The Adventures That Await Us!

 

“As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.”*

A trip to Holland to see the tulips… sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Al and I were able to   go there without even leaving the country! Holland, Michigan is situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, not far from where we live. It is well known for its beautiful tulip displays in the spring when the weather begins to warm up. 

The actual tulip festival was still a couple of weeks away, but Al and I decided to make a reservation at a hotel for a few nights, hoping that at least some tulips would be open. If the weather didn’t cooperate, it would still be fun to explore the town.

When asked for ideas on what to see while we were there, friends gave us the names of  favorite restaurants and museums. It was nice having a list to follow and making plans based on their recommendations.

After arriving in Holland, we had plenty of time to visit two of the parks on the list, Centennial and Riverview. Centennial Park was located near the hotel, so we chose that one first.

Al and I followed the winding walkways around the park, stopping at the statue of Reverend Albertus C. Van Raalte, the founder of Holland and Hope College during the 1800’s. The college was so named as to be an “anchor of hope” for immigrants from the Netherlands and elsewhere. We enjoyed the attractive landscaping, even though the tulips were just opening.

From there, we drove to the second park on the list along the Macatawa River. While walking through the tulip gardens at the Riverview Park, a woman stopped me with a question: “So what’s your favorite color of tulip?”

“Oh, it’s a tie between red and pink!” I responded

She and her little dog, Sophie, were out for a walk that day. Our meeting turned out to be a blessing, as she shared her love for Christ and for the Bible with us. We prayed together before saying good-bye and promised to keep in touch. Meeting her was an example of God’s perfect timing working in our lives.

The Lord’s timing and guidance was evident again the next day at the Kruizenga Art Museum on the campus of Hope College, a faith-based Liberal Arts institution. A member of Al’s men’s group had told him to look up the curator of the museum who was a personal friend.

As it turned out, the curator was getting ready to make a presentation to a group of senior citizens about a collection of portraits on display, the project of college students in a class he had recently taught. After we introduced ourselves, he said it would be fine to sit in on the talk, which turned out to be very informative.

One of the pieces of art that was discussed was a framed print of an engraving entitled “Saint Veronica’s Veil,” by Claude Mellan in 1649. According to legend, a woman offered Jesus her veil as He carried the cross to Golgotha. The image of his face was miraculously imprinted on the veil. The “Sudarium” or “sweat cloth,” became a cherished icon in the Catholic church; and the compassionate woman became known as Saint Veronica.

Mellan’s work was unique from other engravings in that it was done with one continuous line, spiraling outward from the tip of Christ’s nose. In his masterpiece, the artist skillfully conveyed the sadness in Jesus’ eyes, the pain and suffering on His face.

When the presentation was over, Al and I thanked the curator before embarking on a search for a restaurant on the list, as it was getting to be time for dinner.

I am always amazed at the way God guides us when we give Him the freedom to do so, and how he brings special individuals into our lives—people who enrich and bless us, people for us to enrich and bless as best we can. Walking with Jesus is an adventure, no matter where we are!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3: 20-21 NIV)

 

  *Oswald Chambers (1874-1916)