Beginning of Route 66 (Third Corner)

I’m not sure the complete reason for the infatuation I feel for the Historic Route 66. When I traveled 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica in 2017, I spoke a bit about the “sacredness” of the road… about how traveling the road connected me to something from the past and something other than myself. I prayed the Litany of Supplication at the 3rd Corner of these contiguous United States, asking God to guide us to peace and reconciliation. 

One of the main treats of today was meeting up with my classmates and friends, Pete Ince and Bobak Montemedi. It was very cool to get together with them at Ye Olde King’s Head, a restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. just up from the West End of 66. Pete, Bob, and I graduated from Frederick Military Academy together 40 years ago. With this as the year of our 40th, and them not able to make the reunion in August, I felt it was a real honor to see them. We enjoyed stories of yesteryear and bringing each other up to date with what’s going on in our lives.

Like I said before Today I traveled from Bakersfield, CA to Santa Monica, CA and the Western Terminus of the Historic Route 66. My plan is to travel East to Chicago over the next several days. One of the things that disappointed me about my 2017 trip is that I got lost coming into LA and veered off of 66 somewhere when I was headed to Santa Monica. This time, I was careful, following Santa Monica Blvd and the signs to Sunset Blvd. This took me through Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Pasadena, Acadia, etc… So this time I stayed on Route. I am staying in Victorville, CA overnight.

I made another wonderful connection with Jeff Thornberg who was in my D.Min. Core Group from Bexley-Seabury Seminary. Jeff changed jobs and took leave from the program, but we’ve kept up with each other using social media. He and his family moved from Fayetteville, NC several years ago to take the church out here in San Gabriel, CA. Just a short jaunt off of 66 to get to Jeff’s house. It was a pleasure to spend a few minutes with him and meet his family.

I can’t tell you how full today has been. As I decompress here in Victorville, CA on the edge of the Mojave Dessert, I’m thinking about all the wonderful connections I’ve made today. Life is full of change and sometimes we end up going in different and interesting directions. Some folks come and some go. One of my wise mentors told me once that our companions along the way are only in our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. We need to make the most of our connections and the relationships we have.

It almost seems that Jesus did not know a stranger. He never shunned anyone who society deemed as different or unacceptable because of this or that ailment. When Jesus was there, even the tax collector and prostitute was welcome. He taught us through his actions to welcome the stranger, especially those on the margins of society. 

Challenge to St. James and self: Welcome the stranger. Get to know them and their story, help them find love, hope and connection. Be God’s love to them.