Enemy Territory

Between Jericho and Jerusalem is an old Roman road

that one can take instead of the Highway.

It leads through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

A thief broke into our flat yesterday while Ernie and I were out for lunch.

My English class ends at 1:00 p.m., so I have a late lunch every weekday. Sometimes, Ernie and I meet for lunch at a roadside eatery outside the back gate of the university, a five-minute walk from the flat, where they serve the best barbecued chicken wings, steamed "sticky" rice, and spicy green papaya salad. There is a coffee stand nearby, where a tall iced capuccino drink costs only 12 baht each.

After our enjoyable lunch, we stayed a bit to take some photographs of the surroundings.

When we got back to the flat, we didn't notice anything amiss until I tried to unlock our bedroom door, and saw that the knob was loose. Fortunately, the intruder was not able to enter our bedroom.

But my MP3 player which I had left on the chair in the front room, was stolen.

We informed the president's office, and the head of security visited our flat to investigate. He discovered that a window pane near the front door had been pried loose, and from there, it was easy to reach the front door knob to open it from the inside.

We were gone only an hour, so the thief didn't have much time to look around. None of our appliances appealed to him. Nothing else was missing.

Ernie and I thanked God for protecting us in ways we were not aware of. Had we taken less than an hour to eat, we could have encountered the thief inside the flat! It was quite unusual that both Ernie and I were not in a hurrying mood after lunch yesterday. We were also thankful that the thief was not successful in his attempt to break into our bedroom, where we keep a few valuables.

I am not the type who locks bedroom doors and cabinets. I actually hate having to keep my things under lock and key. It is not being careless, it just isn't my style. But just a few months ago, Ernie and I agreed that we should always lock our bedroom door when we leave the flat. It's clear to see that God has been with us.

As I walked back to the office for my 4:00 p.m. English class that afternoon, my hands and knees were shaking. I felt angry at the intrusion and the violation of our boundaries.

My MP3 is valuable because I listen to my favorite worship songs on it as I walk to the office and back to the flat everyday. The ten-minute walk always seems too short for me because it is during this time that I would often have a conversation with God as I listen to the songs.

The CD Glorious by CFNI was in the player, so it also got stolen. My worship CDs are a vital part of my life, and though I have never met these artists, I feel that Klaus Kuehn, Kari Jobe, Ric Pino, Israel Houghton, Cindy Radcliffe, Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Michael Smith, Jason Upton, and many others... are good friends of mine.

I felt like something was lost, not just in terms of the material, but something far deeper, something much more valuable.

We can easily get a new player, and a new CD. It's not the material loss I'm talking about.

It's the utter disregard for what was valuable and meaningful to us.

Whoever it was that entered our flat had obviously been observing our movements for some time, and knew the precise moment to break and enter our premises.

What right had he to do that?

It feels like my freedom to enjoy my remaining weeks in this country was stolen- the freedom to enjoy walking to the office, the freedom to enjoy coming home to our cozy flat at the end of the day.

We had to use the big padlock on our front door today, whereas in days past we would simply lock the knob. No fuss, no worries.

It's not the same anymore. I have even lost my desire to take photos of the surroundings. While I was walking to work this morning, the usual sense of joy and excitement at facing a new day was not in my heart. I did not feel very friendly today. Instead, I was wary and suspicious.

Ernie and I had already begun to have a sense of home in this place, enjoying the serenity, the beauty, the mild climate, and the gentleness of the people.

After what happened yesterday, I realized that I was on enemy territory. Amazing how a single event can suddenly turn my perspective around.

I awoke before dawn this morning feeling quite fragmented. I misssed the sense of wholeness and security that I had the past weeks.

Then, this verse entered my thoughts:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

It was my Father speaking to my heart.

I remember having read about this valley that David writes about. It is a real valley in Israel near the pastures where He must have watched his flock often. It is said that this valley is a narrow alley between two mountains, so it is dark and cold throughout the day, except at midday when a thin slice of light shines through for a few minutes.

That was really how I felt. Like walking through a dark, lonely valley.

With my eyes still heavy with sleep, I began to talk to Him about my feelings ... What a comfort His presence was!

He continued speaking to me. While you are in the world, you will always be on enemy territory. This world is not on your side, and it will never be concerned for your welfare.

Be as innocent as a dove, but as wise as a serpent... don't be naive. Don't drop your guard. Always remember that the enemy is like a prowling lion, seeking whom he might devour.

Of course I understood that God wasn't talking to me anymore about just a literal thief.


He was talking to me about the thief of my soul, the lion who pounces on me when I least expect it, seizing any small opportunity to inflict a false identity wound in my heart to steal my sense of peace and well-being. The joy-stealer tempts me to have an over-reaction to incidents such as these, causing me to focus on myself, and not on God who is sovereign over all things.



But then my Shepherd comes to the rescue.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup runs over.

Yesterday upon getting to the office for my class, someone handed me an unexpected blessing. It was something that really brought a delight to our hearts. This morning, a parcel from England arrived for me. It was a box of French coffee from my friend Gilly.

These are not big things, yet, they are real touches of grace from the Lord who wants to show me in tangible ways that He cares.


He leads me beside still waters
He restores my soul...


Thank you, my Shepherd, for even the small details of my life are known to You. And with You healing me, restoring me, I know that it won't be long before I recover from this, and that joy and gladness will once again reign in my heart.

Surely goodness and mercy
Shall follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.