An ordinary rainy day?

It was just an ordinary rainy day in Korea today. I was finishing up a conversation with a friend by phone as I headed out of the apartment. After descending the four flights of stairs and scurrying out of my apartment building, I realized that my umbrella was still resting on the dresser beside the door to my apartment. The rain showed no signs of relenting as I walked along the stream towards my destination: Kenya Coffee for a mocha and some reading before I went to work.....a good 15 minutes away on foot.

I finished my phone conversation and tried to "glide between the raindrops," which by this time, were becoming more frequent. Suddenly, a man came up behind me and offered to let me share his umbrella. He was a middle-aged Korean man, dressed nicely in a suit and tie. I took him up on his offer reluctantly, feeling like a bit of a fool. Honestly, it wasn't that cold (nearly 70 degrees) , and this wouldn't have been the first time I got soaked. But I was grateful for his thoughfulness.

The man asked me where I was going in Korean, and I mumbled an answer. I still felt a little embarassed. I must have kind of appeared like a dumb foreigner to him! We turned the corner heading in the direction of the coffee shop. Then, suddenly, he motioned me to follow him across the street. Upon are arrival on the other side of the street, he marched into a small men's clothing store. I thanked him, and turned to walk in the direction of Kenya Coffee. He said something to me I didn't understand, and motioned me into his store. There, he gave me an umbrella to take with me. Again I thanked him and bowed politely, before exiting his small store.

As I walked out the door, I looked up at the sign above his store, so that I could return the umbrella the next day. I do not recall what exactly the sign said in Korean, nor much of the rest of my walk to Kenya coffee. What I do recall, quite vividly even 11 hours later, was the English word "Grace" written in bold letters above the store.

Sometimes, God shows up in our lives in small ways.....but just enough to show that he cares. Maybe you've wondered how I've survived 13 months in small town South Korea. In one word, my answer is "God's grace." (I guess that's two words....). "Tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home....."

Such a small gesture.....yet such a resounding impact. God's grace and providence are still as strong for me here as when I stepped off the plane. Yet they never fail to leave me in awe, even on a rainy day. Look around you, today. Who needs "an umbrella?"