No Power for Jen

This morning I had the most amazing time of Bible study with one of my besties, Crystal. We have the privilege of studying the book of James with women from all over the world. We worship together and then break off into our respective study groups (childcare is provided, halleluiah to God!).

Although we’ve had some beautiful weather lately, this morning was not beautiful. It was disgusting. When you’re a mom in BKK, unless you can afford a private car-and-driver service, you must carry your baby and all your possessions around like a camel. So the second Crystal and I stepped outside carrying our babies and backpacks full of our baby and bible study gear, we were both sweating, like… well camels. The humidity makes it almost hard to breathe. Still we didn’t mind and had a great morning.

**Sidenote: This morning, the BTS was so crowded. People usually give up their seats for me and my fellow camel-moms, but today no one gave up their seat. We were literally pressed up against the people sitting down, and no one would make eye contact with me. Then Josiah started spitting on the people sitting down! I tried to stop him, but honestly I didn't try that hard. If you don't want the baby to spit on you, give up your seat! ha--We really are camels!!

After Bible study (people offered their seats this time, so everyone stayed dry), we are exhausted. Josiah is far past his nap, and frankly I’m past mine too. When Josiah and I finally get home to our apartment elevator, a sign has been posted that there will be no power in our building for 8 hours. 8 hours!! As I’m walking up the stairs with my baby and backpack (Thankfully I only live on the fourth floor.), I’m getting madder and madder. How dare they turn off our electricity! I walk in the door – a sweaty, scary mess , unstrap Josiah, throw my stuff on the floor and start sending angry texts to David. I try our air-conditioning, but it doesn’t work. I wonder if everything in my freezer will be ruined. Will Josiah even take a nap in this oven of an apartment? I can’t watch TV! Will the toilet flush? How will Facebook even survive if they don’t know what I’m doing for a whole 8 hours?? I only have 68% of battery power left on my laptop to write this blog – oh the stress of it all!!

Then my husband gently – well, no, david doesn’t do anything gently – reminds me of the verses in James I’ve been memorizing and pridefully quoting to him every night. How dare he throw those verses back in my face, right? (Before you judge him, I also tell him how he should listen to his own sermons every now and then.)

It’s funny how the moment I step out of Bible study, the slightest thing ruffles my feathers. I like applying God’s word to the grand scheme of my life – living in Bangkok, raising my children in a godly environment, etc. but when it comes to the tiny details of my life – I forget.

I’m so thankful God’s Word is for the everyday mundane details of our lives. His promises never to leave us include the grand moments of our lives, hardships, persecution, moments of profound joy – but that promise also includes a regular day’s worth of events – taking the train, grocery shopping, playing with my son in the park. His word wraps itself around our ordinary. We don’t just have to reach for it when something big happens, but for little things too, like losing power for a few hours.

I’m also reminded (thanks book of James), not to look at myself in the mirror, only to walk away and forget what I look like. In other words, don’t sit around a table of Christians and talk about God’s word only to go home and whine like a 3-year-old when something catches me off guard. I’m glad God gives forgiveness liberally.

Josiah did fall asleep despite the lack of air and loud construction going on all around us. I’m still not sure what I’m going to do when I finish typing this – probably read or fold laundry by candlelight, and then have tea with Martha Washington and Mary Todd Lincoln. I wonder if they've read James….