Proverbs 11:25 (NIV) A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 (ESV) Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:25 (NKJV) The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.
When I think about refreshment in relation to vacation, I picture myself soaking up the sun while lounging on the beach, frozen fruit-flavored mocktail in hand and audiobook playing in my ears. Or I ponder collapsing at the peak of a mountain hiking trail and soaking in the view, knowing I completed the three-mile hike and survived, and now I needed to rest before the trek down.
I think everyone needs this type of refreshment. For me, the beach offers the ultimate in relaxation and hiking gives a sense of accomplishment.
But, I admit, I am guilty of forgetting to refresh my spirit while traipsing around new places. The views claim my attention. The yummy donuts and ice cream beckon me. The museums and sites fill my brain with information that I promptly forget after the vacation ends.
So how do I, as a traveler, refresh my spirit while on an adventure? Devotionals, Bible reading, and prayer, yes. Another answer lies in Proverbs 11:25. It is in the moment at the beachside bar when I have an opportunity to bless another and refresh my spirit.
Did I treat the staff with respect? Did I say please and thank you? Did I give a generous tip? Did I act in a godly manner, a manner that may bless another and, in turn, refresh my spirit?
Perhaps my kindness lifted the worker’s spirit after an encounter of the not-so-nice kind. Maybe my tip helped the worker to pay their grocery bill. Possibly my review, later in the day, on a website, earned a worker a raise or a promotion.
I may never know the blessing I bestow on another. And that’s okay. Yet, when I travel, I have to act with intention in my words and actions toward others. In this way, I partake in spiritual refreshment.
All that said, I close with this (slightly silly) analogy: Like a fruity mocktail satisfies physical thirst, a positive review, a kind word, a generous tip, an upbeat attitude quenches spiritual thirst.
While on vacation, we have every reason to rejoice. God has provided us time away to rest and relax from the normal rhythms of life.
Yet even on vacation we experience pitfalls. The rain pours down during our entire beach trip. Our tours get canceled because not enough people signed up. The hotel doesn’t live up to the reviews. The taxi takes longer than expected to show up and we arrive late to a concert.
Our feelings become a tangled mess of sadness, annoyance, anger, and maybe another emotion or two. At least mine do, at times.
For travelers, the book of Philippians offers an example of rejoicing in every moment. Paul rejoices in his hardship and encourages the Philippians to rejoice with him. If Paul can rejoice even in the face of danger, surely we can rejoice when our travel plans go awry.
Deep-down contentment lies in Christ, not in the sites we see and the restaurants we eat at. Yes, these events can provide pleasure, and if they do, we can rejoice! But that’s not always the case, and rejoicing in these moments can snuff out those unpleasant feelings.
For my past travels, I rejoice in swimming safely to shore after an unexpected dousing in the river, in spending time with my uncle, and in having a (now funny) story to tell. I rejoice in watching a baseball game and an unplanned overnight stay, after a bird roosted in the plane’s engine and caused a flight delay. I rejoice for the helpful bus driver who directed us to the beach.
If Paul were to write a letter to travelers about generosity and tipping, I think he’d reiterate some of the same points he did to the Corinthians. He’d tell travelers to prepare in advance to give tips. He’d say tipping is an act to be done not out of obligation but with a willing heart. He’d point out that the amount travelers give does not matter as long as it comes from a heart that wants to give. He’d say travelers who give with a willing heart fulfill the material needs of others while fulfilling their own spiritual needs. He’d tell travelers that giving with a generous spirit gives other people a reason to thank God.
Whether we’re giving to the church or giving to someone else, generosity goes beyond giving—it’s about attitude and heart. Our ability to give and our willingness to give both come from God (1 Chronicles 29:14). As such, our travels deserve the same preparation that we give to other areas of our lives.
Generosity begins with spiritual preparation. Prayer brings our focus to God. The same as we ask a blessing before a meal, we need to ask for God’s blessing on our vacation. We can pray for those who will receive the tips and for the impact of the tips and ask God to prepare our hearts to give.
Generosity also requires material preparation. A budget helps us to stay within our God-given blessings. It eliminates the element of surprise, allowing our hearts to gain a spirit of generosity. We can prepare envelopes of tips for housekeeping, room service, and others who deliver services but do not charge us directly. We can also budget extra for those instances we receive exceptional service.
Before your next vacation, read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 9. What does God say to you about generosity? What do you need to do to prepare yourself to give with a willing heart?
Another Generous Act—Beyond a material tip, we have the opportunity to bless others through words. Give a shout-out to a particularly helpful person on a review website, describe the great service on a company’s survey, or tell management of the person’s hard work.
Tour Arikok National Park and let the professionals do the driving. A trip to Aruba is not complete without a visit to Arikok National Park. Book an excursion through one of the tour companies. You’ll be grateful for their expertise when your jeep passes the tourists trying to navigate the narrow, rocky dirt roads in their rental vehicles.
Visit as many beaches as possible. You may be tempted to sit on Eagle Beach all week long. Don’t do it. The other beaches might be rockier, but under the water they boast a plethora of sea life from palometas to starfish to sea urchins. The Boca Catalina, Tres Trapi, and Arashi are accessible by bus. For Mangel Halto, I recommend taking a taxi or driving a rental vehicle, unless you don’t mind trekking through a neighborhood.
Take taxis to restaurants, save for those in the resort area and downtown. In terms of walkability, Aruba ranks low with few sidewalks, save for the biking/walking path along the resort/hotel area. Several restaurants outside of the resort/hotel area and downtown are worth a taxi ride, such as Red Fish and Zeerovers.
Take the bus downtown. For small groups, the bus is a viable option to travel downtown from the resort/hotel area. The Arubus website lists times from the start of the route as well as any interruptions in service. It saves the hassle of parking downtown and driving through roundabouts.
Arrive to the airport early. While the low season allows for breezing through the airport, the high season may mean longer lines. I guess this from the barriers set up in the security areas. The U.S. terminal contains not one, not two, but three checkpoints. Keep out your passport for each, and either have it open at the photo page or allow the security personnel to open it for you. Don’t be the girl fumbling around, trying to open it to the correct page. (Not that I’d know.)
Carry cash. Know that your taxi from the airport only takes cash. The same can be said for some of the restaurants. The bus also accepts cash, but you can purchase a day pass or a round-trip pass at several locations (see the Arubus website).
Check your receipts. Some restaurants add a service charge to your bill. Feel free to tip in addition to the service charge.
That’s right! Those pretty palm trees landscaping the resort area in Aruba are imported! Not to worry, there are plenty more reasons than palm trees to vacation in Aruba.
Planning
I began this adventure with a flight search to any and all Caribbean islands. I wanted a beach, sunshine, and warm temperatures. I played around with the days of the flight until I found an agreeable price.
Day 1
On a Tuesday, we woke up bright and early, boarded a flight, and landed in Aruba in the middle of the afternoon.
First stop, the hotel. I chose to stay at a small family-run hotel, the Dorado Eagle Beach Hotel. Our room—one of ten—had a tile floor, a comfy bed, a shower (with local aloe products), and a kitchenette (with a full-size refrigerator).
Second stop—after changing into shorts and sandals—beautiful Eagle Beach, a short walk from our hotel. Arriving at the beach, I shucked my sandals and dug my toes into the soft, white (and surprisingly cool) sand.
After walking on the beach, we purchased bus passes from the Aruba Market and headed downtown for the Bon Bini Festival, where we learned the history of the island and about the language of Papiamento. The popcorn dancers, dressed in colorful outfits, entertained with their quick movements, and the marching band gave a glimpse of Carnival.
For dinner, we ate at Cuba’s Cookin’. The garlic shrimp, delicious. The clash of music from neighboring restaurants and live musicians throughout the marketplace, not so delightful.
I recommend finding one of the indoor dining venues if you prefer a quieter meal. I can vouch for The Brownstone Restaurant. We sat inside on another night and the noise level was much more pleasant. Also, order the Dutch fish and chips. Juicy grouper with a thin layer of beer batter makes for a yummy meal. Don’t forget the homemade lemonade. Or if you want a stronger drink, choose from the many whiskies and bourbons on the blackboard on the wall.
Day 2
Off to M’s Crepes, a poolside shack at the Casa del Mar Beach Resort. I had savory with sausage, bacon, and eggs. My hubby had sweet with nutella and fruit. We washed it down with mango smoothies. Afterward, we ventured to Santos for tea and coffee—a caffeine fix to fuel us for our day on the beach.
At the beach, I played in the water, listened to an audiobook while soaking up the sun, and walked along the beach. My walk revealed a rockier shoreline and further validated my choice of accommodation. Not a single rock dared mar our stretch of Eagle Beach.
Hungry after a day at the beach, we headed to the Red Fish for dinner. What an adventure that turned into! On the map, the route looked easy and one hundred percent walkable. Turns out Aruba doesn’t have many sidewalks, save the biking/walking path along part of the resort/hotel area. Still, we traipsed through roadside grass and across one roundabout, ending up at Red Fish. Totally worth the effort. I ate fresh snapper and my hubby had Mahi, followed by cheesecake and chocolate cake for dessert.
We absolutely had the restaurant call us a taxi to take us back to the hotel.
Day 3
I woke up earlier than my hubby and took myself on a walk along the biking/walking path, camera in hand. The beach became rocky shoreline with divi-divi trees and lizards skittered from my path.
After my walk, I stopped in at the Clover Minimarket at the La Quinta Beach Resort. I ordered waffles covered in coconut yogurt and fruit, as well as two fruit smoothies. Good wife that I am, I brought breakfast back to the hotel to share. But since my hubby did not wake, I stored his waffle in the refrigerator and his smoothie in the freezer, leaving a note that I’d be at the beach.
For dinner, we took a food tour, stopping at Patio, Ocean Opus, Cuba’s Cookin’, West Deck, and Ristorante Italiano Italy in the World. The West Deck was by far my favorite. With it’s wooden deck and laid-back vibe, it was exactly the type of restaurant I’d stop into without checking the reviews.
Day 4
Another morning walk revealed a quaint shoreline, an iguana, and a sign for a possible dinner option. After that, we spent a relaxing day on Eagle Beach—at one point with frosty, nonalcoholic drinks in hand from Coco Loco, a short walk from our spot on the beach.
That night, after showering off the sand, we walked to Po-Ké Ono, at one of the beach residences, for dinner. We walked along the bike/walking path until I spotted the sign again. The lack of a pedestrian crossing didn’t stop us. We crossed the road and followed another group of people up a path to the residences, through a coded gate, and into the building. I believe the main entrance is at the front of the building, along another road. Probably another road without a sidewalk. The point is, we made it.
Once inside, we sat at the bar. The menu is quite simple with a choice of poké bowls, sushi, or steamed baos. I enjoyed the pork belly bao and my hubby a sushi roll. Good food worth a ramble into the road and into an unfamiliar complex. (I later spotted another location at the Renaissance Marketplace. If only I had known about that location before.)
First stop, the Clover Minimarket, yet again, for breakfast. I can’t recommend this place enough. My hubby ordered a Chemex and the server made it tableside! In addition, we both ordered french toast. Turns out this is toast topped with yogurt and fruit, not the egg-soaked kind. Delicious nonetheless.
Stomachs full, we ventured to Boca Catalina Beach via the bus. This beach has a sandy entrance, flanked by rocky coastline. I recommend water shoes. The ocean floor boasts more than a few rocks in this area. I walked out into the crystal clear waters, armed with my Olympus TG-5, my fabulous underwater camera. Sadly, I did not have goggles. Still, even standing in water and looking down, I could see the fish. And the fish loved me. The palometas thought I’d make a tasty treat and ambushed my legs on more than one occasion.
To finish the day, we went to Ike’s Bistro for their Saturday Local Night menu. The menu includes two options: three courses or four courses. We chose the four-course meal, which included both an appetizer and fish soup, rather than one or the other. After three of four courses, we determined ourselves too ambitious. Not to worry—the server boxed our desserts and we enjoyed them for breakfast the next morning.
Day 6
Adventure Day! After coffee, tea, and breakfast at the Clover Minimarket, and a stop to buy goggles, we boarded the bus to Savaneta. The helpful bus driver asked where we intended to go and, at our stop, directed us to Zeerovers. A short walk through a residential neighborhood and we arrived at the restaurant, whose parking lot overflowed with cars. Inside, we studied the menu while waiting in line to order food. Our choices: locally caught fish of the day, shrimp, and a variety of sides. Having ordered fish for two, we wove our way through the wall of people (locals and tourists alike) watching the World Cup. We snagged a picnic table and waited for our food.
I proclaim this the best meal ever! The fish was covered in a light batter with salt and pepper. And I’ve never had a bad fried plantain. The cheering of fans for the teams in the World Cup added to the atmosphere.
After lunch, we boarded the bus (two busses to be exact), and headed to Mangel Halto Beach. After a skipped bus stop and a stop at one in the middle of nowhere, whereupon we stayed on the bus, we ended back in downtown Oranjestad. From Oranjestad, we boarded another bus. With the assistance of the helpful bus driver, we found our destination. We waded out toward the coral reef to snorkel. By snorkel, I mean that I took a deep breath and stuck my head in the water. An incident many years ago taught me that I don’t mix well with snorkel tubes. We stayed until sunset, watching the pelicans fly.
Day 7
This day marked another adventure, this time to the Casibari Rock Formations and into Arikok National Park. No, we did not attempt this ourselves. We used ABC Tours.
I can’t stress this enough: Let the professionals do the driving! Arikok National Park has narrow dirt roads not made for a normal vehicle. There are plenty of potholes to ruin a rental car (even one made for the rugged terrain).
At the Casibari Rock Formations, we climbed a set of rock stairs and were treated to views of the island. Second stop, Conchi Natural Pool, but because of the rough waters we did not swim.
Next stop, Fontein Cave, where we saw ancient cave drawings. The earliest date etched into rock was 1583. The road from here led to Dos Playa Beach with beautiful views. Again, too rough to swim. We ended the tour at Mangel Halto Beach for a little time in the water. The tour also included lunch.
Upon returning to the hotel, we procured beach chairs and towels and happily lazed at Eagle Beach until sunset.
Final Day
I spent the first few hours in the water, husband on the shore reading. Then, after washing off the sand, we took a taxi to the airport. Once at the airport, keep out your passport. At least on the U.S. departures side, there are three checkpoints. Have your passport open or allow the security personnel to open it for you. Don’t fumble around trying to find the correct page. (Not that I’d have any reason to offer that advice…)
My hubby wanted to see mountains. So I visited the Amtrak website and browsed the route maps. I followed the California Zephyr route with my finger. Shortly past Denver, I found Glenwood Springs, Colorado. A few minutes on Tripadvisor and it was decided—we were going to Glenwood Springs.
Days 1–2: On the Train
A one-hour stopover in Denver. We de-boarded the train and ate at Snooze in Denver Union Station. Who doesn’t love a bacon flight? Not to mention the pumpkin pancakes.A view from the train between Denver and Glenwood Springs. Fall color on full display.
Day 3
The Rio Grande Trail. A little rainy, but so beautiful.Another scenic view. This time from the Doc Holliday Trail.A soak in the mineral hot springs swimming pool after a hard day of hiking.
Day 4
Tackled the Red Mountain Jeanne Golay Trail, a three-plus-mile uphill hike. I admit, at about the halfway point, I wanted to give up. But I didn’t! Onward and upward.Somewhere along the hike, I stopped to take a picture. Okay…I stopped several times. The views were just so lovely!Down the mountain! I love this photo. It makes me want to explore!
Day 5
We spent the morning in a coffee shop and said we’d take it easy. But we were in Colorado and the weather was perfect. So another hike, this time the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Path.Dinner at the Co. Ranch House.
Day 6
A hike on another portion of the Rio Grande Trail to cap off a day of soaking in the hot springs and reading in a coffee shop.
Day 7
An early morning hike at the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Trail. I had big hopes of seeing a bighorn sheep. No such luck. On the train ride in, I spotted one on a mountain ledge with its cream-colored butt facing the train. My hubby informed me there were at least seventeen others surrounding this one sheep.A late-afternoon hike, this time the Scout Trail.
Day 8
The Amtrak arrives to pick us up. But wait…repairs to the track allow us three more hours in Glenwood Springs!One last view from the train.
The sun bakes the car as my husband and I drive a road that leads to a visitor center at the Okefenokee Swamp. A sign on the side of the road announces the presence of black bears in the park.
A squeal sounds from my lips. I love wildlife! Even more, I love photographing wildlife. I am now determined to find a bear to photograph. From a safe distance, of course.
We stop at the visitor center, look at the displays, and pick up a map. Meanwhile, I’m bouncing up and down, ready to find my bear.
Back in the car, husband driving, me in the passenger seat, I glue my gaze to the scenery. Trees draped in Spanish moss rise out of water. Water lilies float among other vegetation. Not a single pair of alligator eyes peeps out of the murky water. Bummer.
As we drive along the road, I see a flash of black through the trees. This is it! This is my moment! With gusto and confidence, I point my finger and shout, “Bear!”
Silence fills the car. Cue a strange look from my husband.
Why isn’t he more excited?
A few more splashes of black lumber behind the tree trunks.
The train rumbled along a stretch of track heading north from Fargo to Grand Forks, North Dakota. The overhead lights were turned down low and the train car quiet. My husband and I were headed to Montana for a mission trip sponsored by our church.
My eyes fell shut, but after endless shifting to find a comfortable position, I could not fall back asleep. The coach seats and my tall frame didn’t afford me the luxury of more sleep.
(The silver lining: Train seats afford much more legroom than airplane seats, so at least I wasn’t shoved into a tiny space, knees crunched to my chest!)
So, at last, at four in the morning, I stared out the window and saw flashes of lightning on the horizon. I decided to escape to the lounge care.
My only obstacle: passing by my sleeping husband without waking him. Did I crawl under or over his legs? Either way I risked jarring him awake. Over his legs seemed the more dangerous option because I could easily (and probably would) tumble over (or kick or elbow) him, so I crawled into the aisle (without jarring him!) and walked to the lounge car with its wide windows and scenic views.
To the east, the sunrise painted a blaze of red across the horizon. To the west, lightning flashed and dark clouds brewed.
That day, I witnessed two spectacular displays of nature, both created by God. This scene makes me think of Psalm 103:12:
As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As with most of my vacations, once I hit the ground in Iceland I was ready to go, go, go, with perfectly planned schedule in hand. One credit-card snafu at the campervan rental company later and we were already off schedule.
I perked up quickly after my husband drove us through many two-lane roundabouts in Reykjavík. The city buildings disappeared and tundra-like landscapes dotted with sheep—lots of sheep—came into view. And those cute Icelandic horses, too!
At our first stop, also unplanned, at a scenic pullout, my husband pulled down the backseat bed and napped, claiming fatigue after our early morning flight from Chicago.
Me, I was ready to explore, but since we were in the middle of nowhere on the only major road in the country, I sat on the grassy hill and stared at the crashing waves. The September wind nipped at my face and echoed in my ears. I whispered a prayer of thanks for this adventure and this moment of quiet, reflecting on God’s blessings in my life.
But enough with the quiet. I was ready to have an adventure and hit every spot in my carefully planned (and slightly altered) itinerary. I opened the van door as quietly as possible. My husband was out cold in the backseat bed. I grabbed my camera and slid the door shut with a quiet thunk. I paced the hillside and took pictures of the view while I waited, sometimes staring at the van, willing my husband to wake up—and eventually he did.
For days, we explored museums about Iceland’s history alongside the other shoulder-season tourists. We meandered through villages. We watched waterfalls tumble over cliffs and glaciers calve icebergs. These were all amazing sights, but the highlight of the trip didn’t happen during the day among throngs of other people.
Every night I set an alarm on my phone for one in the morning, and every night I peeked out the window, hoping for a glimpse of the northern lights. One night, it happened. I shook my husband awake and my excited whisper filled the van. “There are green squiggles in the sky. I think it’s the northern lights.” (Sometimes I make the most brilliant comments.)
Indeed, it was the northern lights, my husband confirmed.
We bundled up, because September nights in Iceland bring a chill to the air. I set up my camera for long-exposure photos and glanced at the star-filled sky. A glorious display, for sure. But my mind stayed more focused on my photography than on the show in front of me or my husband beside me.
Change the shutter speed. Change the ISO. Wait for the click of the camera. Check the quality of the photo. Readjust settings. Repeat.
In this story, I feel like Martha in Luke 10. I worried about staying on schedule, seeing every sight, and capturing every moment on camera. I was worried about everything except the right things.
Yes, Iceland is beautiful and it’s nice to have pictures. But the most important part of any vacation is spending time with my husband (and yes, he still teases me about calling the northern lights squiggles).
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
