3:40 AM. I think I went to sleep about five minutes ago. That's what my brain is trying to tell me, anyway.
Either that or it held out for the theory that the clock cahnged itself to the wrong time zone... and it's
actually 5 hours too early. I'm almost willing to believe it then, up the hall, I can hear my father moving
in his room, and I'm shamed into movement by the fact that the 88-year old is moving faster than the 47
year-old. When I'm 88, I hope I have his energy. Actually, I'm wishing for his level of energy THIS
morning. At least I can work a camera with only one eye open...
4:18 AM. Either the caffiene is starting to kick in or my excitement level has the adrenaline
pumping. Loading all of the suitcases in the car for the trip to the Best Western.
4:25 AM. Strike that. The suitcases seem a lot heavier that they did a few minutes ago. A nap on the bus is sounding aewfully good.
4:48 AM. We arrive at the Flying J truck stop. All thoughts of sleep depart, as do any words I could possibly use to do justice to the scene in front of
my eyes. Impressive. Incredible. Beyond words. I'm going to claim that my thesaurus hasn't woken up yet,
because I keep finding myself simply staring in amazement. Look for yourself. Busses, RV's, motorcycles, a live
TV broadcast, a bugler playing Reveille. In one sense, total choas, yet everything is under control.
We bow to pray, reminding me of the God that holds history in His grasp, also holds this morning in His tender
care and am momentarily swept away with the concept that the divine plan for these men wrapped nearly seventy
years of history into a single moment. A reminder that -- for a God who can hold all of time in a moment -- nothing
is truly ever too late, no act of goodness will truly ever be forgotten, unrecorded, unrewarded, unrecognized
by the one who, in the words of Psalm 33 (from the New International Version)...
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars [a] ;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth-
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
And with that, we're off... I thought you might enjoy meeting the people on my bus, so they all have said hello.
And, yes, I'm the guy in blue in photo IMG_0422. Good morning!
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