ReCalling Ephesus

For nearly four weeks in the summer of 2004, my husband and I visited the stunningly beautiful country of Turkey. We started our journey in Istanbul, traveled to Antalya and Beldibi and spent two and a half weeks swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Then we drove west to the Aegean Seaside villages of Kusadasi and Ephesus. Finally, we headed north to Istanbul and then flew home, much to my dismay. It was a trip to remember forever.

One of my favorite places was the ancient city of Ephesus. It was a surreal experience - meandering the same well worn stone-paved streets that the apostle Paul walked for three years while there. As I stood in the middle of the main "drag" surrounded on all sides by the story-laded ruins of the once pagan city, I tried to image Paul and the burden placed in his heart by God for the people of Ephesus. Little did he know that the letters he composed would reach far beyond the years and geography to reach my two eyes and penetrate my heart all the way in Pennsylvania. The burden he had for the Ephsians, the love he wanted to share with them began in those ancient ruins and calls to my heart still, today. I imagined Paul urgently running down the street, his sandals slapping the white stone under his dusty and weary feet. I was standing on sacred ground.

The old stones were very cool to the touch. They seemed to be alive with many stories longing to be shared. I wondered how many people had touched these stones, what conversations were had in front of them, what crimes did they see happening. Oh, if they could only speak. One collection of well placed stones was in the Great Theatre. It is believed that the theater was begun in 100 B.C. But what we see today was mostly built by the Roman's in the first century. Many additions and renovations have been made over the past 2000 years. The image below is taken from sitting pretty high up on the left side of the theatre. The Harbor Road leads from the theatre and ends where the Aegean Sea used to be. The Sea has receded and now is just past the mountain on the left. It's said that the Paul was held in prison on that mountain peak after he was arrested for preaching to the pagans in that very theater (Acts). Imprisoned, Paul could see the theater, pretty diabolical of his captors, if you ask me.

We spent a couple hours taking in the details of the ruined city, the Library of Celsus, the Prytaneion, and the Temple of Hadrian. Each piece our eyes fell upon was a work of art. Not necessarily work of those in love with God, but nonetheless, work of gifted and creative artisan's. Seeing a city such as this, created by pagan workers, yet having such beauty and longevity, made me wonder what Heaven will look like - made by Love, Him self and being prepared for us by our Lord, Jesus. The beauty will be beyond what our eyes can currently handle.

Even to this day, I'm overwhelmed by the gift of traveling to Turkey and seeing where so much of our history began. Way before America was "discovered" the streets of Ephesus (Efes, in Turkish) were teaming with life and God was spreading the Word through His dedicated servants. Scribes recorded the happenings so that we could have one or four Bibles in our very homes today. Being in Efes made the Word come alive to me in very tangible ways. It's funny, God knows how darn visual I am, and I wonder if that is one reason why He's allowed me to travel as I have. What a loving and amazing gift.

Grace & peace ~ deAnn