. I had gotten over myself and the next month, our last,
was one of the best of the year.
and ready. I ate breakfast in my room and went to the coffee shop to
write. The person I had been those few weeks, the
one trapped by addiction to pale walls and hotel rooms seemed
dissolved. I had gotten over myself and the next month, our last,
was one of the best of the year.
