Asia Journal 4

 

Woke up this morning before 6:00am with the sun gloriously shining in my face. Then went for a walk to look down the high mountain, over the fabulous ravine. Spectacular. Most of the day was spent getting acquainted with the people, culture and history of the indigenous Wu-tai people. The 7-Eleven (which seems ubiquitous here as it is in Thailand) was the first place that struck me as incorporating the ancient with the modern – ancient/tribal architecture and art with modern convenience. The Presbyterian church has not only traditional angels and other

traditional Christian symbols, but has a traditional tribal representation high and lifted up on the building. These are good illustrations of the issues I’ll continue to wrestle with in my teaching and writing. For example, how does worship combine contemporary with not only old European liturgical practices, but with ancient local traditional cultural practices? As I visited the museum and toured the township, and listened to wise voices, I came away more and more convinced that there is so much from these local and deep-rooted cultural practices and way of life that can be used liturgically and theological (and even more meaningfully than some of the imported artifacts and practices) in our worship! The day made my mind spin – in the right direction!