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I don't know what to call this entry. I feel like my cheesy titles take away from the beauty that is Vienna. I am discovering on this trip how beautiful life really is... and I know it is easy for me to say that, since I am in one of the greatest cities in the world and I am blessed to experience and see things that many people don't get to experience and see. That being said, however, I am starting to think that life in Nashville is just as beautiful as life is here. If I looked at the world in Nashville the way I look at the world here in Vienna, as a world full of promise, truth, excitement, and hope, I would treat other people differently. I would go to more museums, spend more time at the park, and try more out-of-the-way coffee houses. I would go to academic lectures and plays and operas. It is true that such cultural experiences are more easily accessible in Vienna than they can be in Nashville. In Vienna, I can hop on an U-bann, pay four Euro, and be in an opera with not much forethought or planning. Still, there is more in Nashville than I often take advantage of. In the same vein, I think that I am more accepting of different people here than I am in Nashville. There is something about being a foreigner and looking completely stupid everytime you open your mouth that makes you more tolerant.
Wednesday we had a devotional in the courtyard of the hotel. Our group as a whole is truly seeking the Lord in this experience, and to me that makes all the difference. In one short week, I believe He has shown me so much about myself and my relationship with Him. I have realized how much I rely on other people to give me a sense of self-worth, instead of looking to God. I have realized that God takes care of me constantly.... He NEVER stops looking out for me, even when I ignore Him. As much as I will learn on this trip about culture and geography and the world in general, what I learn about my relationship with Christ is THE most important thing. If this knowledge of Christ is all that I gain on this trip, every penny spent will be more than worth it.

P.S. We went to several AMAZING museums yesterday... sat in the most famous coffee house in Vienna and talked about philosophy as it relates to love and beauty... visited Cafe Sperl and got snappped at by the waitress when Cari ordered tapwater... and spent today at the park and restaurants studying for a big test on Monday. Life is good.