The Challenge of Compassion

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 

clothe yourselves with compassion, 

kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  

(Colossians 3:12)

With the green of trees, chirping of birds, and fresh air of the park surrounding us, we sat contemplating these characteristics. 

  

Compassion.  

picnic in the park

Kindness.  

Humility.  

Gentleness.  

Patience.

The following verses add bearing with each other, forgiveness, and love "which binds them all together in perfect unity."

I challenged each person who had come for bible study in the park to pick one of these characteristics and ask God increase it in their life.  And that included me.  I also warned everyone that when we ask God to grow us in areas like this, he will often give us challenging opportunities.

a guitar was the perfect addition to our park time

In a city full of homeless people, refugees, orphans, prostitutes, addicts, and beggars.  It's easy to find my heart hardening towards the needs of people.  

But that's not the heart I see when I look at Christ's time on earth.  His compassion was often paired with teaching of the gospel, of the hope we have in the God who had ultimate compassion on us.

com-pas-sion:  noun \kəm-ˈpa-shən\ -- sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it

What does it look like to live a life flowing with compassion? 

What does compassion even mean in a world full of hurting people and seemingly hopeless circumstances?

As the sky darkened and we walked toward the park exit, I knew the same challenge I gave to everyone sitting in the grass would apply to me too.

relaxing and cloud watching

 
 

Ministry Glimpse: Ruth Center

Lately I've been impressed by how many amazing ways God is working in Thailand.  I'd like to highlight some of these ministries occasionally on my blog.  My hope is to give us more opportunities to celebrate God's goodness and the passion he has given different people for different areas of ministry.

The Ruth Center is in its fifth year of working in slum communities on the outskirts of Bangkok.  Their heart's burden is "to improve the quality of life for the elderly and seek long term solutions to their care."  Just in this district, there are 14,000 elderly people.  Many of those live alone with little to no income. 

Take Yai Noi for example.

Her broad, missing-tooth smile fills her face as we knock on the wood post that is the corner of her house and poke our head in the open door.  She lives alone and doesn't have the mobility to get out much, making visits from familiar faces extra special. 
 
Yai Noi calls a small shack built over a swamp "home."  She regularly prays for God to keep the snakes and poisonous bugs out, and she has many stories of God answering those prayers.

The students and I gingerly walk under the cover of her tin roof holding a bag of food to share for breakfast.  Yai Noi slowly lowers herself to the floor to sit with us.  She turns down the radio, her only companion some days. 

As we sit and munch on fruit, fried bread, and sip from bags of warm soy milk, we laugh at Yai Noi's stories.  We see her as a grandmother, and she sees us as her grandchildren. 

After breakfast, one of the students pulls out some bright red fingernail polish.  She spends the next hour clipping, filing, and painting Grandma's toenails.  This act of love and sacrifice of time means more than Yai Noi can express. 

Our visit was just a peek into the time and care that overflows from the Ruth Center everyday. 

Sometimes it's helping grandpa get to the doctor or pharmacy.  Sometimes it's an outing to a park.  Sometimes it's rebuilding a bathroom or replacing a pole that has begun rotting away.  Sometimes it's sharing a meal together or simply sharing some quality time. 

No matter what the activity, the genuine heart behind the Ruth Center's staff and volunteers is evident, ultimately showing and sharing Jesus' love with each person they visit.

For more information on the Ruth Center, see www.ywamthai.org/ruthcenter. 

Not Only a New Year's Battle

Whether on a tuk tuk, in a bus, or on a motorcycle, watch out!  You are a splash target!

"This holiday, you must expect to get wet.  If you get mad at them, you're wrong...not the people who splashed you."

Chao's words of warning echoed in my mind all three days of the New Year celebration.

Kids splashing from the side of the road.

As I got dressed each day, I consciously thought about what clothes I should wear.  Clothes that dried easily, wouldn't get stained, and wouldn't become see-through when wet.  

As I picked out shoes, the criteria was simple: water-proof.

As I decided what to take with me, I made sure I had my squirt gun (full!) and packed only the necessities, things easy to carry.  My phone was carefully zip-locked in a bag.  And my camera didn't make the cut.  (So thanks to other people for sharing some pictures!)

As I planned out my path, I considered which direction would most likely encounter the biggest splash scenes.  Sometimes I wanted to be there, sometimes I chose a roundabout way to avoid them.

I was ready for the New Year's Water War!

Sonkran is Thailand's New Year celebration.  There's no avoiding getting wet unless you literally don't come out of your house and let no one inside. 

Pouring water for blessings and merit.

The water splashing comes from the Buddhist tradition of pouring water on statues and people as a symbol of pouring out and receiving blessings.  The tradition is continued today as most Buddhist make merit during the New Year holiday, sometime in between the water fight. 

When I first came to Thailand, it was impossible to miss the fact that I was living in a spiritual war zone.  But now that I've been here for quite some time, it's easier to overlook.  As I reflected on the amount of effort I was taking to prepare for these days of water fights, I began to think about Ephesians 6.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (verse 11-12)

The streets are full of people ready to splash!

Just as water could come from any angle at any time during Songkran, so does the spiritual battle come.  Just as I thought about my entire wardrobe and what would be in my hands before going out to get wet, I must remember the whole armor of God.  The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit.  

No amount of staying home with the doors shut and food stocked up will keep this war at bay.  Whether home is a dot on the map in Thailand, America, or elsewhere, there's no escaping the reality of the battle we are fighting.  

Eye protection on and weapon in hand...We're ready!