How to be a Christian in Buddhist Thailand?

A typical bus of My Bangkok

During my daily routine, I recently had two natural, human encounters with bus conductors.  I get around My Bangkok using public transport.  So bus conductors are people I encounter every day.  Yes, My Bangkok still has bus conductors.  Some are regular and know me.  

One has even become a good friend.  So when I saw her recently at the bus stop, she became very excited, coming over with a big smile to greet me.  She took hold of my hand, explaining why I no longer see her so regularly.  I was touched and taken aback by this most welcome encounter.  Next time, I will take hold of her hand.  

Two days later, I got on a bus to be greeted by a bus conductor, who was the exact opposite.  He stood right back from me, saying nothing, showing no sense of engagement.  His behaviour was such that it made me ask myself - what is going on here?  

Quite naturally for me, this questioning deepened to my asking myself - how does one be a Christian in Buddhist Thailand?  On later reflection, I realised I could also ask - how does one be a Christian in secular Australia?  Still, I am here in Thailand, not Australia.  So my question stood.   

I would not name this as a World War III question.  Nor would I think this demands a deep theological response.  I would simply say that it raises the challenge of our being human together.  No matter who we are, we enjoy a shared humanity.  It makes the uncomplicated demand that we make the other feel at home in our presence.  Humour, a smile are great tools for engagement, leading to a good, natural and huiman encounter.  

How did I become such a good friend with his woman bus conductor?  On first meeting her on a bus, she too was most unfriendly.  I rsponded by greeting her in return, with humour in my poor Thai, which she loved and to which she responded most positively.  She even asked for my phone number (which I never gave).  How funny! 

  

It is not rocket science.  I am not on Mars.  It is just about being a decent human being, who sees the other as my equal and partner on this planet.  And that is not always easy but, after all, we are all human.