To most people he may be just another driver – a chauffer, if you like to give an added dubious honor to that – but on closer look he happened to have a story. A God-given story which he had no hesitation in sharing with other people. We were just beginning to leave Bangkok on the way to a less-known resort where we hoped to find some rest for our wearied bodies and souls.
Leaving Bangkok
As we drove past the egde of Bangkok it began to rain – one of those tropical downpours that just starts without much warning. We keenly looked through the window to get a glimpse of life at the edge which appeared not as neat as the city. He proved to be talkative even in halting English, but in a non-invasive and non-annoying way.
He talked of the international mafias operating in and around Pattaya, of how they dupe, scam, threaten and rip off unsuspecting tourists. Of the police-mafia nexus, likening it to a father and son relationship. He complained bitterly of the rampant corruption in the country as he dismissed my observation of how it did not look that bad to us with a bemused laughter.
He pointed at the two car accidents along the way, of how people drove 140 kmh when the speed limit was a hundred. Most drivers usually bypassed the permissible height and weight of goods a tripper could carry by contributing 100-200 baht to the family welfare funds of the traffic police on duty.
On a closer look he happened to be a believer. Had been so for about three years. He talked of how he had been afraid to talk to his family, mostly his grown-up children who he feared would not understand and approve his desire to convert. Then God visited him in a dream one night. He said God stood beside him and touched his arm with a very cold hand. He trembled in fear but God said he knew his desire and fear to become a believer, and said he came for him. He told him not to fear.
The anchor holds!
I don’t know how much of this would be understood by the largely individualistic western believers. Faith and life issues are very much community things as much as they are the individual’s choice. You don’t just make a move without calculating all the costs. In most Asian societies it’s the same situation. One would do well not to burn the bridges to his family, and to his community.
He called his family together for a meal. As he tried to talk first to his two sons, the younger one said to him, “Father, I already know what you are going to say to us. You are going to tell us that you want to become a believer. It’s up to you, and it’s alright with me.” Greatly surprised he asked how he knew. His son said, “The other night you talked in your sleep, and I already know.” God had gone ahead of him, and prepared the minds of his family. Everyone was okay with their father’s decision.
His wife had passed away. He had worked in Germany and his children are now scattered in different countries. I did not confirm with him if they also walk with the Lord. He had a close encounter with the living God and his life was changed completely. He is now serving with joy in his role as a driver, making sure workers find a place to rest. He’s just a driver to most people but on a closer look there is more to him than just his job description.
A much quieter destination
for the wearied souls
One Reverie 
A nawm hmel hle mai! Hahchawlhna hun tha tak inneih kan beisei. Laobaniang pawh athat vat vat theih kan duhsak tak meuh.
In hahchawlhna hmun pawh a nawm hmel raih raih khawp mai.
Nia, a hmun hi a reh tha khawp mai a, kan hahchawl ve thei ta e. Laobaniang pawh a tha chho viau tawh. Vawiinah plaster pawh kan phelh dawn e. In lo tawngtai a, kan lawm lutuk. Hmanni-ah i lo dam lo a ni maw? I dam tawh a nih kan ring.
A va ropui em!
A tir lamah hian, motor chuana driver tawng duh tak, ngawih hun hre mang lo tawn fuh palh hrehawmzia ka lo ngaihtuah chhuak hman a. I han sawi zel tâkah chuan a ngaihnawm ta hle mai. Mi tam tak chuan Pathian nen ‘close encounter’ an neih avangin a vannei kan ti maithei, mahse chuti lo lam chuan ka lo thlir. Keini hi kan zalen lutuk a kan vanduai niin ka hre zawk. Ani dinhmunah khian ding ta ila, Pathianin min biak pawh nghâk hman lovin kan zam chhe hman der ang chu.
Zaia, i tilawmawm hle mai. He pa chanchin hian mi a fuih khawp mai. Chhungte avanga ringtu a hminga ni mai lovin, engkim kalsanin an lo zui thin a ni tiraw.
A nawm hmel dung dung thin mang e!
i ti ve maw TSA, a nuam ve viau zel mai an ti