Off to Italy!

On Sunday, October 21, I will leave Austin for a long, long trip to Italy. Really long—twelve days! No, really, that’s a long, long trip for me. I think long and hard before embarking on a five-day trip for continuing education within the bounds of the United States. I am definitely a homebody.

I’m not sure exactly how this happened, but it’s happening. I will travel to Rome, Tuscany, and Florence with two of my dearest and longest-standing friends, Sally Watkins and Sue Bock. Since Sally is a travel agent and a specialist in Italy, and Sue is reading all the books Sally has assigned as pre-trip homework, I am assured of the best possible companionship. My most enjoyable preparation for the trip has been reading John Grisham’s new book about American football in Italy, Playing for Pizza. I don’t expect to see American football there, but I can’t wait to sample real Italian food made in Italy!

For a person born into a poor family in the depths of the Great Depression, this trip is a huge luxury. Is it really okay to spend the money and time this way? Should I stay home and give the money to the church or to the poor? Should I save it for a rainy day and my old age, which might come some time far in the future?

I have thought about this a lot—in fact, I think about this when making many small decisions about spending money. I know that everything I have comes from God, and that I have been hugely blessed to have come to a place in life that allows such discretionary spending. I find it amazingly wonderful that I have been so blessed, and agonizingly painful to remember that I have so much and so many have so little.

So…I live in some tension in this world of haves and have-nots. I know that I am not called to the life of an ascetic—take a look in my clothes closet or refrigerator, and that will be clear to anyone. But I know that I am called to be responsible to God for what I have…so along with my extra spending on this trip, I will do some extra giving to the church. I have listened with much interest and shared joy as friends who have traveled afar have described their journeys, and believe their travel has enriched their lives. So as I go, I will remember that God must surely be happy when we seek and explore new things, strange beauty, unfamiliar treasures, and the joy of friends.

I’ll be back to celebrate All-Saints worship with the saints of First Church, and I’ll probably be eager to tell you about my adventures. In the meantime, grace and peace to each of you!