[column width=”1/6″ title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]

[/column]

[column width=”2/3″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]

Angelyn is an amazing encourager who split her growing up years between Europe and the United States. She loves a good book and a cup of tea, but would happily give up both just to give you a hug.

Time to get down and dirty, folks.

We live, we eat, we poop.

The whole world is united by these facts.

The call of nature transcends language, culture, and religion.

Our basic physical need to use the toilet can return us to our basic emotional and spiritual needs. Hang with me here.

Our team prayed for months to have unity on our trip along the Silk Road. There is no faster way to accelerate intimate relationships with female team members than to practice stances for the squatty potty together. It is a true sister who will stand outside a sketchy water closet, armed with hand sanitizer and tissues, cheering you on as you prepare to aim into a 3-inch hole.

If your sister can cheer you on in a water closet, she can intercede for you in her prayer closet.

When we were in an Anatolian city, I was brought to a humble and vulnerable place. We ate in a restaurant with a, thankfully, western toilet. Their lights were motion activated. So there I was, by myself, heeding the call of nature, when the room went pitch black. I waved my arms wildly to no avail. The sensor was on the other side of the stall. I continued in the dark. After an experience like that, how can you not come before the Lord with childlike humility? All dignity is gone.

Breaking Down Barriers

But on a more serious note, members of my team were outside a famous mosque, while I made use of the facilities. Muslim women coming from the mosque were clustered waiting for everyone in their group to finish before they left. (Side note: Women’s behavior in bathrooms is universal.) There were no paper towels so I prepared to leave and was content to let my hands air-dry. Then, one of the women caught my eye and signaled for me to wait. She dug through her purse and gave me a rather large tissue for my hands. Her kind eyes met mine as I, truly touched, tried to articulate, thank-you. She smiled.

It still strikes me, her act of kindness reached past our language barrier, separate cultural backgrounds, and religious differences.

Jesus, thank you that you meet our most basic physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. May you reveal yourself to the Muslim woman who showed me kindness in the smelly, underground ladies’ room. May you reach past language, culture, and religion to unveil your love to her.

[/column]