Prayer
Title: Prayer
Subject: Prayer
May God bless you this day ... to stand in love in the midst of fear!
I have returned. For the better part of two weeks I've been touring Scotland. From the Lowlands to the Highlands. From the crowded city streets of Edinburgh to the rugged landscape of the Isle of Skye. My fellow travelers and I put more than 1700 miles behind us in seven days as we terrorized the locals with my driving skills, never before having driven on the left side of the road. Each village we visited had signs with "Please drive carefully" prominently painted on them. Apparently they had learned of my arrival into their country. I also learned that when helpful Scotsmen say, "Oh, it's just up that wee road a bit," it's best to camp for the night.
"Wee road" came to mean a single lane for two way traffic, each supposedly giving way to the other in small, I mean, wee turn outs called lay-bys.
One wee road carried us about 10 miles, much of it just a few feet next to a winding, cascading river. Fortunately I personally did not see that.
It was already quite dark as I drove up and down the many rises and falls in the road, maintaining my constant lookout for headlights approaching in the night. Besides, I was much too busy naming the wee lay-bys, such as It's coming right at us! Bend, Dear Jesus! Curve, Oh my Lord, where's the road! Drop, and my personal favorite, We're all gonna die! Turn.
So why was I in Scotland anyway? Well, as with most things, what I thought were the reasons weren''t. For my first trip outside the U.S., I wanted to see where many of my ancestors lived. The Grahams are a rather large Scottish Clan with a long history. A leader in the charter of Holyrood Abbey, the Great Montrose, Bonnie Dundee, the Earls of Menteith. All Grahams and each with his own story. Renown chemists, poets, and lawyers. Even the man who returned the Clan way of life to Scotland was a Graham.
And I also needed some rest. The work of Ciloa had become exhausting. I needed some time away from decisions, from writing, from the Notes. I needed time where I didn't have to think so much, where I could simply enjoy the land and the people, where my biggest decision would be, "Do I really want to try some haggis, and what is this black pudding stuff, anyway?"
Those were my reasons but they were based on the assumption that "I" had chosen to go to Scotland. I was wrong. Over those few days, I came to realize God had sent me there. He wanted me to connect with the past of my ancestors and to get some rest, but there was much more. For ten days He guided me through the countryside, showing me new cultures, sights, sounds, and tastes. He introduced me to new people, some foreign even to this land. And He did all of this to teach me more about who He is, who I am, and what He wants me to know. Every second of every day, He was with me, telling me what to share in these Notes to encourage others in the days to come. And my lessons began the very first day.
We arrived in Scotland early in the morning and after finally renting our ''people carrier'' made our way into the country, to the village of Roslin. There sits the medieval sanctuary known as Rosslyn Chapel. Built in 1446, it is an ancient, stone church still used for services to this day. It is best known for its many intricate carvings that line the walls and ceilings. Though a Christian structure, it has many pagan symbols as well. We wandered through the building, inspected the statues, and stood amazed at the efforts of those more than 500 years ago. Then we came to a corner where people could write prayer requests in a large book and perhaps light a candle. I read a few until I reached the following.
"Please pray for me, Anna, to stand in love in the midst of fear."
I had come more than 4000 miles, flown across a great ocean, and driven into a land that was strange to me. But in this ancient church so far from family and friends, God showed me once again that there are always those around us who need Him, who need to experience His love through us, and who need to know that we are there for them. I did not come to Scotland to forget my mission, but to remember it.
Keep your eyes and heart open to the opportunities God gives you each day, and always remember to Encourage one another as long as it is called
Today! Hebrews 3:13
Take care and be God's,
Chuck
Ciloa ... Encouraging one another as long as it is called Today!
Ciloa is a registered trademark of Ciloa, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
A Note of Encouragement is a copyright interest held by Ciloa, Inc.
I have returned. For the better part of two weeks I've been touring Scotland. From the Lowlands to the Highlands. From the crowded city streets of Edinburgh to the rugged landscape of the Isle of Skye. My fellow travelers and I put more than 1700 miles behind us in seven days as we terrorized the locals with my driving skills, never before having driven on the left side of the road. Each village we visited had signs with "Please drive carefully" prominently painted on them. Apparently they had learned of my arrival into their country. I also learned that when helpful Scotsmen say, "Oh, it's just up that wee road a bit," it's best to camp for the night.
"Wee road" came to mean a single lane for two way traffic, each supposedly giving way to the other in small, I mean, wee turn outs called lay-bys.
One wee road carried us about 10 miles, much of it just a few feet next to a winding, cascading river. Fortunately I personally did not see that.
It was already quite dark as I drove up and down the many rises and falls in the road, maintaining my constant lookout for headlights approaching in the night. Besides, I was much too busy naming the wee lay-bys, such as It's coming right at us! Bend, Dear Jesus! Curve, Oh my Lord, where's the road! Drop, and my personal favorite, We're all gonna die! Turn.
So why was I in Scotland anyway? Well, as with most things, what I thought were the reasons weren''t. For my first trip outside the U.S., I wanted to see where many of my ancestors lived. The Grahams are a rather large Scottish Clan with a long history. A leader in the charter of Holyrood Abbey, the Great Montrose, Bonnie Dundee, the Earls of Menteith. All Grahams and each with his own story. Renown chemists, poets, and lawyers. Even the man who returned the Clan way of life to Scotland was a Graham.
And I also needed some rest. The work of Ciloa had become exhausting. I needed some time away from decisions, from writing, from the Notes. I needed time where I didn't have to think so much, where I could simply enjoy the land and the people, where my biggest decision would be, "Do I really want to try some haggis, and what is this black pudding stuff, anyway?"
Those were my reasons but they were based on the assumption that "I" had chosen to go to Scotland. I was wrong. Over those few days, I came to realize God had sent me there. He wanted me to connect with the past of my ancestors and to get some rest, but there was much more. For ten days He guided me through the countryside, showing me new cultures, sights, sounds, and tastes. He introduced me to new people, some foreign even to this land. And He did all of this to teach me more about who He is, who I am, and what He wants me to know. Every second of every day, He was with me, telling me what to share in these Notes to encourage others in the days to come. And my lessons began the very first day.
We arrived in Scotland early in the morning and after finally renting our ''people carrier'' made our way into the country, to the village of Roslin. There sits the medieval sanctuary known as Rosslyn Chapel. Built in 1446, it is an ancient, stone church still used for services to this day. It is best known for its many intricate carvings that line the walls and ceilings. Though a Christian structure, it has many pagan symbols as well. We wandered through the building, inspected the statues, and stood amazed at the efforts of those more than 500 years ago. Then we came to a corner where people could write prayer requests in a large book and perhaps light a candle. I read a few until I reached the following.
"Please pray for me, Anna, to stand in love in the midst of fear."
I had come more than 4000 miles, flown across a great ocean, and driven into a land that was strange to me. But in this ancient church so far from family and friends, God showed me once again that there are always those around us who need Him, who need to experience His love through us, and who need to know that we are there for them. I did not come to Scotland to forget my mission, but to remember it.
Keep your eyes and heart open to the opportunities God gives you each day, and always remember to Encourage one another as long as it is called
Today! Hebrews 3:13
Take care and be God's,
Chuck
Ciloa ... Encouraging one another as long as it is called Today!
Ciloa is a registered trademark of Ciloa, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
A Note of Encouragement is a copyright interest held by Ciloa, Inc.
