many times I've monumentalized my trips as the 'IT' holiday--Bangkok 2005, States 2006, Korea 2007-8--and as each usurped the other for the jetsetter title, I begin to believe the titleship's cast in stone: nothing in my wildest imagination can beat the fun I've had in Korea. besides, it was with my first love, and that totally took the cake.
but I guess I've inflated their value, because just this December, I've had the trip of a lifetime, and it effortlessly trumped all holidays I ever had, as easily as a twitch of a pinkie. wasn't with my first love, I hear you say. well, nothing is closer to the truth, because this time, this was with my true Love.
I see God's fingerprints from the moment I touched down in HK till I boarded the plane in China. in a place fraught with danger and snares, in a world where your consequences are a derivation of your (reckless) actions, rightfully speaking, I should have been dead on the streets of China, or made a slave working in one of the Nike sweatshops. but I'm alive and well, and even arrived home with a baggage (no pun intended) 7kg overweight.
in retrospect, I marvel at God's faithfulness and grace, when He led me through humanly-impossible circumstances. I stand amazed at the abundance of His extravagant goodness, when He speaks His gentle promises of truth into my heart. I bow in humility, when I realise how much I need Him, when I am nothing in and of myself.
all those times I was gallivanting down the streets of Hongkong, I've had good Samaritans planted all over the island, coating their actions with kindness and grace. in the past when I didn't know better, I would have attributed it to my irresistable charm [cue to puke]. now that I better utilise my brain, I know it's because my Father was working overtime to keep me safe, and to make sure I was treated like royalty.
to have the King of the Universe be my chaperon is like having Brad Pitt bring you to prom--except mine is realisable while the latter is totally fictitious, meaningless and of no significant value. each time I look back on the events leading up to my comeback, I can't help but stop in my tracks, and just give all thanks and glory back to my Father.
my Father, whose name is Emmanuel.
I lift up my eyes to the hills,
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you
will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalms 121: 1-4
