Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Canada (01/29/09)
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TITLE: The Healing Waterfall | Previous Challenge Entry
By Corinne Boback
02/01/09 -
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Niagra Falls, Canada! We had planned our honeymoon here. Although we could have stayed on the side of the falls that was located in the States, we decided it was spiritually significant to start our married life, new territory for both of us, in a country other than our homeland.
The years went by quickly. We made ourselves a promise to return to Canada one day, but that promise never came to fruition. Instead, the marital bliss we had in the beginning was rocked with the loss of my husband’s job, my career change, a very difficult pregnancy, and the death of two of our parents during those years. The fights got worse and worse, and at last there was no making up. My husband found solace in another woman’s arms, devastating me in the process.
As my marriage ended bitterly in divorce, I vowed to never step foot in Canada again. Somehow, I could not think of my marriage and subsequent divorce without thinking of the honeymoon in Canada that was so filled with our love as we openly shared the hopes and dreams for our future. Canada’s borders, as far as I was concerned, were permanently closed.
Canada – sweet, beautiful Canada! How I wished our promise to each other to return there had come to pass! Perhaps if we had gone back, our marriage would have survived. I would see ads on the travel channel for various parts of this country, and I would cry over this land now so very “lost” to me, forever gone, just like my wedding vows!
My daughter, who was six years old at the time of the divorce, was now in Junior High. At thirteen, she discovered her love for the opera and all of the fine arts. She was forever begging me to take her on vacation to a place where she could enjoy an opera. The summer she finished the eighth grade, I saw a newspaper advertisement from a locally owned tour bus company that immediately caught my attention. It was for a three-night stay in Toronto, Canada, with front row tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera on one of those three nights. Excitedly, I made our reservations for this tour. It was to be a surprise gift to celebrate her fourteenth birthday. I would just have to put my feelings aside about this country in order to make the trip with her.
The day arrived all too quickly. I found myself actually enjoying the ride as I met a bus full of interesting people. The tour guides were very well informed on Toronto, preparing us for three days of what we would see and do there.
The first night there we went to the opera. It was fantastic! Not only was my daughter’s wish fulfilled, but I discovered afresh and anew my love for the opera as well.
We took in the local sights and sounds, enjoyed the friendliness of the people wherever we went, and dined on some of the finest cuisine I have ever experienced. The weather was perfect, with the sun shining, and warm temperatures.
During those three days, however, there was much more happening to me than just having a good time. I was going through intense inner healing. God’s peace that passes all understanding washed over me for those three days. It was as if the rushing water of His Holy Spirit was finally putting closure on my past. As the “old” was being washed away, the waters were bringing His peace, with words of promise for my future. One might say I had my own “Niagra Falls” going on inside of me!
I returned to the States a changed person, a healed person. Isn’t it just like God to take us back to the source of our pain to perform the miracle of healing?
Oh, as my daughter and I got off the bus in our hometown and headed for our car, I promised her another Canada vacation for her fifteenth birthday. We would be going to Niagra Falls!
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