17. Oct 2023

Ancient Corinth

Video: Snail-Trail 2 on the finish line…

Photo 1: God will take us through hard and challenging times, not to break us, but to form us, to make us stronger. As I approached Ancient Corinth yesterday and saw the mountain upon which the fortress Acrocorinth sits, I said to myself: “There is no way I am going to hike up there tomorrow!” After completing the 2450 kilometers from Germany to Corinth, my feet were looking for a well deserved break, not to mention my back, shoulders, hips and knees. However the bus service to the fortress had recently been discontinued to help out the local taxi drivers, and I did not want to take a taxi. So this morning I put on my hiking boots. It actually surprised me how quick and effortless I ascended the 545 altitude meters without the weight of my backpack. It was then that I realized that the long journey had only made me stronger… and the view from on top of the mountain was fantastic!

Photo 2: When I arrived at the entrance to the fortress, there was a young family from Israel that had been watching me. I said: “This is how the Romans and the Turks came up to invade the fortress so many years ago!” I told them how sorry I was for what was happening in their country and wished them the blessing that God promised Abraham, the blessing of shalom that comes to us through the Messiah. It was a short, but meaningful encounter.

I continued walking up through the fortress. At the very top I met Andrei and Natalie from the Ukraine. I told them that my family and I in Germany had taken in a family from the Ukraine and that the husband has since started a Ukrainian church at our church in Moosburg. Andrei had just completed a work assignment in Israel and was struggling with the decision about returning to the Ukraine or staying in Western Europe. We talked and prayed. They were so grateful for the encouragement that they wanted to have my picture taken with them.

Photo 3: I am standing where Paul stood when he was brought before the tribunal in Corinth. You can read about this in Acts 18:12-17.

Photo 4: The pillars from the temple of Apollo that are still standing.

Photo 5: Ancient Corinth with the fortress mountain Acrocorinth in the background