Ed in Europe - Part 10

Colorful Burano ...Some Personal Reflections

On Burano Island (across the bay from Venice-proper)

We really enjoyed a side trip to one of the more colorful villages in Italy.  Our Competitour Challenge was to find the house in town w/ the most colors, which is --

 ...really now, would coming home to this ...be restful?

 And if Burano's Church Spire looks a little tilted left, it's not an illusion, because it is!

The whole area of Venice is slowly sinking ...due to high water table.

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This whole adventure was like crossing a variety of "bridges" in my life...

 ...me on a bridge in Butano, Italy
 

** First of course, is crossing Seeing Europe off my 'Bucket List.'  

I was the only one of the 20 on this tour who had not seen Europe before (including the 3 teenagers). Most were surprised that I made this as my first trip. You see, while we did travel to some of the traditional Grand Tour sights, this obviously was not a traditional European sight-seeing tour.

But for me, it nevertheless was excellent! I got to experience the places, not just see them. (Note: I have received no remuneration from "Competitours, nor was I asked to write about them. By the way, check out another Competitours' group member has to say about the experience:  CLICK HERE )

** A "Bridge" I crossed was the golden opportunity to travel w/ our son, Hans; more fully knowing him as an adult, not just a grown-up version of the kid whose diapers I once changed.

... a 'selfie' in Ghent, Belgium

Our weeks together went beyond just 'male bonding.'  We both experienced a care, even a respect for one another as mature men. This is a Father-Son happening too rare in our our world.

** Another significant 'Bridge' that I crossed was the capability to go outside of my comfort zone: far beyond navigating in a foreign culture.

 

Hans, in blue hat on right, is not in a door. The Venetian street continues on thru the tunnel behind him!

For instance, at the Via Ferrata in the Swiss Alps: to cope with the fear of heights, while searching where my next footstep would be on the face of a sheer cliff; to appreciate the spectacular views, and not the fact that only two carabiners kept me from death. 

One of our travel group members, Laura, is a professional writer and vidoeographer. I highly encourage you to check out a Web Page she put together with a great video. Click on this link   VIA FERRATA

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Near the end of our time, Hans & I visited St. Marks Cathedral in Venice.  It was wonderful to discover a chapel there reserved for only "For  Prayer, not Sightseeing" (as the sign at the entrance stated).

After some prayers, we climbed up into a loft where the cathedral's mosaics had been constructed and where artisans still perform repairs. There we viewed some mosaic sections; though the section has survived, the entire mosaic of which it was part is unrepairable (the church is 1,000 years old).

Having already seen so many crucifixes and similar brutal portrayals of our Savior, so typical of medieval artists; a centuries-old mosaic in a corner transfixed me! 

It was entitled:  "Christus Emmanual"  (in Latin:  "Christ:  God-Who-Is-With-Us")

Note the expression of Christ portrayed here:  A sympathetic, smiling Man with large, clear eyes and somewhat exaggerated ears...  Someone who would sit and listen to you as you pour out your soul.

One who fulfills the Messianic descriptions in the Word:

He will be gentle-- he will not shout or raise his voice in public.   He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope. He will bring full justice to all who have been wronged. He will not stop until truth and righteousness prevail throughout the earth.  (Isaiah 42: 2-4)

For the high priest we have is not incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us, but has been put to the test in exactly the same way as ourselves, apart from sin.  Let us, then, have no fear in approaching the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace when we are in need of help.  (Hebrews 4: 15-16)

And this trip reinforced one important insight of my Christian Faith: That God is not one "who lives 'way out there, who doesn't care..." That regardless of where we are, what we've done:  "GOD IS WITH US. ..ALWAYS".

 
Thank you for letting me share about my trip to Europe in June, 2014. 

It was a life changer for me!

--Ed