Road Trip Redux

One of the things that struck me on our trip is the amazing diversity of this state of Washington. From the lush Puget Sound lowlands wherein we live, up to the reaching Alpine heights rich in forest and granite wall, to the fertile prairies and the deep, barren coulees of eastern Washington; we really have three states in one.

We also experienced a rich diversity of social structure. On the one hand, we left world-class Seattle and Tacoma, and spent time in Spokane, a grand city in its own right. On the other, we were able to spend three days about as far off the grid as you can get, up in the Yaak.

So perhaps variety was the theme of this vacation.

And, yes, it was a good trip, and we feel relaxed and refreshed, and, no, I'm not ready to get back to work yet.

Blackout Dates

This space to remain silent 7/6-16. Heading for the hills and some swimming, hiking, camping, family-visiting, and touristing. Look for a much more refreshed Dan back in a couple weeks.

Bike Ride Report

Route: Southern Key Peninsula to Penrose Pt. State Park
Distance: 10.3 miles
Time: 1 hour
Weather: absolutely perfect

Nothing of much interest to report, other than the glory of Mt. Rainier rising over green rolling farmland, and the smooth waters of Puget Sound lapping at the Penrose Pt. bulkhead.

However, beside the joy of exercise and the exhilaration of riding through the most beautiful scenery in the world, the greatest reward came at the end with a bush full of huckleberries, and the first thimble berry of the summer.

Man - Million

In which John Denver shows up three times. . .

Forgive a couple moments of reminiscing. 15 years ago (or so) I went with some friends, and some kids from our youth group, to see Peter, Paul, and Mary live at the Hollywood Bowl. A couple of these kids had just graduated, and were soon to head off to college; one or two were really dear friends, and there was a sense of this being a special moment before we all went our separate ways. So, when PP&M moved into "Leavin' on a Jetplane" it was all the more poignant as we faced many of those same feelings. In the middle of the song I leaned back, my arm around the shoulder of one who was like a little sister to me, one who was leaving, I glanced up into the sky, and what should fly over at that moment but the Space Shuttle/Mir Space Station combination, high in orbit overhead. It was. . .magical.

7 years ago (0r so) Karina, Olivia, and I had gone up after Christmas to visit the Gibbs' cabin, high in the Sierra. We'd visited the Big Trees, we'd played in the snow, we'd had a fun time together. We left late one evening, heading down through a snowstorm, driving the Jeep along treacherous, icy roads as the coming storm began to dump thick snow upon us. And I have this one moment locked in my mind - of driving through town, watching the snowfall illuminated by overhead street lights, just at the moment Sixpence were singing "Like a Million Parachutes," a song all about snow falling onto the cold ground. Again, it was nothing short of magical.

Man on the Moon - R.E.M.
Margaret Ann Robertson - Lewis and Clark Original Soundtrack
Martyrs and Thieves - Jennifer Knapp
Matthew - John Denver
Maybe You'll Be There - Diana Krall
Me and My Uncle - John Denver
Medley: Leaving on a Jet Plane/Goodbye Again - John Denver
Melody of You - Sixpence None the Richer
Mexico - James Taylor
Michelangelo - Emmylou Harris
A Mighty Fortress is our God - St. Olaf Choir
A Million Parachutes - Sixpence None the Richer

It's the end of the World as we Know It

Alan Keyes, a man I believe I once voted for in a presidential primary, has announced that he believes President Obama is about to stage terror attacks in the U.S., declare martial law, suspend the constitution, cancel the 2012 election, and essentially turn us all into communists.

Forgive me if I don't immediately panic. Just like I don't buy into the hooey that George W. was behind the 9-11 attacks, I tend to doubt the sensationalistic anti-Obama smears as well.

Slowly making progress

Agenda
Key Peninsula Advisory Commission
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2009

New Business
Conditional Use Permit/Administrative Design Review
Lakebay Community Church

Affirmation of Faith for the 2nd Covenant Affirmation: The Necessity of New Birth

We confess that we often are a sinful, rebellious people, choosing selfishness over love, self-interest over compassion, pleasure over obedience. We confess that, apart from God, we are on a path to pain and sorrow, to death and destruction. We confess that we stood condemned before the Holy God, and that our lives, apart from him, fell far short of his glory. And yet, we confess that Christ came, that he died, and that he rose again, and that he now offers us forgiveness and a new way of living. We receive the new life that is in Christ, laying down our old broken selves and accepting the glory offered through Christ alone. There is no other name that saves, but the name of Jesus. God, we accept your offer of New Birth, in gratitude receiving the life that you alone can give. Amen.

Just so you know

I'm having a good time at the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church, in Portland, OR. We drove down Wednesday, yesterday was the annual meeting of the ministerium and the opening worship service for the Covenant Annual Meeting, at the moment our new president Gary Walter is sharing all the good stuff that's happening in the Covenant. I've had opportunities to connect with old friends and make some new ones; I had lunch with former Lakebay pastor (and spouse) Chuck and Jan Wahlstrom yesterday.

And last night Karina and I went and met some anarchists in north Portland. Which had nothing to do with all the Covenant activities. But made for an exciting night, nonetheless.

Anyway, all that to say, this space will remain a little quiet over the next few days. If you want to follow along, the Covenant Website is hosting a live feed and posting regular updates of all that is happening here.