New Year's Psalm

Doi Khun Tan National Park

 Green all around.  

Different shades of it.

Dark, light, yellowish, speckled with color.

Long skinny kinds, flat fuzzy kinds.

As I sat looking over millions of green things covering the hills in the foreground and mountains in the background, I tried to peer into the coming months. 

My eyes took in the words of Psalm 25 and my heart prayed out,

"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." 
(verse 1) 

You are the almighty God.  I come to you, crying out, falling on my face before you. 

"O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous." 
(verse 2-3)

I don't know what this next year holds, but I trust the Lord to lead and guide.  I will wait for Him.

"Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.  

Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long." 
(verse 4-5)

My salvation is in you. I walk into this year teachable, ready to learn, ready to follow, ready to wait. 

"Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!" 
(verse 6-7)

My heart finds confidence in your mercy, remembering your promises and holding fast to your unchanging character.   

"Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way." 
(verse 8-9)

Cause me to follow humbly, quickly confessing sin, living with a clean heart because of Christ's sacrifice.  Capture the hearts of those who do not yet know you.

"All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies." 
(verse 10)
I praise you for your steadfast love and faithfulness.  I praise you for your everlasting covenant.  Thank you for seeing me and leading me into this next year. 

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!