First Maine Stop (see what I did there?)

Today was just short of fantastic! The pilgrimage led me to Lewiston, Maine. It started out overcast and I thought it was going to rain for a better part of the ride, but cleared up nicely! This is my main (Maine) stop before I begin my big trek across the US. Before heading west, I wanted to evaluate some things... Baggage (clothing/gear), health, stamina, etc... Constant assessment and tweaking as I go will be the key to my comfort. I am unplugged, yet I am not... Unplugged from responsibilities, routine tasks, etc. but not unplugged from electricity. Cell service has been fair, but as I head west I thing that it's going to get worse. That means "old school" maps and such. I have taken to writing the turns down on paper and putting them in the map pouch so that I can have an idea of where I'm going, but part of the process is letting the spirit guide you.


I had service most of today, but I started of thinking about how cell service is about feeling "in touch" and how not having it (for a tech person like me) can get frustrating. I have taken measures NOT to have routine calendar reminders and other items to not ding every 5 minutes. But not having those little bars can be trying... How it means that I won't know where I'm going (I use my cell for GPS, but yes Rand McNally and I are friends!), or I won't be able to call Kelly and let her know all is well... How I won't be able to let you folks have the opportunity to read my blog :P

[The nice thing about being on pilgrimage and not "on call" or "working" at my priestly duties is that I don't have to be constantly looking and listening to my phoneUIKeyInputRightArrow. Shout out to Cindy Adler ;). I say that because we took a "pilgrimage" to Maine with our amazing youth group in 2015. We were supposed to be "unplugged," but I wasn't. I still had responsibilities at home. Cindy, being the youth guide, also helped the adults stay in line with the practices of not letting us use our phones. I will just say that it was challenging!]

 

The scripture that screams to me today is my father's "life verse." It's one that he taught me years ago and I haven't forgotten it. In a way, it has become my life verse (but, I carry Romans 8:38-39 in my wallet). The verse is Proverbs 3:5-6, it says: "“Trust in [God] with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge [God], and [God] will make straight your paths.” Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬ (the first [God] was translated as LORD which is a translation of the proper name of God that I'm not going to write here. The second is the masculine pronoun used to descibe God. So I just changed them all to God.) I like the ESV for general reading purposes, but I also like to look things up in another translation. Eugene Peterson's The Message says this, “Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; [God's] the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.” ~ ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6 MSG‬ (again with the pronoun. Peterson took care of the other two.)

If God could be our GPS... If God could be our "wireless connection"... If God could be our guide and compass, we would never need maps. We would never need cell service. We would never rely on turn by turn directions. Our life's path would definitly find direction if we let God take charge! Don't misunderstand me. I'm not leaving out of here without a map and a general sense of where I'm headed. But I'm leaning on that phrase that Peterson used... "Listen to GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; God is the only one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all." 

So, appreciate your GPS, maps, compasses... But trust in God to get a bearing on your life and keep it grounded! Think about God in the everyday stuff. I will be in Maine a couple of days and might do some day trips Sat and Sunday (weather permitting). I might stay in tomorrow morning (calling for rain) and work on my thesis. I plan to worship Sunday in a "different place." Maybe Episcopal, maybe not.

Be Blessed! Ken+

P.S. My Uncle Don called this evening. It looks like I'm headed toward Connecticut on Monday. ;) Love connecting with the family and friends (see my Visit to Edenton - so if you are in my path and would like a visit, send me a private message me on Facebook. Folks that don't have Facebook, but have my number can e-mail, text, or call (but I will not respond right away).


Challenge to Self: Continue to stay grounded and continue to look for God in the mundane. God is there!

Challenge to Trinity: Let God be our guide and compass. In all things, let the Holy Spirit guide us through discernment. If we feel we should do something to complete the mission that God has given us, don't let the perceived lack of funds or people keep us from doing it. God will make our paths straight!

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This Week!

Missouri on Route 66

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Today (Friday) I road across the state of Missouri, from St. Louis to Joplin. Yesterday evening in St. Louis, it was nice to have dinner with a friend (Kelly Saveika) that I haven't seen since we were in high school. We have know each other since elementary school. Life has taken us in different directions, and we keep up on Facebook, but for a couple of hours it was good to connect in person. Tomorrow I get to meet up with my former college roommate, Bill Fankhauser. Bill and I went to the Citadel together (Regimental Band - Class of 89). He and his wife have invited me to spend the weekend with them. So I ride tomorrow from Joplin, MO, through the little corner of Kansas to Oklahoma City, OK. Connecting with friends from years ago really enlightens the journey. It's not just the road that I am on... It's not just the old towns and the interesting countryside of things from what was once the "mother road." It's the people... the lives of those who make up my
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Ohio!

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The last couple of days have been interesting! I left Niagara Falls on Thursday 6/29 and rode to central Ohio where I stayed at Lake Wapusun Campground in Shreve, OH that is run by my wife's cousins, Mark & Lisa Everitt. The night there was rough!! Right after I made camp, a storm front came through about 8:30pm and it RAINED and THUNDERED until 7:00am. My little 2 person REI tent is a CHAMP! I emerged nice and dry. However, I had to pack wet again. (It seems like it's becoming routine!) -  see the reflection on packing wet       Nonetheless, the ride to Toledo on 6/30 was outstanding! The weather was not too hot, not too cool, not raining. I rode to Signature Harley Davidson, where I met up with General Manager, Kris Friar (another of Kelly's cousins). I was able to spend the evening with Kris and she took me to Tony Packo's, a famous Hungarian Food place in Toledo, OH. I stayed over at Kris' and left the next morning. Guess what... another storm came th
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God's Paintbrush!

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Today, I experienced the unexpected! I knew that the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert were in Arizona, but I didn't know where. Who knew they were on Route 66. In fact, I learned that Route 66 once went right through the Petrified Forest prior to it becoming a National Park and protected by the US Government. The ride in from Albuquerque, NM was great! I crossed the NM continental divide at 7200 feet.   I took a "detour" through the National Park and drove down to where 180 goes into Holbrook. It was beautiful. The pictures really don't do it justice. The colors were vivid. It really looked like God took out the paintbrush and said, "I think I will add some color here in the middle of nowhere!" I can really feel the climate changing. It's getting much warmer. I am looking forward to this weekend! I will be in Kingman, AZ and plan to see some folks that I haven't seen in a very long time! My thoughts for today are on the glimmers of grace
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Down to the South East Corner of Washington

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It's Tuesday (8/1) and I am officially 1/2 way (6 weeks) into my sabbatical. Today I rode from Winthrop, WA down to the South East Corner of the state, Clarkeston, WA. It was hazy, due to fire activity in Idaho. I also experienced some remnants of forest fires where it looks like 1000+ acres were burned. As the ride progressed, it got warmer and warmer, until I got to Clarkeston where it was 103 degrees! Glad I'm in for the night with AC! On the way out, I stopped for coffee at Blue Star Coffee Roasters in Whisp, WA. This was recommended by the young couple this morning as I was packing up camp. It was a very good choice!! Great cup of coffee. The ride took me along the Columbia River and finally crossing the Snake River into Idaho then back into Washington. It reminded me of the saying, "you can't get there from here!" If you're from South Carolina, you know what I am talking about. Today's thoughts and concerns are about fire and the devastati
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Getting Psyched! - Day 0

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May 1, 2022  It’s our first night. After church, Kelly took me at Amicalola Falls State Park Lodge, where we (Ken aka “Breadcrumbs,” and I) will spend the night. We hit the trail in the am after an 8 am breakfast. We decided to take a ride to the start of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mt rather than do the approach trail. The lodge is nice. We both repacked our packs and did a double check of all our necessities.  I’m looking forward to the journey. I’m thankful that Ken and I are doing this together. We feel the prayers and support from everyone who knows about our trek.  I think about how we as humans are social creatures. We need each other. For me, part of what makes church a relevant part of life is the connection to other believers, helping care for one another. I pray that others feel the same way.  It’s getting late and the trail is going to be calling early. Happy Trails & Many Blessings! Ken+
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Seaside Monday!

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Today (7/24) I rode from Coos Bay, OR to Seaside, OR. Talk about a cold ride! This one was really cool with the cross winds and overcast. I don't think I saw the sun but twice. I tend to take more pictures when the sun is out, so the bulk of the pictures from today include sunshine. The ride up Hwy 101 and the coast of Oregon was great, even though it was cold and overcast. At one time, I felt wet from all the sea spray. So, not every day has been the bliss of sunshine! Hmmm... it reminds me of life. While the good days definitely outnumber the bad, I've had my share of clouds. I think that the clouds are what help us appreciate the sunshine. It's the gloomy pieces that make the bright pieces so much more enjoyable. Church life is not any different. Church is a messy place sometimes. It isn't all sunshine and daffodils. Sometimes there can be real challenge and real hardship for the community, but if the community is living for Christ, then it is possible to get thr
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Walking in Memphis (for the Weekend)

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But do I really feel the way I feel? 🎶 (thank you Marc Cohn - now I have that song stuck in my head!) Well, for me, it was more like "drying out in Memphis." Friday 8/11 was one of the most wet rides I have had. 250 miles in the POURING rain. I was soaked! Luckly the dry bag and the rain gear works. I was only going to stay in Memphis for the evening and head out to Sewanee on Saturday and spend the bulk of the weekend there. However, I was wet and tired, so I decided to stay for a couple of days - mostly to rest and dry out. I didn't take many pictures on the ride because it was so nasty. I spent Saturday sleeping in and not riding. I walked to the local IHOP resturant for brunch and I just chilled... much needed. No, I didn't go to Graceland and I didn't see the ghost of Elvis. Let the poor man Rest In Peace. On Sunday, I did attend worship at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. Big Place! Lots going on. They have just completed a capital cam
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