3 Men Who Walked into a Bar in Thailand?
Below is a blog by Connie Rock that I wanted to make sure to share on this blog because it is just so good. SO GOOD – and so GOD! The story gives me chills! It's just another facet of ministry in Thailand and. just. so. beautiful. I hope it blesses you.
There is a color darker than black. Imagine if you can, something that would make the color black seem bright in contrast. Not possible. This darkness, the darker than black color, in fact, its more than a color. It's a feeling or maybe the lack of feeling. It's not knowing up from down, inside from outside. It's that suspended, falling, nothing to grab on to feeling, or again lack of feeling. It's the absence of everything.
Lost. Alone. Confused.
Over the years leading teams to Thailand I am reminded of this darkness. When first you think of the women and children there, its easy to have your heart broken. But! But the men, our desire often is to watch their hearts break. The truth and although we may not like it… they are as much in need. They too, are lost. Live in a world of darkness. Darkness feeds darkness.
One of the first things I share with the team through emails even prior to our trip is that we are called to minister to the women. Yes, we might interact with the men, but we are not seeking them out. Interestingly enough, they have sought us out on every trip. Now we approach this carefully and with much prayer. After all, there are 2 reasons that they approach us. 1) They are mad at us and what we represent, and want us gone. 2) They are curious and are looking for a reason to stop. At least for that moment.
Here are a couple examples:
Conviction with Anger. On one of my earlier trips, as I as walking through the red-light district, I was shooting snapshots of neon signs hanging above the bars when a man came out of nowhere and knocked my camera out of my hands. Luckily, I had the strap around my neck. I quickly recovered and gave him a look and said something like. "Dude, what the heck!?" He then mumbled something in a thick accent about me knowing better. He's right I know. I know it's a risk to walk around with a camera, even riskier to take pictures. Him – Conviction with anger. <!– He then mumbled something in a thick accent about me knowing better. He's right I know. I know it's a risk to walk around with a camera, even riskier to take pictures. Him – Conviction with anger.
The Curious, who are crying out for help. This past trip, I frequented the bars nightly. Two bars in particular where I have been building a relationship with the bar owner, mamason (bar mother) and girls. To set the stage click here. We walk in, no more than 7. I like that number… I seat the gals by two and wander around checking in on different conversations, talking with other employees and keeping a close eye on our surroundings. As the girls come off the center stage, we wave over a girl and seat her between two of us. A Coke is bought and we all clink glasses and say, "Cheers," through smiles and giggles. Everyone was seated and I was in the far corner near the last group yet, by myself. It was tight. I watched the girls dance wondering what the night would hold for them. The mamason was aggressive, pushing the girls on to the men who were at the bar. I knew that this had the potential of hurting a relationship if we stole girls from higher paying customers.
Crowded bar…waiting for girls…team enjoying – YMCA.
The curtain parts and in comes 3 westerners. They stop, look around, and surprisingly, come to my dark, small corner and squeeze in around the table. I greet them not avoiding eye contact for concern that they would think I was angry womens right activist.
Immediately, Bobby (from London) strikes up a conversation with me and offers to buy me a drink. I said little, but answered his questions. Here is the short version.
Him – "Are you with this group of women?"
Me – "Yes, there are 29 of us.
Him – "What are you all doing here?"
Me – "Buying drinks for the girls so we can have conversations with them.
Him – "Why?"
Me – "Show them friendship with nothing expected in return."
Him – "If you like this kind of thing, I know of a bar where a stage is set above you and you can watch from below."
Me – "Not my kind of thing. Really. I prefer to talk with them, learn about them, offer other options for making a living."
Him – "Oh."
Me – "We also share that there is a God who sees and loves them."
Him – " I will never forget this older man who approached me when I was just a kid. He said 'Bobby, God loves you!' "
Me – "That's great! Well, Bobby, I want to repeat to you what that man said to you: God, loves you!He loves you so much that he placed you in a bar with all these women who have come from the US with that same message. Its not just for the girls, but also you.
What happened next was unexpected. Bobby turned to the other 2 guys and said Lets go. He then turned back to me and said, "You just kept 3 men from sinning tonight. Thank you." He gave me a quick hug and they were gone.
Sometimes the darkness just needs a little light. The lost, need to be found, the lonely, need company, and the confused need direction. They need the light. I cant help but think that while we walk up and down streets in Bangkok or are in line at Walmart that even without words we are changing the world as the result of having Jesus Christ, the stronger man, the Son of God living within us. The Light brighter than bright, lighter than light.
