I was sitting off to the side, minding my own business when an Asian man sat down and started blaring his mobile device while watching some program in his native language. I gave him the stink eye and dirty look. "Have some common courtesy, sir!! No one needs to hear what you're hearing!!" But I kept to myself and minded my own business. After eternity and a day... he finally got him to leave. "Thank goodness. Took him long enough!" But then... he decided to sit down NEXT to me. "Good gobbily goop...what did I do to deserve this?!?!?"
Then out of the blue... he started to engage in conversation. He first asked if I was Chinese, Filipino, Thai...? I said Chinese. Then he asked if I speak Mandarin or Cantonese. I said both.
Then he went off..... like a collie in an open field after a weekend of being stuck at home in the rain.
He first asked what I did for a living... Obviously I wasn't going to engage... so I simply said "supply chain." He didn't care what I said, he just wanted to say, "Are you the boss?" I said no.... and he asked, "Do you know how to write 工?" I gave him a weird look... "工字冇出頭."
Chinese culture, is the best culture. And he challenged me... asking if I knew what 五個火組成的字。 I said no... never saw it. Is it even used commonly... he said, "有！ 寫符！" I started noticing the tattoos swimming up and down his arms... a mixture of cultish, taoist designs. It was time to leave... I didn't want to deal with him or collide with him. Then I thought... I've got 30 minutes. I can entertain myself. So I played along and said, "中華文化博大精深!" But you've gotta use it.. otherwise it's not practical. 五個火 - it's not used on TV. Not in newspaper. What's the use of it... if it's not used. He wasn't going to win that conversation... so he changed the subject.
He started lecturing me on the different spiritual levels and how blind I am. Ants... he said... are level 2. They're in their own world and they're oblivious to anything else beyond them. They don't know humans exist. Humans... are on level 3!!! We're also oblivious to the 4th and 5th level... we don't see demons and ghosts. He asked if I believe in them... and in honest truth... I said yes. Then he said I'm not powerful enough... because I can't see them. He, on the other hand, has his eyes opened. So he sees things all the time.
My turn to push back... seeing, isn't believing. You don't have to see... but it exists. I asked him... "Have you seen love??" "Have you seen the wind or air?" He answered... "I can see wind..." and I said, "No you can't. You see the air pressure carrying leaves and sand. You see the effects of wind." I wish I had memorized Hebrews 11:1 for this moment.
(I'm having fun!)
He was losing that conversation... so he changed subjects on me and asked me what I did. And talked about giving me protection. And that's when I found my opening.... 我信耶穌 and wanted to start sharing my faith. The bible is so true and fascinating... "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." James 2:19. The man started to lecture ME about Christianity. And how he's drank the blood of Jesus. How a lot of priests and pastors have asked for his help. I don't doubt him... I'm sure he's studied the bible. He might even know it better than a lot of self-proclaimed Christians.
(I was really enjoying this now)
Then he started asking... what's the value in believing in Jesus? Can He cure cancer? Can he make you rich?
I found my other way in... I told him, "Believing in Jesus isn't a means of prosperity."
He shot back asking, "What's the point? If you can't make money... why believe in him?"
Perfect opening.... "We're all sinners. Since the fall of man... sin has entered the world and seperated us from God and we're doomed to eternal damnation. This is eternal, not now, not tomorrow, but forever. If forever, you don't want to be damned... then accept the fact you've sinned... and Jesus came to die for you and me... so our sins can be forgiven. And we can now have eternity with our loving Father."
He asked, "Why would a person die for you and me?"
I answered, "I honestly don't know why... but He loves us. And He chose to do it. You don't have to fully understand why... you just have to believe."
What happened after that....?? (To be continued)
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