So, one of the coolest parts of my job is the travel. Yes, I know, I’m based in Rome and that’s awesome in and of itself, but being based in the EU opens doors for adventures to other European countries. In February, I was able to travel to Belfast, Ireland for a quick 48-hour weekend trip. *As I am reading this again, I realize that Belfast is in Northern Ireland, which is technically not part of the EU, but you get the idea lol

This trip, although lacking sleep, was so refreshing and transformative. Firstly, the Irish are the best people! They’re the friendliest, loudest, genuinely kindest people I’ve ever met! Second, pubs are super fun, mostly cause of the inviting presence of the people and the live music. All around, a cozy experience.

The trip reminded me a lot about the proximity of God. There’s an old Celtic/ early Christian concept called “thin places.” It’s the idea that throughout creation there are places where the distance between heaven and earth is shorter, allowing for a more tangible grasp of heaven. Albeit a theory, it’s a pretty believable one, for me anyways. There are countless places I have been to that have lent me a supernatural sense of peace and comfort. It’s akin to finally returning home after weeks of being homesick. That might be the best metaphor to use. Whether recognized or not, we are all homesick for the presence and proximity of God. When the distance between the natural and supernatural decreases, the feeling of proximity to God increases.

Because this trip was spontaneous and last minute, we didn’t have plans for any of it. Naturally, as we rode the bus from Dublin to Belfast after getting off the plane, we decided to book a bus tour for the next day. Let me tell you, Game of Thrones tours in Ireland are the way to go! I have never watched it, nor will I ever watch it, but the tour brings you to the most beautiful places! Besides a few other locations, the highlight of the tour was the Giant’s Causeway. I’m not sure if thin places are objective or subjective, but I think all of us agreed on it being one. Funny enough, the celts thought the same because they believed this was one of the paths a mythical giant took to cross towards Scotland.

We marinated in the beauty of the coast for 2 hours. I sat in the presence of the Creator, admiring his handiwork and wondering about the purpose of beauty in a sinful world. But creation always points to its Creator. Nature is beautiful, so how much more is our God! I think we are gifted moments of beauty and peace as powerful testimonies of his greatness.

It’s easy to get caught up in a theology of holy places being the place where you are allowed to encounter God. It was funny to be reminded of the torn veil and God’s omnipresence, even outside of “thin places.”

As one does in Ireland, we decided to check out the pub scene in the evening. The amount of people we met, while chilling in a pub, that exuded different aspects of Christlike characteristics was astonishing. We went from a place with soul piercing peace to a noisy crowded pub, but still were able to see aspects of God’s character and plan all around! What a beautiful thing to catch glimpses of our Savior even when we least expect it!

*also here’s me enjoying Ireland 🙂