I think as people and in our culture, specifically, grand and big and luxurious things captivate us. What I mean is we think on a large sc
ale. For example, Americans have incredibly large food servings, too large actually. I think it’s ironic that while America is struggling with obesity, since being on the race, I’ve seen children starving and coming from homes where there is nothing to eat. (But that is a discussion for another day.) We also have IMAX theatres to entertain us with BIG explosions, LOUD fireworks, and GREAT stories. We have big houses and big cars, we also have Venti sized Starbucks drinks (which let us be real, no one needs that much caffeine.) We even preach this idea, saying, “The bigger the better.” I think the state of Texas has some motto like, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” and though I’ve never been I trust that maybe that statement is true.
Prior to coming on the race, I wrestled with the idea of thinking of God in BIG terms. I mean, He is, after all, the creator of the universe. I carried this notion really, that in order to make a difference in the world, it also had to be done on a LARGE scale; something along the lines of Martin Luther King Jr. or Mother Theresa. But right at the beginning of the race I was told that, “The kingdom of God is made of small acts of love.” What a humbling place to serve from and then I remembered that our God is also the creator of ants.
Small acts of love like washing the dishes of your teammate whilst choosing to do it with a happy heart and uncomplaining lips.
Small acts like asking a friend, “How are you doing today?” with every intention of really listening to how they are actually doing.
Small acts like buying a new friend dinner.
While, yes, the God I serve is in fact a BIG God, in my time of getting to know Him I’ve uncovered that He is, first, a God of intimacy. Meaning that He knows us, he knows me, and he knows you more than you know yourself. He is also a meticulous God, a strategic planner, a God who pays attention to detail.
Let me paint you a picture of China. In our time here it’s been rare to find English speakers. Most everything- food labels, signs, bus routes- is in Chinese. There are no commonalities between Chinese characters and the alphabet. Every time something does have English on it, like a shampoo bottle actually having the word “Shampoo” on it, is gold.
So the first few days here in China I had the responsibility of learning how to get to our ministry sites- two universities. We had to the learn bus routes and the pronunciation of our stops. Thankfully our contact helped us and the process of learning how to live in a foreign country has been somewhat exciting and stretching.
You may also remember, if you read my last blog, that this is my first month of team leading. I’ll be honest, it’s a scary transition when you’re suddenly leading a team across a foreign country that doesn’t speak anything remotely similar to what you know. Never have I felt so much like a foreigner, away from her nation and people. I also really miss coffee, as it’s not nearly as common here as it is in the states.
But the first day of visiting one of the universities, we decided to stop by the on campus store. I saw a coffee machine, the kind where you press a button and it pours coffee into a cup. I asked our contact how much a coffee would be, “3 Yuan.” he said, and that’s like 50 cents; “Yes, and please.” I asked for a cappuccino and the coffee was decently good. The reason I tell you this story though is because it’s about a small thing.
As the woman at the counter reached for the paper cup, I saw two words on it. The first word was “Nescafe” the word below it was “Alegria.”
You could imagine my surprise, my shock, and my excitement. Really what are the chances that a coffee cup with my last name on it would be in China? Remember this country is HUGE (ironic?), does not use the alphabet for their language, and of all places for this Nescafe cup with the word “Alegria” on it to end up at the university my team and I were particularly serving at is BEYOND me. Such a coincidence, though, is no coincidence at all. It was a confirmation to me that I was exactly where I was suppose to be- team leading and doing ministry at this specific university.
This BIG God I serve saw fit to reach to me in such a small way, yet it was largely assuring and comforting of His goodness towards me.
Small acts of love in detail.
Small ways He shows me specifically that He knows and loves me.
Small gestures that really are grand ways He continues to romance my heart.
This is the God I serve.
I’ve since that day returned repeatedly to the on campus store and purchased coffee with, what feels like, my personalized label of love.
Jesus is awesome.
