Summer Travel Reflections (Part 1)

God has blessed me with a renewed sense of His majesty. I took a trip along with my family in celebration of graduations from university studies—mine from Biola, and my brother from UCLA. Our first stop was in England, then we went to Scotland, Ireland, and Switzerland. The beauty of God’s creation surrounded us and now, upon our return, I am grateful that the views are stamped on my mind. I would like to post some photos as a way of sharing the beauty with you. In London, the British Museum is filled with artifacts from around the world. We took two days to marvel at the displays, and we still did not enter every room.

There you can find the Rosetta Stone prominently on display, and it is a highlight to stand in front of and marvel at. The stone showcases different languages proclaiming a priestly decree and dates back to March 27, 196 BC. It was discovered in 1799 by soldiers in Napoleon’s army as they invaded Roshid (Rosetta) in Egypt. The Rosetta Stone was surrendered by the French to the British as part of the Treaty of Alexandria in 1801 and was placed in the British Museum in 1802.

We also saw the Taylor Prism. On its six sides it lists the campaigns of the Assyrian King Sennacherib from when he took power in 705 BC until his final war against Babylon. It also tells of tribute from Hezekiah, King of Judah. These finds are a gift from God to provide lasting testimonies to the events of Scripture.

After seeing so much during both visits, my heart was full of joy and my mind was satisfied.

Another interesting site in London is Bunhill Cemetery, where many notable nonconformists were buried.  I love the book Pilgrim’s Progress by author John Bunyan, and we found his burial plot in this cemetery. His book uses allegory to portray a believer’s journey through life, and Bunyan’s tomb includes scenes from the story, including the pilgrim carrying the weight of sin on his shoulder. One the other side of the tomb, you can see the pilgrim releasing his burden because of the redemption he finds at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. What a powerful message on display for the public to see. We can be forgiven of all our sins because Jesus paid the penalty in our place for our sins. What a most precious visualization of sacrificial love. We cannot repay or truly fathom God’s love for the sinner in granting us forgiveness and salvation. John Bunyan was saved by God, and his gravesite stands and bears witness to the Gospel that saved him. We too can have this gift of everlasting life when we believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him by faith, so that we too can be released from the bondage of sin.

Westminster Abbey was an incredible and grand place to visit. In large part, it is an indoor graveyard honoring the dead who made significant contributions. Please note the honor given to those who gave their life for the cause of Christ.

My experience walking around London

The best way to get around London is by foot. Walking is my strength, and I seldom grow weary. I love the freedom to go and look at everything, and I love to conquer the territory and see as much as possible. I find it interesting to hear all the accents and the variety of languages spoken as we walked past conversations or as we stood in the queue or sat at a table eating a snack or meal. We were all enjoying ourselves, and we were blessed by the kindness and friendliness of strangers. When the rain all at once poured down, we found warmth inside the British Museum, the Churchill War Room, the Westminster Abbey, and the Tower of London. We could stay and enjoy learning all we could without being in a hurry. We processed all we learned as we walked outside. We also used the underground train system. My brother Stephen was great at navigating and buying the tickets. I find this mode of transportation the most nerve-racking. The train doors close quickly, and you want to get through together as a family. One time the door closed as I was stepping onto the train. It gave us all a scare because we were going to be separated, but gratefully it worked out. As the loudspeaker often reminded us, you have to mind the gap between the platform and the train, and you have to quickly board the train regardless of how full it is. It is exciting, but I admit that it made me nervous. I am grateful for my family who looks out for me, and I am glad to report we made it everywhere safely.  Traveling is a privilege, and we would recommend exploring London.

• An Authentic, Steadfast Life
• Summer Travel Reflections (Part 1)
• A Time for Everything
• The Righteous Shall Be in Everlasting Remembrance
• A Christmas Card to My Readers