The first two weeks, How Long and How short!

I have officially made across the country as I am in a little beach town just north of Myrtle Beach. Crossing the country has absolutely blown me away, both figuratively and literally as some of the winds were so strong it felt like my van was going to be carried off the road! One of the things I know to be true is that the United States holds so many wonderful sites and and some amazing people. Even in the short time I have been on this journey I have met a lot.

By design, these last couple weeks were transition points for me as I mentally transitioned into the sabbatical life spending a week with my parents and well doing a lot of resting, something that I have not been able to do for a long time.  I started the trip in the best way possible with an Easter dinner at Harris Ranch. OH MY was that amazing and set a great tone for what is to come.

From there we went to the Grand Canyon staying at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and RV park.  we got to take the train into the Grand Canyon and even with the walking limitation of my father we were all able to have a great time and see a good portion of the South Rim, I will be going to the North Rim by myself over Labor Day Weekend which should be interesting!  

We also got to go to Sedona unfortunately there were so many people there it was mostly sitting in traffic. But we found a great little restaurant and later that night found a brewery that made up for everything!

After leaving Arizona we went to Albuquerque for a memory tour from the time my grand parents lived there heading to Santa Fe sharing all the good memories of my beloved grand parents.  For those who know me well know I was really close with my Wild grand parents as I spent most of the summers as a teen with them for a few weeks at a time. There were a few times that my eyes swelled with memories. 

That Saturday we drove through the most insane wind storm I{ have ever been in. It was good to learn the stability of the Van but still when the semi in front of you has the cab and trailer in different lanes . . . it was scary at times. I split off from my parents outside of Oklahoma City as they traveled towards home and I went to Tahlequah, OK to be with a member of the San Jose Congregation. It was so wonderful catching up and seeing how happy she is in her new home.  it is always wonderful to see people living their best lives!

On that Monday I got to see the eclipse! Everyone has asked if I got pictures and I didn't. one thing I have learned about me is that far too often I find myself focusing on the wrong things and not being in the moment. I had gone well out of the way of everything to see the eclipse and I wanted to experience it and I was glad I did! I was staying at a Corp of Engineers Camp in Arkansas with people from about 14 other states, there were no planned activities but about 12:30 everyone found a spot outside the trees to sit and watch.  Someone in the campsite had put together all of the "eclipse songs" and played them as we slowly watched the sun get smaller and smaller. I got worried a few times because the clouds were not cooperating but sure enough about 5 minutes before the total eclipse the clouds parted, they turned off the music and it was one of the more spiritual moments of my life seeing this amazing phenomena listening and looking around. Maybe, for me, most importantly being in the moment.  

That evening the storms came and for the next three days it was rain and wind and travel!  I did get to catch up with my good friends in Atlanta Rev. Katie Day and Rev. Nancy Palmer-Jones That was such a blessing as I really loved being in ministry with those amazing women and funny enough they are in the same county outside Atlanta  so maybe they will become good friend too,

This past weekend I had an amazing time at a GLBT campground, While I had a lot of fun meeting people, as I told some what I was doing it was amazing how many people opened up about their connection with faith and God. A lot of that I am saving for later writings, but something to think about that I thought was interesting was the general condemnation of Church as an institution or dogma but a high respect for the spiritual connection and for those who do seek a deeper relationship with God.

Today, on my way to this site I got to have lunch with a former member of Hightstown, Presbyterian and it was wonderful connecting with her hearing about the last few years there and her new life in South Carolina.

Tomorrow I head up the East coast to visit Swan Quarter, NC were I started after Seminary. The Plymouth church is long gone, but Swan Quarter will always hold a special place for me as they knew how to have fun with their pastors and taught me about the Bible from a farmers perspective which actually helped to make some parts live in new ways!

As I really dive into this journey I will be posting a few times a week so look back and see what is up.

​Bryan