Thailand Patriotism

Patriotic

This is normally a word we think of in connection to America, but we are definitely not the only country that is patriotic.  Patriotism is seen in pretty much every country, this is especially true in Thailand.

Thailand is patriotic in a way that is sometimes hard to understand, some people see it as worshipping the king, but in reality it's them being proud to be Thai.  In Thailand they wear yellow shirts every Monday to show their patriotism, to show they love their country and king.  When you go to the movies, it starts out with everyone in the audience standing up silently while the national anthem was played.  Anytime the Thai national anthem plays, everyone stops what they're doing and stands in respectful silence.  

Once I was was walking through a street market and the national anthem started playing, everyone stopped and waited in silence.  As I stood there, I started thinking about the wonder of the whole thing.  In the US, when the national anthem is being sang at a sporting game or something, we sing along, cheer, or if we're at the concession stand we continue ordering and getting our food or snacks.  I couldn't imagine walking through the mall in the US and everyone stopping while the national anthem plays.

It has donned on me that the Thai people's patriotism is a rarely seen devotion to their country.  From there God began to reveal to me that if the Thai's can show that type of devotion to a government, imagine how beautiful that devotion would be when turned towards God.  

Pray that more and more Thai's turn their eyes toward the one true God.

Thailand---hospitality

In Thailand hospitality is practiced by all.  They are truly a people who would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it.  

Here in the West we treat hospitality as a necessary inconvenience.  We welcome a guest into our home, get them a drink and sit with them, it never really goes beyond that.  Thai's don't just practice hospitality with guests in their home, they are hospitable to everyone they encounter during the day.  They honor the people around them by not being noisy or disruptive, or by being smelly or dirty.  When you are guest in their home they dote on you, giving you the place of honor, and going out of their way to make you feel welcome.  Thai's will invite you in off the street, having never met you before that moment, and treat you to a delicious dinner.  As a general rule, Thai's will believe the best in everyone, which is why they don't think twice about bringing a stranger into their homes and to meet their family.

Being in Thailand made me think twice about how I practice hospitality here in the states.  One of our YWAM values is to "Practice Hospitality", but what does that mean?  It would mean different things to a Thai person than it would an American.  Seeing the Thai's definition of hospitality has really made me want to be more like that; more helpful, more trusting, more considerate, and more loving.  Not only because the Thai's are like that, but because I think God would want to call us to the higher standard. 

Thailand

Thailand, the land of smiles, and Thailand is truly a "land of smiles".  Everywhere you walk in Thailand you will see Thai people smiling, and if they aren't smiling then one flash of your pearly whites will force a smile on their face.

It's so easily however to reckon that because they smile that they're happy.  While a smile may be a genuinely happy one, it doesn't mean all of them are.  Thailand could also be called the "Land of Facades", put a smile on your face and no one will know your worries, insecurities, failures, or suffering.  Same as their smiles cover what's beneath in their soul, the glittering gold of the temples covers the failing infrastructure beneath.  

One example is a famous temple called Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, which is in Northwestern Thailand.  The outside is so beautiful, the gold and jewels that encrust the temple  shimmer in the hot Thai sun.  Underneath the awe inspiring beauty, the foundation is crumbling.  

We pray that just as the foundations of that temple are crumbling, that the foundations of Buddhism would continue to crumble.