For when I looked upon the beauty and upon the distance, I could only think how short was a man’s life, with all the things to be done, the words to be spoken, the many miles to ride.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Man From the Broken Hills)
“Jesus replied, ‘There are twelve hours of daylight every day. As long as it is light, people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. Only at night is there danger of stumbling because there is no light.'”
–John 11:9-10 (NLT)
————————————
What a time we had! Annie and I traveled around this country (around 5000 miles). Did we see some sights! I had never been to the Bitteroots and wanted to see them so we secured a cabin there. Montana is big, the distance is vast (almost like Texas). It truly has “big sky” and an openness; made me wish I had visited some years back when the body was more able. I did some ponderin’ along the way for a person cannot travel that many miles without pondering about something. Some of it may show up here now and then.
It was grand spending time in God’s great cathedral. Stained glass windows cannot compare to the variety of scenes that He has created and painted in this vast country of ours. From the time we left traveling through Texas on into New Mexico and Arizona we saw the amazing hand of God upon the landscape. Into Utah and Bryce Canyon and then up through the state into Idaho and finally to our cabin in Montana–surely God created a wonderful place for us. Each was different; each had its own beauty. It made me recall the words of James Fenimore Cooper’s–Pathfinder.
Echoes From the Campfire
“Look about you, and judge for yourself. I’m in church now; I eat in church, drink in church, sleep in church. The ‘arth is the temple of the Lord, and I wait on Him hourly, daily, without ceasing, I humbly hope.”
The Lord spread beauty out before us. We so often take His creation for granted, not noticing it unless something spectacular is pointed out to us. Yet, in all our travels, we were told to avoid some wondrous spots as, Yellowstone and Glacier because of the people. People were crowding in, and we left on vacation to get away from people. Only three times did we come upon traffic. Oh, the bliss of traveling where there were few others.
How many more miles have I to ride? Well, I don’t rightly know, that’s all in the hands of the Lord, but at least He gave us one more unforgettable ride through the canyons, the valleys, and up into the high lonesome. How many more “Echoes” will I write? That too is in His hands. Until He tells me to stop, or until I am no longer able I will try and do my little part to encourage, inspire, exhort, and even teach.