Not Quite Finished

A couple of days ago we went to Laodicea. It’s a place that is mentioned in the Bible numerous times (Colossians and Revelation). It was founded in about 260 BC by a  king of the Seleucid Empire. Then it had an earthquake in 60 AD that destroyed it as well as Hierapolis and Colossae near modern Pamukkale in Turkey. It was abandoned around 600 AD after another earthquake. The first excavations happened around 1961-3 but the most recent, and extensive, excavations started in 2003 and are continuing until this day. And they are incredible.

Paul visited the place, and we know that Epaphras, one of Paul’s disciples, founded the church at Colossae (Colossians 1:6–7), one of Laodicea’s close neighbors, and that he probably planted the one in Laodicea as well. And then there is Hierapolis, another church mentioned in Colossians that is close by. 

After a four-hour drive in beautiful Turkey, as Kate and I walked around Laodicea, and read some of the information on the plaques everywhere, we felt so blessed that we chose to come here. There were two theatres, four baths, five agoras, fountains, a bouleuterion, several temples and churches, colonnade streets and a variety of ruins that took us back 2000 years ago. We didn’t explore all of them but focused and the temple and the church. Unfortunately, the “pathways” were made of ancient stones that echoed the many earthquakes that have taken place there. With my recently injured ankle it was a challenge to navigate the pathways but I knew that this was my only time to visit this place and that God had allowed us to make this trip, so…I hobbled around for a couple of hours and then went to our hotel pool and soaked both of my ankles! 

We were quite close to Colossae, but there are no excavated ruins there so it was not worth the drive. Colossae, along with Laodicea, and Hierapolis were all destroyed by the earthquake in 60 AD. Laodicea and Hierapolis have been evacuated but Colossae has not.

The next morning, at 6am, we went for a balloon ride over Pamukkale. It was so astounding and incredible that we chose not to walk the paths around the pools and the Hierapolis. We had a very clear view of everything from above, and we felt that that was God’s gift to us, to not have to walk up and down steep hills in 90 plus degree heat. Again, we drove home through spectacular scenery – mountains, valleys, forests, seaside – and plunged into the pool at our rented condo. (The next morning we swam 3 km in the Mediterranean Sea)

We have enjoyed all of this as the Master’s blessings. The three and a half months prior were a challenge yet we continue to talk about how much we enjoyed it. We have talked together very little about returning to the States (other that doctor visits) and are enjoying the beauty that the Master has allowed us here on earth. Being able to dig into the Bible history while here is an added blessing. However….we look forward to getting back with our “misfits” group and rejoicing with other believers in church again.