Once again on the road
Vision Quest or a trip to Mesa Verde?
The Drive -- Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Of course, the Crossfire was designed for the road. It does have an easy to use cruise, but it is when the road becomes interesting that you marvel at the handling, acceleration, and smooth rev of the engine. Also, I worry about the tires. My tires are not brand new. and I like an idiot turned too short and scuffed a sidewall. The wide tires also want to float in a heavy Western thunderstorm. Still, when the road is dry, and the sign simply says steep grades and extreme turns the next three miles, you are in the element. It is then an attitude of gratitude to be in this place with this car surrounding me. On the way out I took Arkansas 71 and on the way back Arkansas 23 - both beautiful little drives. In Colorado the Mesa Verde park roads are a fun challenge and the Durango to Ouray drive is a glorious high mountain journey. On this trip it was completely dry and no tires failed, no deer stood in the road, and no log trucks took a turn taking half my lane, well only one. It is not the destination it is the journey and there is much to learn and experience in the passage.
Sun Temple Mesa Verde watched
Sunrise Sunday morning reviewed Devotional Life
It is an odd feeling. I am grateful for this opportunity. I do have a
privilege, but it isn’t just financial resources. My opportunity is a
combination of priority, of love and support from family, of being who
God made me. Our car is not an expensive model; it is ten years old.
We got a deal on it due to the model not selling so well. We haven’t
really had a need to commute on a daily basis. All the explanations of
denying my privileged status are beside the point. When I get out of
it in a new place, people just see the illusion. Mercedes/Chrysler did
build a real sports car. It is so old many have forgotten Chrysler
ever sold it. I and the Crossfire look exotic. Taking it to remote
sites as a vehicle to haul camping gear is even more exotic, possibly
eccentric, maybe a little out on the fringe. Those thoughts and
impressions are for others, I am just me. On the great days in
Colorado I experienced the moment in humility and gratitude, yeah with
a little joy. It is much the same with my aging, but still having good
health. A person must praise God, but activity both health building
and avoiding habits that are debilitating, do contribute to my present
health. God gives you opportunities, but anyone can throw them away.
Nancy had suggested I should have taken the Journey, but no, that was
not the ride to grab. It would have killed the drive. There is an
excitement of just being on the road going, well going somewhere. A
goal or destination is good, but it is better when the route is
flexible. After almost two weeks alone, I find it wasn’t enough. I
will plan another drive, with more places to allow for longer
intervals of reflection. I will have time to plan, I will want new
tires, and those odd sized puppies are not cheap. I will have to save
up.
I think I give other people the ability to invent myths. They see an eccentric man, with unusual hair or hat, driving an exotic car, to a mystical destination; I know my humble origins and my mundane story. Why not amuse and inspire creative dreams in strangerss I encounter. If I am going to be an oddball misfit, at least I should provide a moment of amusement and myth to those who encounter me.
Petrogylpgh on hike along Petrogylph Trail Mesa Verde
Epilog – the Vision Quest thing
On the trip my main focus of pondering was “what can I do?” I know all of us who seek to live in a better world ask the same question. I answer only for myself. For the vast majority of you who are like-minded I offer suggestions. Individually we must all struggle with the same question, what can I do?
Our current affairs are disastrous and we all know this, no matter which partisan side we are on. The GOP side knows they are on a runaway train, but refuse to admit it. If change is needed, then it must begin within us. Running around finger pointing at the sins of others is not an approach to create change. This is the current state of political debate most of the time; we simply point fingers at our opponents. We commiserate with fellow tribe members in being outraged and pointing out the outrageous. The problem is not whether we are correct to be outraged, right in our thinking, or accurate in our facts; the problem is our approach will not lead to change. Pointing out the outrageous is not succeeding; it is not leading to positive change, no matter how witty the meme.
Click to Continue