Stuck?

Once, when I was in the deepest part of a continually failing relationship, my friend and mentor Dan Dahler texted me a rephrased version of a verse from James, saying something like, "Let patience have its way with you, so that you may be complete, lacking nothing."

In the last post I hinted at one of life's greatest motifs: being caught, stranded, stopped, deep into something. I also began to explain how our natural reaction is to seek immediate solution. As soon as things get uncomfortable, we run to comfort. As soon as we approach the unknown, we fall back to what we know. Grandpa says it sounds like my goal in this trip is to explore. I don't disagree. Naturally, one might feel like when their travels stop, exploring stops. Unfortunately, we might have to cut Colorado or Seattle or something out of our trip. Sounds like less exploring to some, but to me, I'd say it sounds like more exploring. More time to dig deep into a town, it's culture, it's people. I want to get out of this hotel room today, out into the town or at least meet some others residing in the hotel. I hate excessive comfort more than I hate my toes being cold in the car.

Sometimes I think about whether God has a reason for everything. It might be cynical, but I think some things don't have reason in "the big picture." Although, I do believe that we can give them reason, and I do believe that God can make the good come out of the bad. For example, if we spend money on a part for a car, we might be able to learn that worrying about finances is the last thing we should do in life. We might grow. Or we could opt to overturn "God's work" and become frustrated with our lack of forward momentum. In my old band, we would call it "forward motion."

This morning was spent on fifteen minutes of continental breakfast and an hour and a half of calling cab companies and churches in Topeka. Like large corporations and industries, most church numbers directed me to an impersonal answering machine. However, one student ministry icked up and spoke with me at a personal, empathetic level. They wanted to help, but given the time frame, they were unable. That I understand. What I don't understand is churches neglecting even prayer or sympathy for the needy. Maybe I'm so used to being the giver that I'm not used to being the receiver of blessing. Maybe now I am better able to empathize with oppression and human suffering. For people like Richard and Gene, help may never come. They may always be waiting. Waiting will become their lifestyle. At least I know that for me, the part for the vehicle may come tomorrow, and we may be back on the road. It might not come until after Christmas, in which case we might have to cut out sections of our trip. As long as I see the Grand Canyon and the Rockies and hopefully the Pacific Ocean, I'd be content. I mean, I don't want to ask for all of that, but I've always wondered about the landscape of the west and what it would be like to witness it in person. So I say we can skip Denver or Seattle or Reno, but then there's always the desires of Paul and Mike, which I think would be more appropriate to selflessly yield to. I'm not really one for monuments or tourism, just experiencing creation. But if others are the opposite of that, I should learn to be ok with following their lead.

Patti ordered our part and I'm hoping that all will be ok and it will arrive tomorrow. Who wouldn't hope for that?

I'm going to get out of the room and go explore or work out or something. Maybe I'll take a walk and see what happens.

To quote Paul, "Wouldn't be a road trip without something like this." I'd like to think that he's not sarcastically referring to adventure.

My cell phone is just about dead. Contact me here.