I have been blessed enough to have traveled to Europe six times…so far. Most of my adventures have been with students and teachers on educational tours. I have seen many countries, great works of art, magnificent ruins, Gothic cathedrals, resting places of history’s mighty figures, battlefields where the future of the world was decided, and the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, to name a few. None of my trips were anything like my very first one. For it was on that trip that I discovered I had a massive impulse to touch things. I mean…massive. Like, uncontrollable impulse. In fact, I was literally unaware that I was even doing it until I had done it.
I was in the Louvre museum in Paris when I first became aware of my problem. Probably not the best place to discover this. As I approached an enormous Egyptian statue, I stretched out my hand to touch it. I actually was not aware I was doing this. One of my students, who had entered the chamber before me, ran over to me and ordered me to stop in this weird, sort of authoritative/concerned voice. I froze, became aware of what I was doing, and looked at him and asked why. He told me there were guards in the room and they wouldn’t let you touch anything. (Not to mention the fact that there were signs everywhere also telling you not to touch anything in a variety of languages.) For whatever reason, I suppose it’s just my personality, this emboldened me. I declared that this statue had been standing for over 5000 years, and I was not only going to touch it…I was going to lick it! I proceeded to do just that. I found myself touching, and yes…licking, things all over Europe. Let’s suffice it to say, I have left my DNA in at least six countries. I have been chased around some of the world’s most famous museums, and yet…here I am. I’m not going to list a blow-by-blow, but here are some of the highlights: I have touched Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, a Jackson Pollock, Michelangelo’s Slave sculptures, and the Code of Hammurabi…which I also licked, as well as the Naval of the Earth (naval=belly button). The Earth’s Naval is located in Delphi, Greece. The ancient Greeks believed it marked the center of the world. It was sacred to them. I have two things to tell you about the Earth’s Naval: it’s salty, and the earth has an ‘outie’.
I really can’t explain my behavior. However you look at it…I’m aware it’s strange. The touching was a true compulsion. I needed to feel the texture of the paint in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. It called to me. I had to do it. As for the licking…well, that’s just an act of defiant victory on my part. I’ll admit it. I know one thing, you can lick anything if you try…unless it’s behind glass.
I share this look into the real me so you can understand that my honest prayer, and deepest desire, is for my service to the Lord to resemble my crazy impulse to touch things. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11 I want to be driven, so powerfully that I’m not even aware of my actions, to serve Him. I just want my body to be taken over by His spirit. I long to reach out towards Him and be overwhelmed with a desire for Him. I want to touch people all over the world in a way that leaves something behind on them, but not something of me, a mark of the Lord. When I leave this world, I want it to be said of me, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. Acts 11:24 I desire not of fame and fortune, but only to bring glory to God. Pray for me in this endeavor, as I will pray for you in your service to the Lord.
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