So for those of you who do not know this, I am a bit of a momma's boy, and
have never traveled by myself, so Scotland was a bit of a learning
experience. I left Bordeaux early on
Monday morning to catch my train to the Paris
airport. Now in case you don't this about me either, I don't know French,
so every time there was an announcement over the loud speaker, I was convinced
that they were saying something along the lines of, "We've decided to skip
Ian Strickland's stop in Paris
to make better time." But I did end up making it to Paris.
The flight to Edinburgh was pretty easy;
however, getting from the airport to Stirling
was a bit different. After a series of different bad directions of
getting to Stirling, I finally found my way to
the local police station, where I was told I had to walk about a mile to a bus
stop that would take me to the train station. Again, I found myself
convinced that nothing would work out and that I would end up having to sleep
under a bridge, but believe it or not, I got to the train station, and then to
Stirling shortly after.
When I was safely in my hostel room, I looked back on my little adventure to
Stirling, and I was amazed at how easily I
doubted that the Lord would provide for me, and how hard it was to trust Him,
which brings me to my second unique and beautiful gift, trust in the
Lord.
To be quite honest, getting to Stirling Scotland
from Bordeaux France was physically easy, and it
would have been one of the easiest things I have ever done, if I had only not
convinced myself over and over again that I was alone. That the all
powerful and all knowing God that has been with my every step of my life had
chosen to abandon me when I was most dependent on Him. HOW STUPID OF
ME!!!! Have I learned nothing in my walk with the Lord? It is so
easy to praise God and trust in Him when all is going according to plan, but as
soon as there is the slightest hiccup in the plan, we are immediately alone,
and the earth comes crashing down on our shoulders. How easy it is to
listen to this lie. But it is even easier to discard it for what it truly
is, if only our eyes remain open to the truth.
The next day, I got up, and walked out of the hostel knowing only that I
wanted to visit Stirling
Castle. I knew it
was relatively close, and that it opened in maybe an hour or so, so I just
began to walk. I trusted in the Lord and found my way to a small
playground, where I spent some time in quiet solitude and the word of God, and
then eventually to Stirling
Castle. As soon as
I walked through the main gate and into the center, I immediately knew I was supposed
to be there. I was surrounded with history dating back to the time of
William Wallace and the Scottish revolution. It was awesome! I went
on a tour around the castle with probably the coolest tour guide ever
born. The entire time I was being told stories of violent battles and
heroic victories, while gazing around at the huge rolling green hills of
Scotland, I could not help but think of Sir David Bradford Signet III and Sir
Joshua Potter, and how they would have been running around the grounds of the
castle with toy swords and yelling in really bad Scottish accents. I'm smiling
while writing this right now by the way.
After the tour, I had all the time in the world to venture around by
myself. I found an area in the back of the castle that overlooked the
every green field and hill within the area. And way off in the distance,
I could even see the William Wallace monument. Seriously, if you have any
picture in your head when you hear "Scotland" this was it.
It was breathtaking. I don't even know how long I stood there staring
across the horizon at God's majesty, and wondering if God can display such
beauty in a temporary and broken world, how much sweeter will it be when we reach
the Kingdom.
I stepped back from the wall, and found a nice patch of grass to lye down on
for a little while. As I lay there, I reflected on the complete peace of
mind God had given me just for trusting in Him. Staring up into the sky,
watching the clouds pass me by, and the sun finding its way the gaps, I had not
a single care in the world.
I could have spent the rest of my break in Stirling,
but alas, God had one more thing to show me. So on Wednesday morning, it
was on to Paris.
