By Travis Weber
Staff Correspondent
HEIDELBERG–To see the sun shining through the trees of the Black Forest, houses and vineyards lining the Rhine River and snow settling on the Swiss Alps is to see pure majesty.
To hear a prayer in German, a love song in French and a word of encouragement in Spanish is to hear the sounds of humanity.
To be captivated by the works of Dali, El Greco, Goya, Picasso, Rembrandt and Velasquez is to be challenged and to grow.
To witness worship, love, brokenness and unity is to witness the presence of God.
After living in and traveling from Heidelberg, I better perceive a world filled with deep and rich traditions. I realize a more diverse humanity having unique life experiences. Now, more than ever, I value the ability to communicate — to express and to react.
Each and every day, the question of how I process and respond to these wonderful life-changing opportunities confronts my soul. I suppose I could draw upon these vast experiences to lead a better informed life, shaping my future identity among friends and family.
Next time someone criticizes American society, I will speak up to offer a more global perspective that has helped me embrace my heritage as a United States citizen.
When chapel seems slightly superficial and worship a little monotonous, I will try to remind myself that I worship a God who shows His presence on a global scale, communicating through all languages and dialects.
As friends discuss the oppression of minorities and marginalized groups, I will describe standing in Auschwitz and touching the Berlin Wall.
If my peers undergo daily stress and insecurities, I will recount stories about lacking a place to sleep at night, about losing my way in France and about overcoming confrontations with the Italian police.
As well-intentioned as these responses may be, they do not represent who I have become. My experiences cannot be wasted on story-telling, self-glorification or even memories of good times.
The impact of my overseas’ experience has to be deeper and more meaningful.
Maybe, just maybe, I can allow these life-changing occasions to affect the core of my identity. Maybe I can simply embrace the need to perceive people with greater compassion. Maybe I can realize my finitude and how much I still need to learn.
Maybe I can simply love more deeply.
November 14, 2002