beginning of journey.

Week 5.

Since I started language school three weeks ago, I have not spent much time on Thammasat's camups.  Its a shame because I really enjoy the campus.  It is tropical and peaceful and clean.  There are huge lizards that walk all over the place.  The corridors and walkways quietly echo the laughter of students riding by on their cruiser bikes.  College life for Thai students seems to be a bit more slow-paced than for American students (well, Truman students at least).  At most times of the day, it is a relaxing place.

On Tuesday, I took a trip to the campus post office to mail a letter.  As I walked quietly through the campus, I was thinking and praying about humility.  Loving others, serving them, honoring them, becoming nothing before God, letting Him be ALL.  ...whew...  Hard stuff.  The main question on my heart:  "how, God?...  how am I supposed to remain steadfast in righteousness?..." 

Then I walked past a large, open, covered courtyard-type area with painted picnic tables.  There are many of these outdoor seating/eating/gathering areas all over Thammasat.  Every year, each new class of freshman in each faculty (major/school of study) paints over the table of the class that just graduated.  It makes for a very colorful campus. :)  One of the tables caught my eye...

Beginning.  [taken with my iPhone]

 

So, the English is not so good...  but you get the coolness of it, right?  God's answer to my "how" question... "Well, it's a journey.  But dont worry, my grace is sufficient for you."  The painting reminded me of the David Crowder song "How He Loves."  "If his grace is an ocean, we're all sinking..."

God's love is not always gentle.  And the journey of faith is not always smooth-sailing.  Sometimes it is quite tumultuous... like hurricane-tossed waves, crashing onto land, bending trees over backwards.  It is violently beautiful.  But the good news is that the winds are winds of mercy, and the rain that pours down is the rain of grace.

I am reminded of Jesus' words:  "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me."  John 14:21