THE GLORY OF GOD
“Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)
We are in the middle of our visa run to Vietnam. As short-term tourists in Malaysia, we cannot stay for more than 3 months at a time. Thus, in need of a visa run, Vietnam appeared on my radar especially since we struck out the first time more than a year ago. On that fateful day, we obliviously arrived at the KL airport having bought the air tickets and booked the hotel in Danang, Vietnam only to be turned away at the airport. No visa, no Vietnam, we were told. I tried frantically to redeem the trip, trying to secure a last-minute visa. But to no avail since there was no such thing as a last-minute visa to Vietnam.
So, this was a redemption trip. A month ago, when we knew we would go to Vietnam, I discovered that we could apply for E-visa online. Easy enough. Both of us put in the application. While Grace’s visa came through without drama, my visa application got rejected twice, forcing me to relive the rejection, really my unawareness, a year ago. First was my passport photo, not sure why they rejected my application. Later, my best guess was the size of the passport photo. I reformatted the photo and sent it in. The second rejection involved not putting down the hotel address in Hoi An, Vietnam. I asked Grace and she did not put down the address, yet her application got approved. I quickly became snarky. But dutifully, I did what they asked me to do. I told myself if they rejected my application again, Vietnam would be no more, not this time or ever. Two days later, my visa came through subsiding my conspiracy theory that they really did not like who they saw on the passport photo. Maybe that theory still has some merit, I do not know. However, I quickly pivoted to purchase air tickets and confirm the hotel reservation.
Vietnam in July and August is hot and unbelievably humid. It is what I call “double 90s,” low 90s in temperature with more unbearable and unpleasant 90 percent humidity. Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I took four showers in a day. Most hotels rent out free bicycles and ours was no exception. I took advantage of renting a nostalgia-inducing antique but functional bike in a baby blue color with a convenient basket in front of the bike. The most ideal time though it is still hot and humid is to ride in the early mornings. For the last two mornings, I rode once to the beach and the other to the farmland where no tourists go. Both mornings, I came back drenched in sweat. Two days earlier, as we approached the Danang airport from the sky, what caught my eyes was the vast green farmland naturally divided by many gentle meandering rivers like veins coursing through the body. Looking from above, the dominating vibe of the landscape possessed the irenic and gentle spirit of Vietnam countryside.
The second morning after the bike ride, my sense was confirmed after a few interactions. I could not remember the last time I rode a bicycle, so my riding was wobbly. Especially when I was trying to shoot a video to share with my children back home, I almost fell while riding on the country road by the river. As I barely survived not falling, the motorbike man saw what was happening and stopped to offer hands in case I fell. Out of his gentle and kind spirit, his concerned face asked me in Vietnamese if I was OK, I nodded I was OK half-smiling out of relief and half-abashed. After thanking him in the only Vietnamese I know, I continued to ride. Only this time, I was done shooting a video. The two most iconic images I witnessed when I was riding were one: a young girl tossing and drying her hair in the back of the motorbike after having been at the beach in the morning. The other was an expressionless tiny older woman riding a motorbike with a non la, ubiquitous Vietnamese conical hat, with an unlit cigarette hanging sideways from her mouth, cool as a cucumber. She looked as if she could be an action figure in a Tarantino movie. I will throw in one more image. Right after I was done riding in one morning, I saw another older lady, riding a bike with one hand while holding and guiding another bike, not unlike riding a horse while holding another horse’ reins. She was effortlessly gliding on the street with no wasted movements.
Yesterday, after I sent my video footage and a few photos to our children, the girls replied with one of their activity photos of making bead accessories along with the verse I highlighted above. Immediately, it got hold of me and I have been thinking about the verse and the passage (The Story of Lazarus). “The glory of God” Jesus referred to, at first, was about the impending miraculous resurrection of Lazarus. In other words, “believe that I could do the miracle of bringing him from the dead and you will see the glory of God.” That would be the rightful context to interpret that way. Upon further meditation, I am reminded of Jesus’ earlier words in verse 4, “It will become an occasion to show God’s glory by glorifying God’s Son.” (The Message) God’s glory is tied to glorifying God’s Son, who in Person was ever so present right in front of everyone to see—to witness the event showcasing the glory of God, the resurrection of Lazarus. Today, I revisit what I jotted down in my journal two days ago, “Dare I lose sight of Christ who is the ultimate glory of God in the miraculous immediacy of Lazarus coming back to life.” My focus must be on the Healer, not only the healing. No wonder Jesus said, “I am, right now, Resurrection and Life.” (verse 25) The Christ, who is the indwelling glory of God, performed a miracle of showing God’s glory, reminding all that He is Resurrection and Life.
Jesus firmly reassured and promised to all that he would be with us until the end of the age. The Christ, the revealed indwelling glory of God, is with me every day and moment in all the mundane and extraordinary, upsetting, downcast, and the highs and lows of all emotions right in the middle of my now life. That’s a marvelous reminder.
“Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)