Elaine and I on a Motu off Tahaa, French Polynesia, January 2004
Right Under our Noses
My daughter Elaine and I have traveled together to many places. We’ve visited French Polynesia three times. We’ve been to Hawaii, to Texas, to Las Vegas, and taken more weekend road trips than I can count. One of my favorite trips, though, was our visit to Boston in 2002. Elaine was considering enrolling at the Berklee College of Music and we spent a week in the city to visit the campus and explore the area.
I’d been to Boston only once before, traveling with my family when I was 17. We had an appointment for an orientation and tour of the campus at 10 AM. Not being familiar with the city, we decided to take the T (Boston’s subway) to the Back Bay, locate the campus, then enjoy breakfast in the neighborhood before returning to the school for orientation.
Now, this plan of ours may sound like a simple, sound plan for the morning, but in fact I had designed the morning’s events carefully to address my unreasoning fear of getting lost on the way to An Important Appointment. This visit to Berklee was the point of our trip; I had visions of us getting lost, arriving late, missing the tour, or suffering some other disaster on our way to the school.
She and I were both nervous and excited. We exited the subway and walked down Boylston Street, watching the street numbers on the buildings to make sure we were headed the right way.
Suddenly there it was: We were standing before an unassuming door marked “Berklee College of Music.” She and I stood there in silence for a moment. Then Elaine said, “wow.” My eyes filled a little as I thought of my daughter and her dreams, and the steps we were taking to explore them.
Satisifed that we’d located our destination, we headed back up the street for breakfast.
We’d prepared for challenges in finding what we sought, but it was right before us. Seeking God can be just like that. I expect the search for Him to be hard, when all I really need to do is stop and look around me.
6 You formed the mountains by Your power
and armed Yourself with mighty strength.
7 You quieted the raging oceans
with their pounding waves
and silenced the shouting of the nations.
8 Those who live at the ends of the earth
stand in awe of Your wonders.
From where the sun rises to where it sets,
You inspire shouts of joy.
Psalm 65:6-8 (NLT)
Recent Comments