We visited their church on Sunday where my father-n-law teaches a fun class of adults with great eloquence of heart and words. Psalm 19 was the focus and we dove deeply into the truth and absolute beauty and magnificence described in those verses.
psalm 19 1-4
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
I loved the first few verses that speak of the heavens...the skies.. declaring and proclaiming the glory of our God. They speak and display knowledge of God..when there are know words they say "God is here!"
These verses reminded me of a time after college I traveled to Chayi, Taiwan to teach English on a few campuses there. I really had know idea what to expect even what I did expect was nothing that I expected.. Many life --chicken fried feet--what is that on my plate--big furry friend in the bathroom-- stories grew from that experience. But more than that was God grew for me.
I had never felt soo absolutely alone in all my life. Making friends with geckos as they lined my wall at night. I felt that they probably new English..thankfully they didn't speak to prove me wrong :)
There was nothing common..even the chatter of those around me was simply chatter.. I first started riding a bus when I got there..couldn't speak to anyone..showed a card with the name of the school on it to the bus driver hoping he knew what it said and that he would take me to where i was supposed to be because I would be dropped off no matter what. I then was given a bike to ride to the campus I was teaching at and had memorized stoplights and street corners so I would know where to navigate to my destination..Hand signs would only get you so far :) BUT, I did know what a Diet Coke can looked like even though I couldn't read it..I was in a whirlwind of survival. I look back now with a 1,000 what-ifs only to shake my head and know that God was holding and protecting me.
I would lay in bed facedown hands stretched out feeling as tiny as a mouse in a very BIG world. Friends and family living in yesterday while I was hours ahead in today...that can make anyone go crazy..
The tiny shimmer of hope that brought me breath was what is found in
verses 3 and 4
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun
O how God whispered to my heart every second..I am here...I am here!
I remember looking at the moon one evening off my porch on the 8th floor
..and again..I am here!!
It's funny, it's like I did a double take at the moon..yes, that's the moon..
But it was like a revelation..
Ahhhh! that's right! I was elated with something soooo simple..
That was God's moon!
The same moon I saw in TX was indeed here in Taiwan..silly --really
yet my mind and heart saw God bigger than ever..
He went far beyond my family, my circle of friends, my dreams..
His creation spoke.
His moon spoke of God's faithfulness..His beauty..His creative rhythm..
Their voice was heard..not in English..not in Mandarin..
But for the very first time,
my ears saw and my eyes heard..
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