God is Not Mocked

 Dear Friends,

Well, what a week it’s been!  Looking at my calendar, I see that last week we were trying to get out of Turkey.  This week, between that “Crowdstrike” thing along with a lousy airline, we were stranded over night in the terminal, spent an exorbitant amount of money on the last room in the only hotel within driving distance, then while waiting for a new flight, spent that much money again on hot drinks in order to keep a seat in a coffee shop rather than face the chaos out on the terminal floor. But we did finally manage to get to Paris.

We had wanted to celebrate our 55th anniversary in Paris, but my sweet daughter pointed out that August 1st would be smack in the middle of the Olympics, so we tried for the week before.

We did find the nostalgic hotel we’d stayed in 35 years ago, and had a lovely time walking around all the ‘happy places’ that we love, even though most of them were cordoned off due to Olympic stuff going on.  We saw enough, and then cut out across France (we have a rail pass that makes it all free), to a place I’d always wanted to go, Mont St Michel, near Normandy and all the WW2 history there.  It’s what’s called a “tidal island” on which is built a Cathedral and Abbey that dates back over 1300 years.  It’s not accessible, except by a foot bridge, and is an awesome tourist site today, although I have to say for myself that the most impressive thing about Mony St.  Michel is that it was featured in the heartthrob movie, “The Scarlet Pimpernel”.

It was a magical experience.

And then some terrorists did their dirty work on several train lines leading back to Paris, and the ‘fun’ began.  To make a long story short, it made a 3-hour trip into about 7, but after the train, a taxi and then a lot of walking, we made it back to our non-refundable hotel by bedtime.  We were even able to watch the opening ceremony until we turned it off in disgust.

You’re right, we just couldn’t keep watching.  They kept saying that they were ‘trying to represent France.  For the first time in my life, I really thought, “I bet this is what Sodom and Gomorrah looked like to God”. Today it prompted Kansas City Chiefs kicker to quote from Galatians 6:7, “God is not mocked.  A man reaps what he sows”.  In the news, I see that even a lot of French people are embarrassed. 

But hold that thought.  Do you remember the name Eric Liddell?

Exactly 100 years ago, at the last Paris Olympics, this Scotsman refused to run his 100 yard race because it was to be held on Sunday, and by competing he felt that he would not honour God. Instead he ran the 400 (four times longer) on a weekday and created a time record that wasn’t broken for 50+ years.

God is Faithful.  In the movie, “Chariots of Fire” and also in real life, Eric said, “When God made me, He made me fast, and when I run I feel His pleasure”.

Are we doing what God created us to do?  Do we “Feel His pleasure”? Definitely something to think about.  

You’ll be reading this as we’ve arrived in Amsterdam.  It should be quieter here.

But back to Eric Lydell. In WWII he was captured and put in a prison camp in China, where he and his family were missionaries.  Some friends of ours had tears in their eyes when “Chariots of Fire” came out as a movie in the 80’s.  Our friend said, “I was a teenager in that prison camp and Eric noticed me and gave me some coaching as well as his worn out running shoes. (a short time later Eric died in camp at 42 yrs old with an untreated brain tumor). Our friend continued, “It gives me such courage to realise that God has brought this wonderful testimony to world attention.”

That run happened 100 years ago right here in Paris……… and God is still here.  

God bless Paris and the French … especially those who have chosen to Honour Him and not try to mock Him.

Catch ya next time!! Marsha