I am sitting in a field of native grass looking out on an endless expanse of hills and plains covered in the same grasses. So green. The sun is just above the horizon taking away the chill of the night and removing the dew that shimmers on every blade of grass. God’s creation on a Sabbath morning! The Wyoming high prairie is now RuthAnn, our two grandkids and my home for the next week. And as I promised I want to share a little of our journey so far.
Over the past four days we have traveled nearly two thousand miles. Including 8 states. It was a reminder of the immense and diverse country we live in. I cannot tell you of all our experiences, so I thought I would pick just a few and try to share them.
On Wednesday we awoke outside Nashville, Tennessee. The day before we had taken a very indirect route to arrive here late on Tuesday evening. Most of Tuesday was spent doing tasks, picking up the rental and loading it, driving to north Georgia to drop Frankie (our dog) off at his ‘second parents’ house with a brief detour to get some papers signed. Hence the indirect route. But today, along with heading ever westward, we had plans to take the kids to the Arch in St Louis, one of the wonders of our modern world.
So far, I had been so impress with our young ones. No complaining or little was heard of the famous, “Are we there yet.” But I was troubled by the amount of time they spent on their phones. We tried engaging them in travel banter about the city, states and country we were traveling through but it was hard to break through the media entrancement that captivated them. Still we persisted.
Before noon we were in sight of the Arch and driving into St. Louis. This was a city I spend a bit of time in during my high school years. The major learning and education center of the Catholic seminary I attended was in Perryville, Mo. and often when we visited, we spent time in St. Louis. As such I had been ‘up’ in the Arch in 1971 and had memories of it. RuthAnn had visited twice but to the kids it was a new experience.
The first thing we noticed when trying to find parking was how massively flooded the Mississippi River was. Overflowing its banks on both sides, the waters had engulfed the parkway in front of the Arch plaza. Looking north toward the Eades bridge it was evident the damage and devastation the flooding had created. We would find the view of that even more spectacular from 630’ above the river in the Arch’s observatory.
For those of you who have never experienced the Arch’s ‘elevator’ you have to imagine sitting in a four-foot round room. Very compact with barely enough space for five adults to sit next to one another. Being closed in it travels along the arched path where the capsule rights itself at every change in angle. The kids seemed to enjoy it, and no one had a problem during the 4-minute ride. Once at the top there are windows that allow you to lean out in such a way that you can see directly below. The view was magnificent and tragic all at once.
To me it was a microcosm of our world today. The excesses of the city being encroached on by the power of river. The kids were to busy seeing the sights to worry about such heavy thoughts. Soon we were heading west again.
That night we made it as far as St. Joe, Mo. And by the time we arrived at the motel we knew in the morning it was going to be a problem to find our way further west. Now it was the Missouri River that was about to crest at 10’ above flood level and the main road north, I-29, was closed and a new route would have to be found so we could reach the I-90 our last westward route. RuthAnn and I slept restless, but the kids were unimpressed.
Thursday I awoke with a favorite verse from Isaiah running through my mind, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) There didn’t seem to be a good route out of St. Joe, even the GPS system seemed confused. Finally, we set out and once again as we took an alternate route the flooding devastation was frightening. Creeks, streams and rivers all overflowing their banks. This pushed us an hour or more out of our way. Our hearts and prayers went out to those we knew that we begin effective by this disaster. But we eventually were able to move westward.
Today I started writing this not long after sunrise and it was cold and damp. Now it is late afternoon and it is hot and dry. The beauty of life on the high prairie! We have seen so much, and I have so enjoyed being with the kids. It was my idea that we would be able show Jesus to them but is so many ways they have shown me why Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14) All I know is God is good and on this Sabbath day I am doubly blessed!
Blessings and Happy Sabbath,
6/1/19