I just traveled route 66 in it's entirety. Two thousand, two hundred, seventy-eight miles. Start to finish. I started in Chicago and ended in Santa Monica. Traveled through 8 states along the actual“Route”, plus several others on the way to-and-from. Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California. As well as Utah, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and home again. There's something amazing about actually living and finishing a dream. It's like "YES! I actually did it! I actually accomplished something I said I was going to do!" This trip had been years in the planning.
The idea spawned sometime a few years ago, as I was traveling through Oklahoma attempting to avoid toll roads (they tend to be expensive when you have no money), only to realize I was traveling what once-upon-a-time had been Route 66. (It's no longer a road or highway any longer, according to the US navigation system.) I thought "Wouldn't it be neat someday to travel the entire Route?" About a year and a half ago, I saw an old folk singer in concert, Arlo Guthrie. He was talking about his father, Woody, and about how Woody would play at union-strike rallies and picket-lines. He was a working-mans' musician; a peoples' musician. (The song "This Land Is Your Land", was actually written as a protest song during the Civil Rights Movement. e.i "This land was made for you AND me.") I thought "Wouldn't it be neat to do that, and visit old towns along the route that have been forgotten." So after a lot of thought, and prayer, I decided "August 2014, I'm going to travel Route 66 in it's entirety." And, wa-lah! Done!
The trip was truly incredible. Sights to see, and pictures worth taking. The journey was sort of like following a treasure map. I had to be really careful, and diligent to make sure I was staying on the same road the entire time. But the part I enjoyed most though, was hearing people's stories - about how they got where, and the pride folks took in their communities. Communities that once thrived because of Route 66, but in many cases, have died off because of the routes disbanding. (If you've seen the movie "Cars", you know what kind of town I'm talking about. "Radiator Springs" was based on towns exactly like these.)
So many people with stories, and so many little towns nobody's heard of. And, to top it all off, I got to see some of my best friends, some uncles and aunts, some cousins, and even my older brother, Luke. (He lives in Colorado.)
All this to say, dreams are incredible, and so are journeys. Many people have said that with Route 66, travelers didn't take the road to GET to a destination. The road simply WAS the destination. The journey and the destination were one-in-the-same. That statement is totally true, in this case. Dreams are good, and so are journeys, and so are little towns that appear to be insignificant. As each of you begin the new school year, I pray that you'll keep this in mind. Maybe sometimes, where you are, at the moment, is where you need to be. :-)
You belong here,
Ben J
Scripture(s):
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.” - Ephesians 2:19
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; feat (obey) the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh, and a refreshment for your body.”-Proverbs 3:5-8
“I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see,
Because this broken road prepares your will for me.”-Jeremy Camp
Upcoming:
Youth Group Kickoff/Parent's Night– September 7th
BASH-IN-THE-GRASS #2 – September 14
First Day of Confirmation Class – September 21
Fellowship (Kickball) – September 21
Potential Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) Day – September 28
Pig Roast – October 5th (afternoon event)
Music
Eisley – Golly Sandra
Sleeping At Last - Bright & Early (and the entire album of “Yearbook”)
Billy Joel – We Didn't Start The Fire
The idea spawned sometime a few years ago, as I was traveling through Oklahoma attempting to avoid toll roads (they tend to be expensive when you have no money), only to realize I was traveling what once-upon-a-time had been Route 66. (It's no longer a road or highway any longer, according to the US navigation system.) I thought "Wouldn't it be neat someday to travel the entire Route?" About a year and a half ago, I saw an old folk singer in concert, Arlo Guthrie. He was talking about his father, Woody, and about how Woody would play at union-strike rallies and picket-lines. He was a working-mans' musician; a peoples' musician. (The song "This Land Is Your Land", was actually written as a protest song during the Civil Rights Movement. e.i "This land was made for you AND me.") I thought "Wouldn't it be neat to do that, and visit old towns along the route that have been forgotten." So after a lot of thought, and prayer, I decided "August 2014, I'm going to travel Route 66 in it's entirety." And, wa-lah! Done!
The trip was truly incredible. Sights to see, and pictures worth taking. The journey was sort of like following a treasure map. I had to be really careful, and diligent to make sure I was staying on the same road the entire time. But the part I enjoyed most though, was hearing people's stories - about how they got where, and the pride folks took in their communities. Communities that once thrived because of Route 66, but in many cases, have died off because of the routes disbanding. (If you've seen the movie "Cars", you know what kind of town I'm talking about. "Radiator Springs" was based on towns exactly like these.)
So many people with stories, and so many little towns nobody's heard of. And, to top it all off, I got to see some of my best friends, some uncles and aunts, some cousins, and even my older brother, Luke. (He lives in Colorado.)
All this to say, dreams are incredible, and so are journeys. Many people have said that with Route 66, travelers didn't take the road to GET to a destination. The road simply WAS the destination. The journey and the destination were one-in-the-same. That statement is totally true, in this case. Dreams are good, and so are journeys, and so are little towns that appear to be insignificant. As each of you begin the new school year, I pray that you'll keep this in mind. Maybe sometimes, where you are, at the moment, is where you need to be. :-)
You belong here,
Ben J
Scripture(s):
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.” - Ephesians 2:19
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; feat (obey) the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh, and a refreshment for your body.”-Proverbs 3:5-8
“I will walk by faith, even when I cannot see,
Because this broken road prepares your will for me.”-Jeremy Camp
Upcoming:
Youth Group Kickoff/Parent's Night– September 7th
BASH-IN-THE-GRASS #2 – September 14
First Day of Confirmation Class – September 21
Fellowship (Kickball) – September 21
Potential Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) Day – September 28
Pig Roast – October 5th (afternoon event)
Music
Eisley – Golly Sandra
Sleeping At Last - Bright & Early (and the entire album of “Yearbook”)
Billy Joel – We Didn't Start The Fire