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By Hosea Lee Hodges

Ever since I can remember, I have been inspired by the life and story of the Apostle Paul.

I recall reading the book "Finding Yourself in the Bible." The message of that book has had a major impact in my life. It refers to the lives of various people in the Bible and makes it clear that these are not just stories that unfolded 3,000 years ago, rather they directly impact our lives today.

I find that the God who spoke to Job in the whirlwind also addresses his message to me, Hosea Lee Hodges. When I read the Psalms, I know that the Lord is also my shepherd and when the angel appeared in the night sky over Bethlehem, he also brought Hosea Lee Hodges the good news that a savior is born.

I read the Bible this way. But on a recent cruise in the Footsteps of Paul to Greece, Malta and Italy, I found myself overwhelmed at how Paul's story intersected with my own. Traveling those same paths as Paul produced a kind of awe deep within me.

As I walked among the streets of ancient Corinth, I realized that this is the place where Paul wrote, "There are thorns in my flesh that continuously bother me."

The Bible tells us how Paul prayed and prayed, pleading with God to remove the thorns from him and God answers, saying to Paul, (and to Hosea Lee Hodges and to each of us) "My grace is sufficient."

It was in Corinth that the Apostle Paul wrote how he was torn between two opinions; how his heart would tell him to do one thing and his mind would tell him do to something else. Paul often ended up doing that which he didn't really want to do.

Caught up in the light and the time and place amid the stones, I realized that I can find myself within the life of Paul.

I believe all of us have one thing in our lives that keeps us from being totally what we want to be in Christ Jesus. And yet, the Lord God tells us continually, "My grace is sufficient for you."

As our boat journeyed across the waves, I could not help but think of Paul traveling upon the rough seas, being shipwrecked and making it to land in Malta, floating on the broken pieces of his wooden ship.

I found myself getting so caught up in that time and space that all I could do was say, "Thank you, Lord Jesus. Lord you have been good to me." That moment, and the journey in general, was a time of total worship, giving God all the glory, honor and praise.

When we arrived in Rome, we were able to visit the Colosseum, the Forum, Paul's prison cell, and the cathedral built to honor his ministry. Again, I could only respond by getting caught up in praise and thanksgiving to God for God's grace and glory.

There was something very special about visiting the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica that overwhelmed me by God's grace and glory.

According to the Scripture, eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of men and women, all the good things that God has in store for us. The Bible tells us that God would not hold any good thing from those of us who walk upright before him.

Just as my father picked me up when I was a child and I was able to look over his shoulder to see what was going on, I feel as if God, my heavenly Father, has allowed me to look over his shoulder to see what is in store for us.

This Advent we prepare ourselves for the wonders that await. And like Paul, we travel by faith, certain that God calls us by name.

The Rev. Hosea Hodges pastors Mt. Zion UMC in Lothian.