To the waterfall!

Why is it that I often don't take time to slow down and feel the wind caress my face or the birds sing their joyous songs? Thankfully my life over here allows for that much more than my life back in the states, and today is one such day where I was able to slow down and hear the songs of nature.

After passing baby Non off to his day nanny, I was determined to get outside while the air was still cool enough to enjoy it. (Hot Season is rapidly chasing us down here, and he has nearly overtaken us here in Thailand.) My friend Susie left me her bicycle to use for the duration of my stay here which is a true blessing. My only other option is a one-speed cruiser bike that is simply not my favorite bike to ride. I've been spoiled back home with my nice bike I bought myself after returning from Thailand last time, so I suppose I'm a bit snobbish now when it comes to bikes.

Anyway, I decided to ride up to Pong Prabaht waterfall, which is about a 20-minute ride from the children's home. I stuck 10 baht in my shoe to buy some water when I reached my destination, and I was off. As I was riding along, I was reminded of the sense of peace I often find as I am riding along the rice fields, villages, and mountains of Chiang Rai. The beauty here is truly breathtaking in its simplicity.

Twenty minutes later I arrived at my destination, exhausted from the incline at the end of the road. Just as I had remembered, there was a little store at the base of the waterfall park where I purchased my requisite hydration. From there, I decided my body had worked hard enough and I walked up just a little way to a rock by the waterfall. As I listened to the water let out a peaceful chorus below, I couldn't help but think of the goodness of God. I began to meditate on His character and was filled with joy at the thought that the God of the Universe would choose to love me and speak to me in spite of my faults. I thought about 1 Corinthians 13 and replaced the word "love" with "God", since God is love. Two things struck a chord in me: first, He keeps no record of wrongs. I know this in my head, but I often need to be reminded of it in my heart. Second, He always trusts. He always trusts ME? But I am human, and I fail. How could He trust ME after I have proven so many times that I often fail Him? Even more, how can He trust those who perpetually scoff in His face? He loves those who are opposed to Him, which means He trusts them, doesn't it? This is too much for me to understand. I will be praying for further revelation in this.