Lessons Learned, So Far

Having arrived at our retreat in Brittany and slowed our pace considerably, I’ve had time to reflect on what I’ve learned about myself and living in a foreign land for the last few weeks. Here are some of the lessons I’ve been taught. Some of them are humbling!

• Speaking slower and louder in English does not help communication. Neither does adding a “le” or “du” to English words.  I know. I've actually tried all these!
• Most cities in Europe (at least, not the ones we’ve visited) are not laid out in a grid pattern like many in the States. You can’t turn left four times and assume you’ll end up where you started.
• It can be very dangerous to cross the street in England. The cars drive on the opposite side of the road from the USA. This means you have to look in the opposite direction from what you’re accustomed to. This is more difficult than it seems. It’s easy to walk out in front of oncoming traffic.
• Moving from Paris to London was quite an experience, language-wise. Surprisingly, getting off the train and hearing people speak in English took a bit of reorientation. You had to concentrate and say to yourself, “This is English! I should be able to understand what’s being said!” Right after arriving in Bath, having gotten accustomed to trying to translate everything I heard or read from French to English for a week, I found myself trying to translate English words into English!
• Not that the language spoken in England is without its challenges. A Welsh friend is fond of describing England and the USA as being “two great countries divided by a common language.” He’s absolutely right! You have to really concentrate to have an ongoing conversation with the English. For anyone fond of watching one of the great BBC shows on TV, you know what I’m talking about. It has its own learning curve.
• We’re loving the sense of not having a schedule. We’re also enjoying our time together. Yet, there are challenges to learning how to communicate with each other apart from the hustle and bustle of our normal schedules. God is blessing us with a deeper line of communication that just is not possible when we’re immersed in the normal day-to-day routine.
• We’ve been blessed with amazingly hospitable hosts who have graciously provided a nearly new car for us to use, a Renault Cleo. Taking a drive in a foreign country where you neither read nor speak the language presents its own set of challenges. Caution is the rule of the day. If you get lost, it’s far more difficult to ask for directions. Even something as simple as finding a parking space can be a challenge! Where can you park? For how long?
• Last year, Kelly had a strong desire to reacquaint herself with the French she took in high school. She’s done an amazing job in basic communication with the locals but we’ve both had to rely on some hand waving and pointing at times.
• Too much self-confidence can be costly. I seldom feel out of place or lost in a foreign city. I often imagine myself "moving through the crowd like Peter Lorre" with that calm, observant, always aware look he managed to keep on his on his face in the movies. Well apparently, there are others who feel the same way and do a much better job of "contemplating a crime" than I do. I got pickpocketed on the subway. Thank the Lord, just before we left the hotel, Kelly and I divided our cash between ourselves so, the thieves only got half of what we had on us, not enough to cause any great alarm but enough to sober me up on keeping my pockets zipped and shut, keeping my cash and important papers more secure. I could have lost my passport! We’re praising God that He protected us. Things could have been far worse. He has taught us a gentle lesson in being “wise as serpents but gentle as doves.”
• On a similar note, while we have been mightily blessed with our downtime, we miss our family and our church family. Being isolated has its advantages but it has its down sides as well. Having the time to simply sit and meditate has been wonderful. Being apart from those we love and not communicating with them daily is a bit more of a challenge.

That’s about it for now. I mentioned earlier that Kelly and I are going through Tim Keller’s “Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy With God.” For me, it’s been eye-opening. It has driven me back to Psalms and some of the messages we’ve heard over the last few weeks.

This morning, I was particularly struck with Psa 1:1-2

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Reading and pondering it made me deeply appreciative of the opportunity to meditate on His word today. One of my prayers is that each of you has the same blessing.

We’re watching the news and keeping abreast of what’s happening. With the devastation of Harvey and now watching Irma bearing down and Jose not far behind, you and your families are in our prayers and thoughts constantly.