 It’s almost four months in and we are increasingly feeling more at home in France. We still struggle with the language daily and are often frustrated that our progress feels so slow. Someone pointed out to us, (and this was very helpful), that at least we aren’t getting worse. Small, slow steps will get us there in the end, a bit of a “tortoise and the hair” analogy but we’ll take it. Life in France (or at least as we experience it) is peaceful and relaxed. The pace of life is different to what we have lived before, long lunch breaks and shops closed on Sundays has a way of slowing us down.
There is nothing quite like taking a leisurely stroll through a museum before picnicking in the park. During the Christmas holiday period we had the opportunity to visit several historical sites and museums. As a person who sees the value in studying history, I am in my element with the abundance there is to see in France. We looked at artifacts, pictures and portraits of people long gone. We could not help noticing the undeniable fallen nature of man in these testaments to revolution and resistance. Bloodshed and violence are the repeated theme in both wars of religion and irreligion that span our past. Death and destruction seem to be at the center of man’s history. We have fought each other because we look different, speak different languages, come from different social classes, do not share the same beliefs or borders, the list goes on and on. It serves as a reminder of the frailty and fallibility of man. France has an exceptionally violent past and even though it is not currently hosting a world war, the battle rages on. The fight is the same fight that we have all been in from the beginning. Each of us born into a war-zone with an enemy that would like nothing more than to destroy us. We often forget that our battle isn’t against flesh and blood. I myself am often guilty of this, not least when it comes to politics. I think the enemy is rather pleased when we face off against other people. People fighting other people means we aren’t fighting against the real enemy. I think that in each of our journeys we experience times of war and times of perceived peace. When we are in the war-zone we are aware of our need for God, our dependence on Him becomes greater. In facing persecution or difficulty we are often more aware of the struggle that rages for our hearts and minds and consciously choose to cling to Christ. In the times when we experience peace, or life is going well, complacency creeps in. Or maybe this is just me. We forget that regardless of the season we are in, all around us there is a clash of contrasting Kingdoms. Even though the victor is already determined, the loser is trying to draw as many as possible onto his sinking ship. Being aware of this, what should our response be? As a believer in Christ, as the church, we cannot leave any to drown on a ship they might not know is sinking. Our role is to pray, to love, to live as Christ did and in doing so to make his wisdom known to these rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Our prayer is that we would be fit to do this. Read more... |
