I am not a person who is easily impressed. What impresses me are people who do amazing things. Yet, I am not talking about great superstar basketball players or mega powerful politicians or even multi-millionaire businessmen. I am impressed with a different type of person. I want to tell you about someone today who I am very impressed with. While power, wealth and talent are significant status symbols in our world, I am more impressed with genuine humility. Jesus said,
“24If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26)
I want to introduce you to one of these people who I am impressed with. Her name is Christine. She is going to be very embarrassed that I even mentioned her, much less show you a picture of her and describe what she does.
Christine is very talented. She never talks about herself, but she is by far the best graphic designer I have ever seen and just oozes with creativity. But, rather than making a ton of money for herself back in her home country of Malaysia or working in nearby Singapore, she is living in Poipet, Cambodia. Why? Because about 50 kids who come from disadvantaged or abusive backgrounds need some help.
Let me tell you a bit about Poipet. If you ask people what is the worst city in Cambodia, most people would respond: Poipet! (Including the residents!) People only live here because they are searching for something. They are searching for the very thing that Christine has left behind: the pursuit of power, wealth and fame. Her life is a great contrast to the society around her. Here nearly everyone thinks only about themselves and their own life. That is why we have million dollar homes on dirt roads and squatter huts surrounding multi-million dollar casinos.
Christine has decided to use her life for others. This is rare. Through humility she teaches more than fifty kids all by herself. She teaches English, computers, art, Bible and loves the children unconditionally. She lives an incarnational lifestyle as Jesus did. She sleeps on a thin mat on the floor. She eats the same food the kids eat (and misses her Malaysian food). She walks around in the mud just like everyone else; gets sick with fevers and other viruses and yet through it all never complains about anything.
The previous Bible passage ends with a promise. Jesus continued by saying,
“27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27)
While the people of Poipet continue their frantic search for the things of the world, Christine has found the answer in hers; Helping others. Many millionaires, superstars and politicians will stand one day before the Lord and I have a feeling, they are going to have to wait in line to meet our Lord until Christine and people like her are ushered into the presence of the King first.
I am very impressed with people who live humble lives seeking to help others. They are simply living their lives following Christ’s example. I am very impressed with Christine.
Christine in her bedroom/ office/ storage room/ clinic (multi-purpose room)!
You can read Christine’s blog at: http://painthecanvas.blogspot.com/
Two other people that I wrote about previously can be found at: http://stevehyde.wordpress.com/2009/12/19/superheroes/