Encounters

I haven't written a blog for quite some time. In fact, the last one was over a year ago. So it feels about time for another! I hope you enjoy these reflections and perhaps find some encouragement along the way.

As you travel through life, how do you feel about meeting people? What do you gain from those encounters? Hold that thought for a moment while I take you on a brief journey through our latest adventure.

Ruth and I have just returned from two precious weeks in Italy. Although we’re retired, it is still wonderful to get away, spend time together, and enjoy the beauty, history and culture that Italy offers in abundance. 

Our first week was spent in Bologna, a city of endless porticoes, medieval towers and wonderful food.

We loved wandering its ancient streets, discovering hidden squares and simply watching everyday life unfold around us. We also enjoyed visits to Modena and the beautiful hill town of Brisighella, where life seemed to move at a gentler pace.

From Bologna we travelled north to Lake Garda, staying near Peschiera del Garda. Surrounded by sparkling water, distant mountains and picturesque harbours, it was the perfect place to slow down and unwind. 

We explored Verona by train, visited several lakeside towns, enjoyed boat trips, swam in the lake and, of course, sampled plenty of pizza and ice cream. And… we did lots of cycling on bikes (with no gears) provided by our Airbnb hosts.    

Looking back, what made the holiday special was not simply the places we visited. It was the gift of uninterrupted time together. Shared discoveries, long walks and even the occasional wrong turn became part of the adventure.

But what about those encounters I mentioned earlier?

Anyone who knows Ruth will tell you she has a remarkable gift. She will talk to absolutely anyone! Unsurprisingly, that led to a number of memorable encounters.

The Neurology Student

In a restaurant in Bologna we struck up a conversation with our waiter. We assumed he was simply earning a living. In fact, he was an Iranian PhD student about to qualify as a neurologist. Behind the waiter’s apron was a talented young man far from home and missing his family.

The Welcome in Verona

On a Sunday we attended Verona International Church. We were warmly welcomed by the congregation, and what struck us most was the simple kindness of so many people who took time to greet complete strangers.

Exceptional Hospitality

Near Lake Garda we stayed with Mina and Mattia, a Bulgarian-Italian couple who both worked as nurses. Their kindness, hospitality and practical help made them among the best Airbnb hosts we have ever experienced.

Waiting for buses

After visiting Sirmione, we waited for the local bus back to Peschiera del Garda. We waited... and waited... and eventually decided to walk to the next bus stop. Once there, we settled down and continued our vigil.

Before long, we were joined by two young women from England, also on holiday, and an Italian lady making her way to the airport. What began as shared frustration soon blossomed into lively conversation. The five of us chatted easily, laughed together, and thoroughly enjoyed one another's company.

When the bus finally arrived, it was packed, but that did not deter yet another Italian lady, who spoke perfect English, from striking up a conversation with us. We discovered that she was a former professional tennis player who now remains actively involved in the sport as a coach.

The delayed buses cost us over two hours, but what we gained was far more valuable: a series of wonderful conversations with complete strangers. What could have been an irritating inconvenience became one of those unexpected holiday moments that was fun, inspiring, and thoroughly memorable.

John on the Ferry

While waiting for a ferry, a gentleman named John asked for our help as he heard our English accents. Originally from Scotland and now living in Stockport, he was travelling alone around Europe at the age of 71. On the ferry together we learned that his wife of 38 years had died a couple years earlier. It was one of those conversations where each one of us walked away richer for having met.

In addition to these specific examples we met many other people during those two weeks and will probably never meet any of them again. They were brief encounters, yet each added something positive to our lives and, I hope, to theirs. We could have ignored them, and they could have ignored us. Thankfully, none of us did.

If such short encounters can make a difference, what about the greatest encounter of all? Jesus Christ invites each one of us into a relationship that is not temporary but eternal.

Like those travellers, waiters and strangers we met along the way, we have a choice. We can ignore the encounter or receive it. The difference is that an encounter with Jesus can change a life forever.

Here’s just a few examples…

• Zacchaeus: Jesus turned a greedy tax collector into a generous disciple.
• The Woman at the Well: Jesus transformed a woman burdened by shame into a joyful witness.
• Peter: Jesus changed a fearful failure into a courageous leader.
• Matthew: Jesus called an outcast tax collector to become a Gospel writer.
• Blind Bartimaeus: Jesus gave sight to a blind man and purpose to his life.
• Mary Magdalene: Jesus brought healing to a broken woman and made her the first witness of the resurrection.
• Paul: Jesus turned a persecutor into a missionary.
• The Paralysed Man: Jesus brought forgiveness and healing to a man who could not help himself.

I guess what our latest adventure has highlighted for me is…  encounters (even brief ones) with other human beings can be hugely positive.  But better still …. an encounter with Jesus changes lives: from shame to witness, failure to leadership, blindness to sight, and opposition to faith."

And to close…. travel has a way of refreshing our perspective. It reminds us of the richness of God's world, the beauty of different cultures, and the value of stepping away from familiar routines.

We returned home with plenty of photographs and happy memories, but above all with gratitude: gratitude for the places we visited, the hospitality we received, the people we met and the time we shared together.

Italy gave us beautiful scenery, fascinating history, wonderful food and warm sunshine. Most precious of all, it gave us time to rest, reflect and simply enjoy being together.

And for that, we are deeply thankful.

Thanks for reading my blog

Love, Prayers and Blessings

Gordon