Whoever boasts “I bow to no one” is missing a beautiful experience.
My mother-in-law passed away two weeks ago and in the memorial services, we observed the Chinese tradition of bowing from the waist as a sign of respect.
Normally, we would face the dearly departed and bow. But in one of the services, we faced the audience and bowed to them. Without any prompting, the Chinese folks at the row just in front of us rose to their feet and bowed to us in return. These were the mother-in-law’s churchmates who conducted that service: her pastor, an interpreter, some prayer warriors.
I wish you were there. You can feel the shared sense of loss, the grief mixed with gratitude, the palpable richness of Chinese tradition. It can very well be a poignant scene in a Mano Po movie.
Those steeped in Western culture may find this quaint at best, archaic at worst. But in bowing, we feel the surge of bittersweet emotions: affection, sadness, bonding, nostalgia, solemnity, regrets. The bow speaks what eulogies and condolence cards cannot.
This beautiful bow was an advance echo of the Bow we will all render someday.
On that day, everyone – yes, including you and me, regardless of religious affiliation, spiritual inclination, or lack thereof – will bow to One who died for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven, and now exalted with a name above all names. “[At] the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).
The question will be: at that Bow, what emotions will flood us? I do hope and pray that we will be engulfed with joy and worship, not with terror and rebellion.
Then again, why not bow before the Lord starting now? Oh come let us adore Him!
December 12, 2022
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