Silver and Gold



“Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
those who make them become like them;
so do all that trust in them”
Psalm 115:4-8

I remember it like it was yesterday.
Four years ago, standing in one of the man-made wonders of the world, I let tears flow freely as I looked into the worn face of a buddha statue and cried for this continent. The face was nearly gone, the arms had fallen off years prior, the entire thing was just crumbling.
I stared at it for a long time and let myself feel the desperation that so many people feel as they pray to something that will never answer them. I let the magnitude of what that means sink into my heart and I began to realize that so many people in that place, that country, that continent will give literally everything they have to a god that crumbles.
They give their time, their money, their food, their children to gods that crumble.
They have never known anything different.

———–

In every cafe, restaurant, or business there are idols placed on shelves. 

On multiple street corners there are shrines and spirit houses so that who ever may need to honour their ancestors or even out their karma can do so wherever they are. Not to mention the amount of temples around that scream with beauty in their architecture, but are rarely places of peace and serenity. Everywhere I look, there are idols.
No matter where I go, buddha seems to be lurking around every corner.

In Bangkok, I would watch the people around me, friends of mine, my teachers, random strangers on the bus constantly bowing their heads in respect to the statues, and each time my heart would sink. Here in Mae Sot, it is no different. I feel as though the entire country that surrounds me is searching for a way to escape the suffering this world holds, and all they find are empty promises and idols that don’t speak.

This week I had the opportunity to bring the team to a temple so they could see and experience a little bit of what Thai people believe. We wandered around whispering prayers under our breath as we stood in front of shrines painted gold. The atmosphere was heavy and at times I felt like there were no words. What do you pray when all you see is hopelessness?

The part that kills me in the verse above are the last words.
“Those who make them will become like them, and so do all who trust in them.”
Not seeing,
not feeling,
not knowing…

And yet, there is undeniable hope.
While most days our ministry consists of a lot of sand paper and oil based paint, our presence here is stirring the atmosphere.
While we may only be in Mae Sot for a short time, our prayers for these people, this town, this nation, will not go unanswered.
While some days we are tired, frustrated with language barriers and cultural differences, or overwhelmed with feelings of uselessness or inadequacy, there is so much purpose in us being here and our effort will not be in vain.

They make idols of silver and gold,
but Lord is awakening hope for life abundant.