A Letter From Ephesus... To Us!

We awoke to the morning sounds of the city of Izmir, the third largest metropolis in Turkey.  Through the open window noises from the street below began to gently waft up through the ninth floor window of the hotel room.  Out the window, just to the left, is the hill on which Alexander the Great used to hunt; to the right, the beautiful Gulf of Izmir; and on the corner, a half block away, in the direction of the Gulf, a Starbucks; a reminder along with the US military base in Izmir that America and Turkey share a strong and abiding connection, while Turkey continues to strengthen its position as the lynchpin of global leadership between East and West.  No one is more suited for this role than Turkey, especially under the leadership of the current popular Prime Minister, Recep Tayyib Erdogan.  He will stand for re-election in about one month and is expected to enjoy a strong win.  He is leading Turkey to serve the region well through its moral, political, and economic leadership.

Serkan - Our Tour Guide

Today we explored the ancient ruins at Ephesus under the able leadership of our guide, Serkan - I think there may be a "letter to us" from the ancient Ephesians, if we pay attention (more on that in a little bit).  Following lunch at an open air buffet restaurant, we would visit the site remembered as the home of Mary the mother of Jesus, and a place they referred to as a “tile shop” (but it was much more), and then we would be on the road for our two-and-a-half hour drive to Denizli - our destination for this evening - where we will share dinner in the home of the Bozan family and also co-hosted by the Uzel family.  Now, a bit about Ephesus:

A two story mausoleum in Ephesus

Dating back to about 10,000 BCE the area where the ancient city of Ephesus was located boasts a beginning in the Neolithic Period.  Before the water receded from the valley, Ephesus was a coastal town and held a place of significant importance for several Empires of the ancient world, serving often as a Capital City of those empires.  Through the Bronze Age, the Hellenistic Period, the Roman Period, the Byzantine Era, and the Turkish Era, Ephesus has held a place of varying importance in Anatolia (Turkey).  It is considered to be a very prominent city in the memory of Christianity: legend, lore, and story tells of Paul living there for a time, also of the Apostle John living there, and even Mary the mother of Jesus as being a nearby resident.  There is, of course, the letter to the Ephesians which reports to being written by Paul to the residents of this ancient city (it is also possible that Paul wrote the letter we call First Corinthians from Ephesus).  But it also seems the ancient city may be "writing us a letter," as well.

The Coliseum in Ephesus - Seating for 24,000

What was most striking to me, as we made our way through these ancient ruins with our guide Serkan, lecturing with historical information along the way, was the immenseness of these stone structures.  Now of course they are bits and pieces, some reconstructed where they had crumbled to the ground after the city was abandoned following the beginning of the Ottoman Empire.  It no long made sense as a major city, there was no longer a port, and Ephesus went the way of many ancient cities.  But it was once magnificent!  Like a major city of today it would have caused its visitors and inhabitants to marvel at its prowess and beauty.  Yet, it did not last; the Jackson Browne song is running through my head, “All good things got to come to an end.”  Also there is the prophet Isaiah who says: “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.”  In this is perhaps a letter from Ephesus to all of us...

Chuck and Bryan on the Road to Ephesus

What this trip to Turkey has reminded me is that a city (as well as a mosque, church, synagogue, business, country, or any other “place”) is only truly significant because of the people who inhabit it.  Things can become useless, outdated, and irrelevant… people ought not to be.  Our true significance and importance is not measured by our intellect, our power, our wealth, or any other external “thing.”

Remembered as the home of Mary the mother of Jesus

Our true significance is measured by the good we do, the kindness we show, the grace we offer, the hope we engender, the compassion we give, the generosity exhibited by the actions of our lives, motivated from a loving heart.  This is what will last.  It will be passed from generation to generation, from life to life, from person to person.  Great cities and institutions will come and go over the course of time.  But the love that we leave in the wake of our lives will live forever.  This is to me the "letter from Ephesus" to us, for our time.

Our Kind Hosts for Dinner on Thursday Night

 Our host family tonight showed us this truth again through their warmth and sincere kindnesses to us, “we are all friends,” our host said with a smile, “we believe in the same things: love, kindness, caring for our families and friends, and helping those in need.”  Thank you Necdet… well said, and thanks to each of our dear hosts tonight, along with Necdet was his dear wife Vildan, and their sweet daughters Zeynep, Aleyna, and Kubra, as well as our other sweet hosts Yalqin and Berna.  One of our gifts from the families this evening was a “Rooster of Denizli” – I have a hunch we may awaken at first dawn to their songs, which are said to last longer than any other rooster anywhere, strong rooster lungs I suppose.  So it’s off to sleep to prepare to hear the rooster song in Denizli.  Peace and sweet rest to all who share this journey with me.  From Turkey, goodnight.

A Sweet Gift from a Sweet Country - Turkish Strawberries -
Magnificently Delicious!