Today we celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary at the lake with family. What a blessed day and blessed life.

May love and life always be growing within us.

Lake days…..early sunrise meditation with the loons…..kayaking on glass….pontoon cruising…..jet ski fun…fishing….grilling…..swimming…playing….rinse and repeat…..

The serenity of Spider Lake reminds….

“Not every lake dreams to be an ocean. Blessed are the ones who are happy with whom they are.”

– Mehmet Murat ildan

“Grace is like a lake of drinkable water right outside your door. But you stay inside and die of thirst.”

– Maya Angelou

The sunrise today was awesome. We crested a high point on the interstate and the sun was perfectly aligned and massive. I smiled with delight for the next hour.

Another good 12 hour drive and we arrived in Nevis. We were greeted by Bill, Ashley (my youngest sister) Brecken, Gwen, Forrest, and Dawson.

Time for some good Lake Days together.

“Of all the paths you take in life, make some lead to the lake.”

A good 13 hour drive today with an overnight in Billings.

A geometry high school class being studied, a Spotify playlist of music being played, silence as most slept, huckleberry milkshakes, miles and miles and miles of open road before us.

A good reminder for all of us in this life…..To journey without being changed is to be a nomad. To change without journeying is to be a chameleon. To journey and be transformed by the journey is to be a pilgrim.

Onward we go.

We thank all those with Lufthansa and those in the airline industry for getting us back home to Seattle! Smooth as butter on hot toast.

This afternoon a quick wash of the laundry and a pack up of the van for a 3:30 am departure to the Midwest was required. Our original plan was for some time relaxing in our backyard with family but some dreaming and plotting and arranging with relatives led us to another high mileage road trip. We are going on a journey to touch all of our main home bases. This means two special stops in Minnesota, one in South Dakota, one in Nebraska, one in Colorado, and then straight west to Oregon. Oops, after all that was planned a required 5k cross country qualification race was put on the calendar for Norah. So Norah and I will have to jump back to Seattle for two days and then fly back to Colorado to rejoin the van crew. Yes that doesn’t make a lot of sense but hey, life is a fun wild adventure. Let’s go!

I found these words very meaningful in this summer season:

“For Those Who Have Far to Travel” © Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons. 

If you could see 
the journey whole 
you might never 
undertake it; 
might never dare 
the first step
that propels you 
from the place 
you have known 
toward the place 
you know not.

Call it
one of the mercies 
of the road:
that we see it
only by stages
as it opens
before us,
as it comes into 
our keeping
step by
single step.

There is nothing 
for it
but to go
and by our going 
take the vows
the pilgrim takes:

to be faithful to
the next step;
to rely on more
than the map;
to heed the signposts 
of intuition and dream; 
to follow the star
that only you 
will recognize;

to keep an open eye 
for the wonders that 
attend the path;
to press on
beyond distractions 
beyond fatigue 
beyond what would 
tempt you
from the way.

There are vows
that only you
will know;
the secret promises
for your particular path 
and the new ones
you will need to make 
when the road
is revealed
by turns
you could not 
have foreseen.

Keep them, break them, 
make them again:
each promise becomes 
part of the path;
each choice creates 
the road
that will take you 
to the place
where at last 
you will kneel

to offer the gift
most needed—
the gift that only you 
can give—
before turning to go 
home by
another way.

---

Last minute packing up and airport adventures await. Wheels up to Germany later today.

But before that we got to spend time in prayer and worship at the Pilgrim Chapel. Merritt and I were asked to assist in worship with the scripture readings. A faithful message for the life pilgrim journey ahead accompanied us for our forward going journey. Again, the gift of hospitality and faith are our constant companions. Our cups overflow.

Lead me, Lord, gently, pervasively, irresistibly, increasingly, so that I walk my pilgrim way steadily, and find the place of my resurrection. Amen.

The Gospel of the Wounded Church

The wild Messiah is not done walking.
But now he limps in the Body.

Here is the Church—the Body of Christ, broken.

She is the Bride— covenanted,
called, blessed to be a blessing,
light of the world, a city on a hill.

But this Bride has scars.

Some wounds are holy—
from washing feet,
bearing burdens,
serving the unseen,
kneeling where no king kneels.

But not all wounds are holy.
Some are self-inflicted—
scars from crusades,
stains from scandals,
the sword grasped
when the cross was forgotten.
And sometimes—
these seasons of 
faithfulness and failure
happen at the same time.

She breathes in mercy
and inhales empire.
She touches the untouchable
and yet turns away.
A complicated Bride.
A Bride in need of healing.

Yet even now, this broken Body is still His Body.

Christ is not ashamed to wear her wounds.
Even the scandalous scars are gathered into grace.

For this is the wounded Church
sent into a wounded world—
a world unravelled by greed,
choked by climate breakdown,
teetering on the edge of collapse.

She is cross-cultural,
multi-lingual,
a global mosaic of mercy.

Here is a village chapel—
wooden benches,
a fragile choir
singing with hearts on fire.

Here is a grand cathedral—
stone arches,
candles lit,
ancient prayers echoing in stained glass light.

Here is a corrugated iron hut—
the Spirit moves as hands are laid
on the sick and the suffering.

Here is a city storefront—
where addicts and artists gather to sing psalms that break in unexpected hallelujahs.

Here is a protest march—
banners raised, tears in the streets,
as songs of justice rise into the tear-gas air.

Here is a quiet home— an elder’s hands cradling scripture, as grandchildren learn the stories that shape the soul.

One Body, many wounds. One Gospel,
many accents.

The Church’s fractures may yet become the cracks through which light gets in.

At her best,
she weeps with those who weep,
names the silenced,
stands interruptible in the crowd,
interrupting the machinery of death.

At her worst,
she forgets the Wild Messiah,
and the blessing becomes a blight.

But still—
the Spirit broods over the waters.
Still—
mercy rises from the margins.
Still—
the Lamb who was slain leads her home.

Let the Church be like this—
honest about her fractures,
humble in her witness,
wild in her mercy.

Not a museum of saints,
but a field hospital of grace.
Not a fortress of certainty,
but a covenant people,
wounded yet sent.

The Gospel was never clean.
It still smells of sweat and sorrow,
rupture and resurrection.

It will not be televised.
It will be whispered at the edges.
It will be sung by the ones who stayed.

Let the Church be like this—
wounded,
wild,
and faithful.

Amen.
And amen again.

– Rev’d Jon Swales, from the Gospel of the Wild Messiah collection.

A wonderful day to celebrate Merritt’s birthday in Santiago.

The morning was spent at the cathedral and wandering the back alleys of the ancient city. We are fortunate to be staying just steps away so we had the cathedral mostly to ourselves for the 1st hour. Worship was deeply meaningful for us in this space, especially the time of receiving communion. The tears flowed easily for me in these moments. Abundant grace is abundant life.

WhatsApp time in celebrating Holland and Merritt was a bunch of fun. Soon we will all be together again.

Jesus said, “Follow Me.” That is what we daily hope to be – Disciples of the living Christ.

This is the day the Lord has made! We will rejoice and be glad in it! We were Up early with excitement for the final 13 mile hike to the Cathedral of St. James. What started on the other side of the country on July 16 was now down to the final steps. The joy of this day was dreamt and visioned and planned for 18 months and today was the day for it to become a reality!

Merritt was pumped to enter the city and Cathedral and to get his certificate. He says the journey has been both easy and hard. He finished the Camino Del Norte from Bilbao to Santiago today on the last day of his 11th year as tomorrow he and his twin Holland turn 12. It has been my hope as a father to accompany each of our kids on a special journey of becoming as they enter their teens years. I cannot put to words how special this was to do with our son. Forever proud of him!

We endured a few physical pains along the way but all in all we are in great shape. We had two water soaked days but the rest were beautiful. Whoever was in charge of our pilgrim weather we thank you.

The people of Spain – amazing folks. Their hospitality and culture are a joy to experience.

We met special people along the way. Some of our favorites were a grandfather walking the last 100k with his three college age grandkids. They ventured from Canada and over the last week we got to visit with them several times.

Several folks went out their way to share encouraging words with Merritt as they recognized his young age. Their smiles and warmth shared the goodness of humanity.

The countryside and seaside and mountainsides of Spain were balm for my soul. Each day I was reminded of places I have come from and places that we have lived and loved. It was as if all of life was wrapped up in the daily journey.

The faith journey here has allowed time for peace and quiet. It was a bit jarring to enter the city what thousands of folks here on pilgrimage when for most of the journey there were so few of us. The hum of humanity is here with its bells and whistles and chatter whereas in other places the solitude allowed for God to speak in whispers to attuned listening ears. Both are needed and appreciated.

Crossing the final mountain pass at sunrise, a Bible verse fell from my lips:

Isaiah 40:31

³¹ Those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Yes, we walked…and walked…and walked…and we had tons of fun doing it. God within every moment. Thanks be to God.

The way (Buen camino peregrino) Lyrics

[Verse]
This is the first step
To a new part of my life
A small step for mankind
But a giant leap for my mind
I’ve got so many questions
So many things to solve
Looking for the answers
All along the walk
On the highest of the mountains
In the middle of the plains
Somewhere in between the valleys
Under the sun or in the rain
I try to find myself
I try to find who I am

[Chorus]
Buen camino peregrino
Hope to see you on my way
We got 500 miles to go
On the road to Santiago

[Verse]
This is the first time
That I’m really feeling free
Delivered from all the burdens
Granted by society
Crossing that many people
Who are thinking just like me
Makes me feel like I am a part
Of a great big family
I came to find some peace
And what I found is love

[Chorus]
Buen camino peregrino
Nice to meet you on my way
We got 500 miles to go
On our road to Santiago

[Bridge]
Whatever you came for
Whatever is the goal
Lighten your backpack
And take it step by step
And I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk
And I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk
And I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk and I walk

Buen camino peregrino
Nice to meet you on my way
We got 500 miles to go
On our road to Santiago

[Outro]
This is the first step
To a new part of my life
A small step for mankind
But a giant step for my mind

The trail was loaded with walkers today. Felt like a marathon or race for the cure event. All headed the same direction. All with energy and purpose.

Today is the day before the final day. Short on words, deep in thought, heart full, spirit overflowing. What can we do but sing praise to the Lord.

I Will Praise

Alabaré

I will praise, I will praise, I will praise, I will praise,

Alabare, alabaré, alabaré, a mi Señor

John saw the number of the redeemed

Juan vio el número de los redimidos

And everyone praised the Lord

Y todos alababan al Señor

Some sang, others prayed

Unos oraban, otros cantaban

And everyone praised the Lord

Y todos alababan al Señor

I will praise, I will praise, I will praise, I will praise

Alabare, alabaré, alabaré, alabara mi Señor

All united, happy we sing

Todos unidos, alegres cantamos

Glory and praise to the Lord

Glorias y alabanzas al Señor

Glory to the Father, glory to the Son

Gloria al Padre, gloria al

And glory to the Spirit of love

Y gloria al Espíritu de amor

I will praise, I will praise, I will praise, I will praise,

Alabare, alabaré, alabaré, Alabare, a mi Señor

I will praise, I will praise, I will praise, I will praise,

Alabare, alabaré, alabaré, Alabare, a mi Señor

A small funny here…. Merritt made it the whole way without one blister on his feet – however he has a blister on his hand from washing and wringing out his socks. Ha – now that is a classic!