Just a few nights before I had gone to the Walking Street Market with some friends to find some post cards to send Thank You notes to all you wonderful supporters back home. I was twirling the display looking at the cards when my friend touched my arm and shook her head and motioned for me to be quiet.
Walking Street is loud and bustling except for these two minutes. I remember being fascinated by it my first trip last fall, EVERYONE stops in place, EVERYONE is silent, and respectful. It's unbelievable really. Over the loud speakers their national song a tribute to their king is playing.
The mall is loud and bustling too, thank God for headphones. JOBS was playing in English so I figured as an all things apple user I should check it out. Ashton does an EXCELLENT job, my disappointment in the movie was not his fault by any means. Don't get me wrong it was worth the $5.50 I paid to see it. It's just... well... I don't know how to say this, it was somewhat depressing. Sure it was fascinating to see how five guys in a garage ultimately changed the world, I mean I passed a sweet MAC store on my way to the theater & I'm in Chiang Mai. I can iMessage and Face Time for FREE anyone in the WORLD who has an iPhone! Here's where I should start singing, "I love technology!" With an added verse of thanks to Steve Jobs and all those at Apple Inc! I'm not a Steve Jobs hater, but his biography made me sad. It appears he was a very Godless man, focused, brilliant, and self centered, a man who betrayed all those guys who labored with him in his parent's garage, a man who left an amazing mark on this world and changed the way we communicate, learn, listen to music, and so much more, but forgot where he came from or worse yet I'm not sure he ever knew Where he came from. JOBS is part of our American, well, WORLD history, but I left sad.
But before the movie started, before ANY movie starts in Thailand, there's another two minute moment of awe. A video tribute to the king of Thailand is played. Everyone puts down their pop corn, stops their chatter, and stands and quietly pays tribute and shows respect to their beloved king.
They take moments in the hustle and bustle of their shopping and before they indulge in entertainment to stand for the king. It is not controversial or only practiced by some. It's refreshing. It's moving. It's inspiring. Their diligence, their respect, the way they honor him, his picture is hung all over, and nothing is to be hung higher than his image. Each piece of paper currency has his picture on it, therefore you do not wad your money up. The way they speak of and honor voluntarily, the way they are protective of his image and his name, a Thai person would take great offense if anyone were to speak ill of, complain about, or question the king. The way they present him and speak of him and honor him, makes me want to know him, makes me want to stand for the king as well. I can't help, but relate all these things to my own King and hope that the way I speak of Him, honor Him, and present Him, makes others want to know Him and stand for Him too. Thank you Thai people for sharing your king and making me want to stand for him, I hope you will one day want to stand for my King too.
One day.... every knee will bow and every tongue confess.
Here's a tribute video they were showing earlier this year. The one they're showing currently is excellent though, so I'll try and snag it next time I take an American day!
No comments:
Post a Comment