from infections to imprints

::: the past two weeks God has used illness (fever, sinusitis, bronchitis) to fortify our faith and forge deeper fellowship among our church members and our ryuminations team...from maladies to ministry, God has a way of using everything for His glory, doesn't He?...

...drawing on His resources, the constancy of claire's love, the loving prayers and advice of many dear family and friends (even doctors calling from america!), i can happily report that i've said sayounara (see ya) to the motley crew of viruses that camped out in my sinuses, upper gums, and bronchial tubes...yare yare! (thank goodness it's over!)

...here's me and claire on thursday (3/2), just before i got sick...

...recognize the shirt decal? yep, it's from "the incredibles," the theme we're spoofing for our kansai team video (hopefully you'll be able to see it via a weblink soon)...

...we loved seeing our supervisors acting all goofy and our cpa peers -- nozomi and kari -- playing the part, but the kids stole the show...

...i started spiraling downward pretty fast after that...by monday, i was feeling anything but incredible...

...as i write this post, my infections are virtually gone, but God's imprints remain...

::: imprint/1: at the apex of my fever and headpain, i was waiting in the hospital, my call number was 554...when i started waiting, the call number was 531...the wait was long and wearisome...i tried to create an alternate pain source by biting my tongue (making it bleed), but to no avail...it was during this two-and-a-half hr wait that God met and moved me...i experienced acutely God's presence and His rod of discipline...reviving my memories from the wailing prayer conference we attended in seoul, God broke through my pain and reminded me of the millions suffering in north korea who do not have a number to wait for, who have no hope for relief, who simply suffer and die in silence...ushered me into a time of wordless praying, i experienced more genuine sorrow and anguish for n.k. than when i was in south korea the week prior...by the time 554 was called, my eyes were swollen from tears, but not because of my pain...i'm more resolved than ever to pray for n.k. and get involved somehow...

::: imprint/2: reading Hebrews during my recovery time, God showed me again that the principle & practice of sabbath rest are essential -- not elective -- to true, balanced spirituality and effective ministry...i'm always struck by the prominence of the theme of rest/sabbath in the Bible, beginning in Genesis 1 with God resting on the seventh day of creation and ending in Revelation 22 with God's promised rest and reign to His people...because we are made in His image, we too must rest physically in order that our bodies do not hinder us from resting spiritually in Christ...as someone prone to overworking, this is difficult for me -- esp now that my schedule is self-paced and deregulated...through His word of truth and His rod of discipline, however, God is teaching me that taking good care of my physical body (rest, nutrition, exercise) is part and parcel of maintaining true and balanced spirituality...

::: imprint/3: God uses our frailty to forge in us deeper faith in Him and more intimate fellowship in His body...our weakness makes love's grip on us stronger...you just wouldn't believe how much our church family melted us with their love and care...here's a concrete picture of how they cared for us...

• despite her busy schedule and caretaking duties for her ailing mother, every day kotomi (left below) went early to the hospital to get me a good place in line (and then came back to take me and claire to the hospital)...every time i said "thank you," she said, "you are my brother, i am your sister, this is what God's family means"...heartmelt.

• various members made lunch for me (amazing how many ways they can make mushy rice so tasty!)

• paying for all my visits and medications

• stubbornly staying with me in the examination area (even when the doctors -- for the sake of patient privacy -- told them to leave unless they are family)...their response: we are his family! (again my heart melted like butter when i heard that!)

• patiently translating and explaining everything to me and claire (very helpful since we were navigating a new health care system)

...this, on top of the love and support we received from family and friends in asia and america, was God's way of showing us the design of His body -- loving one another as frail human beings whose faith and hope are anchored ultimately not in our humanity, but in our heavenly father...

::: the infections are virtually gone, but God's imprints remain :::