Is Easter for Everyone?

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I kept seeing this sign on a local Baptist church on my way to work. I made a special effort to stop and take a photo of it.

I wonder if the church leadership (and Christians as a whole) truly believe what the sign says….that is…”Is Easter truly for everyone?”

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” – 1 Peter 3:18

No mater how you feel about what kind of people belong at the church you attend, realize that Jesus died for everyone. For the poor, the criminals, the warlords, the drug dealers, the murders….any sort of despicable person you can think of….Jesus died for them. And they can take part in the grace garnered by Jesus’s death on the cross by submitting to God’s commandments.

Motorcyclists Driving Recklessly

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Yesterday I was driving to my girlfriend’s nephew’s birthday party. On Lebanon Road heading east at a curvy, double lined, two lane portion I heard the sound of a motorcycle engine. This couldn’t be as I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a car. Out of my peripheral vision I saw a motorcyclist passing me on the right in the bicycle lane. This bicycle lane is on a very narrow shoudler with a steep drop off in places. Basically I laid on my horn, but I doubt that he heard me or cared since I saw he was doing the same thing…that is passing cars in the bicycle lane. Plus he probably couldn’t hear my horn over the sound of the wind and motorcycle engine while wearing his helmet.

As I watched him weave in and out of traffic, passing cars in the bicycle lane, I wondered if it would do any good to call the police on the non emergency number. I didn’t have the non emergency number and would probably have to give up my personal information in order to file a report. Plus he would probably be long gone before the police could mobilize and catch up with him.

As I pulled up the light to turn onto state route 109 north to Gallatin, I saw him waiting at the light. This surprised me a bit because I figured since he was disregarding the rules about passing in bicycle lanes, he would run the red light. He turned left toward Gallatin which is where I was going. I figured I’d probably see him in an accident in a few minutes if he continued to drive like he was driving on Lebanon Road, as 109 is narrow in places and has no bicycle lane.

Yet I saw him pulled off to the side of the road facing the road. With adrenaline pumping I approached him. I rolled down my window and yelled “YOU’RE GONNA KILL SOMEONE!” “What?” was his response as he fiddled with his helmet. I repeated myself “YOU’RE GONNA KILL SOMEONE!” After I had made my point, there was nothing else to say so I continued on my journey. I noticed in my rearview mirror that he turned around and went the other direction. Maybe he figured he had caused a stir with motorists and needed to go a different direction so as not to get apprehended by the police.

I realized there is a mentality among teenagers and 20 somethings to try to go fast in order to impress themselves or those around them. I was there and had a tendency to drive fast during my younger years. Now I find myself pretty much going the speed limit. But I draw an exception to this guy. He was driving very recklessly in the bicycle lane. Bicycle lanes were not meant for overtaking motorists. Rather it is vice versa…for cars overtaking bicyclists.

There seems to be a disregard among motorcyclists in general for those around them. I am reminded of this every time someone rides a motorbike with engine whirling through my residential neighborhood. I saw this on a trip out west to Colorado when we would have a huge group of motorcyclists overtake us.

I realize there are more mature motorcyclist who are courteous toward other drivers. But seemingly I remember these negative experiences with other motorcyclists which causes my disdain for motorcyclists in general.

Let’s hope this particular motorcyclists toned it down so that he doesn’t injury himself or others around him.

That Sense of Awe

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There was a sense of awe that I felt when I first arrived in Europe in June of 2010. There was a feeling of newness, a need to explore, a fascination of all things different from America. I felt it when I rode around with my host and saw the old fortification in the Nuremberg city walls. I felt it when I saw the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. I felt it when I saw Big Ben while riding the escalator up from the London tube.

Sadly for me, Europe has somewhat become predictable. The sense of awe strikes at times when I see a well known landmark, as in my last trip to Spain when I saw the Sagrada Familia. But the sense of awe is rarer now. I long for those days when I am in an iconic zone or when there is a sense of newness. I guess I feel the need to get out of my comfort zone and visit countries or cities which are a bit less predictable…..maybe a country I know little about. It could be a country which tourists rarely visit.

This may be why I’m considering places like Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, and the Caucuses for a vacation. “You went where?” my coworkers and friends would say. Yes, I did go there. It was off the beaten track, away from the rest of the tourists. I like to have a unique memory apart from what everyone else has done. Sure I could spend 7 days in Paris; tour the Eiffel Tower; the Louvre; etc. But everyone has done that! Not everyone has toured Sarajevo or Tbilisi. I could be the first to say “Sofia, Bulgaria is not a bad place to visit.” In fact many of these places are inexpensive.

So I will continue to search for that unique corner of the globe; that narrow alley; that special gift shop; each offering a unique sense of awe that I can’t find anywhere else.

All of Europe

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I have it on my bucket list to visit every country in Europe. I think it very do-able. So far I’ve been able to visit 16 European countries. By my count I have about 27 more to go, so I’m a little of a third of the way there.

First the easy ones.

I could easily visit Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in one trip with entry and exit via Copenhagen and Oslo. Same way with Benelux with entry or exit via Brussels, Amsterdam or Luxembourg. I could hit up Switzerland and Liechtenstein in another trip.

Poland, Ireland, Greece, Malta and Iceland would each be a trip all to themselves. Romania and Moldova *could* go together, although honestly I’m not sure there’s much to see in Moldova, albeit just getting a passport stamped.

I’d spend a bit more time in the former Yugoslavia, probably concentrating first on Croatia and Slovenia. These two are considered probably the most well developed former Yugoslav nations, both being part of the EU and NATO.

Then I’d head to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, and Bulgaria all countries which seem a bit more rustic, although maybe after visiting them I might see that they’re just as good as western Europe….who knows. I’d imagine Serbia and Bosnia be paired up, while Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania could go together. Same way with Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Georgia (European), Armenia, and Azerbaijan (both Asian) would be a great trip and they’re higher on my list, but I think it could be a little rough, if not very difficult (in travel time) to get to.

Next would be the more difficult countries…

Ukraine – I’d likely put this low on the bottom of my list at least for several years as there’s a war going on.
Belarus – As of writing this blog post I have found that Belarus recently lifted via requirements for travelers of 80 countries including the United States. But I’m kinda meh about Belarus anyways. I’m not sure there is much there if only to say I had been there.
Russia – It’s true Russia does require a visa except if you are on a cruise from a certain tour company from Helsinki. As long as you stay with your tour group in St. Petersburg, then you’d be ok without a visa. Honestly I do not have a desire to visit Moscow without a native to guide me…and that may happen if I can convince a former missionary to let me tag along.

Realistically probably last on my list (and almost forgotten) would be San Marino and Monaco. It would almost be an afterthought.

I realize I am very blessed to even dream this dream and even come close to doing this. This is truly a first world goal, especially when the majority of Americans don’t even travel abroad. I don’t take travel for granted and at the same time I’m always looking forward to my next trip.