Travel and Verse

stories of travel, medical missions, and more

Month: March 2019

Travel Journal, 6

March 28, 2019 / / 0 Comments

New Friend Dave

The mobile passport app saves frustration and loads of time. Prior to landing back in the US, the user simply takes a selfie, adds passport information, and answers a few simple questions. When walking into passport control, the traveler bypasses all lines and shows a Homeland Security agent their phone. It’s a breeze and very efficient.

But no time saving app or brilliant travel secret was going to help us make our flight. We landed, collected our bags, breezed through passport control and customs, and promptly missed our flight.

It wasn’t even close.

Although we live close, getting a shuttle home wasn’t going to happen until the next day. Cars were outrageous for a one-way rental. Taxis were even crazier. Time crept on and we continued to trouble-shoot. It was looking like we’d be spending another restless night in an airport. Though I am no stranger to the comforts of a scum-encrusted patch of carpet near a closed Wok-n-Roll, I would have much rather slept in a bed.

There we sat—right outside of customs in the baggage claim. What could we do?

I prayed.

“Lord, give us just a little glimmer of hope. I hate to wish that somebody else missed this exact flight, but if they did, send them my way. Maybe we could split a car rental. Amen”

Opening my eyes, I saw an older guy walked our direction, talking on his cellphone.

“Yeah,” he bellowed into the phone, “I missed flight! I’m thinking about renting a car.”

I collected my mouth off the floor and introduced myself. We were heading north. And so was our new friend Dave.

Thoughts crept into mind. What if he’s a serial killer? It was unlikely, but if he was, we never “found out.” With car rented, Dave kept us company, regaled us with stories from his childhood, and drove the whole way.

We won’t soon forget Dave.

We also won’t forget how God answered prayer. That was perhaps the quickest and most specific answer to prayer I’ve ever witnessed. Though it was a simple request, God showed Himself once more that He is a God who hears. Earlier that day I read in Psalm 6 that, “The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.”

I’m thankful for Dave. And I’m thankful for a God who hears.

 

anthony forrest 

Over Now

March 25, 2019 / / 2 Comments

Heavy hung branches tremble and shake

Thawing sunshine beams down to awaken

The trees from icy sleep

 

The old shed’s corner drips and drips

Newborn warmth builds as winter’s grip slips

Away and away

 

Unremembered songs of birds returned

From Southern concerns

And stays

 

Door soon closes to waiting, waiting

Cold days over now—ready for Spring

To begin

 

anthony forrest

Travel Journal, 5

March 21, 2019 / / 1 Comment

Foreign Bathroom Series

Chapter One: Bidet

Names have been changed to protect the innocent (also embarrassed).

I peered deeply into the strange toilet. Along the side of the foreign commode several buttons and settings looked back at me, questioning my every move. To make matters worse, I couldn’t even read it.

No English.

What to choose? Back home I have one setting—flush. But here? So many options. It was a good thing that this was just practice. Call it a “dry run.” The panel had ten options. The first one looked promisingly like water. I pressed the button and listened for the sound of a successful flush. To my horror, a robotic arm extended from the back of the bowel and paused ever-so-briefly.

“Bidet,” I yelled (out loud mind you). And, faster than I could close the lid, the little arm began spraying water.

Upon closer inspection and further use, the electronic bidet in our hotel bathroom also had a seat warmer, temperature setting for the water, and a speaker that played the comforting and bladder stimulating sounds of a flowing stream.

Some friends we were traveling with met up with us later that day. I asked James what he thought of the toilet in his room. With a crooked smile and a breathy giggle, James said that he though the bidet was, “very accurate.”

anthony forrest

Short Lines

March 18, 2019 / / 1 Comment

a collection of brief poetry, part 1

Ueno Park

 

My feet from under cover

Step with a new day

In the warmth of sunrise hope

Seeking a sunset peace

 

anthony forrest

 

Travel Journal, 4

March 14, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Throw Coins

(story below)

Men throw coins seeking grace finding none.

 

With clapped hands they bow, but not to the Son.

 

In Danse Macabre their culture sways till finally in death’s arms they lay.

 

Have they hope in this dire state?

Where will they find grace?

 

 

Beyond a doubt, one of my favorite places to visit is Japan. Smiling faces, terrific food, ancient structures, mystical remnants of forgotten wars, and friendly people make up a culture that warms my heart each time I go. 

Most of the people in Japan observe Shinto, a religion made up of mysticism, spirit worship, and ancestral longing. On the outside, Shinto is beautiful. I travel to Shinto shrines every day I am in Japan. Towering pagodas and looming archways beckon followers to bow, clap, buy luck, and recite prayers.

Albeit beautiful, every time I visit a shrine, I walk away with a sense of emptiness. All the ritual practices and rigid rules leave the worshiper fallen short of perfection. In a sense, Shinto is puzzle missing pieces. It is up to man to maintain a connection to their ancestral past. It is up to man to live up to expectation of Shinto. It is all up to man. Hopeless, graceless, and endless. If man is the end all be all, count me out.

The God of the Bible gives hope, grace. Second chances and forgiveness abound. It doesn’t come from me. And that’s a good thing.

 

anthony forrest

Inhale

March 11, 2019 / / 0 Comments

a collection of haiku

 

Inhale: a collection of haiku

 

Sky glows red

Light passes through

A new day

 

Rubs tired eyes

Sleep falls away

Mind alive

 

One breath then another

A new place

A new breath

Exhale

 

Feet step out

Carry forward

The street takes

Also gives

 

Taste all

Smell all

Inhale

Journey on

 

anthony forrest

Travel Journal, 3

March 7, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Too Many Señoritas

My dad and I gathered our unorganized gear and stumbled out of the Jeep. Both of us had dealt with juggling schedules and flights just to make it this far. He flew in on the red-eye connecting through Guadalajara. And though my flight was direct from Minneapolis to Cancun, my brutal night shift had left me depleted and groggy.

Cozumel, Mexico is beautiful. Sure, the island is nice. But I’m talking about what’s beneath the surface of its perfect waters. We were now headed to Palencar Reef off the southwestern coast of the island. The scuba diving in Cozumel is some of the best in the world. Still waters, abundant sea-life, and a massive coral reef create a diver’s paradise.

Sea-Selfie

Our boat (The Chingilada. No idea what that means, don’t ask) showed up and our captain and dive master began loading tanks and gear. The sun shone bright, the water was warm, and the boat crew had fresh-cut pineapple. Even though we were tired, this was going to be a perfect day.

Right before our boat left the marina, a taxi pulled right up to the pier. Two very beleaguered middle-aged Americans piled out of the vehicle.

“Sorry we’re late,” growled one of the men, orange-haired and sunburned. “Crazy night.”

They hurled their gear into the boat and fell exhausted onto the bench across from me and my dad. As terrible as we felt from our long days of travel, we were a picture of health compared to these guys. I leaned forward and said over the sound of the boat engine, “you oaky?”

A pause.

The other guy took off his sunglasses and groaned with bloodshot eyes, “Too many señoritas.” They were obviously having a completely different Mexico experience than we were.

anthony forrest

Live and Trust

March 4, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Though timely, this was written years ago.

An ocean’s length from here to there
Fighting rages beyond repair.

Scores of children—hungry, dying
Getting better? I would be lying

And every day—a money scare
all in a broken world.

A thousand miles away our leaders fright
In evil do these men delight

Money and power, money and power
Getting worse by the hour

Our country improve?
No, try they might.

all in a broken world.

Work now scarce and money too
Struggle comes with each day new

The cost of breathing rising, rising
This depressing world we are despising

So with each day that comes
Do I color it blue,
all in a broken world?

 

Dachau, Germany

Apart from it all, here I sit
Admiring the morning, God’s sacred gift

A timber’s branch quivers when lands a bird
Then my fluffy friend jumps, leaving the branch undisturbed.

Misty fog gathers dripping from pines
All of these things sooth my mind.

My Creator comforts, loves, and cares
And cries, “Be still, My love I share!”

Comforting peace beyond understanding
His Holy Spirit forever now granting.

A simple life of loving God,
and God loving us is all we must do, live and trust

all in a broken world.

anthony forrest

 

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