![]() We are going to go a different route for this post. I want to address the literal condition of homelessness. We talk a lot about not having a “home” or not belonging to this place that we currently reside. However, regardless of all of that, at the end of the day, I am blessed to say that I cannot remember a time when I at least did not have a roof over my head when it came to going to bed at night. Oh sure, I have slept in some pretty creepy and dirty places and I have more than on an occasion shared my bed with the local rodent and cockroach population. And I can remember on a few memorable nights watching my frozen breath sneak out of my blankets as I attempted to stay warm. But at least I had a place to stay. I currently live in Seoul, South Korea. I am a few blocks from Seoul Station (train station) where on any given night, whether rain, sun or snow, you will see hundreds of individuals huddled around trying to find a warm and dry place to sleep for the night. I have been to Skid Row in LA and witnessed a similar scene. I remember as a kid growing up in Detroit and witnessing the lines of people trying to get into the local mission houses to get a warm bed and meal for the night. I see the same thing in China and other first world nations. Most people are not shocked to see this in Southeast Asia, Africa or other locations known for economic struggles. But the reality is, HOMELESSNESS is a growing epidemic and is everywhere. Most of us, along with myself, can probably not fathom what it would be like to not have a place to sleep at night or even conceive the process of getting to that point. Even if we had a crisis, most of us would humbly resort to the assistance of family, friends, community or perhaps government programs to help us through that time. Most of us are confident that at least one of those mediums would come through for us if life takes a crazy turn. The truth is that those crazy turns are happening all the time to people in all social groups all around us. What would you do if life gets complicated and one mistake or problem leads to another and then all of a sudden you find out that in 24 hours you will be losing your home and all that you possessed? You look to your family for help but your family is nowhere to be found. You look to your friends and your friends cannot help. You look to the community around you and no one has time to worry about your problems. You look to the government and the government tells you to wait in what looks like a never ending line. You take a deep breath, and look into your wallet. You don’t have much. Your bank account is worthless as your bank has already possessed all of your things. You pray to God for help. Yet, no answers seem to come your way. You haven’t been to church in ages and you feel a bit embarrassed to show up all of a sudden. After all, church is a judgmental place and hardly a place where you want to answer a bunch of questions about your current predicament. However, the sun is going down. It is getting cold. You think you see a rain cloud coming. You break down in shameful tears. You have nowhere else to go. You make your way to a few places that you think you can at least sit and think for the night. You make it through the first night. You trudge through the second night. You keep moving. You know you can’t stay where you have been. You want to apply for jobs but no one is hiring someone who has no address or anything. Days turn into weeks. You are starting to build a routine around your new lifestyle of survival. You start to build a community with those who share your situation. Of course it is not ideal, but at least it is something. After all, you didn’t have much of a community when you did have a job and home and you do your best with what you have. Weeks turn into months. You start to get excited about the little things. Things like, a random good meal, a good spot at the park, a funny joke by another one of your homeless comrades, etc. You pass by the church every Sunday and just observe the well-dressed people coming in and out. You and a few others sit on a park bench at an inconspicuous distance and guess what each person does for a living and guess which neighborhood they live in. You hope inwardly that perhaps someone will show compassion and maybe come over and offer you a chance to turn your fortunes but nothing ever happens. You exchange a few laughs and go back to the routine of survival and wonder how you got to that point and wonder if it is even worth the effort to try to get out of it. NEXT POST: How do we respond to Homeless people?
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![]() Today is Easter. It is the day that billions of people worldwide celebrate or acknowledge the day that rocked humanity forever as Christ rolled away that stone from his grave and conquered death. Many also use the day to simply eat chocolate eggs laid by a bunny in their Easter baskets. While billions more have no idea that such a day exists and will wake up on this Sunday morning and do whatever it is that they do on a Sunday. As a homeless wonderer in this world, I have met so many people with so many backgrounds from all over the globe. I can remember being shocked when I moved to Korea and did not get Good Friday off from school. I was equally disappointed when I visited the Philippines during the Passion Week for my spring break and being upset that nothing was open. I couldn’t believe they took Easter so seriously. And I was utterly annoyed that I had to explain that the Easter bunny was not in the Bible. I guess there is a lot of things we shouldn’t take for granted. I remember when I was a young child living in America how fun it was to wake up before church and hunt down my Easter basket to find out what cavity inducing snacks my parents got for me. It was the only Sunday of the year that I had no problem waking up for, unless of course Christmas fell on a Sunday. As I got older, I realized that different families had different traditions while others had none at all. As I mingled more in the world, I was perplexed how many people did not believe in Jesus. I thought everyone knew how awesome and cool he was. I guess I was wrong. I remember some of my classmates asking me “Luke, do you really believe that Jesus came back from the dead? That’s kinda crazy…” I believe that Christians worldwide take for granted not only Christ’s sacrifice but also his greatest miracle given to us in his resurrection. Most people love talking about Christ’s life with all his awesome words, deeds and miracles. We often thank God for saving us but never really think about the price that was paid to do so. When was the last time you woke up in the middle of October and thanked God for dying for you and rising again? What if Jesus was simply a martyr? What if Jesus lived a great and perfect life and did a bunch of cool miracles while giving us a score of quotes we could live by that could fit in a Twitter box or memes? And like so many other saints and prophets was misunderstood and unjustly accused and sentenced to death. Would Jesus still in fact be the Savior? Would you still be interested in giving your life for his “cause?” Imagine being there and watching as Christ breathed his last on the cross. As one of his followers who heard him preach the Sermon on the Mount. Would the words he spoke that day mean as much now that he was dead and gone? Imagine being one of those who took Jesus’ body off the cross and you remember Jesus feeding the five thousand. Would that miracle still inspire you knowing Jesus’ lifeless body was in your arms? Imagine you were helping to push that giant stone in front of the grave, would you still be moved the same way when Christ said for the first time, “Come, and follow me.” Imagine three days later, you were one of those who came to the grave to check on the body and you arrive and the body and stone is still there where you left it. Would the words “My child, you are forgiven” still have an impact on you? So, what if Christ was just a martyr? I personally cannot fathom what this world and my life would look like if that was true. I cannot comprehend how history would be written if Christ did not conquer death. We live in a world that seems to be on a constant mission to prove that Christ was not who we believe he is. I think one of the most obvious proof there is for Christ’s resurrection is simply history itself. Something clearly happened 2000 years ago that has effected every corner of this globe. Every day I bank on the promise that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for me. It is that hope that helps me focus during those homeless days. Today is Easter. Today is not only the day I celebrate with the masses worldwide because of Christ’s resurrection 2000 years ago, it is also the day I think about what my life and journey would be like if Christ never rose again. When I think about that scenario, I am left horrified at the thought of utter hopelessness. But it is only a fleeting thought. And because of that, I want to thank God for sending His only Son to die for me and making a way for me to somehow find my way home. ![]() When I am asked the inevitable question “Where is home?” I usually answer the question by saying “That all depends on what you define as HOME?” Most people will probably give me the awkward or puzzled look that can read “Are you serious? Are you really going to be snarky and make this a complicated moment?” But then again, I AM NOT MOST PEOPLE! I am a proud and loud TCK. I will be honest, when I ask someone where they are from or where is your home and I get a pause or a hesitant answer, I GET SUPER EXCITED! It is encouraging to know I am not alone and chances are, I have found a new friend. So, what is the definition of “home?” I like to think if I can define it then perhaps I can find it. It has been said that home is where your heart is. But my question is; “What if your heart has been torn to pieces and thrown to the wind?” I guess that means your heart is scattered to who knows where. For most people in the world, they have managed to claim home as a pin drop on a local map. But there are many of us who may pull out a globe and claim home by dotting its surface. When finished, the globe may look like an adolescent teen with a severe acne rash as opposed to just a smooth topographical feature. I was able to get a few opinions on the matter from other fellow TCK’s. Here is what they said about the definition of home and where it is: “I consider home for me is in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Home is where you feel comfortable and feel safe. Where you feel at home with people or places around you where it just feels right.” Beth Ann, 16 (American) “So now I have lived in Korea longer than in anywhere else. So home is now finally in Korea. It took a long time to accept it and grow into it. I thought Hungary was home until one time I went to visit…” Eugine, 32 (Korean) “For most people it's where there family and friends are. For most people it's a geographical location. For me it's where my family is.” Sam, 36 (Korean American) “I’ve been in Korea for 13 years, since I was a little 4 year old girl, and yet “home” is still Ukraine for me. I go home any chance that I get. Even as a kid I was always homesick.” Olena, 18 (Ukrainian) “Home is right where I am right now (saying this while standing in front of his door in California). It is also in the Philippines where I was able to grow as a man…” Nick, 22 (Filipino American) Different people have different definitions of where and what they believe home is. And in the case of many TCK’s, the definition continues to evolve and change in time. Some people find peace in their definition while others simply do not. Many of us have embraced the awesome journey we are on while others have chosen to despise it. I pity those who have decided to fight til their last dying breath in pursuit of “being normal.” Well, good luck with that. As a Christ follower, normalcy can often be as ambiguous as the definition of “home.” I hope all people regardless of being a TCK or not can find encouragement that God calls us all to a journey with heaven being the final destination. A place where we can all potentially call home someday. I used to be jealous of all my friends who were able to grow up in one house or one area their whole life, only to find they were jealous of me because of all the awesome experiences I grew up having. So, what is your definition of home and are you happy with that definition. Feel free to comment and share below. ![]() When I hear the words “the Rock,” a few different things come to my mind. The first thought is of that classic 90’s movie with Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery where they have to free the hostages being held on the island of Alcatraz. The second thought is of the wrestler/actor Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson doing whatever it is that he does with those completely unnecessarily large muscles. There are a few other things on the list as well. However, none of that is what we are talking about. When Jesus told his followers in Matthew 7 to build on the rock, he was referring to the hope and truth that Jesus everyday tried to give everyone. Building on anything else will result in disaster when the stormy weather comes. But Jesus knew that it would take some time before the disciples would understand who, what and where this rock was. Jesus understood clearly that this was going to be a lifelong journey for his followers if they ever want to arrive on this mountain top. When Christ called his disciples, he pretty much told them to drop everything to follow him. And everything meant their jobs, families, friends, homes, normality, etc… and trade it all in for a journey. A journey to where exactly? And what would this journey be like? What would it cost? Jesus wasn’t calling his disciples to a figurative journey but rather a very literal one. A journey that spanned thousands of miles, long days on the road, sleeping wherever they could, eating whatever they could find, dealing with languages they could not understand, fighting off unpleasant weather, conditions and diseases, and this was only a fraction of their journey. Most people work hard every day to avoid those types of conditions and spend every waking hour adding to the infrastructure of their house. However, they are building on a surface known as planet earth. And earth as you may already know is a very unstable place. At the end of the day, it will ultimately burn up along with everything on it. This is not a very encouraging thought to those people who sacrifice everything to build their dream homes. How many people are willing to just give up the comfort of “home” and live a life of journey? A journey of faith into parts unknown. The Bible talks a lot about people who take journeys. Pretty much every one of faith significance was on a journey of sorts and much of those were on a very physical one. Hebrews 11 talks about it in a very literal way and why they were called righteous. The Bible is full of people living out their lives as TCK's. Not everyone can be a TCK or see the world through our eyes. That doesn't make you or me any better than the next person, but I do believe that TCK's have a unique view of what the journey to the rock is all about. So, if you are not a TCK or someone who loves the security they feel in their home, am I suggesting that you go and sell your house and replace it with an RV or a big tent and hit the road? No. Not at all. But I do encourage you to really reevaluate what your life’s purpose is and what your definition of HOME is. We all have our thoughts on this. The next few posts will be from TCK’s who will answer the question of WHAT IS HOME? Meanwhile, I know who I am and the journey I have been called to. It is the journey to the ROCK! and I can accept the harsh realities of my nomadic life because I know I am well on my way there. I can’t wait to the day I finally arrive there and perhaps start building a house of my own on top of it! ![]() A few years back I was sitting at an airport in China waiting somewhat anxiously at the gate to board my flight. As I looked at the clock on the wall, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and sigh while slumping back into my chair. The plane has now been delayed for several hours and I was waiting there indefinitely in which already felt like eternity. After looking around the terminal for more ways to kill time, I finally reached down into my bag and pulled out my Bible and opened to the book of Matthew and started reading. Just like so many times before, I trudged through the opening chapter's genealogy with all the funny names which led to Christ’s birth; then I came to the part where Mary and Joseph take Jesus and move to Egypt. I chuckled to myself at the thought that Jesus was a Third Culture Kid (TCK). What is a TCK you might ask? The term TCK refers to children raised in a culture other than their parents' (or the culture of the country given on the child's passport, where they are legally considered native) for a significant part of their early development years (Pollock, D.C., & Van Reken, R.E. (2009). Third culture kids: The experience of growing up among worlds. Boston: Nicholas Brealy). Yup, that definition certainly fits my life and also that of Jesus' life. I mean, the guy had a passport from Heaven! Talk about potential geographic identity crisis. As I kept reading past John the Baptist, Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation; I ran flat into the Sermon on the Mount. Like so many times before, I am amazed by the words and wisdom Jesus shares through these pages. Then I begin reading Matthew 7:24; “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” I paused for a moment to think about this passage in a literal sense. I am more than aware of what the passage actually means, but on this day, all I could think about was the actual house. However, just then, the silence was broken in the waiting area when the boarding announcement was finally given. After hours of waiting, I gave a sigh of relief. I slowly gathered my things and snickered at all the people who ran as fast as they could to be the first in line. I never understood why people would want to hurry up and get in line only to wait and then be on an airplane longer than they have to be. After all, we have assigned seats. Good grief, what’s the big hurry? My airplane boarding strategy is simple; since I am super uncomfortable sitting in these small airplane seats that are getting smaller every year regardless of my weight condition, I make a point to be the very last person on the plane. Plus, if you know you are the last person on the plane than you can scope out all the empty seats and find a more comfortable seat then the one that is on my ticket. Just sit down with confidence. WORKS EVERY TIME! You totally need to try this. As the plane took off, I began to think of that verse again about building a house on the rock. I once again zeroed in the word HOUSE. I started thinking about all the houses I lived in growing up. I counted at least 20 plus at that point. I began to wonder if I would ever build a house of my own. For kicks and giggles, I even took out a piece of paper and started drawing a blueprint of what I thought would be my dream house. I had a big living room, a Jacuzzi and for fun, I had to attach a small basketball court on the premise somewhere. I smiled at my silly elementary drawing and the thoughts of actually building this house. I even tried to guess how much it might cost. Then the reality kicked in when I asked myself the most complicated question involving this little exercise: WHERE AM I GOING TO BUILD THIS HOUSE? I remember my college freshmen orientation like it was yesterday. I remember how excited I was to meet new people and build relationships. As I met people, one of the first questions people would ask is “So Luke, where are you from?” It seemed like a simple enough of a question. However, for the first time that I could remember; I paused. My excitement for the occasion turned to anxiety as my life as a young adult was completely rocked with a new reality; I DID NOT KNOW WHERE I WAS FROM. For years, I tried hard to answer that question and try to reach into my nomadic past to find out where my home was at. But the truth was simple and I had to face it. I couldn't point to a geographic location or a house that I could call my own. I AM HOMELESS! I always thought that all I ever wanted was to build my house, kick off my shoes and just stay there. But would having a house of my own give me a place I can call home? I am sure within a few weeks of the move in date, I would feel restless and start looking for something new. I guess this is who I am now. However, in my heart, I never really cared much about the house, I just wanted to have a rock to (at the very least} pitch a tent on. I used to be jealous of people who could answer the basic question of where they are from but that day on the plane changed me. I looked out the plane window at the mountains below and realized the God was working on my heart. The message became clear; I was called to a different life. I was not called to a life that involved building a house. A house will simply decay in time along with everything I could put into it. So, what was I really called to? TCK'S HAVE AN AWESOME STORY TO TELL AND AMAZING VIEW OF LIFE THAT NEEDS TO BE SHARED. WITH THE WORLD BECOMING MORE GLOBAL, WE TCK'S WILL BE THE UNDISPUTED LEADERS! BUT I DIDN'T ALWAYS THINK THAT WAY!
FOR YEARS, I THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG ME. I THOUGHT I WAS ALONE. I WOULD FIGHT WITH PARENTS, FRIENDS AND OTHERS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO I WAS AND WHERE I WAS TRYING TO GO. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT ALONE, I FOUND OUT WHO I REALLY WAS AND I FOUND THAT THERE WAS A PLACE TO GO! |
AuthorTHIS IS A BLOG WRITTEN BY TCK'S AND ABOUT THE TCK LIFE. LET'S FACE IT, TCK'S HAVE THE MOST AWESOME LIVES. FOR THE REST OF YOU, FEEL FREE TO BE A LITTLE JEALOUS. Archives
April 2018
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