Pt.2 - The Joy of Being Wrong...

The story continues…Sometimes, it’s so good to be wrong…

When I read the end of Luke, what strikes me most is the incredible joy – the joy of the women, the joy of the disciples, and the joy of Jesus himself. I can just imagine his huge smile as the disciples see him and realize who he is. I picture him laughing at them a little when they are afraid he is a ghost, so he calls out, “Bring me something to eat!” What a wonderful reunion. And how satisfying to finally be able to tell them, “See! This is what I’ve been talking about this whole time!”

The realization of who Jesus truly is and what he really did produces uncontainable joy. Luke says, “They stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” How could they do anything else! They had just witnessed the impossible – God died, then came back to life! It had been right there in front of them their whole lives, written in the Scriptures they had been raised on, but they never really saw it until then. How amazing to see everything you had ever hoped for fulfilled right before your very eyes. A few days earlier they thought everything had come crashing to the ground in a tragic end…But it was just the beginning! The cross is love and its fruit is joy.

Love of the Cross

Today I was reading the passage in Luke about Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. I have read and heard that story hundreds of times; I have seen the graphic portrayal in paintings and on film. But today it was different, and today I cried. I don’t know why it was different today, but it broke my heart. I was so sad thinking about the people rejecting Jesus when all he ever did was accept them. They hated him when he loved them. They insulted him when he blessed them. They shouted for his blood and he was silent. He stood there and just took it – all of it. I felt so sorry for him. I felt sorry for Him. How strange that sounds, that I, a weak creature, felt sorry for him, the all-powerful Creator! But it’s true. The Bible says that he made himself nothing. He put himself so low that I was able to feel sorry for him.

I cried as I read the people’s shouts to crucify him. I cried as he hung on the cross. And I cried as he breathed his last and then was laid to rest. I thought about how quickly the people forgot their joy over Jesus’ coming, how even his closest friends deserted him. And I thought about how I forget him so quickly and turn my back and crucify him. It was my sin that held him there. I thought about the people’s shouts of, “Save yourself! If you’re really the Christ, come down off the cross!” I thought of how tempting that must have been and how easy it would have been to do. How much easier to save himself than to stay on the cross! I can imagine Jesus forcing himself to stay there. The nails didn’t keep him there – he chose to be there. He did something much more powerful that day than come off a cross – as if three nails and a piece of wood could contain the God of the universe! No, he, God himself, died. Again, this makes no sense! But he made himself nothing – absolutely nothing. What this fully means is beyond imagining.

Go loves us, loves me, so much that he gave everything. He knew I would be unfaithful, he knew we would turn our backs on him, but he still died for us. He knew Peter would deny him and that the disciples would scatter, but he still loved them. He is so faithful – so loving.

I know that the next part of the story is the Resurrection and that my tears will soon turn to joy, but I will leave that for tomorrow. For now, I think it is good to meditate on Christ’s death. I think that I can see God’s love even more clearly through my tears at the foot of the cross.

Homeless

I’m homeless, sitting in a coffee shop enjoying a black tea latte and using free wireless. No work, no schedule, nowhere to be. I could get used to this. Sure there are the inconveniences… I have to carry everything around with me all the time, but really, I can’t complain.

Before long I’ll be heading out of Korea. I’m trying to enjoy each moment here, taking pictures of some of the simple things I know I’ll forget otherwise. Since I last wrote, I went to the DMZ, spent a day and a half at a prayer mountain, went hiking at Seoraksan, saw snow on the beach, and enjoyed a million other little moments that don’t sound like much on paper, but are equally memorable. With each passing day, leaving becomes more of a reality and I try to sink further into denial. *Sigh*

DMZ with Leslie and Charlsie

In a tiny prayer room with June at Gangnam Prayer Mountain.

French Toast mountains at Seoraksan.

The snowy beach.

*These are just a couple pictures, but there are tons more on facebook and flickr.

Foreigner Crossing

You know that awkward feeling you sometimes get when walking toward someone in an empty hall or on a deserted street? Those thoughts of ‘Where should I look,’ or ‘Should I say hi’? Well multiply that by about 57 and you have what I like to call “Foreigner Crossing”.

In Korea there are two groups of people: Korean, and Waygook – Foreign. And of the foreigners in Korea, most of those belong to two groups: Military, and English teachers. So when you walk down the street and spot another foreigner there is an immediate affinity – it’s like being members of the same secret club (minus the handshake). This can be kind of cool. I know that as I look around, any foreigner in my view probably has the same job as I do and experiences many of the same things I do.

But it can also be really awkward. When passing a random foreigner on the street, do I smile? Say hello? Just because I can? I don’t know this person at all, but there’s an unspoken connection that creates a sense of obligation. Being the friendly person that I am, I usually opt for the “Look-away-and-pretend-you-didn’t-see-them” strategy.

The worst is when you’re alone in an elevator with another foreigner. Hard to pretend you don’t see them then… (headphones are really handy in these situations). And living in Seoul, the buildings can get pretty tall. You could be riding up to the 50^th floor together. And as each number passes and the other person doesn’t get off you start to wonder things like, “What if we’re going to the same place? It’s going to be really awkward if we both walk up to the same door after ignoring each other for 50 floors.” I’ve had a few painful elevator conversations that I am sure where initiated by the other person simply to avoid this prospect. (“So… how long have you been in Korea?”… Seriously?!)

Now as I start thinking about going back to the US soon a thought crosses my mind – Will I feel an awkward obligation to greet every Korean I pass in the States?

A year at a glance

Almost exactly one year ago, January 2^nd 2010, I arrived in Korea for the first time. I walked into my little white box of an apartment and though, “THIS is where I’m going to live for a year?”

I’ve come a long way since then, and though I still have two months left, I thought it would be fun to briefly reflect on the past 12 months. So here are the highlights:

January: Arrive in Korea, SNOW, Deoksugung Palace, Festival of Lights, first “adventure in cooking” – Kimchi soup, discover GEM church.

Seoul Festival of Lights - carriage ride.

February: Changgyeonggung Palace, second “adventure in cooking” – Tres Leches, overcome by the ridiculous love of God.

I think I'm getting the hang of this Korea place...

March: Discover Insadong art galleries, first FC Seoul game, dumpster-diving, purchase an electric keyboard.

Toto Gallery - We had a really good tour guide.

April: Take the plunge with Korean bangs, take Lizze to ER, become proud mother of two hamsters, Easter – Korean style, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

The boys - so sweet... when they're sleeping...

May: Butterfly festival, paper festival, birthday – Butterfinger Pancakes and Rodin exhibit, lantern festival.

Butterfly Festival.

June: Cook American meal for Koreans, say goodbye to Muang, World Cup, another palace.

Watching the Korea game on the big screen at the Seoul WC stadium.

July: 4^th of July at the beach, Single cell at book theme park, learning to remember God’s faithfulness.

Does this really need a caption? All the others have one...

August: Children’s camp with church – I am NOT in control, but GOD is!, Namsan tower, try live octopus.

My favorites at the Children's Camp. Shh, don't tell.

September: Chuseok with Anny’s family, start Truth Project with some girls from church.

My Korean family for Chuseok.

October: Applesauce, trip with June’s kids from church, Autumn fortress, hike and clam digging.

After we got tired of digging for clams.

November: Apple festival, Sudeok-sa temple, try bundegi for first and last time, C&C park day, first Thai food in Korea – fork for the White girl, North Korea fires on South Korea.

Playing in the leaves at the Sudeok-sa temple. We're not very reverent...

December: American vacation and Michelle’s wedding, Christmas norebang, “gingerbread” houses, Christmas and New Year’s Eve with church family.

Christmas celebration with Truth Project Bible study girls.

God has been so faithful to me this year, bringing me through difficult times and providing me with great friends. I think 2010 will always remain one of the most memorable years of my life. I can’t wait to see what he has next!