Avelgem BELGIUM
August 31
A Day At The Avelgem Flea Market
Cher and I were fortunate to experience two remarkable events during our over three-week vacation in Belgium. One was the Flower Carpet -- a biennial celebration in Brussels that takes place every other August lasting for three to four days. The other one was the Avelgem flea market, a charming community event we attended today.
As stalls lined the streets, the air buzzed with the excitement of discovery. We wandered past tables laden with vintage clothing -- delicate lace dresses and tailored suits whispering secrets of past owners -- their elegance, timeless. Handmade crafts beckoned from the next stalls: intricate jewelry, hand-carved wooden toys, and vibrant potteries. Pastries, cakes, cheese, chocolates, and confections showcased the talent and creativity of local artisans. I marveled at the skill involved in each piece, appreciating the hours of labor and love poured into them.
One thrilling attraction was a seatbelt safety demonstration. Secured by a seatbelt, an enthusiast was invited to sit in the driver’s seat of an elevated car. The vehicle was rotated multiple times. After several rotations, it stopped, and the volunteer passenger emerged safe and sound. I was invited to participate but declined due to my innate motion sickness – especially after seeing the volunteer passenger’s disconcerted face.
I caught a glimpse of home appliances such as TVs, as well as electric bikes, put on display on the street fronting the business establishments along the block.
In the late afternoon, a live concert featuring a local celebrity kicked off while tables and chairs on the street were filled with locals and visitors sipping coffee or drinking beers.
As we continued exploring the market, the aroma of freshly baked goods wafted through the air, leading us to an ice cream kiosk. Savoring the pistachio flavor, I watched the bustling crowd around us -- families strolling together, children’s laughter mingling with the hum of conversation. It was a scene of simple joy and community.
"Nothing spectacular," Mario commented at the end of the day in the light of our recent trip to Paris.
But, more than just a place to buy and sell, the Avelgem flea market was a celebration of craftsmanship and human connection. As we drove home, I knew I would carry the memories of this day with me -- a reminder of the beauty found in the heart of Avelgem.
Unexpected Visitors
I was typing away on my laptop at the dining table when Mario opened the main door and invited two visitors inside. He introduced them to me as Joshua, thirty-two, and Liam, sixteen, both Jehovah’s Witnesses missionaries. They handed me a card as I introduced Cher and myself as Catholics visiting Belgium, invited by Mario.
Given my recent encounters with numerous demolished Catholic churches in Belgium, I was surprised and delighted by the presence and mission of these young God’s workers. We found common spiritual ground despite our different religious beliefs.
As we concluded our conversation, I challenged the young duo with a parting thought: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” There are many houses to visit and people to talk to about God. I pointed them, with a smile, to Mario, who happened to have no religion.
Up Close And Personal
What lingered in my mind, however, was a recent conversation with Paul, a typical senior in Belgian society, during one of our rare stopovers with Mario’s circle of friends. I recall and reflect on part of that extraordinary conversation below:
ME: “Paul, do you believe in God?”
PAUL: “No. I don’t believe in God…”
Paul elaborated that he rejected the belief in a God who created the universe but did not interfere with it. He criticized traditional religious views that portray God as an authoritarian figure, far removed from human concerns and daily life. Mario echoed Paul’s views during our tour of historic and grand, but empty cathedrals, saying, “In those times, the church was too rich and grand, while the people were very needy. Why, Raymond?”
PAUL: “I believe in what is written in the Bible. I believe in Jesus Christ as a good man.”
ME: “I’m glad to hear that, Paul. It is also written in the Bible that Jesus claimed he is the Son of God…”
I then shared, in a gentle and conversational tone, the essence of C.S. Lewis classic quote:
“Either [Jesus Christ] was, and is, the son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher [or a good man]. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
ME: “Paul, 1 in 3 people, or roughly 2.4 billion worldwide, believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
PAUL: “A large group of people can believe in something wrong, like in Hitler’s case.”
ME: “God is so great He gives us the freedom to think and act, not just to be like robots. We call it ‘free will’…”
I explained that God grants us the ability to make our own choices – a freedom that allows us to choose to love and follow God voluntarily, rather than being compelled to do so. This emphasizes a relationship based on love and choice rather than coercion.
I added that free will clarifies the presence of evil and suffering in the world. Since we can choose our actions, we can also choose to do wrong, like in Hitler’s case.
ME: “Paul, I’m glad you believe what is written in the Bible.”
I paraphrased Jesus’ promise in the Bible: “My Father’s house has many rooms… And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:2-3)
ME: “The afterlife differentiates those who believe in God from those who don’t. And this difference shapes our lives here and now on earth – we hope in eternal life.”
At this point, our discussion amicably ended.
Head photo courtesy of Alamy
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