Miscellaneous life learning...

It’s crazy to think that only three short weeks ago we were just arriving in the beautiful town of Heidelberg, but that feels like a lifetime away.  This is probably because I was a different “Sarah” prior to this trip.  I believe that in such a short time I have already changed in many ways.  They say travel truly broadens your horizons, and so far it certainly has broadened mine.

            For one, it has been a very spiritual journey.  Never in my life have I been surrounded by so many people who share different beliefs than me. I could have let this scare me, but I have instead chosen to embrace it.  This whole experience has shown me firsthand how people of my religion, Christianity, truly do put themselves in a bubble often times.  Our eyes are closed to people who do not share our faith, and this often causes us to lose excellent opportunities to make amazing friends and make positive impacts.  Instead, we turn our backs in judgment, and this is very scary to me.  I’ve seen a different side of Christianity during this trip that I had never noticed before.  It’s the side that I sadly believe that the world often sees, and this makes me sick. Unfortunately, believers, still have quite a way to go to live the way Christ taught us to live. 

             Furthermore, a big thing I pray for is that Christians will be known for what we do rather than what we don’t do.  We get so caught up in “not doing this” and “not doing that” that we forget what we should do.  This gives christians a stigma of being hateful, which is the complete opposite of what we should be known for.  I hope that if I stand for Christ, what I stand against will be implied. 

             I know none of this has much to do with the travel I have been doing in Germany, but these are things that have been heavy on my heart the past couple of weeks.  I believe that if I had not gone on this trip, the realizations I have reached would not have come as easily.  I'm very thankful for it all, and I'm very excited for what is yet to come on the remainder of this amazing adventure!