The emotional state of the GSB Team was much better today. I attribute that to no longer having to wear the sweatshirt I bought at the airport in Philadelphia that says “PHILADELPHIA” in big letters on the front. It was a constant reminder to the group of Day 1 of our journey.
At breakfast Ann thanked me for the later start time on our itinerary today. As she described it, “We don’t want to put too much pressure in the system.” I was able to read between the lines. This was a shot over the bow, the first sign of the rebellion that inevitably happens on these tours as I try to keep us to the itinerary and certain members of the team want to sleep later and shop more.
The big stop of the day was the Giant’s Causeway. The Giant’s Causeway is amazing. “Yes,” you might say, “but what does it have to do with the kingdom of God.” Well, it was created by God, and that makes it fair game for this travel journal. As the Apostle Paul wrote the Christians in Rome:
” . . . that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”
Romans 1:19-20.
If God’s creation reveals His eternal power and divine nature, it also reveals His creativity, and we can learn something about God from His creativity: He rarely uses symmetrical or geometric perfection.
Look at a tree, a leaf, or a flower. Even the earth is not perfectly spherical. There are exceptions, such as crystals and snowflakes, but they are rare. That is what makes the Giant’s Causeway so unique. Stones in hexagonal conformity, stacked together like giant basalt organ pipes. They look so out of place there on the coast of Northern Ireland, as they would anywhere.
Humans, on the other hand, attempt to create geometrically perfect objects. Think of our buildings, houses, furniture, and even the boxes we use for shipping. With humans, geometric perfection is generally the aspiration, not the exception.
It makes me think that God is more of a “free Spirit” than we have imagined. His law was not His original intent for us but was necessary because of our sinfulness. He seems to have a bias toward freedom.
If I am correct here, and who knows if I am or not, it brings a new significance to the Bible’s statement that “it was freedom that Christ set us free.” Galatians 5:1. In the end, the Lord wants us to be free so we can be more like Him.
The Giants Causeway was the highlight of the day, but we also visited Dunluce Castle, which figured prominently in the history of this area and in Ireland during the Reformation. With the temperature in the 50s Fahrenheit and wind gusting at 50 miles per hour, we couldn’t get back to our car fast enough.
After a late lunch in Portrush, and a little shopping, we headed back to the Culloden Estate and Spa, where we quickly settled in the lounge for drinks, food, and some laughs.
Until tomorrow. GS