Adventure of faith: Maintaining the wonder

St. Augustine said, “People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering.”
Wondering is one of the foundations of my faith experience, especially while I am on this four-month adventure in Alcala, Spain.
Being a study-abroad student has been one of the most interesting adventures that I’ve ever embarked on. Every day it seems that the unexpected happens. I struggle to communicate, to reveal who I really am, and to understand my purpose and why I chose to come here.
Yet, with each day that passes, I gain invaluable experiences that allow me to better know the world that God has made for us and, in return, to better know God and his unequivocal power and glory.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve visited various regions throughout Spain, including Segovia, El Escorial, Mallorca and Santander, and I was even able to venture outside the country for a weekend in Prague, Czech Republic.
Europe is so amazing. Within such a small geographical space it is filled with overwhelming diversity, and such a rich history.
Each weekend, I’ve had an opportunity to see new places and learn from the cultures around me, and along the way, many of my ideas about the world have changed. Most importantly, I’ve gained a greater appreciation for other people and their varied cultures.

THE WONDER OF IT ALL — Gracie and friends huddle together to keep warm in the chilly winds of the Cantabrian Sea, off the coast of Santander.

While I am marveling at the “adventure” that I’m on, it has actually been one of the most challenging times in my life. First, I’ve never been this far away, for so long, from all that I know and love. But because of the absence of everything familiar to me, I’ve learned a lot about myself. This adventure has also made me more appreciative of all that I have.
The simple realization of how much love I share with my family and loved ones is like opening up a door and seeing, in a completely new way, a landscape that has always existed. When you are taken away from all that you know, you figure out what is most important in your life. This, I believe, is one of the most important reasons God put me on this study-abroad path.
Thinking of this experience as an adventure has helped me to understand my own faith better. I’ve realized that those who have faith are the best adventurers, because, like the struggle of a physical journey — encountering adversity, feeling alone, and maybe not knowing exactly where you’re going — faith is also a journey.
There are many moments in our faith lives where we reach a fork in the road and take the wrong path, where we can’t see clearly and all we want is certainty and comfort. Adventures are never predictable, and usually not very comforting, but it is when the adventure is over that we can finally understand why we embarked upon it in the first place, and what virtues we’ve acquired along the way.
And when that adventure is over, as long as we maintain our faith and strive to learn from our mistakes as we continue on, we will reach the certainty we need when we reunite with God for eternity in Heaven. That is where all comfort and all truth remains … with God.
Adventures into the unknown can be scary because you don’t know what exactly to expect, but you know that you can expect something.
Keep your eyes open and maintain a sense of wonder. And remember, when the road gets bumpy, look ahead, knowing that you are closer to home than you were before, and always close to God — especially when you know you are following His plan.