Life in reversed order

The Cathedral at Saint James in Santiago de Compostela is impressive both on the in and outside. Inside there are several plaques with 4 symbols: the moon and sun, and below it the Alpha and Omega signifying that God is the beginning and end. The Camino is a journey towards God and Santiago and is completed there. But outside above the door where the pilgrims leave, the symbols are reversed: Omega then Alpha. The end of the journey symbolizes a new beginning. Thus, the Camino doesn't end: you leave from Santiago, the end of your journey, for home and the journey begins anew. From the end you travel to the beginning. My new friends Rita and Walter from Antwerp have done 14 & 7 Caminos respectively. After showing them this image last night, I wished them: Buen Camino and they could only laugh, knowing they would be back to journey it again. Isn't this what church and worship services should be? We think we come to end our week, yet our coming to God and being in God's presence is moving from the end to a new beginning and a week full of journeys to the source of our faith that awaits us. Actually we should say to every worshiper when the service concludes: Buen Camino!

The fork in the road

The old saying is when you get to the fork in the road, take it. Silly advice. I once read that by taking the fork to the right you have a better chance of ending up at the right place. Today I totally had to rely on yellow scallop signs of the Camino to lead me through fields, roads, forests to arrive at my destination. At one fork, the scallop pointed to the left, thus I obeyed it. Today, we are confronted with forks in the road on multiple levels. We make insignificant and life-changing decisions and hope for the best. However, it has been my experience that when we allow a decision to grow clear to us and allow God into the process, the end result usually works out better. In my life God has been instrumental in my decisions regarding my career, spouse, where and when to accept or decline a call, all forks in the road.

Entertaining angels, i.e. being in God's presence

On my journey, with a limited command of either Spanish or Portuguese, there have been countless people who have helped me in various ways. Whether pointing me in the right direction on the map, or where to turn, or explaining what the food on the menu is. After 11 hours and 3 flights, an elderly couple who don't speak a word of English helped me on two different buses on the way to find my hotel. Luckily they lived only blocks away. When Iberia sent my bag to the wrong city 50 miles away, an English woman helped me find the hotel with my bag as well as explained options of where to find a bus or a train to my next destination. A young Spanish couple explained the train system to me. A woman on the train helped me find my station by showing me her map. At the hotel the young Adriana listened to my day-long endeavor to find my bag and get back on the Camino. Since the Post Office was already closed on Saturday, I would have to carry 7 pounds of extra weight through to Santiago. She offered to go to the Post Office on Monday and mail my package and also phoned the hotel to give them a heads up. This morning when I finished my 12 miles, an email was waiting that she had to go to Santiago's airport and would drop my package off at the hotel. The owner of the Pension I an staying at tonight drove out and picked me up, thus sparing me from being soaked with rain. They remind me of Abraham's hospitality to his visitors, who turned out to be angels or manifestations of God. In each of these people I have experienced something special. The Camino is not just walking 50 miles, it is rather the journey of discovering beauty, grace, kindness, help and reliance upon others.

When plans fall through

I have learned when traveling that you have to allow for your plans to fall through. Yesterday I went to see a specific castle and it was closed, today I planned to take a boat tour to view flamingoes but the tours are cancelled. It was frustrating to plan a route and be disappointed in the end. However, I unexpectedly found a winery today that invited me to a castle tour and winetasting. It turns out that this winery and several others are owned by a man who left South Africa and moved to Portugal. He decorated his property both on the in and outside with exquisite art and sculptures. He bought a 400 year-old castle and is restoring it slowly to its former glory. I was also able to visit a tile workshop which produces single and patterned tiles, all painted by hand. Two unplanned blessings. My life didn't turn out the way I planned it either. Yet, the surprises and new opportunities have far exceeded the disappointments. My family is blessed that God has led us to the US and specifically to Los Angeles. Hopefully there are still numerous surprises and adventures waiting to be stumbled upon when plans fall through.

What does an octopus and church have in common?

I drove to a little beach town, Peniche, to see more of Portugal. I set of looking for something specific for dinner: pulvo (octopus). I stopped and checked the menu at every restaurant: they were either closed because I was 6 hours early for dinner (it was 4pm) or they did not receive any octopus. So I backtracked to restaurants that looked too expensive and viola! I found one that actually had it. I placed my order, but the waiter brought me an assortment of starters: bread, shrimp, octopus salad and patee. I asked what they each cost and it was double what my meal cost. My octopus with tiny baked potatoes was divine. Later it struck me that my meal was an image of the church. People know what they want and seek different churches until they find the octopus, i.e. the right congregation. But, in my opinion, we offer them everything except what they ask for (or want): a personal experience with God in Christ, how to respond to the calling or stirring they felt. They want to hear sermons that affirm that God deeply loves them but also explains what it means to be a Christian in today's complex world. They want guidance and direction on how to feast on the pulvo, but we feed them bread and starters, which is not what I or they came for.

How to treat a wo(man) well

While drinking my wake-up cappuccino, an African woman came in and ordered two coffees. A guy came in, paid, and lovingly put his arm around her waist. All the while I am thinking: she is a prostitute. Sure enough, as I left she was drinking her €1 coffee (not even an espresso or cappucino!) and waited with another woman for the next client to come along. That's not the way that God in Christ treats us. Both Jesus and Paul use intimate and affectionate images of how we are the beautiful bride that is awaiting the arrival of her groom. Christ doesn't abuse us or take advantage of our economic disadvantage. No, in every painting and statue he is portrayed as the one giving his own life for us, and not asking any favors for his selfless act. Now that's how you treat a wo(man) well.

Prado museum

I found the Prado museum overwhelming. Looking at a few hundred paintings and statues immediately felt like my daily life: moving from person to person, meeting to meeting, crisis to crisis. I am bombarded with so much information and visuals on TV, internet, email, Facebook. Even the religious paintings blur into each other and doesn't grab you after a while. However, when the guidebook suggested certain paintings, I would search for them on the map and in the museum. Once I found them, I took time to read the description and admire them. Perhaps that's what we all need: a daily reminder amidst our crazy busyness of what is really important and spend some time just being present in God's presence. Thus, I am making a point of meeting new people every day, asking where they are from and seeing Christ at work while we converse in mangled English, Dutch and German.

Finding God in unexpected places (people)

This morning I set out for the Royal Palace and my silent prayer was: God, show yourself in small ways today. After my tour I bumped into two young women that I met at the airport yesterday trying to figure out the baggage claim and metro are. It turns out that they are nurses from Melbourne, Aus and they are on their way to Zambia to work in a clinic in the North for 6 months. I felt the stirring of the Spirit to pray for them. I explained that I am a pastor and would they mind if I blessed and prayed for them on their trip? It turns out that they are both Christians and very active!! So Mel, Steph and I had a God moment right in front of the palace. God is never absent, but ever present even in the stranger we might encounter today.

Madrid ethics

The check-in clerk at the Hostal pulled the old European trick of the creditcard machine is broken. It worked a few minutes so now I have to pay cash. Just more unreported cash on which I paid city taxes.

Had crepe with Jamon (Spanish cured ham) and quesa. Too die for. Went to a butchery/restaurant where beers and Breadroll with meat is only Euro1. While waiting I felt first felt the one zipper of my daypack then the second one being pulled open. I immediately knew who it  was: 3 elderly women who made a hasy exit. They must have seen me withdraw money a few minutes earlier. I kept my eyes on them and quickly checked my bag. They did not have time to open the 3rd zipper where I kept my money, phone and camera. what a rule awakening and welcome!!
There are thousands if people walking the streets, having a meal or just enjoying the evening.  The police are everywhere because of several rallies against the austerity measures.

May 14 start

On May 14, I will embark on my first ever sabbatical after 19 years of ministry. I am so thankful to the session of BPC for granting me this time away from ministry. I hope for it to be a time that  refreshes, renews, and revives me so that I can return to BPC with new enthusiasm and vision for my ministry. These 3 months will offer me time to rest, exercise, hike, travel, golf, read, pray, visit friends and spend time with my family and with God. I will visit Madrid, Lisbon, hike a portion of the El Camino in Northwestern Spain, Belgium, Australia and New Zealand. I would appreciate it if you would hold my family and I in prayer during this time.

Blessings Roché