Navigating

When we go on a trip we enjoy becoming as familiar as possible with our destination. Before leaving for Japan we did some research on the country, the people, what to see, how to navigate, that sort of thing. We did some reading on our own but also asked for advice from those who had traveled there. Shortly before we left we met a young woman who is studying here, but is a native of Japan and actually went to Nanzan University, the same school Luke attends now. We had her over and she gave us her thoughts on what we should do as well.

We flew in to Narita in Tokyo. From there we had to find transportation to the Otemachi area near the Palace where our hotel was. We had JR Passes and decided to take the train. We navigated checking our passes in and getting reserved seats on the train. No problem. It felt so easy. We were hopeful. The train was an express and that part of the trip was smooth.

We got to the Tokyo train station, grabbed our bags and headed out. That's where the problems began. The station was so crowded as we had arrived just after work hours and everyone was headed home or to dinner somewhere. There was a sea of people all dressed in black and white or at least dark suits with white shirts. No way to be inconspicuous here. We pretty much stood out like we had a neon arrow pointing at us. "Hey! Over here! The foreigners have arrived!" Couple that with the fact that Dan is six foot seven....you know, he is just plain obvious. Okay it didn't help that we were going in circles from wicket to wicket, dragging our suitcases trying to find a way out.

No one told us about the wickets......that would have been a good thing to know. It seemed like everyone there had a card to scan on the wicket and then they could exit. We didn't have a card. We kept hoping that somewhere we would see a gate or a familiar way of exiting a building. Finally, we saw an attendant and tried to ask in a calm voice that wanted to scream, "How the heck do we get out of here?" We were tired, we had just flown half way around the world. Patience was thin and we longed for rest. In the end all we needed to do was show our rail passes and then go through the gate near the attendant to exit.

Ever feel like you are surrounded by some huge "thing" in your life? You might be in a sea of people, but you still feel isolated. You feel like your struggles are obvious, yet no one is stopping to help. You are wishing with all you have that someone along the way had told you how to navigate, how to find a way through and come out on the other side? Life is like that sometimes. But no matter where you are or what trial has you going in circles, longing for a way out, hoping for some rest, there is One who can help you find the way. And your pass? Just ask.

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you." Psalm 55:22a