Galilee

Jordan

Poem by Megan

Lost for Words

 

 

 

 

Have you ever considered…

Why the sea is so deep

Why the sky is so vast

It fills the observer with awe?

Why a whale is so large

Why a cell is so small

Every particle’s a wonder?

 

 

Have you ever considered…

Why the eye craves beauty

From the jewels on a crown

To evening colors in the clouds

Anywhere can beauty be found?

Why the world yields music

From sounds on the wind

To crystal choir notes

No matter what the language?

 

Have you ever considered…

Why blankets are soft

Why hugs are warm

And always provide a comfort?

Why parents love children

And siblings the same

A happy family means everything?

 

There is a God

His throne is above

His mansions are beyond the stars.

Someday we’ll return

His presence to know

His Heaven is beyond comprehension.

 

No earthly treasure

Or beauty or wonder

Can compare to what He has in store.

But for now, His Spirit

His love is much warmer

Than a hug or a fire can be.

 

Although this world

Will all pass away

As a cloth in a sea of glass,

Know it’s a form

Of things yet to come

Everything’s stored up on high.

 

Megan Judd

Age 18

Graduation

Turkey

Turkey is an amazing country with a rich historical background, including art and architecture from Christian, Muslim, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and of course Ottoman elements.  The plane ride there was quick and painless, and the food was pretty good. 

Istanbul was our first and also last destination.  We went to the Blue Mosque on Day 1.  This is still a functioning mosque, so we removed our shoes and covered our heads, tiptoed in by a side entrance and enjoyed the rich carpets and brightly lit interior. 

The Blue Mosque was the first in the world to have six minarets.  In order to not surpass the Muslim shrine at Medina, Ottoman Architects were sent to Arabia to add another minaret there. 

Compared to the previous building, this one is rather modest, but it played an important role in the early Christian church as the location for one of the ecumenical councils, of which the Council of Nicea is the most famous.  This one is now located next to the Topkapi Palace and has been used as a storage site for weapons in times of battle. 

Istanbul is located on both the Asian and European continents, separated by the Bosporus straight.  You can stand on the European continent and take a picture of the Asian continent behind you. 

The Topkapi Palace complex has beautiful architecture, well preserved ornamentation, exhibits about military equipment, jewels, clothing, and religious icons. 

Thousands of people cross the Bosporus each day on bridges and ferries.  We took a boat tour of the straight.

Here is the Hagia Sophia seen from a distance.  (Pronounced "Aiya Sophia," meaning holy wisdom).  We visited it on the last day of our tour because it was closed on Mondays.