Plane Rides

[Written Last Night In the Sky]

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah”

Psalms 24:1-6 NKJV

********

Tonight, I take the night flight back to Singapore. As I look at the vast land and the lights, the Lord’s creation of beauty in the night, I’m reminded of how BIG our God is. That He alone is the creator of the heavens and earth, His majesty and beauty – how can we ever comprehend and behold?

I like plane rides. To be specific, I do not enjoy the long distance rides in cramped small spaces, but I like the solitude, the fact that I am cut off from everyone else, that no one can call me, that I am in my own space. It is a luxury seldom afforded in our busy world. So I will take time to think about the weeks passed as well as what would unfold ahead.

I try to buy and read a book each time I travel, usually from the bookstores at the airports. That’s how I first started reading Murakami Haruki, how I first read about North Korea (and eventually deciding to do a trip there), how I fell in love with Chinese dynasties, their kings and the concubines – the stories of politicking, winning the fancy of the King, etc. One time, I recall someone asked me why I like the Chinese Gong Ting stories so much. It’s because it’s so reflective of everyday life; we are all creatures made to desire, to love, to win, and in the midst, the backbiting, the scheming. But most of all, I like how good always triumphs evil in the end. I like to see how “the weak” becomes “strong”, the “last” becoming “first”, the “kind” trumps the “schemer”. Story writers are so amazing. Their uncanny ability to bring the plot to life, to draw us into another world – such gift.

Tonight, I fly with some mixed feelings.
Of course I am anxious about work-related matters and the next steps for me.

But I stand upon the promise of Psalm 90:12-17 (MSG), that God alone establishes and affirms the work that we do, and that the loveliness of God will rest on us. I like a post that was mentioned by TCJ in 2013; it resonates with me.

I look back at the past 8 months. It’s been a thrilling ride. If I had not decided to be bold, let go and step out, I wouldn’t have experienced a new life, richer and more meaningful friendships, taken driving and now navigating left-hand drive in a foreign land (it is still exciting to me), made myself cook, experienced “when faith and fear collide”, tried to assimilate into a new culture, took on an Arabic conversational course, brought Kenji over to a foreign land etc. Perhaps, I had to dig into the core of what I consider really most important to me to make decisions, and that, I will continue to do. 

The Lord is indeed far bigger than I can ever think of or imagine.