The Difficulty of Processing...

Ive reached the part of the trip where the long-term and the short-term natures are coming into conflict. Im realizing what is sustainable for a few weeks isnt really healthy for a long-term situation.

I had a feeling this would happen and it just means I have to be extra careful to create space for myself and keep things mixed up. Increasingly, Im finding myself 'full' but without much opportunity to really release and refresh... my usual practices are not working in the same way they did in the States, especially since my lifestyle isnt the same! All to be expected and not killer... just what Im realizing and recognizing these last days.

So, I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of processing when I get home...

A few of My Favorite Recent Pics...

One of the things I most love about Rome how visually stimulating it is. There are plenty of famous places to take pictures, but my favorite are the back alleys and streets found in Testaccio and Trastevere. I havent yet taken an afternoon solely set aside for pictures, but I will in the next weeks. Here are a few from this last week. Sorry if you dont dig the doors and windows and walls; I tend to gravitate to the texture and rich colors...




I definitely took these first 2 pictures candidly... a few of them had my knee in the way or on the side! This is right by our apartment in a little park. Every afternoon this park is alive... children on the swings, parents watching them, grandparents socializing, youth kicking the soccer ball or trying to spray people with water. It brings a different (and refreshing) picture of what life can be like... and certainly shows how sad it is that we Americans have so segregated the generations.

How Not to Be a Lame Tourist Vol 2...

It's tempting. I realize it is. And in the privacy of one's own home, or apartment, I think it is completely legitimate (yes, this is the excuse I use). We are in Rome, and I suppose part of the experience is accepting some of the tag lines...


(Zak with the group at one of the many aqueduct faucets:

Random Tourist Lady: Is the water safe to drink?
Zak: Ummm. I think so. Everybody does it, even the locals.
Random Tourist Lady: Well, I suppose... When in Rome... I've been waiting my entire life to say that!


[this post actually is just a big shout-out to Amy who cuts my hair, but probably doesnt read my blog. last time i saw her she encouraged me to use the phrase as much as possible... to it's death. it's her humor and probably mine, but my group put a quick stop to it. my favorite rendition: quando in Roma. as if the italians need the translation!]

This is Why I Love Rome...

Venezia...

After a pretty exhausting week in Rome struggling with some group dynamic issues, Micah, Taylor, Ashley and I went to Venice this weekend. Despite it being the busiest weekend in Venice of the year (something to do with a major international art show that is held every 2 years… we of course didn’t know about it!)… incredibly expensive (our hotel room… let’s just say we got the 2nd to last hotel rooms for 4 on Friday night)… and a bit touristy… I adored Venice.

From the moment we stepped out of the train station I was mesmerized by this floating city. If you haven’t gone you need to; it is in my top 5 places to visit. We spent two days taking in the most visually captivating place I’ve ever been. I took way too many pictures that all look the same, and I loved every second!

Zak Bottomly...

(while on the bus packed full of evening commuters)

Zak: M – O – B… What do you think that stands for?
Me: Ummmm. The Mob?

Community...

The unknown is Daniel our barista… the girls ran into him at the market and we forced him to have dinner with us… we’d been trying for awhile!

Of Whom the World was not Worthy…

Hebrews 12
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trail of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonments. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Therefore…

My New Favorites…

Here’s a list of what’s rocked my world in my first 2 weeks in Rome:
1. Nutella (well, we use the cheap brand: Clever…). I was always told this delicious chocolate-hazelnut, peanut-butter-esq substance was funk-nasty and that I should avoid it at all costs. WRONG!! Just about every lunch ends with Nutella-dipped cherries.

2. 8 oz. Cappuccinos. 1 shot of espresso. 7 oz of steamed milk. Forget Starbucks; come to Rome!

3. Sigur Ros. We pulled out this band for prayer this morning and I haven’t stopped listening to it yet. Worth a listen. I’ve been blogging to their ‘Takk…’ album.

4. Margharita Pizza. Old school and amazing. Thin crust, olive oil & marinara sauce, cheese. 4 Euro and delicious (Every time it is Zak’s turn to cook, he attempts to make that our meal… it worked the first time, but he and I definitely got vetoed last night!).

5. Chaco’s. But they already got their own post… and I wore them so much I have a sore spot on my big toe (stupid toe strap). Saturday was tourist day so I definitely pulled out my amazing green Reef sandals. No need for the bottle opener on the bottom, but I was sure comfortable!

6. No residue Duct Tape. Who knew?

How to Not be a Lame Tourist in Rome…

Everyone’s got their advice on what to do and what not to do when traveling, especially to a major international city like Rome. The reality is that some places can be unsafe, particularly when you’re constantly on the move and in unfamiliar places. I completely advocate doing whatever you need so that you feel secure and comfortable when traveling and sightseeing. What’s worst than obviously being a tourist… being an obvious, neurotic, and paranoid tourist!

With that being said…


1. The sunglass strap. On the one hand… highly convenient. Where did my sunglasses go? Oh, that’s right they’re dangling around my neck. On the other hand… you’re wearing a strap so that you can dangle your sunglasses around your neck!





2. The backpack worn backwards. Good Idea: when in the crowded Rome Metro keep a hand on your wallet and pull your bag around so that it is secure. Bad Idea: wear your backpack backwards while in a not-so-crowded plaza in the middle of Rome. Worst Idea: take a picture with the ‘gladiator’ while wearing said bag backwards.

3. Take a picture with the aforementioned ‘gladiator’ (pretend like I’m not going to come home with at least one such picture!).



4. Go to the Hard Rock Café for the best BBQ-Bacon Cheeseburger you’ve ever eaten…

Transformation though Illumination…

In my reading on spiritual formation I’ve continually come across the concept that spiritual disciplines serve as a catalyst for change: as we engage in spiritual disciplines things which are right below the surface are exposed. We live from these habits, thought patterns and beliefs but hardly recognize their presence. So, in fasting the anger and fear and addiction to comfort are suddenly exposed by our choice to pray instead of feast. Through all, the Holy Spirit works with us to transform and heal these areas (see Dallas Willard’s Spirit of the Disciplines or Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline)

My time in Rome has extended my understanding of this reality, especially our living in community. Our group of 6 (3 guys, 3 girls; one married couple) lives in about 900 sq. ft. on the 7th floor of an apartment in Testaccio (a very Roman area of town). Our first week and a half has been spent primarily in this group of 6: eating together, praying for and with one another, confessing as we injure each other… Micah and I even sleep on a hideaway couch!

I am amazed that even this short time of community living has illuminated some of my destructive everyday habits. I’ve walked into a bright room and am exposed. Through the grace and boldness of my community, I’ve come to recognize these habits and realize they no longer make sense to life in the Kingdom of God.

This appears to be the way of Jesus: illumination and integration into the present Kingdom of God. Jesus declares that the Kingdom of God is right here, right among us, available to be lived in. It is a Kingdom of Goodness, of Love, of Hope, of Abundance and Overflow. As He invites us to be apart of this Kingdom, this right and good way of living, He also teaches us how to live within. There are moments when we attempt to live from our old way and frankly it doesn’t work; it doesn’t make sense to our life in the Kingdom of God. So we let go of the old way and embrace the new, so that we may more fully live the eternal life.


‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.’ John 1


In this illumination there is transformation.

When Home & Rome Collide (the token Mom post)...

When I first heard of this Rome trip one of the first things I did was give my sister a call to see if I could stop in Dallas on my way to Rome (I just assumed that we would fly out of Dallas... we didnt). My sister's response, 'ummmm. Well, Im actually going to be in Rome during that time...' Despite feeling a bit unconnected from my favorite (and only) sister; we did get the chance to meet up in Rome. I did the typical brother thing: an hour late, ate the rest of her cannoli, carried her bag... It was awesome getting the chance to hang with her IN ROME!!!!


The first time we met up with Emily (she's the only one paying attention to me) and her friend Sandy (the one with her back to me)


Emily and I at Termini (the huge Metro/Bus/Rail station in Rome). Emily and her traveling partners were off to Naples and beyond.


Sandy, Ben & Emily