“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust
When you travel you learn to see with new eyes. Common sights in our everyday existence jump into our imaginations with new wings when seen on foreign soil.
Our recent pilgrimage to Scotland and England, I was fascinated by the road signs. We were in countries where we knew the language – English, of course, – but words and their meanings were different.
Here are a few of my favorites:
A Loo is a bathroom. Really? They give awards for the best toilets???
This would get my attention!
Polite way to saying Yield.
At first I thought this was a hidden Mickey.
We were on a tidal island but got off safely.
Here we tip cows. I guess flies are more fun in England. I just never could get one to tip over for me.
And your heart…
They never ceased to remind us that they drive on the correct side of the road.
This made me wonder how strange some of our signs, customs and words are to people travelling here. Now home I am more aware of signs that I often take for granted. I see home in new light. What would others see here that have faded into background for me?
One of my prayers before they trip and now afterwards is to be open.
To see God’s world with the eyes of a pilgrim:
seeking direction,
noticing the everyday miracles
beholding the ordinary.
The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.”
I often find myself taking the people God has placed in my life for granted too. Not really seeing them, hearing them, appreciating them. Since coming home, I see them with new eyes, fresh love and a surprising sense of wonder. I hope I never lose this sacred awareness of daily spectacular unfolding right before me.
“People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, 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.”
How many road signs in life do I miss everyday? I am sure I have often overlooked them, but am taking them in now with greater vision.
What ordinary everyday sign are your seeing with new eyes lately?
Thanks Connie. Pay attention is a phrase I am hearing a lot lately too.
Thanks Lori I think we can open our eyes without the benefit of travel BUT going other places, getting into new routines and seeing new things does help. Hope you can travel one day too.
Loving how GOD keeps confirming the message to me to slow down…to listen…to see with His eyes.
I so want to travel one day, and you bring out great points about our perspective. The world can look so different through a different lens.
Thanks! I know since I have been home, my antenna has been higher – paying more attention to all around me. I hope and pray I don’t slip back into old habits.
Thanks Laura, I certainly enjoyed watching for and photographing some of these signs.
What a great analogy! I do think I take certain people in my life for granted. This will be a wonderful reminder to me today to pay closer attention. Thanks for the gentle nudge. 🙂
Jean, this made me smile. We just started Kelly Minter’s Bible study on Ruth and today we talked about how we take things for granted when we feel safe. Such good thoughts, Jean.
Thanks Nancy, The more I pay attention, the more I see God – a spiritual discipline I need to do more of! I don’t want to miss Him either.
Hi Lynn, I really enjoyed these signs on the trip too and knew they would be fun but also a lesson if I paid attention. Paying attention is the key!
‘Love that phrase, “behold the ordinary.” It reminds me to slow down and take note. God is revealing His divine nature, His glory, His heart. Every day. All around me. I don’t want to miss a single display!
Oh, Jean, I loved these signs! Always loved signs. Some are great fun. Unfortunately, in this life, we whiz by God’s signs so quickly that we don’t even know they are there and we end up in a hole! Thanks for this and for sharing your wonderful trip with us! 😀
Thanks Clella. Keep looking! God is everywhere.
I know my vision has been sharper since arriving back home, Jody. Now I only hope it continues and I don’t slip back into not paying attention. Yes He is everywhere
Thanks Denise!
A very smart blogger friend of mine from Conn (YOU!) told me to pay attention on my pilgrimage. That was a great reminder.
I had to really chuckle at loo’s awards though.
Good thought provoking Post Jean. I am always at wonder about the nature around me. Looking at the world a bit differently today. Thanks Clella
The ‘ordinary and the everyday’….Jean, thank you for piquing my interest. I’m going to ask the Lord to keep my eyes open for Him and His work today–His signs are everywhere, especially in the people around us. I’m going to need to take note.
Awesome.
These kinds of experiences truly can be an exercise in slowing down and noticing those things we take for granted.
I’m pretty certain my loo would never win any awards 🙁