Day 8, Just Chilling
Monday morning I was up working from my CR workbook and reading from Romans. I was looking for something that would help me accept God's forgiveness and stop blaming myself for past mistakes.
Somehow, it made me remember a time in college at Mercer. We had slipped into a discussion on the homeless during an Art class. I distinctly remember saying, "They could do something to help themselves. They just choose not to." My professor gave me a look. Two years later, at the most, I had graduated but couldn't find a job, was divorced, had no home and two kids to support. I searched frantically but couldn't find a job anywhere until I not only gave it over to God but followed His advice too. This was the period of time when I began volunteering at the soup kitchen. I suddenly had a heart for the destitute.
After a morning of spinning my wheels in the sludge that is my own denial I took off for the woods. Only when I got there they were closed! There was a sign at the entrance, "No Trespassing". (I know what you're thinking, "that never stopped you before". Well this time I chose to respect it.) I called someone who might be in the know and we agreed that it was for the best. After all, it was only two weeks ago that I the sheriff's department was out there for a stolen vehicle. I just hope the criminal element respects the signage as much as I plan to.
There are lots of woods in the world, especially around here. So I headed south to 96 and walked out by the river for a bit. There was ice on the puddles in the shade under the bridge but out in the sunshine the fellas were all in t-shirts. I had on a t-shirt too, under my sweatshirt.
I followed a hog trail as they usually lead somewhere pretty nice and it did. I ended up on a bend in the river where, if it were warm, gators would love to sun bath. Luckily it wasn't warm. I tried to find solitude but I wasn't alone in my search.
So I headed out toward the ranger station as I heard there's a creek out that way where bears are monitored for research. I had the windows down and Van Morrison and Bob Seger playing. I was totally chilled which is good because the only animal I spotted all day was a single insect that absent mindedly bumped into the side of my head and flew away. It was a beautiful blue skied boring day but I reckon we all need a couple of those every now and then.
