About 2 hours north of Bratislava lies the small village known as Bojnice which has been featured on the blog before. Enjoy these photos while I share some on-going reflections of my experience here.
I am apprehended by awe and wonder as God continues to use these challenging and unique circumstances in my life (living in Slovakia) to reveal deeper mysteries about the journey from cradle to grave and beyond. As always, the test is to properly understand what God desires to reveal and then to make it a reality in daily life. As I have said earlier in the blog there are many cultural differences between Slovakia and Minnesota. However, in many ways living here is not so different from Minnesota. The weather is quite similar most of the time. The food is also comparable in many respects. All the various forms of artistic expression have their influence in society and culture. Hockey and sports in general are an important part of the cultural fabric. And the rhythms of life flow in much the same way. People raise their children with love and discipline, go to work each day looking forward to vacation and holidays and strive for a better future for their children’s sake.

The differences between living here and there are more subtle in nature and therefore more difficult to express with words. Perhaps I will understand more as time goes by but for now it seems that the effects of living here are more apparent to me, although this too requires much deciphering to comprehend it. As of late, my internal awareness has been keenly confronted by the reality of the insignificance of temporal experiences (the things we can see, touch, hear…). For me, this is such a difficult concept to wrap my mind around. The reason it’s so difficult is obvious, temporal experiences appear to be the most “real” aspect of our existence. As soon as we open our eyes in the morning our brains are taking in the data brought in by our eyes, ears and skin…so the things that we see, hear and touch become our primary focus. But what of the unseen realities? What can we know about them and how can we go about discovering these truths? God is teaching me more about the futility of focusing on (and putting energy into) the things I can see with my physical eyes. The truly significant things are eternal and can only be seen with the eyes of my heart and a mind transformed by truth.

One of the exciting things about being in relationship with the God of the universe is the different ways He “speaks” to us. God seems to be quite thematic in His way of communicating. For example, so often the book I’m reading at the time, the particular place in the bible I am studying, the words I’m hearing from the pulpit at church and conversations I have with others all have the same basic theme. Only God could weave all of these life experiences together in a meaningful way at one moment in time. Most recently the theme for me is focusing on, and finding true significance in, the things in this world which cannot be seen (or touched, heard…). For whatever reason, living apart from everything I came to embrace as familiar and comfortable has given me a unique opportunity to hear God speak more acutely to these core life mysteries. How easy is it for us as human beings to put more stock and significance in what we work at and plan for? How long does it take to become consumed and driven by our human desires for excellence, pleasure and success? For me, it’s a short trip and ultimately it becomes an invisible barrier between the physical world and the spiritual realm.

Have you ever asked yourself what it would be like to achieve the highest level of every personal goal? What is waiting for us at the end of that road, to have every whim and desire fulfilled in a perfect way? There is an interesting commentary in the bible in Ecclesiastes by a guy named Solomon. Solomon was King David’s son and according to the bible was the richest and wisest man to ever live. At one point in his life he decided that he was going to allow himself to fulfill every desire that came to his mind, he would withhold nothing from himself. Because of his money, power and incredible wisdom he would be able to reach amazingly high in this personal endeavor. After his quest came to an end he basically said it all came to nothing. In other words there is really nothing at the end of that road, no satisfaction, no fulfillment, and no utopia. One author I’ve been reading recently asks the inevitable question: if nothing here in this life, in this world, can truly bring me to a place of contentment, then I must have been created for another place, another purpose. There must be more to our reality than this life. For me, that mentality follows because the designer of this existence is obviously amazing beyond what we can fathom. For that reason alone, there has to be more than the predominate darkness and pain we have in this world, which can be also grand and beautiful at times.

Here lies yet another truth that I have been aware of to some degree for many years but am now receiving a deeper understanding of. With that depth of understanding comes a deeper contentment and peace as I embrace the reality that there is so much more to look forward to beyond this world. The reality of this world is that ultimately no matter how much we acquire or achieve the end result is only a hunger which cannot be satisfied. The hunger, I believe, has a very specific purpose. It serves as a compass which points us in the direction of the only thing in all of reality that can truly satisfy our every desire and the one place where the fulfillment of that reality will finally, and eternally, be realized. Naturally I am referring to the one, true God and the place (or realm) where eternity unfolds. And this reality will never be found or seen in the physical realm.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18)

Some of you may remember Fero from past blog segments. Fero is 16, speaks excellent english and is a super athlete. Fero has near perfect grades, plays a mean trumpet and is involved in a variety of after school activities. Recently Fero and I had a little tennis match. I think Fero enjoys making the old guy run around the court until I cant breath anymore. We always have a good time though. Thanks Fero for the tennis lessons.