The road less traveled

Here's a list of 16 National Parks that are less-known.  And did you know that all National Parks are free on November 11??  Pretty cool, I'd say.

I've been to 2 of the parks on the list, both of them during our drive out here to Loma Linda.  But I'm definitely looking forward to going to more, especially with our parks pass.  I love places that aren't well known.  What about you?  Have you been to any on the "unknown" parks list?

On the Bench

My brother is in Sudan working on a myriad of jobs that God has sent his way, including building missionary homes, planting gardens, preaching sermons, giving Bible studies, and leading a choir.  I am here in Southern California, looking for a job. Looking, looking, and more looking.  Oh sure, I bake a lot too.  And I run.  And I try to be encouraging to Barry and those around me.  And I've tried to find some ministries to get involved in: tutoring, prayer group, Bible study, etc.  But it's not always easy to see that each of these is just as much a part of God's plan as what my brother is doing.

But don't get me wrong, I haven't been bowed over in discouragement.  Yes, there are episodes of frustration, when I just can't see what the point of all this might be.  But I know deep down that there have been huge blessings from my lack of a job, and that God is still leading.  He led me to get married, after all, and He's led us here.  And I know He is still leading.  I trust that.

Because my brother is in Sudan, my mom has been following every piece of news item and/or blog about the area that she can get her hands on.  She found out that there are some other Christian missionaries in Mundri and that led to her discovery of a blog which she shared with me.  It's about two doctors and their family who are missionaries to Uganda and who are associated with the same group of missionaries who are in Mundri, Sudan (World Harvest Missions).  The missionary family is currently taking a break here in the US before returning to the field, and the mother/wife wrote a profound blog today that I wanted to share a part of.  It hits home to where I'm at right now and to where I know several of my friends are at as well.

I like being on the mission field too, in the game so to speak, running hard and working hard, right in the middle of the action around the ball.  But I've been subbed out, and I'm sitting on the bench.  

So what does a good bench-warmer do?  First, I think, trust the Coach, who sees which players are tired, or about to be injured, or are dragging down the team's play, and need a rest.  Second, cheer.  When my kids are subbed out, they are still fully in the game, pulling for the team.  Luke in particular impresses me in his all-out loyalty, as happy for a team mate's score as his own.  

...I'm not a leader any more, but I want to be a good bench player.  One who cheers on the other players, who cares about the game, who is ready with the water bottle or pats on the back to strengthen the starters as they take a brief rest, who trusts this out-of-the-action assignment and waits patiently, who does some warm-up exercises and stays ready to go back in.  Because the only point of being on the bench is that one is waiting on the Coach, in faith.  Not very glorious, but a lot of the Bible is about waiting.  From the bench.

You can read the full blog here.

Nature/Sabbath

"Jesus loved the scenes of nature.  To Him each quiet retreat was a sacred temple."  -DOA, p. 290

"In training His disciples, Jesus chose to withdraw from the confusion of the city to the quiet of the fields and hills, as more in harmony with the lessons of self-abnegation He desired to teach them. And during His ministry He loved to gather the people about Him under the blue heavens, on some grassy hillside, or on the beach beside the lake. Here, surrounded by the works of His own creation, He could turn the thoughts of His hearers from the artificial to the natural."

(Picking acorns :D)

"In the growth and development of nature were revealed the principles of His kingdom. As men should lift up their eyes to the hills of God, and behold the wonderful works of His hands, they could learn precious lessons of divine truth. Christ’s teaching would be repeated to them in the things of nature." 

California's tiny bit of fall: the aspen groves :) :)

"So it is with all who go into the fields with Christ in their hearts. They will feel themselves surrounded with a holy influence. The things of nature take up the parables of our Lord, and repeat His counsels. By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest." -DOA, p. 191

Details

Sabbath Hike with Nellie

Barry and I have been attending Forest Falls church about a 30 minute drive from Loma Linda.  The church is in a canyon (I'm actually not sure whether it's technically a canyon.  Maybe more of a small valley between mountain ranges...) town called Forest Falls up towards the base of the mountains.  It's small and friendly.  The members love to sing and many bring their instruments, ranging from cellos and violins to electric saxaphone-like instruments.  It's a lay-run church, so we never know what we're going to experience each Sabbath.  We've really enjoyed the friends we've made, the enthusiastic singing, the real Christianity, and the weekly potlucks!  Another thing we enjoy is the close proximity to the mountains.  It's just another 15-30 minutes to some of the most beautiful hiking in the region.

Three weeks ago we went hiking with one of Barry's classmates who also goes to Forest Falls.  She and her husband (a 3rd year medical student) live in the canyon.  He was off on a medical rotation so we invited Nellie to go hiking with us.  Or, rather, bushwacking.  Barry and I have gotten in the habit of finding pull-offs along the winding, mountain roads and forging our own paths up the small canyons that we find.  We've found several beautiful creek hikes that way and we decided to take Nellie to one of our favorites.

Nellie and Barry, trying to get me to come down from my precarious photography perch.  There were dark thunder clouds looming....

The tree I was taking a picture of--

The valley we were traversing.

Driving back down the road, we noticed that the lighting was incredible.  Sunlight was straining through the dark thunder clouds, casting an ethereal, yet ominous, glow.  I was never able to get the exposure just right, but this is somewhat close.

While we were stopped to take pictures, a whole horde of mini's charged by.  There must have been 20 or so, and I wish I had taken a video.  Alas, this is what I got...


If you were to face the opposite direction from the ominous looking thunder clouds 2 pictures above, this would have been what you saw.  The forested mountainside was enshrouded in glorious sunlight and fog.  It was beautiful!

Sunlight filtering through a rain-drenched bush.  I know it's fuzzy; I like it :)

Smoggy sunset on the way home.