Oregon Back Country Discovery Route

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 

~ Robert Frost

Rover roll call was at 4 a.m. this year – a new record for us. Despite such an early start to the day, rover trips are fast becoming how we slow down our summer pace. We spent four days on the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route watching wildlife, listening to side splitting stories, and talking – about anything. Meals and camp prep set our rhythm in between sections of the trail. A beautiful trail, the Discovery Route runs the length of Oregon from CA and into WA state. We meandered a section lacing its way through the Ochoco and Malheur Mountains.

Fuel stop - Sisters Bakery

Learning how to open and close cattle gates.

  

A shepherd and his flock on national forest land.

Ah, to turn around and go back the way you came.

Fire Look Out Tower

The road was no problem, but a tree that might hit the roof top tent must be dealt with.

Pisgah: Highest Peak, Lowest Look Out

As we re-enter civilization, the speed of life once again catches up with me. No more snail's pace of 5-10 mph, but a full throttle 70 mph. All I can manage our first afternoon back is 58 mph - on a two lane country road. Everyone is racing by me. Eventually, my foot finds “fast mode” again on the pedal, and I ponder as I drive.

Why do we so often choose to set a pace that is unsustainable, for both ourselves, each other, and our planet? What is gained by setting a pace that rarely anyone can keep up with, much less enjoy?

Slowly, I'm realizing I'm most happy and useful when I slow down and listen for God's voice telling me which way to go. Each day, many crossroads fly by, and many detours are offered. Is that way a short cut to my destination? Might I get there faster? Will that way save me time? Maybe the long way around is best; though it's tempting to take the short cut. I must slow down in order to hear the question: In our hurry, are we saving time, buying time or just throwing time away?

So often, I act like I'm running out of time, but am I really? Maybe the best use of my time, is the long way around. The long way around is rich with special moments and special people. The long route requires time, patience, and effort, but it opens my eyes to new realities. That's the route I'm looking for.

Happy Fourth of July

Wishing you a lovely Fourth of July!

May your celebrations be meaningful, splendid, and safe. 

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 Galatians 5:13

California Dreaming and Trekking

Pictures from precious time with family.
Sister came down with a fever, but we still managed to have fun.
So thankful for time well spent.
What did we do?
We poked a few seeds in the earth.
We poked through "junk" shops and came home with treasures.
We hit up Powell's Sweet Shop and Costeaux, the French Bakery.
An aunt and child took a knitting class.
We investigated The Shed.
We met the cat at Copperfield's Book Store and chatted it up.

 We cooled off in the Russian River.

We enjoyed the Russian River Rodeo, (until we got sick :-)
But, she still put a smile on her face.

 Shoot, there's a lot of bull in that pen.

 We painted trees.

 We took a nice walk and enjoyed the jack rabbits,
who are faster than my camera.

We soaked it all up,

and took it all in.

Mt Angel Abbey, Deeper Still

We toured the Abbey yesterday with Brother Basil. 

Wonderful. Deep. Restful. 

A beautiful humid cloud filled day.

 Come away for awhile.

 A treasure for children to behold.

 Rare book room

 We were invited to feel, hold, and experience.

 Learn.

 Look.

 Listen.

 Walk.

 Pray.

 

Presence.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

God calls men,

from among the nations.
They come,

 and take their place.
All for worship.

Living a story.

They write with foot steps.

Quietly, they come for noonday prayer.

Living. Loving. Learning.

Intentionally.
For he who responds to the bells,
hears the voice of God.

Let him who has ears to hear, hear.
Let him who has a voice, lift it up.

He heard the bell.

He came to your temple.

The cross lifted high among men.
The cross descended among men.

Ten Personal Decisions for the Common Good by Jim Wallis

 Because what we build in this life, may just remain. 

  Ten Personal Decisions for the Common Good by Jim Wallis  

1. If you are a father or a mother, make your children the most important priority in your life and build your other commitments around them. If you are not a parent, look for children who could benefit from your investment in their lives.

2. If you are married, be faithful to your spouse. Demonstrate your commitment with both your fidelity and your love. If you are single, measure your relationships by their integrity, not their usefulness.

3. If you are a person of faith, focus not just on what you believe but on how you act on those beliefs. If you love God, ask God how to love your neighbor.

4. Take the place you live seriously. Make the context of your life and work the parish that you take responsibility for.

5. Seek to develop a vocation and not just a career. Discern your gifts as a child of God, not just your talents, and listen for your calling rather than just looking for opportunities. Remember that your personal good always relates to the common good.

6. Make choices by distinguishing between wants and needs. Choose what is enough, rather than what is possible to get. Replace appetites with values, teach your children the same, and model those values for all who are in your life.

7. Look at the business, company, or organization where you work from an ethical perspective. Ask what its vocation is, too. Challenge whatever is dishonest or exploitative and help your place of work do well by doing good.

8. Ask yourself what in the world today most breaks your heart and offends your sense of justice. Decide to help change that and join with others who are committed to transforming that injustice.

9. Get to know who your political representatives are at both the local and national level. Study their policy decisions and examine their moral compass and public leadership. Make your public convictions and commitments known to them and choose to hold them accountable.

10. Since the difference between events and movements is sacrifice, which is also the true meaning of religion and what makes for social change, ask yourself what is important enough to give your life to and for.

 Because your path may not be my path, 

but we are all on the path, 

and one day our paths may cross.

And one day, the foot prints we leave will be swept away, 

but what we build with stone will remain...

and our children will have to navigate the path we created for them.

Therefore, let men of fortitude, carve a path of peace.

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Wedding Showers

   a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

  a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

  a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

   a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

    a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 a time to tear and a time to mend,
 a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
 a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil?  I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.