I wonder how Paul felt when he returned from his journeys in Greece? Did he miss the food or was it good to hear the news or the latest gossip from a shopkeeper in Caesarea in one's mother tongue? As much as I like travelling, it always has it's less pleasant moments, like waiting a whole night on an airport for a flight that leaves at 4:50 in the morning! The fact that I have done similar things before does not seem to make it any easier.
There is one reward though. I think few things beat the feeling of arriving in the Netherlands on a summer morning, especially when it is also a public holiday. Both the airport and the train to Apeldoorn was not very busy - no sign of hurried businessmen or tired laborers dragging themselves to their workplace. A pleasant temperature enabled everyone to dress in comfortable summer clothing, ready to exploit the sunny weather on this "Mooie Pinksterdag" (Beautiful day of Pentecost)
The fields were green, the sky bright blue. Even though my eyes were red with hay-fever, I think that if I would have to imagine heaven, I would describe it as a summer morning in Holland. It is an atmosphere in which you feel the desire to attempt great things... tomorrow. It may stay forever, I will never get tired of it. It was good to be in Phillipi and Corinth, but even better to be back.
At the bakery this morning, the lady behind the counter looks with astonishment as the previous customer leaves in her car and tells me that the person lives just at the next corner, not even 200 meters from the shop. I cannot imagine why anyone would choose even the most luxurious limousine above walking or biking even three times that distance in this nice weather. How can we be so blind to the paradise we are living in?
No comments:
Post a Comment