A glorious cemetary? A glorious grave? Last month was Thanksgiving, and I had many reasons to smile, have fun and “party”. But for the last month, I have also been struggling about how to properly share a story of a man, Professor Tu Giay. His son, Dr. Tu Ngu, and their life’s work in Vietnamese nutrition, became part of my life for the last two years in Viet Nam. This morning (Dec. 11), my devotion had many of the right words. I pray the words from the devotion, combined with my thoughts, are clear and understandable.
On November 13, I was told that a very special man had died. I met Professor Tu Giay once, 2 years ago during the Tet holiday. Tet is the Vietnamese New Year. Known also as the “Father of Vietnamese Nutrition” and “People’s Doctor”, Prof. Tu Giay is the father of a my Uncle, friend, teacher, co-worker, and partner with LCMS World Mission, Dr. Tu Ngu. Professor Tu Giay started the National Institute of Nutrition for the government of Viet Nam.
Here is a picture of Dr. Tu Ngu and Professor Tu Giay when I was able to visit during Tet 2008. Tet is the Vietnamese New Year and combines many traditions of family reunion, thanksgiving, new year, and gift giving like CHRISTmas.
During his lifetime, Prof. Tu Giay served his country admirably. He received many awards, recognitions, and documents of praise. He was involved in producing a lot of great scientific literature for the sake of Vietnam’s health and nutrition standards.
When a loved one, a friend, or a colleague has died, the loss makes us sad. Cemeteries are places of sadness and tears. Memorials to honor the dead are serious, reflective places. Some may be large, impressive, even awe-inspiring monuments, but few would call these places glorious. I think of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, in Ha Noi. The building, the atmosphere, it all commands respect. But it is not a place of celebration. The prophet Isaiah, however, wrote his words before Jesus was born. In his book, Isaiah says that the promised Messiah’s resting place would be glorious. There can be only one reason for this: because His resting place will be empty! After Jesus is born, lives, dies and is placed into the grave, people wonder, “What will happen next?” We learn that, on Easter Sunday, the third day: Jesus Rises! He is Risen, Indeed! Shouts of surpise, wonder, and joy let others know: there is no body in the tomb!
Graves, for us, are places that mark our defeat at the hands of sin and death, but Jesus’ tomb marks His victory over our enemies. This is the reason our Savior is born in Bethlehem. Jesus is the reason for the season of CHRISTmas. He becomes a man to save men, to take our place under sin and death in order to defeat them for us. Now, with our enemies defeated, we can live in hope and peace, for our Savior is not in His resting place, but is alive and serving us with His forgiveness, life, and salvation.
This journey through life, to death, and to life again would begin for Jesus in Bethlehem. The Lord has remembered His covenant. He has come to set us free. I pray your journey begins again with the Hope of the Christ-child and all He has to offer.
J.P. Cima, Country Coordinator for LCMS World Mission, wrote his December family newsletter to celebrate and recognize the life of Prof. Tu Giay. To read for yourself, click here or go to the family website: www.cimafam.com
and go to the "Newsletter" link.
Here is another memorial-article on Professor Tu Giay:
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=02SOC181109
This blog-entry was based largely the “Portals of Prayer” entry for Friday, December 11. Thank you to James Douthwaite of Vienna, Virginia for the December devotions. Also, to Rev. Scot A. Kinnaman for editing that devotion.
Concordia Publishing House
www.cph.org
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