A 'Smile', does not always tell it all. We took this picture of the kids
at Casa Hogar so we can remember their names. It was a tough class,
even though small, to keep their attention. Before we left for the day I
asked if anyone le gustan un abrazo? That is, would anyone like a hug.
Except for one little guy who was having an especially tough day they
jumped at the idea. Not that most kids would not do the same. With these
children I definitely sensed a great need for a hug...an
embrace! Then I looked over at their caregiver...a lady our
age who daily is part of their lives. And I cry.......Why you ask? Because she looked
so exhausted. So very, very exhausted. And I cry again. Oh she needs a
hug and more. And I pray...oh Lord, please grant the care-givers of
these children your grace. We are there only an hour or two. This is
their life. Rewarding yes, but VERY exhausting. They need more full-time
care-givers. And more part-time help as well. Will you please pray with
me? And Jesus said, "For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
I then take a second look at this picture...the resilience of children, unaware of the struggle of life. Might we as adults find the joy that abounds from the depths of their little beings. Oh we can learn a lot.
Kutless says it so well is their song 'SMILE'
"Though everything's the same inside there's something real
A faith which causes me to change. (But what's different now)
A spark is gleaming in my eye like diamond stars that fill the sky
I think a smile says it all
A smile says it all
I see what a smile can say about me
I know that words are not always what speak
Sometimes it's not what I say
That the world around me seems to understand"
I wrote this while driving through Mexico...the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit and Jalisco...
Thursday October 23 through the 30th - The
first full week in Mexico...so much has been experienced! Leaving
Guaymas we back tracked to the town of San Carlos. A great decision as
the town and area are quite beautful. An ocean front community with
gorgeous rocks to behold both in and out of the water. A place to
consider staying on our return trip is an RV park called 'Tononaka'.
Tom & Rick at Milepost 21K
We
continued through the southern end of the state of Sonora. If there is a
least desirable part of this drive, this would be it. Passing into
Sinaloa we drove about 40 miles off the 'cuota' to the Spanish colonial
town of Alamo. Here we were able to find a RV Park called 'Dolisa' in
order to set up our tents. A walk through town brought us to the town
square where we watched as they were celebrating the life of a family
member. An excellent dinner was followed by a nights partial sleep. This
was the Mexico I so remembered from San Luis. That is...loud music,
dogs (many of them) and roosters filling the evening with more sound
than many concerts. Fortunately no night has even approached this. Even
so we awoke with sufficient sleep to continue our drive south.
Mountains around San Carlos
Oh, one other note of interest from this day...some road construction
left us on an interesting detour through a fairly large city. Trying to
be careful of children playing, traffic lights and road signs, I
suddenly looked back to the flashing of red and blue lights. Now the Police in this country often drive around with their lights on, so it does not always mean that you're being 'pulled over'. But as they continued to follow directly behind us, I decided it best to make the customary pull to the right. Out this point the heart typically
begins to race and the question of 'what did I do' flash through the
mind. And again, must I remind you...this is Mexico. Perhaps some of you
are thinking 'bribes, how long might I be in prison and will my family
ever find me'? There was none of that...no, he simply asked to see our
paperwork and gently waved us on. Have I said that we've sensed no
threat of insecurity? Thank you Lord!
The beauty of Nayarit
Mazatlan would not be considered a favorite place of mine, but
thankfully we took an exit that led to the extreme north end of town,
leaving us again in an RV Park. This time right on the beach. A swim in
the ocean, a run for Miko, a tasty dinner and conversation with a
Mexican young man, another swim in the RV Park pool and a 'quiet' nights
sleep left us very ready for the drive towards Chapala.
One of
the key reasons for driving this first time through Mexico was to
experience the vast areas of this land. Neither Tom nor I were ready for
the amazing beauty that awaited us as we journeyed the southern part of
Sinaloa, the entire state of Nayarit and into Jalisco. So luscious,
mountainous, with trees, vegetation, green and flowers that left us in
awe. Yes, the Creator has left His mark wonderfully on this land called
Mexico.
Can you say, 'One peso'?
Three very unique 'God moments' occurred on this day.
Only five minutes on the path through Mazatlan we began to hear what had
the sound of possibly a broken metal 'something'. After two stops to
view the bottom side of this 1996 Explorer the sound ended. Perhaps a
rock from the paving of a road that we traveled across for
several miles the day before. Next, while driving through Nayarit's
largest city of Tepic and after unsuccessfully looking for a banco or
cajero (money exchange), we were about to return to the cuota when the
right front brake let out with such a screech that we wondered if our
'self labored brake job' was falling apart. Again we stopped two times,
after which the sound disappeared. God wasn't finished with the leason
of faith. As I mentioned we were in need of obtaining more Pesos. This
was brought to even a greater reality when the 'cuotas' were saying, "US
dollars not accepted"! As we past through one cuota I asked the
attendant how many more until Guadalajara. "Two more", she said. And to
think that we wouldn't even be in this predicament had we not had to use
925 pesos to pay for our first fuel stop as their visa card reader
wasn't functioning. And now the final cuota, with cost ranging from 25p
to 195p, what would this one hold. I counted up 104 pesos as Tom drove
closer to the sign that would be the bearer of good or bad news. And
'Vanna' the answer please...wait for it...wait for it...our God is
amazing! The cuota was...103 pesos! You've never seen two gringos more
happy to have one peso in their possession as we were at that moment.
Now I ask, does God have a sense of humor or what. Yes, a mighty day of
faith lessons were etched into our lives.
Sunrise over Lago de Chapala
But God wasn't finished
with bringing more amazement into our lives as we settled onto Hotel
Perico. A lovely place of respite off the libramiento with a swimming
pool, a ball field and a beautiful view of Lago de Chapala. We would
make contacts with a few of my fathers friends and arrange for the
following days spreading of his ashes. Sunday morning, as suggested by
Cinthia...(a very close friend, who often would walk their dogs
together, discussing and arguing about many of lifes questions) we met
in the large park adjacent to the lake. Comments were shared by friends,
myself and then we spread his ashes. Why, you ask? For no other reason
than Ephesians chapter six which says, "Honor your father and mother".
For some reason this has become a way to honor my father, a man of whom
we were much like 'oil and water'. A man who as a father did not have
many a reason to 'honor'. But, that passage does not say if they have
been those of honor. Rather, we are to honor them. So what began as
spreading ashes in his 'favorite' place in the States, Manhattan Beach,
to Silliman Pass (a boys most precious beginning into creation), to the
Red Oak, Iowa cemetery, on the plot of his kid brother Ron, this journey is now complete. Kind of anticlimactic now, but I will always know
that I accomplished what I sensed as the 'appropriate' thing to do. And
now, it is done.
Mexico Highway 70/90
On Monday October 27th we made our journey onto
Mexico 70 and 90 toward our destination of Puerto Vallarta. Again, the
drive, which included familiar pines of Oregon, was beyond expectation.
Simply beautiful! But do beware if you ever pass this way, the road is
very mountainous with many curves. Would I drive this route again? You
bet I would!
Monday eve would have us surprisingly in the amazing home of my dive
buddy Cesar. Simply lovely hospitality! From PV we have set up for the
past three nights to the north in our own 'palapa' with the sounds of
the ocean waves crashing a hundred yards from our door. Here we have had
the privilege to work on a women's retreat center. Simply an amazing work in
itself. Might The Father bless this work and the lives that will forever
be changed because of it.
Looking over the valley at Mascota
Father please let me always remember 'Ten Shekel Shirts' song Ocean which says,
Something about the ocean
Makes me rise up and praise
Something about the heavens
Makes me stand in awe again
Something about the sunrise
Reminds me of Your faithfulness
Something about the ocean
And I'm lost in love again
P.S. I'm not ignorant of the problems that the country of Mexico is experiencing. The recent news of the students in the Acapulco area is just one more indication of the need for change. I have no intent to make light of the this need. Rather, my hope is to make known the beauty of the Mexican country, people and culture. Regardless where we lay our head at night our world has an unfortunate chaotic side. The bummer sticker says, "Visualize World Peace". I believe that peace can only be visualized by the the message of the cross. When we come to understand what occurred at Calvary, it is then that the true reality of peace on the hearts of men and women will be shown.
June 9 - Day 5...So...have you ever been delayed in traffic due to buffalo? Me neither! Today was a first for me. Around 80 to 100 head arranged about an hour delay as they showed who's 'king' in Yellowstone. I didn't think of video until afterwards.
The day began with church service provided by a
National Park Christian group. The young college folk...Josh, Josiah, Briana and Nathan did a fine job. Josh gave a message from Psalm 139, with focus on God's purpose in and through our lives, giving a fine example of his own life. A boy born in Korean with a cleft palate, adopted into a family from America in whose home town resided the world's most well known hospital for cleft palate repair. I see God's precious hands in these young people's lives.
Gary & Rick with his dog 'Buddy'
Buffalo Traffic Jam - Gotta Love It
From the service (and once past the buffalo city) I continued my venture through this absolutely magnificent park. I now see why people spend an entire vacation here. Todays sites included 'The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone'...surely a competion for beauty rights with its sister in Arizona. Definite must see! Then the 'Lamar' valley, with well over 300 head of buffalo roaming its lush terrain and a breath taking mountain backdrop. From here I enjoyed an hour 'listening' time in Soda Butte valley before exiting the park, gabbing a bite to eat at the 'Bearclaw' Cafe and concluding my day at 'Crazy Creek campground. And it is! It's here that 'Silver Spur' and 'Gear Up' Gary Callahan is camp host. Gary and I rode back to Cooke City, Montana for strawberry milkshakes and watched as my hopeful College World Series bound Oregon State Beavers were roughing up Kansas State in game two of their series. A win tomorrow and they're in! Got tickets to watch a couple CWS games a week from Monday. Yeah baby!
Perhaps some days are meant for reminiscing. While doing
some work today in my garage/man-cave, I find myself listening to three CD’s
that are within my excellent $15 find of a ‘boom box’ off Craigslist. All three
of the CD’s are ones that became mine four years ago while tending to my father’s
estate down in Mexico. Those days in itself are worth a blog or two for another
day.
What I find amazingly ironic is that even when these men
(father and son) who were very much like oil and water, there are some things
of similarity. Such are these CD’s that include music we both greatly enjoyed. There’s
‘Chicago’ with ‘Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?’ Or there is Elton John and
his song ‘Daniel’…a side story…I’m a young teenager driving with dad, Ione,
Christina and Tami toward Northern California to go camping. Along the way we
picked up some black cherries, to which yours truly had a dozen or two to many.
While ‘Daniel’ was playing on the car radio I found myself needing to get to
the side of the road immediately. Now, some forty years later, whenever I hear ‘Daniel’
on the radio I think of cherries, or when I eat cherries I’m reminded of the
song ‘Daniel’.
The last CD plays, a remake of both Don McLean and Jim
Croce. Jim’s song ‘Time In A Bottle’ is likely legendary…
If
I could save time in a bottle The first
thing that I'd like to do Is to save
every day till eternity passes away Just to
spend them with you
If I could make
days last forever If words could make wishes
come true I'd save every day like a
treasure and then Again, I would spend them
with you
But there never seems to
be enough time To do the things you want
to do, once you find them I've looked around enough
to know That you're the one I want
to go through time with
If I had a box just for
wishes And dreams that had never
come true The box would be empty,
except for the memory of how They were answered by you
But there never seems to
be enough time To do the things you want
to do, once you find them I've looked around enough
to know That you're the one I want
to go through time with Jim Croce
Perhaps each of us can peek into the recesses of our memory
to find even a glimmer of joy in relationships which we wish the journey had a
different outcome.
'Man Wall' picture #2
For now… “I thinks it gonna be a long, long time…now who
wrote that?
Was Joseph's a life one of simplicity or complexity? I talk of the Joseph found in the book of Genesis, beginning in chapter 37. He was a favored one of his father, receiving a glorious coat. Later he would find favor with the Pharaoh, becoming one of the most influential men of his time. Yet, in-between, his life was one of great complication. I appreciate greatly what Joseph chose to do in 'His moment'...whether simple or complicated.
Do you fight to find what your purpose is in life? Do you often question even the reason of your existence? Do you easily become frustrated, wondering why?
In this journey that I've been placed upon for the past year and a half, I find these questions and more a frequent visitor of my thinking. And then once again (like a Jethro Gibbs smack onto the back of DiNozzo's head) I'm reminded what I initially saw ReFirement to be. I quote myself from a blog entitled 'ReFirement Time Baby!', which was written on the next to last shift of my career...
"How will
He use me? I desire a life of Simplicity…of Flexibility…and of Availability…to be
used for the moment…whatever, however or wherever the moment may be.
So…into ReFirement I go not knowing what lies ahead, but
with the hope of being available to any person, any situation, any moment of
time. Here we go!"
And again..."The hope of being AVAILABLE to any person, any situation, any moment of
time."
Roof repair...a frequent need. This one in Mexico
The end of July/early August proved again the amazing importance of being 'available'. Our daughter
Distress...Can we 'Do Something' to help?
had an urgent need of a roof, with the potential of losing her home without such. Being 'available', I was able to gather a crew of generous folks and today she is able to rest in her home with a beautiful new roof above. Then last night I was requested to help a friend with an extremely urgent and delicate family situation. The answer was quick and easy...of course I am 'available' to help.
I don't say things so as to boast. I say them with gratefulness to the Lord. Many things bring anxiety to our lives. For me, often it is not knowing what's next. Yet, the Lord (ok, more gently than Jethro like) brings a reminder that I'm here for the moment.
Might the Lord bless you in whatever your moment brings this day :) Sometimes our only call is to...'Do Something'. Enjoy as Matthew West presents this concept through song.
I enjoy many pleasures of this life...riding my motorcycle, SCUBA diving, walking along the beach, kayaking with only the sound of the wind and birds, but I'm not sure if anything surpasses that of watching the stars.
Might the stars never cease to amazes us...
Last night after completing some work on the bike I decided to call a friend and just lay back on our hammock and star gaze. It seems like there was nothing that I could do to interest my friend to enjoy them as I. Now if it was food, well...like all guys, food speaks to him. Or if I was to introduce him to a new friend...well, this guy loves people! That's not to say that he doesn't like other creatures...he loves other dogs, cats, deer, butterfly's, bees, even spiders. He even loves the hammock, but I just couldn't interest him in the stars. And I thought...as beautiful as he is, he just isn't able to enjoy God's amazing stars quite like me.
Star Gazing with a Friend
Yes, the friend I speak of is 'Miko', our Schipperke puppy. As I viewed, for an untold number of times in my life, "the stars also", he just laid there quietly by my side. To him that was sufficient. Still, I could not help to think what he was missing.
A year or so back as I was venturing through the Old Testament I decided to slow down and pick out what are the significant pearls to me. For chapter one of Genesis it was: LET's LaFF with HIM. Yes, I'm acronym silly.
Really, he does love the hammock :)
Day One: Light
Day Two: Expanse
Day Three: Terrain and seeds
Day Four: Light...this time the sun, moon and even the stars...and
Day Five: Fish and Foul
Day Six: Hordes of animals and in His Image...Man
Thank you Lord for the uniqueness of every aspect of Your creation. I am grateful that the simple task of star gazing can provide such joy and amazement.
The molding of our lives... As we reflect upon our past,
perhaps no element has greater influence than that of time. The obvious is that
the greater the amount of time, the greater potential for more life experiences
and more people connected to our lives. And yet with those literal thousands of
connections, only a few will make an impact of significance. Such is a man in
my life whom I had the privilege to call 'Uncle Ron'. This is his molding of this
boys life.
Ronald Kenneth Williams was my biological father's 'kid'
brother. A mere eighteen months separated the two. From stories that I've heard,
not much else did. In fact, even at the end of my father's life in 2010, he and
'Ronnie' would frequently talk to one another on Saturdays.
Rick & Ronnie...1940's
Rick & Ronnie...1980's
All but one of my memories of Ronnie takes place in or in
close proximity to Red Oak, Iowa, a place that would become like a second home
for this kid. Even several of the journeys to this small southwest Iowa town
aboard my grandfather’s semi are unforgettable experiences for this Southern Californian
raised boy. Upon arrival one of my earliest memories occurs at the large city pool,
which included a couple islands out in the middle. One by one we would climb
atop his shoulders to then be catapulted high into the air, screaming with such
excitement that would only end due to the soon approaching splash, which was
excitement all its own. I could never see my own smile, but I know that his
expressed the same joy that both I and my cousins were experiencing.
Ronnie & Joann...motorcycle adventure
Other memories include the seemingly endless games of Yahtzee
around the dining room table or 'ditch em' through the nearby yards and fields.
And from his backyard I would have my very first experiences of riding a motor
bike. I would never master these skills quite like that of my cousin Randy, but
it is a love that carries to this day. In fact at this moment I find myself 35,000 feet in the air, heading toward Tulsa to pick up my newest motorcycle, a 1800
Goldwing. Let the 'touring' begin! Which reminds me of his love of seeing what's 'around the next corner', another attribute that has followed me all of my days.
Early in those trips to Red Oak we would climb into Ronnie's
camper with boat attached and be off to 'Big Lake' Missouri. The journey to Big
Lake included the thrill of watching Ronnie steer the truck with his 'suicide
knob'. Why a 'thrill', I really have no idea, I just know it remains so in my
memory. Then there was the climb into the bed above the cab, three skinny
cousins enjoying the view, laughter and friendship. Camping and learning to water ski...both of which would become a lifelong
loves for myself and mine own family.
The only memory away from southwest Iowa is a trip
that Ronnie, Joann and Randy made one summer to visit us in California. We
enjoyed time around our pool, sites around Los Angeles and then before they returned,
some camping in Sequoia National Park. From here I was able to join them in
what would become my last boyhood trip to Red Oak. Having my driver’s permit I
too would do some of the driving and experience the thrill of what was 'around the
next corner'.
Rick, Ali Jo, Joann and Ronnie...June 2013
The saying, "All good things must come to an end",
occurred in June of 2013. Because of the counsel of one wise man I retired
earlier that year. With such, one goal was a 'Bucket List' motorcycle ride to
the College World Series in Omaha. As great a joy that those games provided,
none was greater than to spend eight days with a man who so helped to mold this
man's life. Pulling out of the driveway on June 22nd was one of the most
difficult of goodbyes. And a final goodbye it would be as Ronnie would breathe
his last in December of 2013. And though his last breath has past, his
character that is so etched within mine has not. At least not until I see
what's 'around the next corner'.
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