David Ralph

The Right Guidance

Today we arrived in England.   The last time I was here was a little more than three years ago when we helped our daughter Lindsay get settled as she did an extended semester at Leeds University.  It was the first time I drove in England.  I had to get used to driving on the other side of the road – I had to get used to using a manual transmission again - I had to find my way around a country that have very few signs to help you find your way.  The last time I was here I was lost all of the time.  It was both frustrating and stressful.  I finally got a detailed map and it helped but even with the map – there were still times that I got lost.  This time I rented an “automatic” and I am using a GPS.   It is so much less frustrating and stressful.  I wasn’t lost once today although those crazy round abouts do take some getting used to.  The lesson in all of this.  The better the guidance system – the less stress and anxiety.   When it comes to our lives, God doesn’t direct us like a GPS, telling us when to turn here – go there etc. but God through his word does provide us with a guidance system that if we follow it, it can lead to the best life possible.  Today without my GPS I would be lost.  Today without following the guidance of God’s word I would have been equally lost.  I can’t imagine heading out on the road tomorrow without my GPS.  Why would I head out tomorrow and not follow God’s guidance for my life?

Hope

Today we visited the Palace at Versailles.  It is the largest palace in all of Europe.  It is over the top when it comes to size and decor and furnishings.   The gardens were spectacular and went on for acres – maybe more that a couple of hundred acres.  There were a couple of smaller palaces on the grounds – the summer palaces – the one to get away from it all and hide out in.  It is hard to believe that peopel actually lived this way.  It would be easy to think that because they had all that money that they wouldn’t have had a worry in the world.  For many years they didn’t until the French Revolution came along and then they had a lot to worry about – eventually they would await the day of their execution and probably worry until it actually happened.  There fate was in the hands of others – those who were leading the revolution.

On the train ride back from Versailles – we were delayed at 45 minutes.  Eventually we learned that someone had jumped onto the tracks and had taken their own life.  The end of their life was in their hands.  I wondered as I sat there waiting what kinds of things might have been going on in this person’s life that caused them to want to live no longer.  I wondered about what kind of worries they faced.  Maybe it was because of a broken heart or maybe they felt like there was no hope or maybe it was the end of a long emotional battle.  I felt truly sorry and saddened when I thought about this person.  I wondered who would be filled with grief tonight over a life that ended so tragically.  I paused as I sat in that train station and just prayed for the family that was left behind. 

A couple of hundred years ago the residents of the palace had nothing to worry about because they had everything they thought was important in life – money – stuff – power.  But one night they lost all they put their hope in.  This person who died under the wheels of a train – they also lost hope as well.  All I can think about is that verse in Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy an peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Be hopeful my friends.

The Longest Line for a Famous Photo

I went to the Louvre Museum today.  The longest line was for one famous painting.  The Mona Lisa.  I stood in line for a few moments and got a few seconds to snap a couple of pictures.  It wasn’t  what I thought it might be.  It was small and hung as a single picture on a large wall.  But everyone wanted to see it.  But there were many other pictures that caught my attention and were much more meaningful.  They were pictures from key events in the life of Christ.  There were a number about his birth, a few about various miracles, one about the last supper, one of Jesus carrying the cross, a couple of his burial.  But the one picture that caught my attention was a artist rendition of the anointing of the Holt Spirit in Acts 2.  There was no picture of the Holy Spirit but there were “fingers of fire” falling on each follower in that room that day.   The power of the Holy Spirit.  The power to change the human heart.  The power to end an addiction.  The power to mend a marriage or save a family from falling apart.  The power to break a bad habit.  The power to radically change a life.  That power is available to all of us today.  Maybe this picture caught my attention to remind me of that power.  There are times when I don’t surrender myself and my power.  I try to do it on my own.  I was reminded again today as I looked at that piece of art that there is a power available to me – a power that can live inside of me – a power that is greater than any other to change a human life.  That picture was a great reminder.  There was no long line in front of this one.

It Is Hard When They Don’t Speak Your Language

We arrived today in Paris and even though we were terribly jet lagged and had very little sleep last night we managed to do about 6 hours of touring around what at first glance seems to be a very beautiful city.   We just finished a great french meal and it was delicious.  The one thing that I have noticed all day is how much of an outsider I felt like.   We were ready for dinner at 6:00 p.m. but we were told that the “bistros” don’t open until at least 7:00 or even 7:30.  We walked through an outside food market and I felt like an outsider as I walked from market stall to market stall.  Then there was dinner.  I realized how little of my high school french I still remember.  I couldn’t speak the language and I felt so disconnected from the natives of Paris.   started to think about that as I walked back from dinner.  What I experienced today might not be all that much different  from what a guest – an outsider must feel like when they show up at Lakeside.  They don’t know the language that we speak at times – they don”t get the customs and traditions – it feels strange and foreign to them.  I was reminded today what that must feel like.  We must do whatever it takes to help the outsider feel like they understand so that they can embrace the life giving message of Jesus.  Are we willing?  That is all for today.  Jet lag has kicked in and I am ready for bed.

Bags packed – ready to go.

I am writing this while I am waiting to head out to the airport.  All the bags are packed – we are ready to go (sounds like a song).  Tonight promises a lot of waiting.  In line to check in.  In line to go through customs.  In line to go through security.  The old “hurry up and wait” game.  Then there is the flight to Paris.  Seven hours of flying and the gaining of six hours as we cross over the different time zones.  Arrival in Paris is at 9:00 a.m. Friday.  Then there is the dreaded jet lag as you travel from west to east.  Hopefully we will get some sleep on the plane without too much interuption.  But with all the anticipation of the next sixteen days – all of this seems bearable – in fact there is a sense of excitement.  There is a knock on the door – it is probably our ride to the airport.  I better get it.  The next entry will be from Paris.  See you tomorrow.