Well, we landed and got checked in here in Zurich, Switzerland around 8 a.m. this morning (2 a.m. home time). The weather was chilly this morning, but then reached upper 60s by midday. The plane ride was not bad at all. I was initially sitting by a lady from Bulgaria, and she had been on vacation to Orlando, Miami, and Key West. It was interesting to hear about her trip to the States, even though she said it was not her first. I asked her what the biggest difference was between Bulgaria and the U.S., and she stated how in the United States people carried a greater sense of freedom. The example she gave was how people, regardless of what they looked like, could wear whatever they wanted without being subject to constant, public ridicule. From the start, it seemed as though we would be talking a lot, but she then informed me that once we were in the air she was getting up to sit with her sister, leaving me with a whole two seats for myself.
The flight was about 9 hours long, but it passed much faster than expected. They showed two kid movies and then various TV shows. I found it refreshing to spend my time reading and studying whether it was in Scripture, The Way of the Wild Heart (sequel to Wild At Heart), or Head's Up Baseball (the book we will be basing the clinics around).
I'm about to finish up The Way of the Wild Heart, which has been an inspiring read. The Lord has really given me a heart lately for growing not only myself but others as spiritual leaders and men of God, and it is really cool how this book lays out the stages of manhood (Beloved Son, Cowboy, Warrior, Lover, King, and Sage). Whether it is seeking God for our initiation into manhood as the Beloved Son, willingly going into conflict ridden situations and allowing the Lord to guide/teach you as the Warrior, or allowing the Lover to be developed poetically rather than through analyzing things or people, it has been awesome to see God working as I've sought those things out.
Dan and I were also able to have some solid talk time, and I was able to catch maybe 2 hours of sleep. We got into Zurich and then hopped a train down to the Holiday Inn where we'll be staying until Tuesday. After getting settled in, we took a risky nap only to be woken up by Trevor and Chadwick (GAs) an hour later. We then trained into the downtown area, and Europe began to set in. Zurich, landscape aside, is such a beautiful city because of its cleanliness. Everything seems to be up to date and working. Public transportation is big with few cars. I love how the roads are so bike friendly with lanes and signs. Maybe one day Columbia can reach such a mark. I'd love to make a trip to Ft. Jackson without getting cursed off the road.
We grabbed some lunch at a sort of kiosk near the Zurich Lake where they had bratwurst, hot dogs, etc. We sat on some steps near the water and just took it all in. Sitting around hundreds of people and none of them speaking English...Europe had set in. We walked around much of the downtown area visiting some churches, restaurants, shops, etc. It was cool to note the art/architecture throughout the city (graffiti, painted tree pots, street art, statues, etc.). We then headed back to the lake to take a boat ride. The ride took us around the lake (large lake that is) for about an hour and a half and wow! As The Way of the Wild Heart talks about ("Raising the Lover"), God was "romancing" me with his magnificent beauty. The sky shining blue with perfectly placed clouds for increments of a chilled breeze, the water flashing green from the Sun, the white caps of the Alps towering in the foreground, everything slowed down...poetically. It was a wonderful!
After getting off the boat we grabbed some pasta at a local chain as well as some gelato. We are pretty tired, so we have headed back to the room to hit the sack early. Upon returning to the hotel, we realized that Lenny Kravitz is playing a sold out concert directly across the street tonight, but we are hoping to get an early start for tomorrow. Hope all is well back home!
