The cacophony of Asian city life can get overwhelming. There is always street noise; Loud honks from busses, tuk tuks, and motorbikes. The clamor of people living, cooking, selling, and commuting. The call to prayer resounds from every Islamic mosque 5 times a day. The close narrow roads are squeezed in by building after building. Everything is a bit dirtier and smellier than home.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE ASIA. I love the cultures and the people and I have found so much joy in life here.
But I miss the green color of nature and the uncrowded space of the woods after spending a month in the city.
My team and I arrived at the Airbnb we booked at night and crashed into our beds. We were thankful that they were able to come down in price by nearly 40% and pull in some extra beds to meet the modest budget we keep while we are on the race. Happy to have mattresses and a clean bathroom we praised God for providing us a comfortable home for the 18 days we will be in Batticaloa.
The following morning, we woke up and discovered just how beautiful this home is. Tropical trees and flowers of all kinds surround the small buildings scattered throughout the property. (EXACTLY WHAT MY SOUL WANTED!)
One of the things I miss about home is going for walks in the woods. Craving a nice walk, I set out strolling around the property this morning. I admired the natural beauty here. The trees provide welcomed shade from the Sri Lankan Sun and the slight breeze off the lagoon keeps the air from getting too stifling in the heat.
I rounded a corner on the sandy path and see the owner of the resort, Thavaraja, speaking to a grounds worker. Thavaraja notices me walking up and we greet each other with a friendly “good morning.” I was happy to keep walking and passed him with a smile, but he called me back.
“He has something to show you, He found something for you,” the worker said to me.
I turned an walked back towards Thavaraja. He pulled out a small bag of unfamiliar fruit.
He gave it to me to try and to share with my friends. He explains things about the fruit and then continues to point to the plants surrounding us. He tells me their names. He guides me to a corner of the garden where curry plants grow. He breaks off a leaf and hands it to me to chew.
“This will make your hair grow! “ he says.
“Oh, wonderful! I need that,” I say with a smile.
“Yes, and It will make you hair turn black!” he jokes. (as Sri Lankans eat a lot of curry and also have Black hair)
Next, he guides me over to a cinnamon tree. He crushes one of its leaves in his hands and offers me the sweet familiar smell.
On he goes, explaining different plants and their useful purposes.
He points out a bush with purple, lavender, and white flowers. He says “This one is called Yesterday. Today, and Tomorrow.” He points at a purple flower and calls it “Yesterday.” He points to a lavender flower, “Today.” And finally, “Tomorrow it will be white like this one.”
Thavaraja had purchased the land after a cyclone demolished the grove of coconut trees which previously covered the area. The land was empty and destroyed but for the last 30+years he has been carefully gardening and cultivating the plant life of the property to reflect a diverse and beautiful array of life. Everyday, we see him tending to the grounds in one way or another. He rides a tractor around and carefully considers how each tree yields its fruit. He has created a garden and invites other people to enjoy the peace of walking in an Eden.
When he felt he had shared enough, he kindly said farewell and walked the other direction. I was thrilled to have the intricacies of the plants and trees explained. I walked on with a new appreciation for the space here.
What a vivid example of what it means to cultivate the area around you! I think it is so easy to choose to let your surroundings dictate the direction of your life and your ability to find joy. But careful consideration and hard work can yield so much prosperity and growth!
I have found my life in ruins after something disastrous happened. I look around at the desolate situation I was in and tried to wish my way out instead of turning my attention to how I can obediently cultivate growth.
This month the Lord is teaching me about beauty which stems from obedience and an intimate walk with Him. The more I let the Lord dictate my life by living according to His word, the more I desire closer intimacy with him. I hear his voice. Walking with the Lord looks like a walk through a garden with its gardener. He stops to teach and taste. He picks good fruits and offers them as a gift. He knows each plant and tree because he has carefully selected it, planted it, and tends to it each day.
Side note: Thavaraja and his wife are believers and they attend the church we visited on Palm Sunday which is just a small example of how our community investment is tying together this month!
Thanks for keeping up with this journey. More to come on the ministry opportunities God has opened up for us!
