This beautiful shot of Mt. Ararat was taken in the country of Armenia. Since neither my husband nor I are of Armenian descent, we get some puzzled looks when we express our passion for the Armenian culture.
I speak for both my husband and me when I say that we have fallen in love with the land of Armenia, its people, its rich church history, its art. And for myself, the embracing of this culture has led to much more than outward exploration; it has led me on a deepening "inner journey."
God showed me a deep spiritual and emotional connection on my first trip to Armenia in 2004. The ancient monasteries where God was worshipped in past centuries hold only a handful of local villagers, reminding me of the condition of my home church in an Iowa farm community. The Armenian genocide of 1915 that seemed to deposit large quantities of resentment and bitterness in the souls of the people was similar (on a very small scale) to my own experience. And the difficulty in breaking free from the oppressive spirit left from the Soviet era was and is no different than my journey in breaking free from hopelessness and depression.
So...this is my connection to an ancient land and its wonderful people. Just as God so graciously has led me step by step on a difficult healing journey, He has done the same with many Armenian Christians. Each of us has the exciting opportunity to walk, to run, and even rest in Him, for He has "set [our] feet in a spacious place."
© 2009 Lana Gray
