Today, we spent the day at the Victoria Falls. We could see about 1.2 kilometers of the falls (leaving about 500 meters visible only from the Zimbabwe side). We got soaked. Luckily we had worn rain coats, but still as we walked across a bridge the mist from the falls came down on us from above and up on us from below.
We find it a bit cool (particularly on our legs) but we warm up quickly once we were through.
One of the things I enjoy at Broadway is walking through the congregation reminding us of our baptism. I take water in hand and throw it at the folks in the pews – hoping that as the water splashes them (and many, but not all, laugh) that their laughter and their surprise and their awareness of the water will remind them of their own baptism – and be aware one more time of the blessings of God in their life and remember that others know and recognize that in them as well.
As we walk through the waters of this great wonder of the world…I am reminded of the wonder of the people we are blessed to serve at Broadway…the people of the whole parish – the ones who fill the pews and keep the doors open there; the ones who pass through the doors during the week; the ones who are neighbor to us, yet never pass through the doors. The thundering roar of the waters here, remind me to pay attention to the thundering roar of the spirit in the lives of the people around us at home.
Later in the afternoon we walk along the banks of the Zambezi River and the boys and I stand on rock out in the waters, right before they plunge off the edge and become Victoria Falls. It is a little nerve wracking standing there. It is a balancing act…if you fall in the water you wouldn’t have to go very far, before you would be plunging down the falls. I remember talking with a lawyer named William Stringfellow years ago who felt like the circus was a great living example of the Gospel. He thought all the daredevil stuff – tightrope walkers, people putting their heads in lion’s mouths, etc… -- was a lot like trying to live the Gospel in the world. Standing at the edge of the Victoria Falls – I wonder if I’m prepared to live out the riskiness of the Gospel for awhile longer in this world. Standing there out in the waters – I think about whether I am willing to trust the Spirit in the lives of those around us and in myself. I remember my baptism and commit myself to try – and to try and do it with joy.
Later Conor and I took the Lunar Walk – since it is a full moon tonight we could see the Lunar Rainbow (amazingly beautiful – but impossible for us, technically, to capture in a photograph). What wonders this world holds!
On Sunday morning we get up around 7 and run off so that the boys can get a helicopter ride overlooking the falls. As they stepped off the helicopter you could see the smile spreading across Conor’s face. It was, from their pictures, a pretty spectacular view. We ran back to the hotel and had breakfast before it closed up for the morning. Then we ran back to Victoria Falls for one last look and did we get a treat. Up along the banks of the Zambezi a glorious (and bright) double rainbow bent over the falls and into the gorge below. What a spectacular sight. We stood on the rock near the top of the falls and literally soaked it in. We headed back to the room and began our air trek back to Cape Town where we arrived around 11 pm and were in bed by midnight. A long day – a good week – a great time.
The Next Day
As we were talking about yesterday’s experience I should confess that we actually bought tickets for the flight from Jo’burg to Cape Town last night on the infamously named 1 Time Airlines (I’ve been making fun of their marketing people since I found out about it – but Father Wim explained that 1 Time is a South African expression in the same way that we in the United States might use “For Sure” – but the tickets for all four of us were a little over $100 for the two hour flight – so hard to beat). One of the places they save money on the flight is that they sell all the drinks and food, rather than giving them away (or so we thought). They were coming through the plane and it was clear that they were taking money from people and making change. When they got to Kathy and Jordan they ordered a water – and the flight attendant said “it’s on me” when Kathy tried to pay her. She said the same thing to me when I ordered Jordan a Coke Light. I then heard the person across the aisle ask for a coffee and when she said “it’s on me” that person said “well then I’ll take two” and the flight attendant laughed and said “make it a double, huh?” I love the whimsy and the sense of humor around the place (though I still have no idea what was happening).
Then today we stopped and had lunch at a chain here that is called “Nando’s.” The following was displayed “Why does Nando’s support the Sub-Zero Sweepers Curling Team”
The answers follow:
Because no one else would.
Because it’s cheap.
Our MD’s son plays it.
So the tens of curling fans out there will know our name.
Curling just sweeps us away.
We didn’t want to support any chick sports like netball or rugby.
At the bottom it encourages you to visit them at www.yes-its-a-real-sport.com (I haven’t visited yet, but I think it’s worth a look, if it exists).
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