Tomorrow Iâll be flying to Sweden for a friendâs wedding and, after that, Iâll be heading to Londonâwith pit stops in Brussels and Parisâon vacation.
This wonât be my first time in London. About two years ago, my sister Priscilla and I traveled there, and the trip couldnât have come at a better time. Both of us were at âvalleysâ in our lives. You know, those low points where youâre in a rut and nothing seems to go right? Priscilla had just gone through a bad breakup and I was having a pretty rough time too. After a difficult few months, we booked a trip to London just so weâd have somethingâanything, really!âto look forward to.
I donât know about you, but when my family goes on vacation, thereâs very little relaxing! We try to cram in as much as possible in a single day. So for a whole week, Priscilla and I walked around London till our legs ached. Every night, Iâd meticulously plan our next dayâs activities, consulting maps and my guidebook like a woman on a mission. Toward the end of our trip, we decided to walk to Borough Market near the London Bridge. A friend had recommended we try the marketâs famous toasted cheese sandwiches. But we got lost on the way there and ended up on some random street. We were hungry, exhausted and cold from the rain. Ready to give up.
Just then, though, I spotted something colorful peeking out from behind a stone courtyard. We turned the corner to investigate and what we saw left us stunned. Dozens of umbrellas suspended from a metal structure, as if hanging from the sky. Like something out of Mary Poppins. We stood there for a good 20 minutes, mesmerized by what weâd somehow stumbled upon. It was like God had placed those umbrellas in that very spot just for us to find.
For two weary travelers, the umbrellas were a sign. Godâs way of reassuring us that he had big plans in store for us. Yes, we were both struggling, caught in a rainstorm of life. But around the corner, something was waiting for us that was more spectacular than we could possibly imagine. Something no map or travel guide could lead us to. If we were patient, waited out the storm, God’s wonder would find us. Even today, those hanging umbrellas are more memorable to me than any monument, landmark or museum.
Now, as I get ready for my next trip, I can’t help but wonder what God will show me this time around. What little miracles or messages has he hidden across Stockholm and London? Whatever they are, I canât wait to find out!
Have you ever traveled somewhere, near or far, that really opened your eyes to Godâs miracles and wonder? Share your story below!