Bicycles & Bodies

There are literally millions of bicycles in China. In fact, there are about as many bicycles per household in China as there are cars per household in the United States, and perhaps more, especially in the urban areas of the country. Then do the math; about 300 million people in the United states verses 1.3 billion in China, and then consider the relative land mass of each country. (This is all changing as more households are owning cars; purchasing a car in China is about the equivalent of the "American Dream" of owning a home. It's a little sad because bicycles give China, and other countries like it, some identity and charm.) During any rush hour in a major metropolitan area of China you might find a sea of bicyclists commuting from one place to another, mixed in with cars, buses and taxis, all driving frighteningly within inches of one another. For foreigners like my family and me, it looks like a zoo out there, especially in cities like the capital, Beijing. In reality, it's organized chaos.

Every time we've ever been to China we always route through Beijing because we have friends and colleagues that are nationals and live there in the city. We're especially fond of our dear Madam Cui and Mr. Huang, both Hines employees (the company I work for) that live in the capital city. They've taken a real liking to Poppy and our family (they haven't met Willow yet). In fact, Annie traveled there alone one time (we were so proud of her) to serve on a mission project and Madam Cui and Mr. Huang hosted her for several days. They're so sweet, hospitable and loving, typical of the Chinese culture that puts us to shame in so many of these ways.

Here in this drawing from Annie you can see a sketch of Madam Cui holding Poppy, buried in the foreground of thousands of bicycles. Every bicycle has an owner, and it's hard to believe someone could actually identify and find their bike when its time to go home or run an errand. Gee whiz, I have a hard time remembering where I parked my car in a parking lot when there's only 100 cars in it. But they do and they mosey along their merry way after hopping on the seat. Likewise, every person on the face of this plant has or had a mommy and a daddy; they are or were loved by someone. To us, mere strangers, they're simply people among the throngs of millions, but to someone (or someones) they are identified and belong. It's hard to imagine that anyone could leave one behind and go on with life as if they never existed. It's not as if they were a bicycle or something. But such is the saddened case for so many, and not just in China but across the entire face of our planet. ~143,000,000 orphans and foster children; it's unconscionable! It should not be this way. But to our Lord they're not just another body, not just another mouth to feed, but a beautifully crafted image of Him, loved and cared for by the Father of all fathers. He has deep compassion for their loathed estate, and will not forget their plight.

I don't think I'll ever ride a bike the same. Each time I hop on one I will be reminded that it's not just a bike, a fun ride or a mere means of transportation, but representative of another lost child that needs a home. That will cause me pause to pray. Who knows? Perhaps they'll be found in the masses and once again belong.

Swimming in a Sea of Souls,

Tom (& Victoria)