My Lenten season this year began in Amsterdam. It was also my first time visiting Amsterdam. I heavily relied on the google map to find my way to every location. When I was not sure if I was heading into the right direction, I would stop walking and check with the map.
To me, Lent is similar to stop and check the direction with God. The weekly verse on the Sunday before I left for Amsterdam was Luke 18:31-33
Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
This verse reminds me again about fulfilling the purpose of life matters most. Jesus can execute a variety of careers very successfully. Doctor, professor, carpenter, magician, influencer and many more. However, He chose love and paid my ransom on the cross.
People at his time might have thought He was out of his mind. Imagine how much money he could have earned from turning water into wine or multiplying fishes and breads. But to Him, His purpose of life matters most. And to keep focus on His purpose of life, He prayed and connected with God regularly.
“Just do something, just fill your day, somehow you will get there.” This kind of message could be read everywhere. That’s right, the grandest idea without action never going to happen. However, it is not entirely right, when I am heading into an opposite direction or a wrong road, keep going only taking me further from the destination. How important to check with the map from time to time.
Amsterdam is very beautiful, I have collected many stories and music to share with you here. However, I need this Lenten season to pray, so The Journey blog is having a silent moment now. I do not know for how long.
It was a tradition in Bach’s church. After the Sunday before Lent – Estomihi, the music ceased until Good Friday (1729), where St. Matthew Passion BWV244 sounded. And the cantata before St. Matthew Passion was the cantata Sehet, wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem, BWV 159. Welt, gute Nacht!
