The Visitors

Yesterday we had some unexpected visitors. About 30 minutes before some lunch guests arrived, Hannah and I were busily preparing the last details of lunch where there was a knock on the door. Wondering who it could be.....a package? my BBQ sauce and Starbucks order? maybe? But no, it was my landlord. And his father and grandfather, and his son and grandson.

I am normally all about having company, but not really right before invited guests are about to arrive and I am in my final prep and cleaning. I welcome them into my home, get them water and ask how I can help them. They say not to worry, but the grandfather was here to look at the place and check out the feng shui. Ummmm......ok. I wanted to ask if they could get it done quickly becasue I had stuff in the oven.

They walked onto the front balcony, talking and gazing at the mountains and the view for a while, then they walked to the back balcony taking in the views and enjoying the day. They declare that the view is good and balanced, then head to the front door frame. The son brings out a bowl of rice, some money, and a string. The elderly grandfather gets on the floor and begins measuring the center of the doorframe with his dial, a string and a single grain of rice.

During this time I sent Hudson upstairs to get Rob to come down and help me. :) There are some religious customs where they hang things on the doorways for protection from evil spirits and post spirit guardians at the doors. I really didn't want them to do that to my house. They told me this was their tradition and I immediately began explaining our beliefs and that we didn't need to be protected from the spirits because of the One who is over all lives in our life and He protects us from evil. They continued measuring and at one point placed a bowl of rice with some money in it right in the middle of the doorway. Rob came down and shared with them a little more about our beliefs, then suddenly the elderly gentleman stood up and declared the feng shui in our home was VERY good. And they left without posting anything in our doorway or outside of it.


As they did their feng shui measurements under the door I glanced over them, above the doorframe and thought it fitting the Scripture we had posted there.