There are many reasons we buy tickets to movies like Bond and others in the genre. As for me, I was initially attracted to these movies when I was a kid for one main reason . . . the exotic locations where 007 finds himself fighting bad guys. Thankfully really bad people always seem to hang out in really cool locations, at least in the world James Bond roams.
Would I have been drawn to the movies had they been in locals such as Tifton, GA and Provo, Utah instead of the likes of Prague and Rome, Italy? Absolutely not. My fascination with exotic locations was only stoked further by having parents that loved to travel.
I got my first passport in 7th grade, in preparation for our family trip to Europe. I was thrilled. In keeping with my love of spy movies, I actually posed for the picture looking like a “spy”. In my mind, a spy would naturally raise one eyebrow above the other and have a stern look on his face. I did the same. I don’t think that posed goofy passport pictures would float in our post-911 world, but at that time it was apparently kosher to pose any way you wanted. I looked like a buffoon, but it made for lots of laughs.
Back to last night’s Bond viewing. As I was sitting in the theater, I realized
that I have been to most of the locations at which this movie was set. I have shopped at the Grand Bazar in Istanbul, Turkey. I was there for meetings and stayed the weekend with my friends Travis and Sonya Todd. As a matter of fact, we were ripped off by a cab driver right after our time at that particular market. A little stressful, but the overall trip was pretty incredible.
I have spent a good bit of time at the famous Bund and Pudong districts in Shanghai, as was the case in the movie. First as a student and then for work. I remember making a really bad “smooth line” to a girl on my study abroad program while looking out over that harbor one faithful summer night in college. I’m not going to repeat it, as all respect that people MIGHT have for me would be out the window. The line crashed, as did our budding romance a few weeks later. Not my finest moment, but a good experience nonetheless.
Macau was the location of my 40th birthday party, along with a memorable trip I took there with Patrick Ku 10+ years ago. Both trips were tremendous on all fronts. All three of these cities played big parts in the Bond movie I watched last night.
As I sit here thinking about all the places I have traveled to, all the cultures I have experience, all the foods I have eaten, all the planes, trains, and ships I have boarded, I realize that my initial thoughts of the joys of exotic travel were off base.
The richness of travel is not in the locations themselves, but rather in the relationships grown as a result of the travels. Istanbul and the Grand Bazar were special to me because of getting great time with my dear friends, Travis and Sonya. We laughed, ate, and enjoyed Turkish culture (and coffee) together. However, more importantly, we walked away much closer in our friendship.
My trips to Shanghai and countless other Asian destinations have been special not because of the location itself, but rather the people whom I have shared a little bit of life with at each location. I enjoyed Macau, but will always be grateful beyond words for my travel companions, Eugene Kim, Yuh Tseng, Sam Shin, and Patrick Ku with whom I experienced this city on two occasions.
Even when I am by myself in these places, it is often made rich through being able to simply be alone with my thoughts and my God. In Istanbul, Travis and Sonya had to leave early, so I was left to dwell in the old part of the city alone for two days. What could have been lonely was made soul enriching as I spent much of the days simply walking the streets of this ancient city in a spirit of prayer.
I would stop at random coffee houses, park benches, and side-walk cafes, often pulling out my journal and Bible. I would simply process life in the midst of this mysterious culture. Though not audible, I enjoyed fellowship with God that day through prayer, as I seemed to see His heart for the people and place. He spoke to me through the Bible that day sitting on a bench outside of the Hagia Sophia. Nothing profound . . . just me and my Savior.
It is during times like those cool October days in Istanbul, Turkey that I see things clearly. Life is not about exotic locations and even cool experiences. Life is not about achievement, money, and ego. Life is about relationships. It is about family and friends; friends like Sonya and Travis. Life is about Christ; the most significant and profound relationship of all.
I still enjoy the Bond, Bourne, and other like movies. There is great value in seeing the world and experiencing exotic cultures. However, now I see that the real value in experiences of travel and life in general is in the relationships formed, both with others and in enjoying Christ in the midst of His creation and people.
(I will continue on my series about singleness on next Tuesday. . .)
It really is all about relationships! 🙂 I lived in Australia for two years, and while being near gorgeous beaches and having the most amazing coffee, fresh produce and Thai red curry of my life (I’m starting to drool a little…) was FANTASTIC, now that I’ve been home for five years (ahhh! the time goes so fast!) what I miss most are the precious friends I was so privileged to do life with during that special time. It really wouldn’t have been the same exciting adventure without them! There were also many wonderful times sitting on Bondi Beach (my favorite) in Sydney with my bible and journal, just Jesus and me, that I treasure. What made all of that so grand was my relationship with friends and like you said John, ultimately Jesus. Great post!
Really is cool how universal this is. Do hope to get to Australia one of these…am yet to make it down under!
This post would make anyone who has watched the movie and has never been to those places, apart from in their dreams, really jealous. :D. I haven’t watched the movie yet but I have dreamt of all those places plus a few more. Glad that you have had a privilege of visiting all of them.
I love traveling and though I haven’t been outside my countries borders, what I see when I travel always takes me closer to God. Some scenes are so amazing that tears can’t be avoided…they all shout Gods glory and goodness. Add friendship to that equation and what you have is out of this world glorious.
I am glad that in all your traveling, you have come to appreciate what life is about, family, friends and above all, Christ.
The last two paragraphs are so profound…I’ll keep reading them. Have a good night and I wish you a great weekend ahead.
Thanks and hope you also have a great weekend!
Thank You for taking me on your travels with you, I truly enjoyed hearing about all the wonderful places that you have visited. Most of all, I loved the part where Family, Friends and Christ are the greatest enjoyment of all the exotic places. Wherever you may travel, I am sure you have a strong impact on the people that you meet and bring joy to their lives through your strong belief in the Lord Jesus. Hugs to You my Dear Friend!!
Thanks Jane!
I stumbled across your website recently and just wanted to say how much I’ve appreciated your thoughts on singleness – and loneliness, in particular. As someone who has spent a lot of time alone, I wish I could have spent less time fighting against the loneliness and seen earlier what I realize now – that it was one of the fundamental means by which God was creating the space within me to seek Him. Thanks so much for the encouragement – from your own life – that loneliness can become a soul-enriching experience in which we come to know our friend and Savior Jesus better.
Just introduced to your blog this week. Have enjoyed reading your post on singleness as well as the one on relationships above. I think both speak of a contentment which is a gift of God’s grace. I also have lived in Asia for about 13 years of my life. I have journeyed through ‘singleness’ here and have been able to travel the world a bit. It’s all rather exciting and I definitely feel blessed to have been called to live outside the US, but what you have stumbled across I also have found to be true…life IS about relationships. God definitely uses our relationships to help change us into people who will glorify Him more. I used to think that the scripture “it’s not good for man to be alone.” was only in reference to marriage. However, I think it’s more than that… We’re meant for community and life in relationship with others! Grace and peace to you…
Thanks Alexis…great stuff here. I would write more in response, but I am on the road and doing this on my phone. Thanks!
I think back on our 24 hours in Istanbul with fondness!
Ryan, I know. . . we need to do a repeat trip of similar magnitude in the near future. Now that you and Meagan are back on this side of the globe, we might be able to pull it off. Look forward to catching up when I get back to my apartment in a few weeks!
I liked the part about your ‘james bond spy poses’ because I do spy poses too–except I pose with my sunglasses (even in winter) because it makes me feel like a secret agent/undercover cop lol. I find travelling as a single person kind of lonely sometimes but taking time out to have quiet-time with God really helps because when you enjoy his fellowship you don’t feel so lonely anymore. I would like to see a post on how you deal with jet-lag, because it takes me a full 2 weeks for me to recover. As you are a long-time traveler you probably have some secret I imagine….
Great stuff!
Yeah, the jet lag thing is awful. Unfortunately, I have found very few helpful patterns. Sometimes certain things work, other times they don’t at all.
I’ll think about it more, though, and maybe write something up in the coming weeks. Great post idea!