Return with the Elixir
It's been two weeks since our adventure returned us home. Life has taken on a more familiar routine as I come home to my family, drive my car, order Chick-fil-A (in English), and use bathrooms for free. Yet there is an element of mourning woven into my return to "normalcy." No more do I enjoy the cool summer mornings, or rush across train platforms at the mercy of the DeutchBahn, or spend weekends traveling to a new country or castle or museum. My return was inevitable, and the sadness does not persist. Part of the Hero's Journey- that our trip modeled- includes the joyful return to the normal world: a return with the acquired elixir.
If this were a fictional novel, the elixir might be some potion or sword or maybe even a ring. However, my adventure was not magical in the same sense, and so my prize gained at the end of this journey looks very different. Instead, my elixir lies in the form of many new lessons I have learned while abroad. There are plenty of practical lessons as a result of constant travel and new countries. I am chaotically familiar with train systems, for example, and have learned a number of German words and phrases. But there are a great deal of less obvious, and less expected, additions to my insights after studying and traveling with such bright girls and great professors.
First and foremost: sing everywhere! How wonderful it is to be so unapologetically joyful! I admit I began this journey with the desire to be as minimally tourist-y as possible, that is, to not draw attention to how obviously non-native I was. But at the end of the day, I am a foreigner, and happily so! Why should I be shy about our large group of 21 loud-ish Americans traversing cities in blatant and excited exploration? We were not disrespectful or disruptive, but ourselves. And that did include singing random songs no matter where we were. Let me tell you, if the History of Medicine girls ever want to form a choir, you're in for a real treat. Our witness, no matter where we are or what the context is, always increases with actions performed in joy, and this is true of every big moment as well as every walk down the street.
In regard to our educational studies, the course matter was absolutely captivating. Dr. Wasser provided incredible lectures on ancient medicine, medical saints, Da Vinci, midwives, and more: all woven together with art history and Christianity! One of the significant take-aways from each lecture and museum tour was how very intricate the human body is. Every minute part of us is elaborately and purposefully designed, from the primary vortex of our aortic valve, to the sweat glands activated in a sauna. With such intricacy comes an awe for an undeniable Creator. My wonder only increased as the sheer significance of the Incarnation shone even brighter. While the study of our bodies increases appreciation and amazement for our body's function, it also leads to a more acute recognition of our vulnerability. To a certain extent, we are incredibly delicate creatures. As Dr. Wasser described, after the Fall, we saw the first need for medicine; our bodies became prone to illness and injury. Studying diseases and the psychology of humans over the course of centuries is mildly terrifying- health can be so volatile! And yet, in His great mystery, the very Creator of our bodies came into this world as his own, vulnerable creation. God became human, taking on every vulnerability and physical weakness for our sake. I will never cease to be amazed at the beautiful interconnection between faith and biology as our bodies reflect the very power of the Heavens.
I've shared my reflections on wandering already, but this lesson of freedom has truly resonated so strongly during this journey. Wandering became clear to me as not just a physical attitude, but a mental one, too. There is a wandering that results fruitfully from a surrender to situations out of our control. I had every possible train ticket, confirmation receipt, etc printed and saved on my phone for our early travels. I downloaded various German transportation apps and maps, sure that they would all be able to get us where we needed to be. There's a saying to the effect of "Man plans and God laughs." Well, I look back on my early expectations of travel and laugh, too. I laugh, because you can have every app you need, every document or ticket printed out, and then end up in the middle of nowhere relying completely on a random Dutch man in jorts to get you to your destination. God provides in the most mysterious, sometimes hilarious, ways! And that I have learned well. Even in a foreign country on a stinky train, I am constantly being provided and cared for. Our guardian angels need more shout outs.
The chapter of my life abroad comes to a close with this final blog post. It has been a most incredible story full of adventure, rich in blessings, and sprinkled with entertaining chaos. I consider all that I have learned to be a preparation for countless journeys to come, and while I may not have a material or obvious elixir to display from my adventure, there are so many new perspectives and admirations held within me. As I return now to a different chapter, I hope to actively and subconsciously live all that I have learned. May each day be embraced for the opportunities it holds: to sing in the street, to leave off cellular data, to make no plans and see where we end up, to reflect on the mysteries of medicine and health, to ask strangers for help, and to let God provide for us in a way no amount of control or planning can.
Thank you for being a part of my journey and one of my many blessings!
Liebe,
Trinity
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