Oklahoma - OK!

This morning I got up early and loaded the bike and went to breakfast at Starwood Cafe. An alumni acquaintance from Frederick Military Academy saw the post on social media with Mark Monroe yesterday and reached out. His name is Tony Seid. He is a class of 80 graduate (missed each other by a year) and lives in Allen, TX. Tony met Susan and I at Starwood. It was great meeting him in person and I look forward to carrying on the conversation in August at our school reunion.

Ken (‘85) with Tony Seid (FMA class of ‘80)

After breakfast, I road to Oklahoma! (Warm ride, but dry!) I stopped in Norman, OK for a late lunch with a classmate from FMA, Jesse Nelson. Jesse and I connected in 2017 when he was in San Jose California. He is an Oklahoma University Graduate and moved to Norman a few years ago to be near family connections. It is always great to see Jesse and talk about all the shenanigans we got into when we were at Frederick. He took me on a brief tour around the OU Campus that he is very proud of! (Boomer Sooner!!) When we got back to his house, it was great to see his wife, Kim, whom I haven’t seen in several years. (Sorry, not picture!)

Ken and Jesse Nelson (FMA class of ‘85)


After leaving Jesse, I road 15 miles north to Moore, OK to be with my Citadel brother, Bill Fankhouser. Bill and Barbara invited me to stay the night in Moore, OK. Bill and I were roommates a portion of sophomore year. I stayed with him and his family in 2017 when I was traveling west on Route 66. (See post here!) It was great to be with Bill and his family again. 


This has really been a day of relationship connections. From the time I got up and went to breakfast till now as I prepare to go to sleep at Bill’s, connections all around! Though Tony and I are a relatively new connection, we share the bond of attending the same military high school. I just realized that all the connections today involve my time in military school, both high school and college. 

The ride to Oklahoma was great. It was a bit warm, but not too bad. It is nice to be away from the thunderstorms that were plaguing me in Florida and Louisiana. I’m now keeping an eye on the heat! Tomorrow, I’m planning on heading to Dodge City, KS for the weekend (taking Sunday as a no ride day!). 


As I was riding today, I was thinking about the heat and how I am equipped to handle it. I’ve got to say first that I love my AC. I’ve got a cooling towel (that goes around my neck) and a cooling vest (for extreme temps). These are the tools that I have with me to help me not get too overheated. I noticed today that my phone isn’t charging well in the heat. Even though it’s hooked up to the charger, it’s sensitive to the heat and stops charging. This makes it challenging when using it for GPS. I plan to figure out a way to charge it in the cargo trunk. It has an outlet and would be out of the heat. 

In religious context, heat and fire can be a symbol for many different things. It could symbolize spiritual trials, represent persecution, temptation, tribulation, etc. But, it can also symbolize the transformative or refining power of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Peter 4:12, the scripture speaks of fiery trials as a refiner of faith. 

Often, when we talk about experiences in our life, we refer to them as hot or cold, relating ambient temperature to our emotions. This is also done sometimes when we talk about spirituality or the emotional intensity of a spiritual experience (as either hot or cold).

Extreme temperatures are a concern. Recently, there was a heat advisory in Alaska of all places. There is an entire section of the church committed to ethical and moral behaviors focused on creation-care and protecting the most vulnerable from the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather conditions affect the whole planet and it’s time to consider our role in assisting with some of these challenges. 

Challenge to St. James and Self: Consider what we might engage as a community that will help with climate change and dealing with extreme weather conditions. We are currently recovering from catastrophic flooding of the Nolichucky River. Do we start a recycling program? Do we figure out ways to make less of a carbon footprint? 





Location: Moore, OK, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

This Week!

Weekend with Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Doc Holiday

Image
Not really. But, wouldn’t that be pretty cool? I rode yesterday (6/21) (through the horrible cross-wind! 🌬️) to Dodge City, Kansas. Dodge City has a pretty interesting and somewhat sordid past. Most folks know Dodge City by the famous TV western “Gunsmoke” which aired from 1955 to 1975. That’s a long time for Martial Dillon, Ms. Kitty, and Cletus making sure things around these parts were kept respectable.  As I said, the ride to Dodge was 85% fighting the 25-30 mph crosswind gusts that wanted me to change lanes! A bit scary at times, but manageable. It was warm toward the afternoon 95° and a bit dusty, but hey, I’m deep in the west now and expect things like that. This morning I attended worship services at St. Cornelius Episcopal Church (ca. 1898). I walked in expecting Holy Eucharist, but experienced a Rite II Morning Prayer. Supply priests in this part of the country are as rare as they are in East Tennessee. The Morning Prayer service was led by a lay person who just happens ...
Read more

Nebraska 🤷‍♂️

Image
Today I rode to Nebraska. I don’t think I have ever been in Nebraska. If so, it was just to drive through or fly over. I remember back in January when Bishop Cole visited St. James, he talked about those “fly-over” states. I think he was actually talking about Omaha, Nebraska. Anyhow, I think this is my first time in Nebraska. I’m staying the night at a small quiet motel on the edge of town. It’s a sweet little gem. The ride in was quite enjoyable, starting out at 74° and ending up about 68°. The weather is supposed to start changing (rain and storms) so I’m going to watch it closely. In the video, you can actually see the sky changing. Today, I was mostly thinking about “fly-over” mid-west/western states that are full of pasture and farmland. About every 12-25 miles, I would pass through a small town. About every 6 to 7 miles, I would see a house or a barn in the distance. The terrain changed today from ultra flat to rolling hills. The winds were not as bad as yesterday. What was inte...
Read more

South Dakota and the Presidents

Image
Today was a great ride to Piedmont, SD via Mount Rushmore National Monument. The whole day was overcast, but the radar said the rain wasn’t going to start until about 6pm. I covered the luggage anyway - better safe than sorry. The terrain kept changing (see yesterday’s post). Things are so far apart out here. Gas stations are few and far between, so I start looking for gas at about 1/2 tank. Mount Rushmore was fantastic. It has been 42 years since my family took a trip to South Dakota. It was majestic and everything I remembered. I wasn’t able to make it to Crazy Horse, but plan to be back soon. I saw it years ago and I know it’s still under construction. It is also a magnificent structure. I promised myself I wouldn’t do “touristy” things on this pilgrimage. However, you don’t get this close to a national monument like Rushmore and not take the 30 mile trek to see it. Sometimes you got to indulge. It was worth the extra few minutes and didn’t throw off my progress too much. Tonight I ...
Read more

Big Sky!

Image
Today’s ride was clear and wonderful! Montana is truly the Big Sky state! The beauty of the colors does not come across in the pictures. I left this morning early and rode from Piedmont, SD to Billings, MT. I am staying with a new friend, the Rev. Gary Waddingham, a retired priest in the diocese of Montana. We were connected by my friend, Bishop Marty Stebbins (Bishop of Montana). I plan to arrive at her house tomorrow. I am grateful for Gary’s hospitality. Gary is cool. He’s an armature radio operator (ham radio). He’s got radio equipment and antenna’s everywhere. 😳 He’s definitely ready for the zombie apocalypse. 🤣 In all seriousness, since I’ve been in the Tennessee State Guard, I’ve developed a lot of respect for this type of hobby that is always an asset in times of disaster. It was a joy to sit and chat with Gary over dinner and talk about church. He’s been a priest for 50 years and is a treasure trove of information.  On the ride today through the tribal lands of the indig...
Read more

Couple Days in McKinney, TX

Image
Yesterday (6/18) after a very long and HOT ride (100°) to the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas. Yes, I cheated a bit. It would have taken 7 hours to “go around” on back roads away from the interstate (and possibly avoid some heat). But, I had plans and needed to arrive in McKinney, TX by dinner time so I took I-35 North 🤷‍♂️. I finally arrived in McKinney at 5:30 p.m. to stay with a long time friend, Susan Bastian. Susan and I met in California when we were camping next to each other in the summer of 1983. She was with the Gibbons family (Beth Gibbons Tripp to appear later in this story!) Susan attended Johnson & Whales Culinary Institute in Charleston, SC when I was at the Citadel. I was the “guinea pig” and sampled her new culinary creations. We lost touch, but reconnected on social media several years ago. She’s been a great friend for a long time. We went out for a special dinner when I arrived (she’s a foodie and a chef, so good food is what she does!). Today, (6/19) we went t...
Read more

Into the Longhorn State!

Image
Yesterday morning (6/16) I headed for Livingston, TX! I left Metairie, LA and traveled west… Around Houston, TX! The trip was wet from Baton Rouge, LA to Livingston. I was soaked! It was also warm, and riding in a rain suit makes it that much warmer! 🥵 Today (6/17) I arrived in Cibolo, TX. I hung out with Kathy Robinson and her daughters Megan and Bridgett. I knew the Robinson family from my time in Maryland. After Kathy’s husband, Mark, died, they moved to Texas to be near family. The past several years, I’ve watched the girls grow up from afar. It was a treat to go to lunch with Kathy’s mom and dad and then be with them. We watched Bridget play volleyball. It was nice to catch up with all of them. Ministry is a difficult vocation. What makes it meaningful is the lives that you get to be part of along the way. To be with folks during their highs and lows, sharing their joys and sorrows, helping them engage their faith to help them navigate life is why I’m a priest. Life is difficult,...
Read more