Gumby Goes to Colmar:

I wanted to go with some friends from my class, however no one was available, so I went by myself. However, going by ones self should not keep them from pursuing their wanderlust. (1st point of neuroplasticité )

Why? Because life is meant for living (period) and a much more clichés like “Life is the thing that happens when you busy making plans.” The French culture in some sense forces you to slow down, because the service is slow, administration processing is slow, class starts late, etc. For me this slowing down forces me to appreciate other things around me, because it forces me to confront two ideas:

To be angry that my food is late OR appreciate the world around me because I have more time in this space at this time, or with these people.

Application:

I am blessed because of the advice of the wise, who’s history has some regrets:

I wish I was not so worried all the time

I wish I would have been more involved

I wish I would have found Christ earlier

So, I can make a conscious choice to change my bad thinking and fixation because firstly God. We have been given the power of autonomy of choice, to chose good or bad, or good over better, better over best. Secondly science, Neuroplasticité allows us to constantly change our brains, that we have the choice and power to change our emotions, our dispositions, things that we grew up thinking, addictions, etc.

So going to Colmar “alone” should not stop me from going because I want to be a person that lives life to the fullest. The day was full of art and touristy things. The town is incredibly tourist friendly. I first went to the Unterlinden museum, where I spent 3 1/2 hours. The greatest part was the Isenheim Alter piece by Matthais Grünewald. This massive piece full of symbols and stories of Christ, Mary, and St. Anthony was phenomenally vivid, convicting, and inspiring. First installed at a church of St. Anthony whose monks specialized in helping people with the skin disease ergotism. The first piece depicts Jesus with the skin disease on the cross, with St. Sebastian on the left (symbol of suffering- martyr by arrows) and St. Anthony on the right (symbol of temptation). These symbols would have encouraged the victims of the horrible skin disease .

What was also amazing about this museum was that in the contemporary sector of it, there was an early 20th century German artist, Otto Dix, who created an entire exhibit on his reaction to Grünewald’s alter pieces. I was only able to secretly take this picture of Dix’s interpretation of Grünewald’s Annunciation.

Other adventures in Colmar include seeing the museum of Auguste Bartholdi (was a local), who was the sculpture artist of The statue of Liberty and most of the public sculptures in Colmar.

Now, why is this week’s blog called Neuroplasticity? Because I met up with a friend from a bible study who is from Ireland and studying Neurology. We visited a beautiful museum that used to be the palais of one of the King Louis’. Afterward, over some french wine, we discussed the ability of the brain to change. I was fascinated with neuroplasticité in regards to our study abroad experience. What differences observed through this experience enlighten our worldview and tell us things that we would like to change or modify? What things about our own cultures are good or bad? Are they changeable or is that just our disposition, our upbringing, something we inherit? SO I asked him what were his views of Americans, which were mostly positive, besides that we are overly nice. So nice that it seems superficial, intrusive, and in genuine- and I would agree with him. This coming from an Irish man was funny to me, but it is also the view of a lot of other people that I have talk with in France…. I withhold putting any value placement on this and move on.

The Application: how do people change? Well the law of physics states: An object that is in motion will not change its velocity unless a force acts upon it.

Pedro, a friend from university, saw me leaving class one day with my face sad because I was in a whirlwind of emotions, just asked “are you ok?” “What?!” I thought.”Why is he asking me if I am ok?”

The fact that he noticed that something was wrong was so healing for me and inspired me to speak to him about the problems I had been facing in life. We spent the next couple hours talking in a French, English, Spanish cacophony. They let me ride one of their bikes while they both rode on one bike-swerving and swirling through the street almost hitting many of the passerby  (hilarious) because the balance on the bike with two grown adults, two full backpacks and a shopping bag full of kitchen pot and utensils. The laughter was exactly what I needed to change my direction my mind was going. Our next meeting was Pedro showing me his sketch book and portfolio. His art is a self reflective art, dealing with how to organize life into graphic design (like a road map of his resume- detailing how the parts of life intersect with others). So how to people change? — An intersection 

For the couple riding a bike full of baggage- a person that they might hit

For me- a person asking if I was ok

For you-???

My life’s greatest intersection:

It was after a message at my church speaking on a cry from David, taken from Psalms 91:1 (Title: A 911 call to God). I was on the ride home when I become so overcome with grief and emotions I had to find a place to process everything. I found myself in a new housing development. However the houses had not been built yet. Just the roads, sidewalks, and lights were present in the once open field farmland. After running into the open field in tears with prayers and songs amongst the dirt and bugs, it was sunset. I was walking back to my car. The sidewalk lamps turn on. I find myself in the middle of an intersection. I look to my left- a round about . I look in front of me- a dead end. I look to my right- road disappears into the open field. I look behind me- the road back onto the highway.

I was at a crossroads in my life. I could chose the left- to not change and keep on sinning, repenting (repeat) and God’s grace would be there but I wold not be growing (round about). I could make a choice that would cut me off from the relationship with God (Dead end). I could also get lost in the philosophy, circles, and humanist thought in my own mind (the open field). OR. I could choose to get on the highway; the plan that God has for me and trust that he will be my guide and light my way.

For other pictures from Colmar click here

Pour votre Encouragement, à la Prochain,

DCM