Trip down memory lane
Trip as a verb means to fall over or lose your balance so why would I indicate trip down memory lane? Maybe it is appropriate as memories are rarely created on a solid footing. Trip as a noun is a journey or excursion so either way you look at, we fall into memories while we journey through our life.
How good is your memory? Is it clear or is it tainted by falsities or made-up stuff to bridge the gap between the truth and fiction. My wife and I recently made a trip down memory lane while we traveled to England, then to Malta, then back again to England before heading home. We made new memories as well as went back into our past along with the past of many generations who have traveled their journey of life.
Our first trip was across Portsmouth Harbor by ferry from Gosport to walk along the town and reminisce with friends to enjoy the beautiful day. We found my wife’s mom and dad’s stone along the walk in Gosport to the ferry.
On Father’s Day, June 15, 2025, we are on our way to Malta. Here are a couple quick facts about Malta. First, it was controlled by many outside invaders before becoming a sovereign nation, mostly because of its strategic location in the Mediterranean. Second, it was controlled by the Romans when the Apostle Paul shipwrecked on the island or did he? I will get back to some theories about where he actually shipwrecked, but for now let us stick to the predominate belief. Third, Malta was the most bombed island during WWII. Fourth, Malta is where strategic planning by the allies and the offensive on Scilly occurred. How did the occupation of Scilly by the Italians and Germans help save many British soldiers at Dunkirk? Allow me to take each of the above individually.
It is believed Malta was inhabited since 6400 BC first by hunter gatherers then by farmers from Sicily around 5400 BC until they had depleted the land and left. Another group came around 3850 BC until they left around 2350 BC. Durning the Bronze Age it was occupied by warriors. Colonization began around 700 BC by the Phoenicians until the Romans took over in 218 BC. Arabs took over in the 11th century and the Kingdom of Sicily took over in 1091 where Christianization grew. Spain took over as a state of Sicily. In 1798, the French took over, but the Maltese rebelled in 1800 then became a British colony in 1813. Finally, in 1964 Malta gained its independence and is now a member of the European Union. The Maltese have a lot of connections with other nations as you can see and thus is a true melting pot of different cultures, traditions and proudly independent. How many countries do you know that have such a variety of history than in Malta. (Check out Wikipedia for more details.)
The second fact or is it fiction is where did the Apostle Paul really get shipped wrecked? I started this blog post stating that falsities or made-up stuff bridge the gap between the truth and fiction. We may indeed trip down memory lane not knowing. The question is how accurate is our memory? If the ancient historians have trouble separating truth from false evidence, what chance do we have? If you are interested in reading more about the evidence whether based on truth or assumptions read more in the article, “Paul was Never in Malta”, Dec 23, 1988; Bible files and common translations of the Acts of the Apostles must now be revised; By Agnes Seppelfricke (translated by Eric Metaxas) found with a quick google search.
For my purpose here, I am not going to even try to dispute as so much history in Malta reveals Paul’s 3 months on the island that it is hard not to believe. Read for yourself.
Instead of getting hung up on the site of Paul’s shipwreck, let us move on to his journey. There is another article from a Google search called, “When your life’s a mess, think of St. Paul’s shipwreck”. Again, not going to bore you with all the details as a good read for your own knowledge, but the previous Pope said, “Of all the gifts brought to these shores in the course of your people’s history,” “the gift brought by Paul was the greatest of all, and it is much to your credit that it was immediately accepted and treasured.” The article continues to say, “But it came about because of a catastrophe. It is a perfect example of what Paul himself would explain in his letter to the Romans (8:28): “All things work together for good.”
Paul’s mission after his encounter with Jesus and his acceptance of salvation was to share the good news wherever he went. Even in captivity everyone he encountered was an opportunity to convert those from believing in false gods to believing in the one true God. Even within the first few days of crawling up from the shipwrecked destruction to dry land, Paul witnessed God’s majesty by surviving a snake bite. The inhabitants thought for sure he would die, but he survived and then they began to believe. Paul was shipwrecked in the year 60 AD, and for those three months he established Christianity on this small island before he was later sent to his trial and death in Rome. It is from St. Paul’s Grotto in Rabat where it is thought he preached and spread the word, but I suspect he used any and all opportunities to share the gospel wherever he found himself. That is a message to us all to not wait for an opportune time but anytime for “all things work together for good”. What excuse do we have? Did the arrival of Paul solidify Christianity in the Island of Malta? No, it did not spread like fire, but the seeds were planted for the growth to take place. If we witness our faith to someone, are we assured that person will grow into a new creation? Maybe, but maybe not, so we should keep on moving and allow God to tend to the seeds planted. Perhaps God uses our ungraceful trips to create a miracle of his Grace.
The third fact about Malta was the most bombed island during WWII per square kilometer than any other. The German and the Italian forces wanted to demobilize the Allied strong hold in the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the intense bombardment, Malta endured to continue playing a vital role in the allied victory. One vital role occurred during Operation Husky explained in the next fact.
The fourth fact about Malta is the strategic planning by the allies and the offensive on Scilly called “Operation Husky” in July and August of 1943. The Allies spent a lot of time preparing for this offensive which involved 150,000 troops, 3,000 ships and 4,000 aircraft according to the Imperial War Museum records. The objective was to stop Italy from continuing in the war and to weaken the German forces of which both managed to happen. Sicily was captured, the Italian government folded, and the Germans retreated back weakened into the main fight in Europe. The allies now had total control of the Mediterranean which meant the Germans were being surrounded. This strategic victory near Malta perhaps helped save many British soldiers at Dunkirk in the summer of 1940 three years earlier. The Germans were fighting to save Sicily and take Malta for years, so troops were spread out too thin. Malta’s stronghold way down below Italy proved too much for the Germans to overcome once they were on their own.
There was another secret project the USA Government collaborated during the planning of Operation Husky that involved the Italian American Mafia and the Jewish organized crime figures. The code name was “Project Underworld” designed to counter the spies on the other side but played a role to collect data like maps and intelligence about Sicily. We truly do trip our way down memory lane not only in our individual lives but human history.
I digress a little at this point to build on the theme of our journey. We are all led, I pray, by faith and not be stopped in our travels by fear. I tend to cringe when I hear the news media as they paint an ugly picture causing us, if we are not careful, from exploring our history for ourselves. Even now that I am back home in the USA, we are all heavy burdened with the tragedies of the flooding in the Kerr County Texas Hill country. The death toll continues to climb while the division has already started in the blame game. Those who lost their lives went on their last journey and are now eternally linked to all those who have gone on before them. Their journey here on this ball of dirt is now completed as they have won their eternal wings. May they fly way above the insanity of our human existence.
Also, while back in the USA, I see the parallel between the Nazi’s and Hamas. The big difference in my opinion is Hamas does not have a huge nation to deceive like the Nazi’s did in Germany. Whether you believe this thought or not, we are all deceived by false evidence appearing real. The Germans believed Hitler was their hero defending their rights from the evilness around them. The danger today is not much different than years ago. We humans are in conflict with other humans who do not believe as we do. The fundamental challenge we all have is to journey through life building as much on truth as we can and not lean on our own understanding but rely on God’s wisdom and guidance for the ultimate source of truth or direction. (Proverbs 3:5)
The trip to Malta had a profound impact on my thoughts about my own journey. Malta as a country has survived much. Paul’s impact on that country was only one, though very important, impact but as you have read Malta played such a crucial role in our surviving the craziness of Nazism. What other things did I learn during our trip down memory lane?
When we got back to England, we had a wonderful time with a group of folks who have spent time in Malta like my wife. That was a great experience now that I can relate more based on my experience. We continued our trip remembering the best in-laws I could have asked for as we look out towards the Isle of White standing along the shore at Lee on Solent. What a beautiful place to remember wonderful times walking along the shoreline.
As we celebrated my 70th birthday tripping down memory lane, we also made new memories. Do you know what makes Henley on Thames so popular? The river Thames is a bit curvy like a snake but in this area is characteristically straight. The first Henley Royal Regatta was held in 1839 and has been held every year since only being disrupted by World Wars. We had a chance to see firsthand the various rowing teams practicing the time-honored event.
We continued our next day visiting Benjamin Disraeli’s Victorian Mansion which was also used as a secret World War II mission. This secret place was not discovered until just recently. Known as the Hillside at Hughenden, ordinary people from the local community with a talent for art was used to fine tune the maps crucial for the bombs to fall on Germany where it would make the most impact. The targets intended did not always land correctly until these map makers fine-tuned the maps for direct impact where intended. It was an emotional effort as documented by those who went to work each day knowing what their mission was even when nobody else could know. For many the secrets went with them to their graves, but a few lived to tell the story and now it is part of history for all to admire.
Have you ever heard of Morris Motors? Did you know William Morris was later named Lord Nuffield. He was a Mechanical Engineer which hit my interest button immediately as a kindred spirit. What impressed me even more was his passion to give back to the community. Did you know he mass produced the Iron Lung in his British motor factory? Each finished Iron Lung was donated to local hospitals to help many patients with Polio to survive. That is what I call giving back.
As we planned our trip back home, I feel so blessed to share our trip down memory lane with you and pray you enjoy your trips or journeys. Finally, my advice is to go and do likewise. (Luke 10:37)
T