Last weekend, Easter weekend, I had the absolute blessing
and joy of getting to go to Cape Town with my dear friends here in Zambia
(happy graduation/savings to me, right?!). It was a last minute trip, one that
completely goes against my very planner nature.
I hopped on a plane without knowing the top places to eat,
the most popular attractions, the must-sees, which again is just crazy, but
that’s beside the point. All I knew was that our hotel was at a beautiful part
of town, on the V&A Waterfront.
We quickly threw down our bags and headed down the block to
the Waterfront. It was, indeed, beautiful. Stunning. A harbor full of yachts
and sailboats. Blue water. Colorful buildings. Pretty shops. Upscale
restaurants. America meets Africa with some gorgeous water thrown in there.
We (or I) went crazy. Singing, laughing, being the ultimate
tourists with our photo taking and obnoxious carrying on. This place was
incredible!!! Quite the contrast from dusty Lusaka. We had arrived. The
freshest Italian Gelato, even Nutella flavor! Fresh off the boat seafood.
Seagulls filing the sky. Seals swimming in the chilly water below the pier.
Great friends in tow. Crisp wind to provide some relief for my always sunburned
skin. The V&A Waterfront. What a place, y’all.
I’m a visual learner. Jesus has put that within me not just
to teach me to study with flashcards, but to open my eyes to the lessons and
wonders He wants to teach me in the way He’s made me.
Anywho, back to paradise. This place. Photos cannot capture
its beauty and the rush we felt even standing next to a McDonalds. This had to
be it. Every single bit of what people had exclaimed about to us when they
mentioned their Cape Town experiences. The beauty of nature meets first world luxuries.
What more can you ask for in a holiday?!
If we had never left the V&A Waterfront, I would’ve left
happy. Ecstatic. Rejuvenated. After all,
I believed that’s the best the city had to offer. On that Saturday we didn’t go
any further than those piers. Yet it seemed like the best.
Until Sunday came. We opened our pockets a little wider to
splurge on a (quite affordable thanks to compassionate people caring for NGO
workers) guided tour throughout the Cape Town countryside. All day with a South
African guy who turned out to be a great friend of ours. We hopped in, slammed
the van doors shut, and I didn’t think it could get any better than the V&A
Waterfront.
How very, very wrong was I. Cape Town is covered with over
500 vineyards, gorgeous wine estates dating back to the 1800s, unique and
colorful houses, vast farmland, lush mountains, waterfalls, African wildlife,
cliffs to the ocean at the end of the continent. Rocky beaches. Cute towns with
patio seating and better gelato. Breathtaking views of the Atlantic driving
along the side of a towering mountain. Diverse. Rich. Natural. Full of life.
Stunning. Incredible. Gasping at every turn. Photos always getting better and
better. The most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen in my life, with every shade
of pink igniting the sky set against the mountain/ocean landscape.
Y’all. My mind was blown. As we were parked to watch the
sunset on a turn-off on this mountain road we were following all day, Jesus
spoke such Truth into my soul. Amy, this is what you’re missing out on
sometimes. Immeasurably more. Breathtaking beauty. Gazing into the very heart
of God.
Because I settle for the McDonalds
and seagulls. I thought that was the best, but there was so, so, so much better
in that incredible city.
How often do I do this every day? I settle for good with the
Lord when His hand is opened for me to receive His best. Not just in food or nature, but in my relationship with Him.
Knowing Him deeply. Realizing how intimately known and greatly loved I am
despite my sin. Being romanced by the Creator of the Universe, of the mountains
and the seas and pink sunsets.
But you know what? It cost me. Was I thinking about the cost
when I sat amazed in the presence of the Almighty God at that beach or on top
of that mountain? Or even sitting at a café with 3 great friends? Not one bit.
I would’ve spent more. Because the cost is so minimal when considering the
reward.
What’s one hour of my day when I get to sit with Jesus, the
Lover of my soul, the Redeemer of the world, the Comforter, the Victory, the
Joy? What’s sacrificing for someone in need when I am blessed by witnessing
Jesus provide for him through me? What’s taking that leap of faith when Jesus
is there to reveal Himself deeper and greater? Will I be wishing I left the
wine country and breathtaking views for the touristy pier? No way.
In the middle of rejoicing in the Lord for His creation, His
love shouting from the sunset into the depths of my heart, I sat in awe of
Jesus, of the immeasurably more He wants me to see every single day. In Lusaka.
In America. In my home. In the compound. There may be a cost. It may take time,
discipline, effort. But I know with every ounce of my soul that it won’t come
without the most beautiful of rewards- the grace, the love, the hope, the
intimacy of Jesus.
