Today’s drive through Texas and Oklahoma was drab. I just couldn’t settle in with the miles and miles of dirt and flat land. Brown trees and darkness everywhere, except the sky of course, which was a magnificent blue the whole day. We did get to see some red hills but I missed taking pictures because I was so focused on finding out what their compositions. I’m told the Native Americans called them Medicine Hills because of their high concentration of epsom salts. But that was about as interesting as it got.
So my dilemma, how does one love God’s beautiful earth and yet find it, well a little sad? You know me, I’m used to living among the tall green pines, redwoods and cedars with their elegant branches, cuddling my days. I cherish the terrain changes as I drive from Arnold to Murphys each day. Turkeys, foxes, coyotes, deer and bear sneak around to my great delight. So I felt a little discombobulated by this flat land. I said to Daryl, “It would be rude to tell someone they live in a boring place, wouldn’t it?” “ Well yes,” he agreed “and it’s God’s good earth.” I like to be so positive but really I’m at a loss here. It reminds me of a saying I had in my locker when I was in high school. “Kindness and truth go hand in hand, but where the two diverge and collide, kindness should override truth.” This is one of those times!
Daryl said it reminded him of Lent- barren, stark, and open for us to see ourselves more clearly. Lent, a time of introspection and contemplation. I like that. It helped me see the land as inviting a new depth to my searching. As we reflected on Lent we realized that this was the first time in our married lives that we had missed attending an Ash Wednesday service. “From dust you came, to dust you shall return.” Well, I saw plenty of dust today and let me tell you, I prefer to be alive today! Thank you Jesus! I much prefer the “child of God” sign that Daryl makes on my forehead!
As always though, it’s the people who make life a joy! When we stopped at one of the gas stations for a break and were doing our usual stretches, a young woman approached Daryl. “I see you are from California too. We are just leaving Orange County to move to Wilmington North Carolina,” she volunteered. “Unbelievable,” Daryl said. “We are moving to South Carolina!” They chatted a bit and she explained that it was just too expensive to live in California and they have family in the east. We had fun talking with them. They were adventurous! A young mom and dad with a teen son and a baby. They were going to drive it in three days! We felt bonded, travelers on the road together!
This reminded me that our world is full of beautiful people. I know the state of our political situation is a mess right now, but everywhere we go we keep receiving loving kindness from just about everyone! Smiles abound, stories are shared, doors are opened, bathrooms are clean, the coffee is great (well most of the time) and we are bonded by a common will to live happily! A nation of kindness exists even when it doesn’t make the news! Let’s claim the goodness!
We made it through our longest driving days and so just might get to linger in bed a wee bit longer! May your day be filled with kindness! Love to you all!
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