European Reflection 1

I'm halfway through my first ever tour in Europe and, I have to say, it has been totally enchanting. In one sense, it is so alike touring in the US - each night offering the opportunity to connect with and get to know a unique group of people. In some ways, however, it has felt totally unlike any tour I've ever done.

One of the most palpable differences is the weight I feel each night not knowing if/when I'll be able to come back and see the people again. One of the great comforts of my stateside touring is the idea that I'll be able to see folks around 6 months later, the next time I come though the area. At each stop on this tour, I've forged deep connections with people that I'd love to see again but do not know when I will have that chance. This reinforces my desire to make each night fully meaningful. After all, it is only illusion that makes me believe future time with people is guaranteed. There is no such illusion on this trip and the result is that I want to fully love people without hesitation.

It has also been my experience that many folks in Europe are curious and underinformed about Jesus. I anticipated disinterest and indignation, but what I've received has been curiosity and warmth. Many people have seemed to know Christianity as a distant memory, one that they are happy to have a refresher on. Of course, not everyone fits this description - we've seen countless committed Christians and a few folks that felt more closed to the conversion (and one confrontational guy 😬). The totality of this experience has felt different from the states, where I haven't always encountered a lot of curiosity from people that would not call themselves Christians.

A very practical but notable difference has been trading the van travel for train travel. I love public transportation so much! As someone who has driven a million miles, the freedom of being able to do work or take a nap, all while heading towards my destination, is incredible. I also deeply enjoy the prospect of meeting new people. I've already had lots of great train chats and I'm looking forward to having more. Occasionally I miss the freedom that car travel provides, but I don't think I'd trade for it if I could.

I'll wrap this up with a couple highlights of our first two weeks, in chronological order.

1. Scotland - What made Scotland so special was our wonderful hosts Elijah and Acacia who really helped us to enjoy our time with a unique invitation to a Scottish dance. Called a ceilidh, the event happened on a missionary cruise ship. The dancing was similar to maybe contradancing in the US (I'm guessing here as I've never done that). Each dance started with a tutorial so that we could participate without too much trouble. A diverse mix of experience levels also emboldened me to try. I had so much fun I even tried to bring the ceilidh to our concert the following night by encouraging guests to do one of the dances during one of my songs.

2. SÅ fest, Norway - This fest had family camp vibes in the best possible way. We were welcomed in so warmly it felt we had always been a part of it. Seeing the community come together to achieve the tasks necessary to keep the fest running smoothly was also inspiring. It was really powerful for me to sing worship songs in Norwegian (which I could understand thanks to my study of Swedish). This place had the most beautiful nature we've encountered in Europe; and we were able to swim in a really lovely (and fairly cold) river. While the nature was great, the incredible kindness and welcome we were met with will stick with me much longer.

3. Naturekirke, Denmark - This one feels so emotional. There were so many ways things could've gone that I would never have made it here, but things came about in just the right way that I was able to participate as the "guest speaker" on just a few days notice. Naturekirke is an outdoor, contemplative service wherein a few worship songs are shared, followed by a short talk about the speakers spiritual journey. After that, there is time for a contemplative walk to reflect on the talk before reconvening with a group share to end the time. I was able to share for 15 minutes about my journey with God and the idea of settling in with Him. The group of visitors at Naturekirke represent a wide variety of perspectives on faith, including some naturalists and people with backgrounds in other faiths. It was a great joy to share the hope and peace of Christ in a way that all of the compassion and humility I tried to put into my sharing was mirrored back to me.

I won't soon forget the work that the organizers are doing there. They are supremely loving and humble and walking with their neighbors with an infectious care. Their confidence in God to meet people in their need is inspiring. I know that God brought me there to learn and to be inspired.

Thanks for reading and for staying in touch.

Kevin