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Crossing Cultures Devotional

When I am afraid

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You, I will trust in You, I will trust in You….In God whose Word I praise.”

Steve Green’s “Hide ‘Em in Your Heart” recording of Scripture songs for children played often in our home. But this particular song was on repeat in my mind. On my lips.

Even after the kids were in bed fast asleep.

Karachi scene. “Across the street” by artist Yawar Imam 1996
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Devotional

Broken bowl and the Potter

The simple Indonesian rice bowl broke. 

It was a “free with purchase of dish detergent” blue and white china bowl. So common and ordinary. A reminder of my childhood. 

Plain rice bowl on batik.

But it slipped from my hands, hit the marble countertop in our Delhi flat and broke in two. The last straw in a long day, week, month…year. 

And I broke.

Ordinary, simple vessel on the floor in pieces. 

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Crossing Cultures Making Disciples

Gospel conversations

The lines were forming to board several Air Asia flights out of Penang. I asked the woman behind me if this was the line for Singapore. Yes. She was also going to Singapore.  She asked which seat I was in. 18B.  Her seat? 18A. 

Once we boarded, I found out she was traveling to visit her brother and sister who are now Singaporean citizens. I was going there to overnight with our daughter before heading to the US.  

In further conversation, we talked about the weather and she said, “I like cold weather.” 

In this tropical country? “Where do you go for cold weather?” 

“London,” she said and shared that her other sister had lived there until her sudden death from cancer the year before.  I told her I was sad to hear of her loss.

In flight.