RESURRECTION SUNDAY March 27 2016  THE BETTER DRIVER

We are driving in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia on Easter Sunday Sabbath.  Speed limit is 55 mph.  Dave is driving a daring 60 mph and we are being left in the dust.  Or perhaps I should say, left in the pouring down rain!  The freeway is seven lanes wide going in one direction.  We are headed right into the heart of downtown Atlanta.  I hope the freeway stays intact until we reach the other side. 

I asked if Dave would like me to drive in the rain because I am the “better” driver but he said, “No thanks”.  You see, he thinks HE is the better driver!  I must pause now to view the city so I can say I’ve been to Atlanta!  Georgia is a beautiful state!  Kentucky and Tennessee all win blue ribbons in the beauty pageant.  This is by far the largest city we have gone through since leaving home. 

Time has passed and we survived going through the city (all on the freeway) but it seems the outskirts just do not end.  I do not think I would like to live in a city this size!

Dave and I have an ongoing sparring match as to who is the best driver.  It’s all in fun.  It is just amazing how he really does think he is the better of the two of us.  Especially since I know I am right!  Actually I have it figured out.  When he drives I am a bit on edge because he doesn’t react to the driving conditions like I would.  And I think he is on edge because I don’t react to driving conditions like he does.  So perhaps in our own eyes we are both correct.  I am not concerned about him when he drives alone, so why should I be concerned about his driving when he is doing the driving and I am a passenger?  So I choose to be quiet.  Overall he is an excellent driver.  And what he just said about me is that I am just not a very good passenger.  Just for the record, that is not true.

Now to the reason for this wonderful day.  It is a day of remembrance and rejoicing because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I touched on this topic last week.  It is the story that changed the world forever.  The first, being the day he was born on earth earth, and the second being His death and resurrection to atone for the sins of man.

The beauty of Christ’s death and resurrection is that not only are our sins forgiven if we but ask, but that He promised to send His Holy Spirit back to earth after He ascended to THE FATHER so that His Spirit would abide within us as our comforter and friend.  And so today we celebrate and rejoice and remember. 

We had three Calvary Chapel Fellowships picked out to attend so we could match our time on the road to coincide with their service time.  We decided to travel almost three hours before stopping in Chattanooga TN in order to help break up our nine and one half hour trek.  We were right on target with plenty of time to arrive in Chattanooga before the 11:00 a.m. service.  We both looked forward to our Easter celebration with a “church family”.  We had already left the other two church areas behind us.

About 45 minutes before arrival time we realized that Chattanooga was in a different time zone (something we had discussed before we left home).  But, on this day, we forgot!  Another senior moment.  We would be arriving an hour late because we forgot to change our clocks one hour ahead.  We looked and looked for other churches along the way, but by this time most service were well underway, or over.  We eventually stopped at a rest stop, changed out of our Sunday go-to-meeting clothes and put on our comfortable duds.  And here I am finishing up my blog.  Originally I planned to share about our church experience today.  There is just something special about joining in worship with a southern church body.

ALLS WELL THAT ENDS WELL

By Kathleen Martens

March 27, 2016

Two hundred and twenty two miles

Left to drive today.

Let’s hope we don’t get lost

Like we did yesterday.

Nothing quite as exciting

As arriving after dark

Especially without an address

Which creates quite a lark.

To be lost is one thing

But when you know you have arrived

It becomes exasperating

When the house seems to hide.

But all is well that ends well

For we finally found our stead

Filled our tummies, and went to sleep

And slept on half a bed.

I must explain the above poem.  When we received our information from Airbnb.com regarding our reservation we were only given the name of the subdivision of our designated location.  We found the location of the subdivision through google.  We thought perhaps it was the only house as the location was named BOYER FARMS, only to find out that there were dozens and dozens of houses that all looked quite similar.  I called, left messages to the owner but we did not receive a response.  After an hour of searching up and down the streets, stopping strangers on the street to ask them if they recognized the picture of the house on my cell phone which I received from Airbnb, knocking on doors which had porch lights burning, we were still house-less.  So I scrutinized the picture of the house to see if I could figure out what might be different from the others in the neighborhood.  Finally, I discovered a design difference in the walkway that led up to the front door that no other house had.  So, I kid you not, (after stopping at a construction site so I could use an outdoor latrine with my cell phone flashlight) we examined each house in order to find the nuance the picture characterized.  Would you believe it, we actually found it.  It had no porch light burning and only one light was on in the house.  By this time it was almost 9:00 p.m.  I have used Airbnb on many occasions but it was Dave’s first experience.  Not a great first experience for him.  The lightbulb on the porch had burned out.  There is a lot more I could tell you but I will refrain.  So now you know what the poem is referring to.  There is even more to the story.  Maybe someday I will tell you about the bed.  I am smiling and I am still learning.  Wherever I go God so graciously teaches me something. 

Thank You Lord that we finally found the house last night.

Lord, Thank You for providing a bed for Dave and I to sleep in last night.

Thank You for bringing us safely to our destination this day.

Thank You for washcloths.

It is now 2:36 p.m.  We are through Atlanta as well as Macon Georgia.  We are on our way to another Airbnb in Live Oak FL.  And the miles yet to go are now 192 with an ETA of two hours and forty five minutes.

GOD BLESS YOU ON THIS BLESSED RESURRECTION SABBATH!

P.S.  I cannot publish my blogs until night comes and I have access to WIFI. 

P.S. Again:  It is still pouring down rain!

P.S. This is the last one:  We arrived safely to Live Oak, FL.  Lovely accommodations!  It poured bucket all afternoon as we drove our leisurely 70 mph.  And we were in the slow lane, in pouring down rain.