Need an idea for your bucket list??

Well  just came back from a beautiful morning walk along the shores of  the Bay of Bengal.  Rather sobering and exciting to think that is the very Bay that William Carey sailed into the day he came to bring the gospel to India.  Having just read that book and being privileged to visit churches here, it was special this morning to walk in this water and give thanks to God for His work in this country. 

Find myself continuing to reflect on the changes I’ve seen in India while noting what still seems the same.   After a delayed flight to Frankfurt on my way here that caused me to miss my first flight out of Mumbai, I almost missed my second flight because of how much things are the same.  While sometimes amusing, the reality of having to go through about 7 different lines to catch a flight can be a bewildering experience.  One change is the amount of motorcycles that one now sees driving down the roads.  But as we drive down the lanes of the city or the roads of the countryside I find myself smiling over something else that has not changed and that is, you can still quite comfortably seat anywhere from 4-6 people on a motorcycle.   And speak about change – I found myself in a village in the jungles of eastern India today, a village that no white person has ever been too, a village that has no electricity, very little water, very low literacy rates – but quite a few cell phones abound – 2012 is a different year.  The same yet different – I do continue to be amazed that one can walk along the shores of the Indian Ocean as I did this morning – beauty surrounding me – and then realize that everywhere litter is strewn about with no care for where it lands.  Yes the contrasts of this most beautiful land!!

And oh as we’ve spent the last three days driving through the beautiful jungle area of eastern India, I’ve been pondering the idea of bucket lists.  Not sure if you have a bucket list or not but if you need a suggestion for your list, may I offer you one.  I actually told my Indian handler I would be passing this one on to everybody in Canada.  There is something rather exhilarating about sitting in a jeep going about 50 miles an hour down with one hand on the horn, on a lane that is not much wider than 10 feet – dodging other vehicles, people, dogs, cows, bicycles, motorcycles – very calmly without ever hitting anything.  I’m not sure there are more talented drivers on the face of God’s planet. 

Well I must run but I will post you soon on more serious matters – like the last 3 days I’ve had visiting the tribal villages of Eastern India!