March 21, 2015

Chiang Mai, Thailand

I like to smile and make eye contact with people that I pass by on the streets.

99.9% of people will acknowledge with a greeting and a smile back.  I was walking home from our local grocery store, bags in tow, walking along the Iron Bridge over the Ping River. A tall man was approaching me walking his bicycle. As he got closer, I smiled and said, “Hi!” He replied with a cheery, “Hello”, back at me. I walked along feeling ever so grateful to be experiencing the gift of living internationally, feeling especially blessed this day… I soon notice that this same tall man with the long white beard and crystal blue eyes that seem to pop out from his tanned face, is now behind me. I move to the side of the bridge walkway so that he can pass by me, but he chooses to walk along with me and begins chatting.

I am not uncomfortable with this in the least. Conversation with strangers is my favorite thing! Everyone has a story and my curiosity is always peeked. This man appears to be a rugged, road weary, Scandinavian looking, maybe 60ish, back-packer.

As we’re walking, we are talking. He has just arrived to Chiang Mai after spending four months traveling throughout India. He would like to obtain an English Teaching Certificate here, to earn additional money to supplement him financially. He was originally from Iowa, but said that he left the U.S. many years ago as he, “saw many bad things.” He had spent several years in Israel and then made a life for himself in Norway – had previously been married and has two sons. He said that his name is Jacob. I asked if this was his birth name and he said no, he changed it from “Jeffrey”, when he was 18 years old.

We arrive at my condominium with my favorite security guard tending his daily post. I tell Jacob that I knew of a four week, English teaching course that friends of mine had taken. I asked him for an e-mail, so that I could send along the info. He pulled out a business card. It reads…

”The Lord Jesus Christ is God”

Jacob (xxxxxx)

Follower of Christ

What??!! Now, I’m really curious!  “Wow… I’m a Christian, too! I’d love to hear your story… do you want to have coffee?” “Yeah, sure, but I’ll tell you that many people find my beliefs in Jesus to be unlike traditional Christian views”, warned Jacob. I was too excited to hear Jacob’s faith story to be deterred. “I’ll go up and drop off my bags and ask my husband if he would like to join us!” Jacob waits with my friend, Gorn, the Thai speaking security guard. I burst into our condo and begin showing Wiley the business card of the man that followed me home! “Do you want to go have coffee with him? I’m so curious about this man… he says that he’s a Christian – but, he looks so different from all of the Christians that I’ve ever known! C’mon, let’s go!” Wiley looked at me with a frown on his face, “No, I don’t want to go and have coffee with this guy!” “Well, do you mind if I go?” Seeking permission from my husband in this strange set of circumstances was important to me. “You go ahead, I just don’t want to go.” Wiley is used to his wife’s journalistic interests in people. Smiling, I said, “Okay, I’ll take him to the French Bakery around the corner and I’ll be right back – see you later!”

Jacob is still waiting outside as I descend down the long flight of granite stairs past the watchful eye of Gorn. I smile at Gorn, as I tell him that Jacob and I are going to have “tea”, even though, Gorn does not speak a bit of English. I lead the way as Jacob follows along the narrow and broken sidewalks of Chiang Mai. We soon arrive at the bakery as the French Bakers Thai wife, Paean, greets me in smiles. I feel the need to explain as she is used to seeing Wiley and I together. I order two glasses of iced tea as I tell her that I am here with Jacob to talk about religion! She smiles as we take a seat.

I am filled with questions for Jacob about his faith and Christian beliefs. His business card tells me that he is a member of, “United Church of God”. He claims that he follows in the footsteps of Christ, just as Christ had founded the church in the early first century. Following the same teachings, doctrines and practices established then as in Jewish traditions. He said that Sunday church attendance is from man-made religion. He observes the Sabbath on Saturday. He also observes the same eating restrictions as Jews. Jacob believes in God the Father and Jesus as the divine son of the living God, however, the Holy Spirit is not part of the “Triune God” beliefs as in common Christianity… “The Holy Spirit dwells with-in us,” Jacob said.

Jacob’s beliefs are similar to mine, but it appears to be with a Jewish twist? I’m a bit confused.

I ask him more about his travels to India as I explained that my son, Michael traveled extensively there last year. Jacob spoke of his travels through Hampi and also the beaches of Goa. According to my son, these are great party destinations for backpackers. I ask Jacob about this. Yes, he travels with many young people and stays in hostels… occasionally smokes hashish with them. … WHAT??!! I try to remain calm and straight faced as I can sense anger bubbling up inside of me. (Don’t be messing with my back-packers… but, of course how is Jacob to know that due to my son being a part of this life-style, that I hold these kids near and dear to my heart.)

“I feel the need to tell you, Jacob…  I am judging you right now.” I wanted to be honest in how I was feeling in that moment. Jacob looks a bit surprised at my sudden need to confess this unusual statement. I continue, as I am now quite upset by the fact that he is sharing my Jesus, to the many lost kids out there that are looking for truth and receiving a twisted version of it while under the influence of a mind altering drug such as Hashish.

“You are a false prophet, Jacob.” I continue… “As a card-carrying, representative of Jesus Christ… you are representing the same God as me. In these difficult times around the world, we’re going to need people with sound minds and teachings … not someone smoking a hash pipe off in a corner!”

Jacob’s reply was, “Well, I had a couple of beers last night and smoked a cigarette. Do you want to judge me on that, too?” I was now uncomfortable and wanted to close the conversation. I told him that I would need to be getting back home. I got up, shook Jacob’s hand and told him that it was very nice meeting him and I wished him well in his travels. As I walked away, I smiled and said, “God bless, you.”

Wiley, was watching television as I walked through the door, and was only mildly curious about my encounter. I shared with Wiley everything that was said as we looked up the website to Jacob’s church. As we’re looking, Wiley and I talk about judgmental attitudes. I asked Wiley if he saw a difference between smoking hashish and drinking wine or beer, as inclusively, they are mind altering substances. (Wiley and I enjoy an occasional glass!) We both agreed that we saw them the same. What about gossip… lying… over-eating… what about murder? Is there a measuring stick for sin?

Long after Wiley went to bed, I was awake and troubled. I began to pray that The Lord would speak to me as to why my spirit felt confused. Was I right in reprimanding this vagabond? Or, was I the pious, judgmental Christian lashing out words of anger in place of the kind and loving words that Jesus would have said had He been there in my place.

I grabbed my Bible and prayed for an answer. I was led to read the third chapter in James…

“…But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessings and cursing, My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”

Upon a quick Google search, I discovered more background info on Jacob and learned that he is truly living his life as a traveling servant to mankind. Living simply and humbly often dealing with criticisms and judgements of others, especially tradition Christian folk. I would assume that the backpacker community is least judgmental of all. Mainstream communities often have invisible markers and expectations. Jacob wanted nothing to do with human recognition or accolades, but rather to serve his Creator by spreading the Gospel as Jacob believed.

I do not know who Jacob is. I don’t have a window into his past. I am not responsible for Jacob. I cannot see into his heart. Only one thing was clear to me…

I had judged a man.

I confessed my sin to God. After several days of contemplation and prayer, I had E-mailed an apology to Jacob.

I’d like to believe that The Lord had arranged the conversation between Jacob and myself that day.

Maybe we both learned a lesson.