Adventure week 2…

Time to pack my bags and head out from the northern part of Greece to explore more stops in the middle and southern parts. The peacefulness and simplicity of having a home base in the north in which to do daily ventures from has been enjoyable. We will now split our trip up into 5 new locations with a couple nights in 3 of them. This is when I begin to realize I could probably have packed more efficiently than I did. Too late now! So onto the bus and headed to Meteora. This part of the journey involved lots of driving, including hairpin turns on mountainous roads as we climbed in altitude. Beautiful views from above included vast valleys of wheat ready to harvest, olive groves and fresh planted fields in a pattern that quilts the land in an adorning fashion.

With another turn, we can see before us something new, almost out of place…rocks jutting up, out of the earth. Named Meteora in antiquity for the possibility that meteors fell to the earth to create these enormous rock pillars and formations.  Situated on the very tops, this monastery of old was created via a system of ropes and ladders to build a place to seek God in solitude and worship. We climbed approximately 200 steps to visit the particular location which was open to us that day. One of the other sites has over a 1,000 to reach it. The perspective and views were breathtaking, as was the thought of what it took to create all of this.

From Meteora we headed to the springs of Thermopylae. This is the site where Leonidas and 300 Spartans stopped to bathe before the battle with the Persians in the early 5th century B.C. It was once opened to the public with a hotel on location. However, today it houses refugees escaping the horrors currently taking place in Syria. I watched two young girls, about 5 and 7, who splashed in a small pool of water from the springs that had collected in the rocks. I can’t imagine how hard it was for these families, getting there and even staying there, but how incredibly grateful their parents must feel to be in a safe place with their children. It is all about perspective. As a parent, my heart struggles for them.

From there we headed to Delphi for dinner and a nights sleep. We would be exploring the “belly button” of the earth the following day. Aa a village built on the mountainside, the streets only allowed one vehicle to pass through. This required quick bus and luggage unloading as cars must wait for you to do so. This village was so endearing. Filled with quaint shops and boutique hotels, we wandered in and out exploring all it had to offer.

In the morning after breakfast, we headed to the ancient ruins of the oracle of Delphi. Our time was very pleasant as we visited the museum and the old site. The clouds and a rain shower kept it cool. The museum held the oldest known piece of musical score from approximately 2nd century B.C. The words were written with notations above for the musical portion. So amazing to see in person! The stories from Delphi help to explain and bring perspective to Paul’s writing to the Corinthians with regards to prophesy. There is no record of him visiting the oracle but the influence, on a city so close, was evident. Paul was not only a Jew, and a Roman citizen, but educated and knowledgable in many things Greek. God equipped him to bring truth to so many in this region.

From Delphi, we headed to the outskirts of Athens. Enjoying a day of rest and sun at the beach, we had time to reflect on our journey from northern Greece to the upcoming exploration of the southern portion. That evening we visited the Temple of Poseidon. It was amazing to visit a place where so many others have stepped foot over the centuries. I was able to sit and listen to the sounds that have always been there…the waves, the birds, and the breeze. Surrounded by the ocean, with columns in view, the sun lit up the sky with a beautiful sunset. I am one of so many, through history, who have had the privilege of seeing all of this.

Loading the bus, we were off to discover all we could about Corinth. The enormity of this site is overwhelming. Only about 5% of the entire ancient city has been excavated. Situated between the sea port below and the Acrocorinth looming above, Corinth was once a bustling city where Paul spent a year and a half working and ministering the gospel to a culture steeped in Greek customs and rituals. It is difficult to grasp all Paul wrote in his letters to this church without taking in to account the life and culture within which they had been living in their entire lives. I sat in the shade of a tree and started reading I Corinthians in light of where I sat. I won’t ever be able to read it again without thinking of all I learned.

The remainder of our trip in Greece consisted of more museums, more ancient rocks, and the Olympic arena. I am trying to treasure up all that I have experienced knowing with my saturation point hit, it may not stick. Pictures and conversations will help assimilate more of this information, but my heart will be wrestling out knowledge and wisdom of this experience for some time to come.

 

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
So grateful He generously gives wisdom to those of us who ask!

Israel will be on the blog next week!