After spending the month of December in Thailand, there was one common theme that was apparent: God is working.
I used to nearly kill myself in the trying, the doing, and the working; only to discover that it didn’t matter what I did, because God’s plan would always win. In countless careers, I hoped to impress my superiors with the late hours I put in, and the way I “dug deeper” into finding answers to the overly asked questions. At one point I even worked through my entire time off, only to close a deal, email my boss in delight to receive a response reminding me of the fact that it was the weekend, and to enjoy it! These things used to frustrate me beyond reason. Only because I was working in my own understanding, and not in the will or understanding of my creator, almighty.
When I saw the same thing happening in Thailand, I recognized the familiar frustrating acts and felt an immeasurable amount of sympathy for those that still didn’t know what I have been fortunate enough to discover. I learned more about the character of God, as He allowed me to share in the compassion He has for His beloved.
When I encountered others just outside the Buddhist Temple, I immediately felt exactly what they were feeling. A spiritual gift that is hard to swallow, but gives me understanding in an intimate way, was now fully in me. Empathy. If I tried to understand the thoughts and feelings of others with my own understanding, I can guarantee you, things would have gone drastically wrong! Instead, I have been gifted with the ability to feel one’s exact emotional pain and typically also identify the source before even knowing the person’s name. It was apparent just how much patience God has for all His children as my gift of discernment also confirmed that He too was in that place. He was there in the temple as, day after day, those He loves come and try. They try to make mistakes right, to bring about blessings, to ensure their future. They are tirelessly trying for all of these amazing things through their own doing of bringing flowers, incense, and food, while praying to the spirits; my translator, who was once a Buddhist himself explained to me. All the while they are trying, God is doing. He hears every prayer, and patiently waits. He could easily tear the building down, but that wouldn’t be the loving character of God. Love is patient, and God is love. Therefore the building stands for now. Yet God is working in other ways. He is working in the hearts of all those the loves dearly. He is working in the lives of His desired children to surround them with those that know Him, so that when the time is right, they may recognize His name and cry it out to Him. When they do, He rejoices. God is doing things beyond our imagination, and yet so many of His children are continually sacrificing, trying, and doing all they can to make their plans work. Not even knowing of the beautiful plan that God has in store for their lives.
The most freeing aspect of visiting the Temples was the fact that I knew beyond knowing what I was called to do. In many cases that calling was simple: nothing. Time after time I knew that my purpose was only to understand. Or only to speak with my eyes to the stranger. Or to only give full respect and speak with kind (Thai) words to the hard working Monk. The purpose was not for me to do anything but to grow in faith because I believe in the most powerful God of the universe, and I can trust that. Fully.
