The ‘five most romantic towns in the world’: The cost and joy of fulfilling our call

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Travel Trivia has listed the “five most romantic towns in the world.”

No. 5 is Santorini, Greece. I’ve visited
there several times while leading biblical study tours of Greece and Turkey.
This iconic village you’ve seen in posters of Greece (white walls with blue
roofs) is more beautiful in person than it is in photos. Watching the sunset on
the ocean is worth the trip.

No. 4 is Bruges, Belgium. The
article notes that it has the most medieval structures of any city in Europe.
I’ve not visited, so I can’t render an opinion.

No. 3 is Kyoto, Japan, with entire
shrines devoted to love. Since the only place in Japan I’ve visited is the
Tokyo airport, I’ll have to take their word for it.

No. 2 is Paris, France, for
obvious reasons. But as with Japan, I’ve only seen the inside of the airport.
(I tend to travel overseas where I can lead biblical study tours, and, sadly,
we have no confirmation that Paul ever visited the City of Light.)

No. 1 is Venice, Italy. While it’s not a biblical site, it’s on the way to places that are. Thus, I can attest personally to the beauty of its canals and quality of its food.

The cost and joy of fulfilling our call

Here’s my point: we tend to be
down on what we’re not up on.

I’m less interested in places I’ve
not seen than in places I have. We appreciate books we understand and movie
plots we can follow more than those we cannot.

In some ways, the reverse should be true. I should list all the places I should visit but haven’t, then make a plan to see them. I should try harder with books and movies I find hard to follow. What I don’t know I should seek to know.

On the other hand, it is important
for us to do most what we do best. Work within your spiritual gifts; stay
within your kingdom assignment. None of us can do what all of us can do, so
identifying and fulfilling our calling is vital (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Here’s…