I’ve never felt more humbled and honored before in my life.
Oma has become like my Burmese mother. Every time I start to walk down the hill towards her hut some of the children have run ahead of me yelling to the village that their friends have arrived. Without fail, Oma runs up the hill to me and I run down to her.
The sweat and dirt stains that we have shared making bricks together, the meals that she has made for me and taught me to eat with my hands, and the Burmese makeup that she so lovingly puts on my face has created an everlasting bond between us.
This last trip into Burma though was unlike any other. I still find myself trying to process what happened and put the right words to the emotions that I felt.
A lot of times with Oma, because of the language barrier, I find myself having no idea what is really going on. I tend to just smile, nod, and follow along.
Last Sunday while I was in Oma’s hut, she motioned for me to stand up, and I did. Then she undid my longyi (a traditional Burmese skirt that she had given to me to wear) and started to pull it up above my chest. Carefully she had me undress, but was covering me completely with the longyi. I started to put the pieces together that I was either about to go for a swim or take a shower.
As she took me by the hand and led me outside, I laughed at the situation that was unfolding. Oma took me to the side of her hut and carefully took my arm and started to pour water on me. As the first wave of water washed over me I exhaled and sighed a sound of refreshment and release. Here was this woman who I have such a deep admiration and respect for giving me a bath.
She carefully took the bar of soap and lathered me up. She gently washed my face and even lifted up my hand to wash under my arms. As she poured the bucket of water over me, I realized that I have never felt so clean. It’s like I was being baptized again; like there was this new fresh life coming over me. All my impurities, all my shame, and all my past mistakes were being washed away. During the whole process I felt so cared for. I felt truly cherished. I felt an unconditional love that knew no bounds or barriers. I felt humbled and honored to the core.
It reminded me of the time when Jesus washed the disciples feet and how we are to do that for one another. There I stood having not only my feet, but also my whole body washed. I am the one who was supposed to be serving her. I am the one who is supposed to be washing her feet. I am the one who is supposed to be ministering to her, yet there I was on the receiving end.
Over time Oma and I have developed a beautiful relationship. I think as our relationship with Jesus develops, there are always new things to experience. Sometimes we might not exactly understand what He wants us to do or where He wants us to go. It takes faith to trust Him and to trust that He has our best in mind. It takes faith to take His hand, stand up, and follow Him. I didn’t know exactly what Oma wanted me to do, but because of our relationship I knew I could trust her. I knew that she would take care of me and that she had something she wanted me to experience.
It’s worth taking Jesus’ hand when you don’t completely understand. When we stand up out of the rut we may be in, when we walk out of the darkness and into the light, when we allow Him to wash us clean, we can trust that He has something that He wants us to experience.
It takes faith to move before you truly understand and only when you move into what He has for you can you experience greatness.
“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:22-24