Like any holiday traveling, it always seems to involve some kind of stress. This time traveling home was just that.
My friend and I prayed for the trip home and roll out of Cville at about 5pm or so and, on the way back to the 757 we are blasting Motown and some more music of that age. We are about 10 miles outside Richmond when I get a call.
Our other friend's car has broken down in Shannon Hill. "Shannon Hill? I hope y'all are ok. Let me know if y'all need anything."
A few minutes later, my friend and I were thinking out loud and we decide to head back and get them. Thank the Lord, my passenger got GPS.
Shannon Hill is located in Goochland County which is about 30 miles southeast of Cville. What we didn't know at the time was that this meant "in the middle of nowhere". The whole time we are looking for our stranded friend, their passenger, and car, I had my high beams on. All we saw, mile upon mile, were roads and trees. We eventually saw houses but no street lights whatsoever. Who are these brave souls that live out here?
What seemed like an eternity of dark roads and trees, we see the tow truck and car. The whole time as we were looking for our friend, 2 cars were following ever so closely behind us on a 2 lane road. Oooh, sirs why do you all make this even harder? I pull over to the right some ways past our friend's car so I could turn back around on this itty bitty road.
What I didn't see was this GIANT ditch I had went into. Thankfully, it wasn't too deep, but boy did we get stuck in it for a while. Thankfully again, I pull out of this GIANT ditch.
I get back on the road again to go towards their car and go yet into ANOTHER ditch. Daggone it! Why are there so many ditches? We all pile into my car and wait for the tow truck to pull off.
Right before I get to driving again, I made sure we prayed. I now understand more and more why some preachers pray for at least 2 hours a day. It is needed! Smooth sailing from then on.
Take away points? You better have a WHOLE lot of PRAYER before and after a trip back home.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
one of THOSE days...
It started at 2:45am. I'm no stranger to this time of night, we see each other on a regular basis. Not in this instance. Driving around Charlottesville looking for somewhere to park, legally that is.
Following me through a green light at an intersection is a cop. No big deal, just making rounds and patrolling. He flashes his lights, I pull over. "Do you know why I pulled you over?" I honestly think he pulled me over because I was driving so slow thinking about where and looking for parking. "No, sir." What he says next I'm not even sure if I heard correctly and still confused about. Not stopping at the intersection? Wasn't the light green? Didn't you follow me through the green light too????? Not going to contest it, I'm tired and frustrated at this parking situation.
"I'm letting you off with a warning." "Thank you sir, have a good night! Oh, one question. Do you know where I can park, I don't have a permit pass?" I've checked everywhere by this point. I've spent the last hour trying to find an open garage or places where I won't get towed since I didn't have one.
"You can park on Lewis Mountain Road." You can't park there. They have HUGE signs that say "PERMITS ONLY". "Thank you!" Not really. I make my rounds one more time. No such luck, of course. I'm tired, I park in Lambeth and walk back home. It's 3am but it's not too far, just a ways up.
4:15pm, I make my way back to Lambeth. Please be no ticket, please be no ticket. Too much of that wishful thinking, because I see orange and white under a windshield wiper. Fine=$0, it's a warning ticket.
7:30pm, I had parked behind Clark because there still has been no parking at "IHOP". This is really irritating. It's raining and I come to another intersection. It appears I've gone out too far into street, so I put my car in reverse. BOOM! I still have whiplash even as I type this. I ask, "Sir, are you ok?" "I'm fine, it's nothing really." "Alright then, thanks and have a good night!"
Three instances where stuff could have possibly been a lot worse. Nope, God had my back. I was shown grace again and again. From this, I realize again and again that in moments of despair we need not run from Him but towards Him. He is FOREVER good and gracious. My neck doesn't hurt as much now.
Following me through a green light at an intersection is a cop. No big deal, just making rounds and patrolling. He flashes his lights, I pull over. "Do you know why I pulled you over?" I honestly think he pulled me over because I was driving so slow thinking about where and looking for parking. "No, sir." What he says next I'm not even sure if I heard correctly and still confused about. Not stopping at the intersection? Wasn't the light green? Didn't you follow me through the green light too????? Not going to contest it, I'm tired and frustrated at this parking situation.
"I'm letting you off with a warning." "Thank you sir, have a good night! Oh, one question. Do you know where I can park, I don't have a permit pass?" I've checked everywhere by this point. I've spent the last hour trying to find an open garage or places where I won't get towed since I didn't have one.
"You can park on Lewis Mountain Road." You can't park there. They have HUGE signs that say "PERMITS ONLY". "Thank you!" Not really. I make my rounds one more time. No such luck, of course. I'm tired, I park in Lambeth and walk back home. It's 3am but it's not too far, just a ways up.
4:15pm, I make my way back to Lambeth. Please be no ticket, please be no ticket. Too much of that wishful thinking, because I see orange and white under a windshield wiper. Fine=$0, it's a warning ticket.
7:30pm, I had parked behind Clark because there still has been no parking at "IHOP". This is really irritating. It's raining and I come to another intersection. It appears I've gone out too far into street, so I put my car in reverse. BOOM! I still have whiplash even as I type this. I ask, "Sir, are you ok?" "I'm fine, it's nothing really." "Alright then, thanks and have a good night!"
Three instances where stuff could have possibly been a lot worse. Nope, God had my back. I was shown grace again and again. From this, I realize again and again that in moments of despair we need not run from Him but towards Him. He is FOREVER good and gracious. My neck doesn't hurt as much now.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
night owling
Night owls, nighthawks, burning the midnight oil, etc. etc.
I think the only reason I stay up is out of habit more so than insomnia. Daggone A-school set me up! Besides that, strange stuff happens from the hours of 2-4am. Strange thoughts also tend to occur at this time of night too.
Like me trying to blog at an unearthly hour. I'm going to stop rambling before this already incoherent writing and bad grammar continues to transgress...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
a symphony of randomness
Yesterday was interesting. Interesting in that I'm still surprised by the little things in life that God has strategically placed in order to help me find Him.
At dinner last night, I overheard a conversation that caught me so off guard. Diana Ross and the Supremes were playing in the background and this girl at the table beside mine said, "Is this Southern music?" Ohhh, that statement hurt me heart and soul! I couldn't eat for a while after that. How could she not know who they were? MOTOWN?!?!? But alas, people just don't know.
I was walking back home and I crossed by Dell Pond. The thing about Dell Pond is that it is inhabited by 3 ducks and a goose, which I had taken the liberty sometime ago to name them the "Gang of Four". So, anyway I see they have settled for the night except one. One of the ducks was still awake and he raises one leg and kicks back. In that one motion I heard a sound. FFFPT. Did this duck just fart??? Ah, I was in tears the rest of the way back!
Last night was also the Leonid Meteor Shower. Never passing up a moment to see one of God's many wonders in action and being a somewhat fervent stargazer myself, you bet I was out there scouring the skies. The skies however were cloudy when I came out. I came out every hour to see if they had cleared. Nope. Disappointment ensues.
These instances brought up so many emotions and yet I look back and smile. I saw God. YES!
At dinner last night, I overheard a conversation that caught me so off guard. Diana Ross and the Supremes were playing in the background and this girl at the table beside mine said, "Is this Southern music?" Ohhh, that statement hurt me heart and soul! I couldn't eat for a while after that. How could she not know who they were? MOTOWN?!?!? But alas, people just don't know.
I was walking back home and I crossed by Dell Pond. The thing about Dell Pond is that it is inhabited by 3 ducks and a goose, which I had taken the liberty sometime ago to name them the "Gang of Four". So, anyway I see they have settled for the night except one. One of the ducks was still awake and he raises one leg and kicks back. In that one motion I heard a sound. FFFPT. Did this duck just fart??? Ah, I was in tears the rest of the way back!
Last night was also the Leonid Meteor Shower. Never passing up a moment to see one of God's many wonders in action and being a somewhat fervent stargazer myself, you bet I was out there scouring the skies. The skies however were cloudy when I came out. I came out every hour to see if they had cleared. Nope. Disappointment ensues.
These instances brought up so many emotions and yet I look back and smile. I saw God. YES!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Old School
As the years go by I realize more and more how "old" I am. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just something I've learned to embrace over the years. With that being said, this old schoolness has carried over into my tastings of music.
I really don't like this stuff people have the nerve to call "music" on the radio lately. I've slowly distanced myself from the music that pop culture deems that I must like and approve of. True, every now and then I do like to expand my musical tastes and I do, very seldom now, like the occasional new song, but like I said before this stuff they playin' ain't music. So now I find myself enamored with stuff from the old school. All kinds of old school.
The "oldest" of old schoolness would be that of classical music. No words, just pure genius in sound. I've realized more and more that I have an almost obsessive predilection for Chopin. That is not to say everything else in classical genre isn't good, because it's ALL GOOD!
Motown, the Beatles, and stuff from the 60s and 70s have struck a chord with me in the past, but now more so than before. It's just something about these 20 so years that really inspired good music. Marvin Gaye, Elvis, and stuff like 鄧麗君 (Teresa Teng, yes even stuff from the Motherland) have almost been on repeat constantly.
Hymns and old school gospels (especially by Mahalia Jackson) have been on my mind too. It's something about this music that really captures the heart and soul that goes into the worship of Our Beautiful Savior. Nothing like the old stuff to praise the Lord. Amen, Hallelujah!
As I mourn the current situation, I still hope somewhere down the line music will be good again. For now...I know that a man ain't supposed to cry, but these tears I can't hold inside. Losin' you would end my life you see......
I really don't like this stuff people have the nerve to call "music" on the radio lately. I've slowly distanced myself from the music that pop culture deems that I must like and approve of. True, every now and then I do like to expand my musical tastes and I do, very seldom now, like the occasional new song, but like I said before this stuff they playin' ain't music. So now I find myself enamored with stuff from the old school. All kinds of old school.
The "oldest" of old schoolness would be that of classical music. No words, just pure genius in sound. I've realized more and more that I have an almost obsessive predilection for Chopin. That is not to say everything else in classical genre isn't good, because it's ALL GOOD!
Motown, the Beatles, and stuff from the 60s and 70s have struck a chord with me in the past, but now more so than before. It's just something about these 20 so years that really inspired good music. Marvin Gaye, Elvis, and stuff like 鄧麗君 (Teresa Teng, yes even stuff from the Motherland) have almost been on repeat constantly.
Hymns and old school gospels (especially by Mahalia Jackson) have been on my mind too. It's something about this music that really captures the heart and soul that goes into the worship of Our Beautiful Savior. Nothing like the old stuff to praise the Lord. Amen, Hallelujah!
As I mourn the current situation, I still hope somewhere down the line music will be good again. For now...I know that a man ain't supposed to cry, but these tears I can't hold inside. Losin' you would end my life you see......
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