EYE CONTACT

“Eye contacts” or to translate literally, “eye light,” was the last sentence shared by one of the guests last week. As we went down to the lobby to catch a taxi, she packed so much meaning in that one phrase. Her eyes said so, and we all felt the weight. We had all gone around and shared what one thing stood out the most during their visit. She did not have a chance to say her final words until we were together in the fast-moving elevator. Running out of time, she could not unpack what she meant but we all agreed by nodding and resonating “Hmmm.” We quickly loaded the suitcases into the taxi trunk, gave each other warm hugs, and they were on their way to the airport. Only to leave a trail of afterglow. . .

The whole trip got organized as a spur-of-the-moment decision. Back in Korea on the first day of June, we met with a missions organization director and her two staff. They were supposed to visit us while we were in Gapyeong but the trip did not materialize. Thus, the makeup plan was to have dinner before we were to fly back to Malaysia. During our coffee, I floated the idea of them visiting us in Malaysia as a fun spontaneous way to “remedy” Gapyeong. Surprisingly, the director responded enthusiastically, reshuffled their respective schedules, and they bought the tickets the next day. Less than two weeks later, we were walking the streets of Kuala Lumpur. All of us were in big-eyed disbelief at how quickly this trip came together. What spontaneous joy to host them! This was right up in my alley of spontaneity and excitement. Carpe diem was full-on display.

As part of hosting them, I had three job descriptions: driver, guide, and bodyguard as they were all women in a first-time foreign land. Later, I added one more, photographer. Two staff were my daughters’ age: 32 and 28 respectively. The older one has been married for three years. She is a third-generation Korean Japanese in charge of Christian book publishing in Japanese. She is reserved and deep, clear, and calmly assuring of her actions and words. Along with the director, we exchanged ideas for translating my book into Japanese. “That would be a riot,” I thought, with potentially unexpected open doors and opportunities in Japan. The youngest is full full-blooded vivacious Korean, newly engaged. She is a “newbie” in the missions world but a growing pro in wanting to discover her true self. Both are rail thin and wide-eyed with curiosity. Deep spiritual conversations were one of their top desires for their coming to Malaysia.

Both responded to my message and teaching with open arms and hearts when we were in Japan back in March. My wife and I have been eager to extend our conversation with them as they remind us of our daughters.

The director is a widow who lost her husband to health complications several years ago. She is one of the few women visionary founders of mission organizations in Korea. In a male-dominated world, she represents a model for “breaking the box.” So, when she asked me to serve as an advisor, I did not hesitate. Additionally, she was asking for help in the areas of soul care, the discovery of true self, and global partnership. Essentially, how imago dei meets mission dei and vice versa. . .

We roamed the streets of Kuala Lumpur from the modern fancy and opulent to the historic and gritty sides. Foods we enjoyed ranged from inexpensive local street favorites to world-class (still inexpensive) level of delicacies, from the warm night markets to the freezing malls. We went on a road trip to Malacca, the historic port city with rich colonial history and heritage. We graced the wall of hilltop St. Paul’s Church in Malacca where Francis Xavier was laid to rest for a short period before his body was transported to Goa, India. As a co-founder of the Society of Jesus, Francis Xavier was considered an “Apostle of the Far East” and an “Apostle of the Indies” in the 16th century. All the while wondering what it would have been like to be God’s ambassador at that time . . .

We plunged into the rooftop pool, tracked the neighborhood in the mornings, journaled, and hit cafés. The most meaningful, at least for me, was the nightcap routine of doing the “God Hunt” exercise where we discerned how God was with us in specific moments during the day. The sharing revolved around discovering the sacred in the ordinary and natural and extraordinary and unexpected touches of God. We engaged in Lectio Divina and offered our earnest prayers through Scripture.

After saying goodbye, my wife and I walked back to the elevator with her arm around my waist and my arm around her shoulder, empty in words but full of thanksgiving.