On The Other Side

Love For Myanmar Ministries Update

Christ Centered, Servant Hearted, Myanmar Focused

“The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?” Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

THE MAN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLASS

Before teaching my evening business class, I decided to stop into a well-known coffee house. There I was sipping my drink and looking through a series of panes of glass stretching two stories into the skyline of Yangon, the commerce capital of Myanmar. This modern-constructed, upscale coffee house sits in a portion of downtown from where you can see every imaginable human condition.

I was particularly intrigued with a man pushing an old wooden cart. He paused in front of the coffee house and just stared, not in a threatening way, just curious. Our eyes met, and we studied one another for a while; our worlds separated by a simple pane of glass. He seemed to be about 40 years old. He was covered with the elements of his day, probably spent walking mile after mile collecting discarded material to sell for food. He had a soft, worn face with understandably tired features. It began to rain, and as the gentleness of sprinkling turned rather intense, he slowly moved on glancing back a few times as if to invite an exchange of destinies. However, his presence remained with me long after he disappeared into the grind of his day.

I wondered what he thought as he peered into that world on the other side of the glass. I wondered how he would describe what he saw to his family and friends. I wondered what went through his mind as he saw people seated comfortably in an air-conditioned building enjoying refreshments in the middle of the afternoon.

There was something about this encounter between two strangers, two different cultures; something unfair. I wondered if he thought less of himself because he wasn’t on my side of the glass. I wondered if he thought he was living the life he deserved. I could see him so clearly through the glass, and yet no glass allows you to see what really makes you who you are. History brims with mankind’s tendency to allow our outward, cultural differences to obscure those inner, virtuous features of ours that had the potential for leading us in more promising directions. What were his beliefs, his values? What kind of man would I have become under his circumstances?

That day, God placed each man exactly where He wanted us to be at that precise moment. We were not to go unnoticed by one another. Although we are different men from different parts of the world, I believe we share a common desire to succeed, to put forth our best effort in our focus to care for our families. Perhaps, he had occasional feelings of insignificance; however, his exhausted expression coupled with his piercing gaze signaled to me a man who earned your respect every day. He already had mine.

His value, purpose, and identity are etched into his daily struggle navigating the streets of Yangon where, with an honorable sense of responsibility, he is making a difference for his family. I sensed no selfishness within him, but rather an honesty that restrained any lapse into self pity or complaint. The simple truth is God created each of us, but gave us different pains and potential around which is wrapped the strand of accountability we are each asked to hold firmly.

Neither of us had a choice about our parents or birthplace, and no amount of reasoning can undo the unfairness. Although we can’t choose our relatives, we do have the freedom of choosing our friends. Your end result is what you do with the circumstances in which you find yourself. You can put your life on hold and search for blame or you can focus intently on actively encouraging yourself to live above your circumstances.

On the other side of the glass, bent slightly over his wooden cart, pushing through the rain was a man slowly surrendering to the day, headed to the embraces of his family with the blessing of knowing he has, once again, sacrificed above his circumstances to enrich the lives of those he loves and . . . one friend on the other side of the glass!
It was an encounter of self-reflection because while looking at the old man I was really looking at myself. Any one of us could have been born in Myanmar or some other oppressed, poverty-stricken country. What are we doing with our blessings to improve this world? Tackling issues like injustice and poverty begins with self-examination and assuming personal responsibility for making a meaningful difference in our world. Please consider joining us to be the change in Myanmar!

“The evil in the world is less a “case against Christianity” than an opportunity to demonstrate its relevance.” Dr. Jim Denison

Gary Watkins, LFM Co-founder

Prayer request

1. Our God of mercy, defends the oppressed people in Myanmar, brings an end to the military junta’s brutality against their own people while protecting those who are helping the displaced and the wounded, and that
2. Our God covers the country of Myanmar with His justice and allows healing for those who suffer from the trauma of the junta’s relentless hostilities. For those of us out of harm’s way, stir our hearts to act in support of freedom and peace in Myanmar.

Myanmar coup day: 1,930

1. The Global Report on Food Crises, based on data from the United Nations, the European Union and humanitarian agencies, said two-thirds of people facing food crises globally live in just 10 countries, with Myanmar being one of those ten countries.
2. The European Union recently extended its sanctions against Myanmar until at least May 2027, in an effort to maintain pressure on the country’s military rulers.The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and an arms embargo for 105 individuals and 22 entities.
3. According to a recent announcement, under an order signed by the coup-installed President Min Aung Hlaing, a 90-day state of emergency has been declared in 60 townships countrywide.The order also states that martial law has been imposed and authority in these townships has been transferred to the military. The townships placed under martial law include areas no longer under the military’s effective control.
4. The junta has arrested and arbitrarily detained more than 200 journalists since the coup. So far this year, the junta has revoked the publishing licenses of four media agencies, accusing them of harming national security, the rule of law, and public peace. According to the World Press Freedom Index, Myanmar is ranked 166th out of 180 countries this year, effectively in the worst category.
5. Countless cash-strapped villagers are selling their personal data such as national ID cards, photographs, and biometric information for quick money. A household of five could earn enough to buy two large bags of low-grade rice—a real windfall in a region where food insecurity is constant.Their identities are used for online scams, gambling transactions, or money laundering.

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