We had an awesome trip to Norway in May. A highlight had to be visiting in the towns, churches, farms and homes of our ancestors. Were in the churches and cemeteries of half a dozen ancestors and were actually on the farms of 3 ancestors, including the home where one of Ginger's ancestors lived 150 years ago. All of this coupled with the majestic splendor of the scenery made it an unforgettable trip.
We had to decide how we would get around in southern Norway – whether to use the train and bus system which is really very well-developed – even in rural areas, or to rent a car. After spending a lot of time on the internet before we left, I decided it would be easier for me to navigate by car than trying to figure out how to understand and navigate the public transportation system. (We did pretty much park the car on the edge of Oslo and use buses and trains in that city – even I know my limits.) To say that it would be easier to navigate by car than by train or bus, does not mean that it was easy. It was a challenge. At least folks drove on the same side of the road we do. But the
signs were all different, the rules are different, and they have traffic circles.
Now traffic circles are exciting experiences. No one stops. Drivers yielded – I hoped. Once in the circle you have the right away – supposedly. And these circles are coming to a place near you. There is already a small one on Middle Road in Bettendorf, and a major one is being constructed at this time at the intersection of Iowa Highways 3 an 187 (known locally as Maryville Corner, or Starmont School corner). I actually have grown fond of traffic circles, but they are confusing on Google directions. I had "googled" some directions, but Google directions in relationship to traffic circles were confusing at best and in some cases were just wrong, I think.
In the end, my most trustworthy guides were the road map of Norway I bought at a bookstore before I left – and my patient wife. After 10 days of driving around Norway my road map is well worn, but was well worth the few dollars I paid for it. Give me a road map with highway numbers and mark the highways somewhat reasonably, and I can get around without more than a few "oops! We had better turn around and try that road." The only thing about road maps is that roads are sometimes narrower, curvier, and steeper than they actually appear on the map – especially in Norway and some parts or northeast Iowa (we realized why our ancestors settled where they did in Clayton and Winneshiek counties).
So that trusty map helped us cover 2000 kilometers of southern Norway, through dozens and dozens of tunnels (one was 12 miles long), around hairpin curves, up dirt roads on the sides of mountains, across frozen barren tundra, across fjords on ferries, through breath-taking vistas and challenging terrain and around and about hundreds of traffic circles – sometimes two or three or more times each.
Many have made the connection between roadmaps and Bibles. I can see why. Just as the road map cannot possibly show the breathtaking beauty, the challenging traffic flows or the incredible people that make up a journey, neither does the Bible show specifically every joy and every challenge of life. But both the roadmap and the Bible provide the basic routes for travel and navigation. When using both roadmaps and the Bible there are still lots of choices to make – some better and some – in the end – worse. But they both help you see where you are going and give basic directions.
Lutherans Christians as much as any are people of the Word. Our church has embarked on a "Book of Faith" journey where all are encouraged to red and study the people more frequently. Watch for many opportunities to study this "roadmap for life's journeys" this fall in our congregations.
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