Grounded Theology

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...

Today I road from Monterey to Bakersfield, CA to the home of Jerry and Ruth Greer. Jerry and I worked together at NPTU Charleston. He was actually my supervisor in Radiological Controls Operations.  The Greers and I have stayed in touch over the years, and they offered me a place to stay. I had to ride inland from Monterey because of the fires and slides. The PCH was closed at Big Sur. It was great to be with Jerry & Ruth and catch up with them. Jerry retired from NPTU in 2007 and moved to Utah then to Bakersfield. He and Ruth grew up in Bakersfield.  The Ride today went from 52° and hazy/overcast on the coast to 98° inland. Started off in my leather jacket, ended up in my riding shirt. Today I was thinking about the past and how our experiences shape who we are. Jerry & Ruth knew me in my 20s, at a very different time in my life. They attended our wedding (Kelly & I). Jerry and I had our troubles and differences of opinion, but he always encouraged me to be the be...

Yesterday (7/5) I rode from Santa Rosa to Monterey, CA. I decided to spend the weekend in Monterey and prepare for the trek up Route 66 from Santa Monica to Chicago, IL. It was a beautiful ride to Monterey with plenty of California beach scapes and the Golden Gate Bridge in all its glory and ominous cloud cover. It’s a bit chilly here in Monterey, with the high of just 62° and the low of 53°. Today I worshipped at St. Mary’s by the Sea in Pacific Grove. What a delightful place with a beautiful worship space. I was greeted warmly by members and made to feel at home. They extended true hospitality and invited me to participate in the ground breaking for the new labyrinth garden and cookout afterward.  The service was a Rite III (Enriching Our Worship), but was very well done. The sermon was excellent. The Rev. Kristine Johnson is a fine preacher and it was great to hear a sermon that dealt with current events in the Gospel light. The location of the church is literally “by the sea.” ...

Yesterday, I road to Santa Rosa, CA, the heart of wine country. I’d taken the PCH before in 2017, so I decided to come down 101 into Santa Rosa. Grape vines EVERYWHERE!  The ride today started off chilly, but warmed up as I approached the city. It’s amazing what concrete will do to ambient temperature. Beautiful landscapes of water, awesome bridges, cows, grape vines, etc… There is no question that this is wine country! I didn’t buy any wine because it would be difficult to carry on the bike. I decided to stay in Santa Rosa over the 4th and leave Saturday. This would keep me off the roads on the holiday. It also allowed me to get my stuff straightened out after two days of camping. So, today I washed clothes, repacked gear, washed bike, etc… (oh, and I got a new camp pillow at REI!) 😉👍 It feels good to decompress for a day, rest, and clean. Before I left the coast, I did find a Post Office in Eureka and mailed my first box home, mostly containing gear I didn’t need or want. This ...

Magnificent trees! The giant Sequoias were a sight to behold. I road to Sue-meg (sue-may) State Park near Trinidad, CA. Yes, I crossed into Northern California and I will be in California for the next few days. No intended connections today other than random campers who see my bike and the Tennessee plate and wonder if I rented it or rode it here. 😜 I assured them that I road it, I’ve got just over 7000 miles clocked into this pilgrimage. There’s something about camping I love. I’m not sure what it is… being outside, in nature, living off of the minimum, the set up/take down, making do with what you have. [sort pillow story: sleep systems are important! My camp pillow died (wouldn’t hold air any longer), so I had to wad up my hoodie sweatshirt as a pillow. It was awful! Yuck!! It’s not bad being on the mattress pad in a sleeping bag, but no pillow is the worst!] Anyway… I was raised camping and have camped with my family and scouts all my life.  I want to talk a bit about the camp...

I am on the Pacific coast with a light house too! Tonight was a chilly camping night at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park. I set up camp and made dinner and read for a few hours. My personal connection today was Miranda Everitt, Kelly’s cousin. Miranda is Kelly’s father’s brother’s son’s daughter (so really, Kelly’s first cousin - once removed). I’d never met Miranda, but her mom (Kris) knew I was going to be coming through and connected us. Miranda is an avid outdoors person and has hiked many trails around the world. I met her for coffee/breakfast before heading toward the coast. The ride today was spectacular. It got cooler and cooler as I headed toward the ocean. Portland was toasty at about 80° but it soon cooled off to about 60° by the time I got to Tillamook, OR. I stopped, and for the first time put on my chaps because my legs were freezing! The cool damp air coming off the water and the fog in places made it feel like 48°.  When Jesus sent out the apostles, in Chapter 9 of Luke...

Today I road from Port Angeles, WA to the Washington / Oregon Boarder at Camas, WA to the home of Gary and Mari Osterhage. Marni and I graduated from FMA together in 1985, so we’ve been friends for 44 years! It was good to spend the evening with Marni and Gary and catch up. Marni is a children’s pastor at a Four Square Gospel Church, so of course we talked shop for some of the evening. The ride today was great until just outside of Portland, OR headed to Camas, WA (on the boarder). I road down the Hood Canal (Hwy 101) and the Columbia River. Beautiful scenery.  Marni and I were talking about God and relationship. She recently passed her licensing and ordination for her denomination, so she was telling me about her process. One of the questions was about Trinity. I shared with her the “master class” sermon that Heather Holland gave at St. James on Trinity Sunday. I appreciated when Heather told the congregation that the preacher would be better off sharing photos of Kittens during t...