We walked out of the train station and saw the center of the city. On the other side of the city center was our hotel. Between the train station and hotel were two military vehicles. A reminder of the terrorism that happened in Brussels a few months ago. The people seemed unfazed. The late afternoon suggested that people were moving from their workplaces to their living spaces or their third places. The people I spoke to noted the terrorism was a very significant event. But they also noted they weren’t giving into anxiety and life goes on.
One of the military vehicles outside our hotel.
We loved Brussels. We all wish we had a few more days there. As crowded and chaotic as Paris was—Brussels was calming and charming. It was also more inexpensive. London and Paris were great, but they also cost a small fortune. I was getting ready to have Ron, Linda, Chad, Jennie, and Michele figure out when to do a couple special offerings to get us back home. A complimentary breakfast at our hotel and paying six Euros per person for meatballs and frites made Brussels more affordable.
Food
So the food in Belgium is wonderful. Let’s start with the frites. We call them French Fries in the United States. They were invented in Belgium. A local was telling me they fry the potatoes twice—once as a higher temperature and once at a lower temperature. The fries were amazing both times we had them. Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. And then the fries are dipped in one of thirty sauces: ketchup and twenty-nine other options.
Frites covered in Brazil sauce. They tasted even better than they look.
We took a tour of the city yesterday. Our guide was an amateur brewer and quite passionate about the subject. He noted beer was part of the social fabric of Belgium. Drunkenness is not encouraged. But gathering around a table and enjoying a beer is very encouraged. Beer is actually cheaper than Coke! He talked about Trappist monks in Belgium who make some of the best beer in the world. They consume a small portion, sell the rest, and give the proceeds to charity.
Anxiety
One of the goals of the renewal leave has been to learn to deal with anxiety in ways that are constructive and life giving. Anxiety is part of life. Anytime change is possible anxiety is present. Fear has more to do with immediate threats. Like a bear standing a few feet away from you. Anxiety is more about the future and has to do with less immediate threats. For example, “Will I get cancer?” or “Will our church change so much when we move into our new building that it just doesn’t seem like The Water’s Edge anymore?”
Kierkegaard wrote something like, “Whoever has mastered anxiety in the right way has mastered the ultimate.” Anxiety, at its worst, stops us and prevents us from growing as individuals and organizations. Anxiety, at its best, sends us forward with dependence on God, courage, and boldness. I have been working on improving my response to anxiety.
Two of the things I have been working on to master anxiety (or at least improve my response) is playing and praying. Playing removes us from anxiety, restores us, and reinvigorates us to manage anxiety better. Praying connects us to the One who holds our future. I have been doing well on the playing. I’m not where I want to be on the praying.
Playing
Brussels has hills! Not like Omaha, but hills nonetheless. London and Paris are as flat as a waffle. The morning run was beautiful through the windy and kind of hilly cobblestone streets. I didn’t see any other runners – must not be much of a thing in Belgium, at least at 6:00 in the morning. People were giving me strange looks too. I don’t know if it was because a) I was running and none of them could think of a compelling reason for an adult man to be running at 6:00 in the morning, b) I am fat and was running, or c) both a and b. I’m guessing c. Running, for me and many others, wherever it takes place—removes the runner from anxiety, restores the runner, and reinvigorates the runner to manage anxiety better. I feel better physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually after running and hope to continue this when I reenter ministry in mid-August.
Praying
Our days have been pretty full. I’m trying to cram as much as possible into a short period of time. Especially so the boys can see and experience as much of the cities as possible. I have no major breakthroughs to report other than busyness, even if it is good busyness, is an enemy of prayer. For me to get to a better place, the days will need to be less busy.
David looking over the city during our tour.
David playing in the park.
The Cathedral of St. Michael
Confession at the Cathedral
Belgium’s most famous statue: Manneken Pis. It’s a very small and strange statue to be a national monument.
One of the streets I ran on.
The mandatory David in front of the nation’s most important landmark. In this case the Grand Place.
