I did not think 2022 would be such a year of transition.
The first of the year I started cleaning the garage. It really needed it! I felt like doing it for the first time in several years. Then I got Covid. Then Tanya got Covid. Somehow, during that time we started going through our books. We gave some away, discarded some, and packed the rest. Not sure why, we just did. At the end of March we did a prospecting trip to Texas. I wrote about the steps involved in our move in previous blogs.
Now we are at Bonnie Lake, Alaska. We are staying in a cabin built by my wife’s sister and our B-in-law and niece, Jessica. We are about 2 hours out of Anchorage. It’s our last Tuesday of vacation.
I’ve primarily been shifted into neutral on our trip. I had planned to read a lot and write. And do catch up on Spiritual Leadership Training by my mentor, Dr. Leon van Rooyen. But have done much less than I thought I would. I’ve been tired physically (I had pneumonia the week before we left and other respiratory concerns) and, subsequently, mental tiredness (seems a bit like Covid fog).
Last year at this time and in this cabin, I worked on my message Climbing Mount Everest to Accomplish Your Spiritual Goals. Afterward, I took the research for that message and it’s basic outline and wrote the three books, which have now been published under one cover, and are available on Amazon.
I’m beginning a new book on this trip, Crossing the Kidron Valley. I have blocked out some of the content.
Journeys.
So many stories and entire books are about taking a journey. Frodo is entrusted with the One Ring and journeys with it to Mount Doom in Mordor.
Even in humor, we are on a journey, “Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.”
The Children of Israel journey through the Wilderness for 40 years to reach the Promised Land.
In this book, we are going on a journey to cross the Kidron Valley. First, we will describe the Kidron Valley, geographically and historically. Then we are going to explore two journeys. In part two, we will cross the Kidron Valley when King David is betrayed by his son Absalom. In part three, we will cross the valley to the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus on the night Judas betrayed him.
Let’s cross a valley.
A valley named Kidron.
My thoughts are now turning to another journey. This time it is our new home in Lufkin, Texas, and finally putting together our new spaces, first, erecting the beds. We haven’t slept in our own beds during this transition since May 31. Then Bathrooms, Kitchen, the all-important coffee bar, living spaces, et al. We’ve been transitioning since the end of March. Tanya and I both needed this time of recovery.
We’ll be home for six days and then a quick turnaround trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Lord willing, we plan to arrive in our accommodations there on September 1, a few days from now. I teach at Church Alive’s School of Ministry that evening. That Sunday is the Memorial for a dear friend’s son. Then home again!
Keep in touch.
Blessings.
Spiritual Wanderings 