WHY I WILL ALWAYS KEEP TRAVELLING

Well, here I am, home once again after my second international adventure within a year. I returned to my beloved England, explored the beautiful country of Wales, and had the incredible opportunity to spend two weeks in Israel (for those of you who didn't know... surprise!). My mind is whirling at everything I've done, all I've seen, everyone I've met and interacted with, and everything the Lord has shown me over the past two months. I never would have guessed I would be able to come back to England so soon, the place I love so much. And then to go to Israel as well? Jesus is too good to me. I have so many pictures and posts to show you, but honestly I am still processing it all. I haven't even been able to go through all my photos from Israel yet, just bits and pieces at a time.

Before my first trip to England in 2014, I had never been out of the country, never straying too far from my hometown. Now I've been to England, Scotland, Wales, and Israel (and if it counts, I've walked around outside the Geneva airport and gazed upon the Swiss Alps), which may not sound like much, but it's hopefully just the beginning. Because the more travelling I do, the more I am convinced the travel life is the life for me. And here are five reasons why...

travelling is knowledge.

Travel is one of my chosen forms of higher education. When I travel, I am learning every day. I am meeting people who are not like me, encountering foreign cultures, discovering history, immersing myself in newness. It is a massive, hands-on learning experience. Each person is different, for me I would choose touring Edinburgh Castle or walking along the Jerusalem wall or poring through Westminster Abbey over studying textbooks any day.

travelling is humbling.
I fall into the trap of getting comfortable in my own bubble and forgetting there is actually a world out there. My way is the only way, right? I don't need to change! This perspective shifted drastically once I stepped outside America. There are thousands of people and cultures around this globe, each of them unique, each of them bringing something different to the world. I don't know everything. I don't always know the right way. I still need to learn. Going to Israel, my first visit to a non-English-speaking country, put me in an extremely vulnerable position, as I was completely lost regarding the language, etiquette, and society. I had to be willing to grasp as I went, to follow, to be confused. Travelling urges me to be quiet, observe, and learn.


travelling is bravery.
Travelling brings out my brave side. I will try just about anything. Case in point: I have a terrible fear of the ocean, yet I splashed around in the water at Tel Aviv beach. Which sounds totally lame, but for me it was a big deal! (Though the sinkholes around the Dead Sea? WHO SAID THAT WAS OKAY.) Just the adrenaline of being in a new place, a new country, a new everything, pushes me to be adventurous. I challenge myself to conquer that fear, to strike up a conversation with that stranger, to reach out, to be fearless. I'm no longer satisfied with what's easy. I'm ready to branch out and be bold, even with something small like stepping foot in the ocean.

travelling is adventure.
Let's be honest.... travelling is just plain fun. The excitement and unknown thrills me down to my fingertips. Walking the streets of Jerusalem? Eating new foods? Jumping on trains and catching flights? Stumbling upon hidden gems? Snapping photos in front of Buckingham Palace? Yes, please.

travelling is trust.
I did not know what it meant to trust God before I booked an international flight and took off across the world by myself. True, I was going to stay with friends, but it was my first time overseas and I was alone, stripping away everything familiar, everything safe, everything comfortable. I researched what I could, but honestly, I had no clue what I was doing until I was in the middle of it. It was overwhelming and a lot to take in, and I could not have done it without Jesus. For the first time, I truly put my everything into His hands, trusting Him to protect me and guide me through His will. In a lot of ways, my solo travelling experiences have helped me discover what it truly means to be a follower of Christ, to fully submit and surrender to Him, and for that, it will always be a precious experience.

I am so thankful I've been able to live the travelling life, and I am eager to see where this new year will take me. I'm sure any of you travellers would agree with me. But for those of you who haven't made it far beyond your hometown, I would strongly encourage you to pack your bags and just go. Learn. Grow. Listen to what God has to teach you. Be changed. Explore. It's worth it.

What have you learned from travelling? Where have you been? Tell me your stories.

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TRAVELS: WALES

what you should know before going to Wales:

1. Vowels are optional in the Welsh alphabet, so don't expect to be able to pronounce anything.
2. Don't be surprised to discover ancient castles or ruins around every corner. No, really, it's totally normal.
3. The mountains in Wales have the ability to render you speechless and weak in the knees. Safety measures must be taken.

Last month, Jess + her mum + I escaped to the adorable country of Wales for a few days. We stayed in the cutest little cottage in the small village of Conwy and spent our time exploring castles, climbing mountains, and sipping coffee. This was my first time to Wales, and oh me oh my, it stole my heart. For one thing, I love mountains already (Colorado hollaaaa), but Welsh mountains are certainly something to behold. Wow. When we weren't on a mountain, we were having fish + chips by the sea and walking the castle walls and making friends with a sweet lady who worked in a bakery. We found colorful streets and hidden waterfalls and fairy forests and ancient ruins. In the evenings, we snuggled in our cottage and watched Jane Eyre and had tea and sweets by the fire.

The day we arrived, Jess and I took a train up Mount Snowdon (I cannot recommend this highly enough!). The summit view was magnificent. I know it's been said many times before, but it is astounding to me that God would make the world so beautiful. He didn't have to. He didn't need to. He could have made the world like a little gray piece of paper. But He didn't, and we just get to enjoy it and marvel at the magnitude of His design. If this little holiday taught me anything, it was Jesus is simply too good to us.

Wales, you were lovely and I miss you.

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"ATTICUS? I THINK I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH."

*(For brevity's sake, I am going to assume you have either read Go Set a Watchman, or are at least familiar with the controversy surrounding it. I have neither time nor inclination to rehash all the details or plotline. Because I'm annoying like that. And I will deepen that annoyance by revealing there are spoilers ahead. Heh heh.)

I was ecstatic, marked my calendar. Then I heard the rumors, saw the shocking headlines. I was nervous, almost scared. To read or not to read was certainly the question of the day.

I chose read. And I am so happy I did.

I can see why some critics painted Harper Lee's second novel, Go Set a Watchman, as a near-failure. True, it was no where near as well-written and expertly developed as her first, To Kill a Mockingbird. Honestly, I can forgive that because after all, it was technically her first draft of Mockingbird (if you saw some of my first drafts... it's not pretty). But it was good. It was different, heartfelt, raw. Where Mockingbird was written through a child's eyes, Watchman gives us a take on life from the perspective of the now adult Jean Louise (Scout). All the illusions and blind spots of Jean Louise's childhood are gone; instead, she begins to discover the world, and the people in it, as it really is, with all its flaws and confusion and darkness.  

A flawed world which includes Atticus Finch.

Atticus Finch is one of literature's greatest triumphs. I certainly didn't want to believe the rumors of his supposed transformation into a raving, bloodthirsty racist. I'm glad I didn't, because it just wasn't true. In most ways, the Atticus Finch of Go Set a Watchman was the same Atticus Finch of To Kill a Mockingbird. This time, I was simply seeing him without the rose-colored glasses of a little girl who adores her father.

After being away from home, adult Jean Louise visits Atticus back in Maycomb and is shocked to unveil his opinions and actions toward segregation. Yes, I disagreed (sometimes strongly) with Atticus on some of his views. But he is simply a man who sees the world changing around him and tries to handle it in what he perceives as the most logical way. Like any human out there, he has flaws, his perceptions can be wrong, and he makes mistakes. He expressed condescending, segregated views, of which I did not approve and sided firmly with Jean Louise. But did I see a bloodthirsty, arrogant man full of hate? No. He is still the Atticus who defended Tom Robinson (and would readily do it again), a loving father who cares for his children, a strong man who believes in justice. Every man's island, Jean Louise, every man's watchman, is his conscience.

So did I love and adore Go Set a Watchman? Not exactly. I appreciated its heart, the characters, the emotional tension, and the conflict. My favourite bits were the often humorous flashbacks to Scout's childhood, particularly the scenes involving Dill (though was anyone else tremendously upset about Jem's death?). But I'm not going to say it was an easy read, that I enjoyed being on differing sides with my beloved Atticus Finch. Some of his opinions were disappointing. But unlike what reviews said, he wasn't cruel or violent or even shockingly changed. He was just flawed (like we all are), and Harper Lee finally let us see those flaws in all their true colors.

I don't know if any of this makes sense or if it just sounds contradictory. I know there are faithful fans who were heartbroken over this book, but I'm glad I read it. I wasn't crushed. I didn't hate Atticus for his way of thinking or feel betrayed by Harper Lee. Go Set a Watchman reminded me even the best of us have our downfalls and heroes aren't perfect. Like Scout realized when she stopped idolizing her father, we can't see people how we want them to be; we have to see them for who they really are, even when the truth is hard to face. People may disagree and have their differences, but that's okay. The Atticuses in our lives will fail us sometimes, but what matters is how we react, how we forgive, and how we love.

(And hate me if you will, but I'm still a big fan of Atticus Finch.)

Okay. I'm done now. It's your turn! What are you thoughts on Go Set a Watchman? Tell me all.