LifeLog - 06.27.06 - Road Trips; Epiphanies; DANCE

June 27, 2006, the third day of the final week of June; another Month on its way into history.

I have to tell you about last week!

Shirley and I have been lamenting, lately , the fact that we haven’t seen our Son Jonathan and his Family since last August. His Son Jonah’s birthday is on the 30th of June. We wanted, so much, to celebrate this, his second b’day. Airfares to their town from here are particularly high; higher than we are comfortable paying right now. We have two old cars. The one Shirley drives needs an engine overhaul. The other needed an air conditioning overhaul. Because this car is over 15 years old the cost of these repairs would be high. Still, we reckoned, we could probably do it. But would there be anything left for the trip? Through these musings we recognized that to “go for it” – fix the old car and set out on a 2000 mile road trip – would be a risk; a BIG step of faith. Was it the sort of risk faith could be applied to? Could we ask our Heavenly Father to intervene so that we could see Jon, and Larina, and Jonah?

We decided we could.

With that decision came a series of developments, none of them dramatic in themselves, yet collectively affirming. The repairs to the car cost us a bit below estimates. We received a small monetary gift on the day before we planned to leave. Once we’d gotten outside of California we found that gas was appreciably less expensive than we’d anticipated reducing our travel expenses significantly.

We left on Sunday June 18 after completing our Church commitments. We drove the 600 plus miles to near Salt Lake City that first night. The roads were in great shape. Weather conditions, though quite hot in the desert regions, were favorable. Our Western States are magnificently diverse and we reveled in the subtle beauty of the Mojave Desert, the red cliffs and mesas of Arizona and Southern Utah, and the fertile plains and wooded mountains of Central Utah. The next day we drove along the southern shore of the Great Salt Lake; over the mountain passes the Donner Party navigated against far greater adversity than we would ever know on this trip; into the breathtakingly rich valleys of the snow-capped Ruby Range of Northern Nevada. Idaho was one vast field of crops, perpetually irrigated by the ubiquitous crawler sprinklers that have made its arid plains highly fertile land. Jonah’s smile, that met us at the door on our arrival, was the most wonderful sight of all!

What a difference a year makes! He had very little hair last year. Now blond curls cover his head. He’s always been very social. He still is. When he smiles delightful dimples enhance the twinkle in his eyes. He giggles a lot. And when he wants you to play with him he’ll get hold of your hand or your clothing and tug you and your heart toward whatever it is he wants you to join him in. We shot a football, a soccer ball, and a multi-colored plastic wiffle ball through the hoop of his miniature basketball stand. We played with trains. Mostly we played with trucks and read books about trucks and talked about trucks. Jonah doesn’t walk much. He runs. He runs pretty much everywhere he goes. What a kick it is to watch him run round and round their cul-de-sac pushing his four-wheel cart tirelessly, seemingly endlessly.

The greatest fun was the sandbox. Jon and Larina had cleared an area in the corner of their backyard for it. They’d done a lotta work. They’d laid a heavy plastic sheet to prevent weeds growing up into it. They’d trucked in a lot of sand. Still there was a great deal of work yet to do. Vegetation had grown all around the area and had to be cleared. They hadn’t yet decided what to do about the perimeter. So Jonah, and “Pa” – we think that’s what he was calling me – spent most of the next three days cutting brush, digging out stumps, trimming shrubbery, setting a decorative stone perimeter, and laying sod. On the afternoon of the party – we were having the party one week to the day before his actual birthday – it was finished and a highlight for Jonah and his friends.

I will never forget those three days. Jonah “hung out” with me a lot. He brought his plastic shovel and helped me dig. He’d carry brush and help pile it. He’d stand and watch. We’d chatter away. He’d say, “Hi you!” I’d say, “Hi you!” There’s a lotta repetition with a two-year-old. We’d take breaks and play with trucks, or cars, or trains. Grandma and Mommy were always close by with water and sandwiches and books. Books are an important part of Jonah’s world. He loves to be read to and point out whatever it is the reader reads about. Mostly that would be trucks and heavy equipment. He has his favorites. One of them is now held together with duct tape and still among his top choices.

Now don’t get me wrong. We were able to spend quality time with Jon and Larina. Jon and I got out for two great bike rides. One along the rapidly flowing Boise River was particularly delightful. The river was running strongly, almost roaring as it cascaded over rocks and weirs. Clear from the melting mountain snow it rushed, glistening among the cottonwoods and grassy fields. Now and again it would wind through deep canyons of centuries old, black rock. It was exhilarating to ride its shores. Shirley was able to spend meaningful time with Larina. Our daughter-in-law is generous with her hospitality. She’s a wonderful Mother. She’s a great companion and support for our Son. She is also a skilled Pilates Instructor working two mornings a week. We’re proud that she has become a part of our Family. Shirley enjoyed stepping in to care for Jonah, fixing breakfast for him on the mornings Mom was at work, as well as whatever else he wanted her to do, whenever he wanted her to do it. She and Larina talked about everything you can imagine a Grandmother and a Grandson’s Mother would talk about. Yes they did a little shopping together. And Shirley took a big load off of Larina’s mind and schedule by cooking all the Pizza and baked goods for the party. It’s hot in Boise this time of year but Grandma spent most of the party evening in the kitchen cooking one large pizza after another and dozens of cupcakes.

As with all things, our visit had to come to an end. We drove the entire 14.5 hours back on Sat. The trip was, again, pleasant. Great weather; excellent roads; more breathtaking scenery; new sights since we took a little different route back; and the BEST company!

One thing, though, almost insignificant in itself, became, for me, the climactic moment of the entire trip. We were traveling South on I 15 toward Salt Lake City. Shirley had found an enjoyable radio station playing songs we could reminisce to and sing along with. One of those songs, Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance,” is a favorite of mine. This time, as it played, I was deeply moved. It seemed an epiphany of sorts. The words brought tears to my eyes.

“I hope you never lose your sense of wonder.
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger.
May you never take one single breath for granted.
God forbid love ever leaves you empty handed.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens.
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance.
And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance.”

Listening, feeling the invitation to live life exuberantly; taking it in large portions; savoring every morsel; I realized our Heavenly Father had given us just such a taste of L I F E! We’d given “faith a fighting chance.” We’d taken a risk – a BIG step of faith – assuming He’d want us to have the joy of seeing our Kids. He’d vindicated our trust. He’d provided just what we needed for each day’s travel. An old car, with over 240,000 miles already under its chassis, took and met the challenge of modern, high speed highway travel, in the heat, through mountain passes, and did so without a glitch – a miracle in itself. We’d danced. We didn’t sit it out. We danced. Across deserts, over mountains, beside rushing rivers, through rich farmland, in the Home of a grown Son and his Family, in the backyard playground of a two-year old Grandson, building a sandbox, we danced and made memories. Memories which became for me epiphany – new insight – that afternoon in the car with the love of my life; through a song that could be the theme of the life I’ve chosen. A life I recommend to anyone in the market for authentic living.

Out of the stuff of everyday we found wonder; the bliss that lies beneath the surface of what’s ordinary – the DANCE which is LIFE … JOY – if you’ll "TAKE THE CHANCE!"

Oh!“Taste and see that our Lord is GOOD!” (Psalm 34:8)