Chapter 9: "Sunshine above the Clouds"

[This post is dated 1-21-20 only for chapter sequence. Back to Chapter 8.]

Before I share this chapter, I need to review a common ailment that is experienced by 300 million people across the world every year. If talking about this microscopic infestation makes your skin crawl, that is because it is caused by thousands of mite crawling in your skin. In order to fully appreciate this chapter, we must first have a basic understanding of an unpleasant subject: scabies.

The eight-legged mite that causes scabies in humans is microscopic. The female mite burrows just beneath your skin and makes a tunnel where it deposits eggs. The eggs hatch, and the mite larvae work their way to the surface of your skin, where they mature and can spread.... The itching of scabies results from your body's allergic reaction....In prison situations, scabies is most often spread by improperly washed linens or a mattress previously occupied by an infected person.

Imagine being imprisoned under the worst of conditions, and being visited by a tormentor who says,“I am a torture expert. I know how to beat you up without leaving a mark on your body for people to see. Doctors won’t be able to diagnose you. Even you won’t know what you died of.” Then during the times when you are allowed to send mail, you send the following letter to your wife who is still at home with your 15-year-old and 6-year-old sons.

The following is prison letter from Enoch's father. For the full letter, click here.

My dear wife: Greetings!

I have received all of your letters: the first on Oct. 5 and the second on Nov. 8, which were written on Oct. 4 and 14.

My scabies were healed. Around Sept. 20, I was taken to a doctor who applied sulfur ointment all over my body. Finally, it healed. I have the same experience as Job. My fatty liver disease was diagnosed in prison. The suffering is bearable. The Lord has grace. The canker sore has not returned since May of this year. Thank God. There is not anything wrong with my eyes or waist either. You need not worry about my health. Now, I sleep well.

The reason why I did not reply to your letter in a timely manner is that I wanted to answer them together after the second letter arrived.

Pray and wait for God. My heart is calm and quiet, and it has no anxiety.
I can use sulfur soap inside the detention center, because God is kind in this way. I have enough clothes, as well as winter clothes, and I don’t feel cold at all. I have 3,500 Yuan [$512.00], which can last for a half year. It’s no use worrying about these things. You need not come to deposit money for me any time soon. It is not convenient for you to take a bus, and you won’t be able to see me. Some brothers and sisters came to deposit money for me. You just take care of our sons and our home. [Enoch's] birthday is on Nov. 17 and should be celebrated. Buy his favorite cheesecake and share with [his brother]. Wish him well on my behalf.

After reading your letter, I know some of your concerns. Praise the Lord by singing the song “The Sun above the Clouds.” The Lord has prepared this [song] for you and me. I sang it many times and am so joyful. I am sharing it with you. Never see the dark clouds covering the sky and always see the sun above the clouds. When you take a plane, you will see the sunshine all over the world, after it breaks through the clouds.

Never be dejected and despondent, always look up at our Lord, and always keep the spiritual life above the chaos of the real environment. Rest in God’s arms. “Some rely on chariots, some on horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord,” [Psalm 20:7]. Be upright and take care. Be prepared for the rest of the road. I will go with you. If the Lord doesn’t allow it, not a single hair [from your head] will drop to the floor.

You need not take [sermon] notes when you copy the hymns; the Bible, which I memorized by heart, always comes to me. I have plenty of time inside for meditation and prayer. This is the best preparation. Recently, I’ve often been reciting Nehemiah, Ezra, and Esther. Esther could have gone back to Jerusalem in order to build the city wall, [traveling] from the alien country to which [the Israelites] were carried off. Esther didn’t become extinct but turned into a [safety net], turning those days into a time of celebration.

[God] is so great and wonderful; who can be like Him? Our wonderful God, our Lord forever. Who can guess His wisdom and mystery? Our faith is built on His words (He never changes and never does wrong; this is the unchangeable maxim). Sometimes, somebody will decide something by guessing and then [testing their theory], but we don’t. We listen more to God and less to human beings, especially to [nonsensical] noise.

Greet everybody on my behalf and thank them for worrying about me. Encourage and give hope to each other in the days that God has prepared for us.

Your husband, who is always missing you.

I had never heard of the song "The Sun Above the Clouds" but I do know that my wife and I have certain songs that we consider "ours." Notice also that Enoch's father says, "When you take a plane, you will see..." This is because, as I understand it from Enoch, his mother has never been on a plane. The first time he was ever on a plane was in route to America in January. So his father is explaining to her that cloudy, dreary days are only seen to man. From God's perspective, the sun is always shining. There is always hope. It is much easier to read this letter and hear this song knowing that Enoch's father has been out of prison since mid-June, 2018--just days before Enoch first wrote to me about coming to Calvary.  I did find this song by that title on Youtube. 

When you soar on high,

in the sunny sky,

Or walk through the valley

far below the sky

Wherever you are,

you will always find

God prepared it for you and me

High above the clouds
the sun stays the same
Though rain drops
may sprinkle on your eyes
High above the clouds
the sun stays the same
Ah-ah, it stays the same

But it may very well be this version song by a church choir much like the one at Enoch's church before it was disbanded in 2015. . Be sure to click the CC button to see the lyrics in English:

[On to Chapter 10]