DAY SIX (c), Saturday, September 10th! of Trey's Trek cont..... 

While walking up Linden Road, David and I were 'getting our feet under us', meaning that we were working out the kinks in our sox and getting our shoes adjusted just right... not too tight or not too loose.  That is important while walking, especially on extended treks!  


Today the first leg of our trek would be right at 10 miles so understanding the distance and preparing yourself mentally is essential to actually reaching your goal at the end of the day.   You 'prep' yourself mentally so that discouragement doesn't set in especially when the road is just flat and straight!  You can become mentally tired just walking along without the sense of accomplishing anything because you "feel" that you are not moving!  


There would be some times when I would have to look to the left or to the right so as to judge myself in that I was really going forward!  I would focus on a fence post and then on an object like a tree or a cow or a bush or something that was 'out a ways' and actually see that I was moving along.  I would purposefully encourage myself that progress was being made in spite of what I felt by looking down the road where from my perspective the road and the trees and the sky would all come into a pinpoint and disappear into a spot so tight that I could not focus anymore!   With that view I would find myself just moving along slower and slower like an old steam engine coming into a train station and eventually stopping!  


Linden Road that we were walking on, paralleled I-75 going North and as we walked along we could hear the car tires on the pavement humming by but yet we were in the country side where there were beautiful farms.  Where there were no houses, there were rich, luscious corn fields with   the ears of corn still on the stalks!  It was a sight of abundance... a real blessing of God!


Right as we were walking into Linden, there was a Farm Store that we stopped at for about 15 minutes.  The 'stick' that I had for the flag that I purchased in the Flint area was not really strong enough to hold up the U.S. Flag that I had attached to my back pack.  The photo above shows the new 'rod' that I found in that farm store.  It was actually a fiberglass rod that was one yard long that people use to drive down into the ground at corners and places along their drive ways so people who are pushing snow will stay in the road.  It was only a couple of bucks and was strong enough to hold up the new flag that I purchased and held up the flag quite nicely!   That purchase gave us a few minute's rest and then we trekked on!


If I remember right, it was in Linden where we ran into our first stop light after leaving the church at Mt Morris.  That gave us a minute to catch our breath too!  Then just North of that intersection in Linden, the terrain turned into more woods than fields with small houses along the way.  Then past Willard Road the farming resumed with fields that seemed to have already been harvested.  


But by this time we were getting close to Burt Road which is just South of Birch Run!  At the intersection of Burt Road and Linden the road expanded into a 4 lane with an area to the right that used to be a golf course.  When we saw that we knew that we were really close!  That felt really good!  It was in Birch Run that we were going to stop and eat at the WORLD FAMOUS Tony's Restaurant.  

Then as we approached Birch Run there was a nice sign on the right side of the road...

Both David and me posed by the sign like we were world travelers!  Actually, as I stood there, I was pondering the distance that I had come since leaving Dearborn and not an inch of it had been in any motorized vehicle on this trek North.  I could hardly believe that I was standing here on my own feet knowing that those feet, one step at a time, brought me here!  Of course I had been here many times before in my car but now I was here and I got there by walking and not riding!  Amazing!  

After taking these photos, walking to the restaurant seemed like another trek from there!  At least I was excited because I was hungry and knew that shortly we were going to be eating!  I know David was hungry too but what he was to encounter there was something that he will never forget!  The size of the sandwiches that Tony's Restaurant serves is massive and David could not believe what he saw when they brought out our food to us.  We took about an hour there before we continued on!  It was midday and still another 8 to 9 hours were still in front of us!


With my feet on the Ground!
(and my heart in the air!)


Simply Trey

DAY SIX (b), Saturday, September 10th! of Trey's Trek cont..... 

Along the way there is beauty!

While walking, you see all kinds of things that get your attention!  Some things like 'road kill,' let you know that somehow that critter didn't make it and the results were... well, not pleasant!

But there are times when a creature is struck or wounded and in the process does not loose it's beauty!

In thinking this through as in the case with the Monarch Butterfly shown above, evidently it was probably struck by a passing car or truck but did not loose it's beauty in 'the encounter!'  As I thought about what David and I saw... I began to wonder how we as people turn out to be... after being struck by some tragedy or an offense or just being 'run over' by life?

What do people see when they view our life?  'Road Kill' with all of your insides scattered about or like the butterfly... with a pleasantness that reflects the character and stability of Jesus Himself?  It is a thought worth pondering!

Alive, vibrant and reaching for the sky!

As we walked along I noticed this one tree that seemed to just 'jump'!  Now I know that Trees don't really do that but this one tree seemed excited about being where it was and while all of the other trees were green and lush, their limbs were just kind of 'hanging there' soaking up the Sun and doing their thing and just taking up space along the side of the road.  This one 'Evergreen' seemed to explode with life!  It seemed to me to just want to 'jump up!'  There was something different about this tree that was surrounded by all kinds of other trees that lined the road.  I know looks are not everything but there is a lesson here that I need to listen to!

With my feet on the Ground...

Simply Trey

DAY SIX (a), Saturday, September 10th! of Trey's Trek cont..... 

David and I prayed with Pastor Alverson and started out right at 8:00 a.m.!  The driveway out of the church is about a quarter of a mile long, so it took us a bit to get to W. Mt. Morris Road which would lead us West to  Linden Road where we would turn North and walk toward Birch Run and all the outlet malls at that exit on I-75.

Getting started at 8:00am 

As we walked along the South side of the road on W. Mt Morris going West our shadow was long but when we turned North and Trekked up Linden the photo above was what you saw!  I thought that it was an interesting image so I took out my phone and took this photo!

Most of what we saw on this first part of the trek today was farmland.  Fields and woods and cattle and sheep and sometimes other farm animals.

"The view"... walking up Linden toward Birch Run

Linden Road itself offered us plenty of 'walking room' with it's wide shoulders!  This was really a 'plus' as we walked along and waved at folks as they would drive by!

David trekking up Linden Road ahead of me!

Having a partner to walk with you really helps pass the time!  It helps you get your mind off or yourself!  It is an interesting thought but spiritually that applies also!  Walking with someone who agrees with you, makes 'the journey' so much more bearable!  The Scripture says, "how can two walk together unless they agree?"  There are a lot of applications here, simply "by walking" 'in the Spirit' and following Jesus!  Man, can this thought run on into some rich content!  Awesome!

I think back on the folks who started out this week with me from our office building on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn through every town and hamlet where we stayed and how their endurance helped encourage me to 'stay the course' and not give up before we reached our destination!   'Going it alone' is not a good option when you are walking the course of life either.  Taking someone with you is better by far and even having someone to join you along the way is a 'hoot' too!  It is something to think about!

Trey on his way to Saginaw, today!

With my feet still on the Ground!

Simply Trey

DAY SIX, Saturday, September 10th! of Trey's Trek cont.....

David Parvu arrived this morning to assist me in walking this last day of the first week of Trey's Trek.
 It would be the most challenging leg of the walk thus far...

Last night after arriving at the Church in Mt. Morris, we met with Pastor Alverson and some other brothers who spent some time praying with us about Dearborn and the Church.  The weariness in my body was evident but my spirit was very encouraged by the reception that we received when we arrived!  

When we arrived at the church Tony's wife came and 'fetched' him and he headed home!  I have to tell you that the two days he walked with me would have been a real 'bear' to handle, without Tony being there.  Brother you are to be commended!  Huah!

Pastor Alverson took me home and I cleaned up.  Then Sister Alverson managed a wonderful meal at their place for supper.  I got to bed but again did not sleep so well.  I think that the weariness of my body and the anticipation of what was before me the next morning made for a fitful rest.  Anyway when the Sun began coming up, the alarm on my Black Berry sounded and I wrestled myself up and showered again to help get my old frame mobile enough to move downstairs for a wonderful breakfast that Sister Alverson prepared again.   It was better than a grand breakfast at the Weston!  Anyway... we ate and I packed what I had in my backpack and off to the Church we went to be able to commence the last day of the first week of the Trey's Trek to Mackinaw.  

When we arrived at the church, David Parvu, an awesome young man who I have known for a long time, who lives in Dearborn, drove up to make the leg of the trek from Mt. Morris, MI to Saginaw Township, MI.  This leg would be the most arduous of the whole 17 days of walking from Dearborn to Mackinaw City!  If anyone, David was certainly the person who I would have picked to make this particular leg with me.  

I have to tell you, that in my life...I have never walked this far in a single day, ever!  Not even in getting in shape for this whole event did I have any point of reference for what this day would hold!  I did not even know what it would take from me, in the form of energy and my endurance and even in my mental capacity to complete what was set out before us!  But I did know this... I could not quit!  That was not even an option!   

You see, in High School... the very first varsity Wrestling match that I ever wrestled which I was a Sophomore, we were to take on Carver High School from across town.  In those days the 'Black / White' issue was tense!  Carver was for the most part a 'Black School' and 'E. B. Erwin' High School in Center Point was going through a desegregation process because we were mainly 'White.'  From my memory it was the first time a 'Black School' had come to compete against us at Erwin at least for wrestling.  Times were tense... in the early 70's.   There were certain things you did not say or mention in those days but you could cut the tension with a knife!  

So when the Carver Athletes arrived, we all met in the hallway between the wrestling room and the training room near the huge Coke machine that Coach Armstrong always kept full of Dr. Peppers and waited our turn... when called for, to weigh in!  First there was "Tuffy" then maybe two others who stepped up on the scale before me.  Then it was time for me to weigh in at 125 lbs.  

Coach Jeffery called... well saying that he 'called' is a bit mild.  He grawled my last name and said "Hancock, get in here and step up on this scale..."  I obeyed... and to my amazement that long arm on that huge round face that starred back at me as it swung up and then back and then back again the other direction, did not stop at the 125 mark!  It ever so slightly went past the 125 on the face of the scale and showed that I needed to loose another quarter of a pound before I would be allowed to compete at that weight.  

From what I remember... Coach Jeffery said...."get off, I'll fix you!"  I have to tell you that what ever "fix" meant, that my stomach was not feeling like it was going to be something very good!  Hmm... was something broke!  Yah, it was me!  I had not cut sufficient weight to make the grade at 125 lbs.  So several more young men came into the tiny room and weighed in and at the 155 lb weight class he grawled at me again to get back up there and weigh!  Of course at this weight I clearly..."made weight"!  But what I saw there made my heart sink!

Standing next to the scale, I watched as a Carver Wrestler at the 155 lbs weight class who had to have been at least 6' 3" tall stepped up on the scale and made weight.  He came in at or under 155 lbs.    For him that was good but what made my heart sink was... from my perspective (which was about 5' 7") in those days... his huge 'afro' hair style which seemed to me to be another 6" on top of the 6' 3" height and went out in every direction almost looked like it touched the ceiling!  I have to tell you that Fear gripped me!  I melted like butter in my heart!  I felt like I was facing a death penalty and Coach Jeffery was the Judge!  The photo below is what he looked like 'exactly' in the early 70's at Erwin High School.  His image will for ever be branded into my brain!

Coach Jim Jeffery 

He further said, "I will teach you not do to this again!"  I thought... 'Oh great!'  I didn't like  wrestling anyway!  But right now... there was more to be concerned about because that guy whose head seemed to touch the ceiling was going to walk out on the mat for my very first varsity match and pulverize me!  

What had I done?  how could I fix this?  Well to make a long story, short... We had been handling Carver High pretty good for this match and now it was my time for me to step out onto the mat with that giant that I weighed in with downstairs!  But as I looked across the mat... what did I see?!  The fear in my heart rose to a new level!  When that Carver Wrestler put on his head gear, the hair on his head conformed to the head gear and in huge 'afro' 'blocks of hair' that stuck out everywhere, at least from what I could tell!  (I was so scared that I was probably seeing things)  I thought to my self... how was I going to handle this?  How do you wrestle a black guy with hair coming out 'everwhere' which made him look huge!  It scared the living daylights out of me!  What was I to do!  Run?  Are you kidding!  Coach Jeffery was sitting over there and I would have had to run through him to get away... so facing this huge wrestler would be easier!  So I stayed!  But in reality, it didn't make it any easier!  He was still there when the whistle blew to start the match!  I had to engage or be called for stalling! 

When we came to the middle of the mat and shook hands, his manly hand seemed to wrap around mine as he peered down at me like a fish in an aquarium!  To say the least, he mopped the mat with me!  He had me 8 to ZERO at the end of the first two minutes of the match which is the first round!  He had me so intimidated that I literally let him have his way with me and he beat me like a 'Government Mule'!  At that point my heart said that there was nothing that I could do about this but survive!  

At the last few seconds of round 1 he had turned me to my back over on our side of the mat.  So to forgo the embarrassment of getting pinned at home by this monster, I bridged up on my neck and to my amazement there was Coach Jeffery sitting in his chair like he always did.  Except for this time he was sitting up on the edge of his chair with his hands cupped around his mouth and saying to me...."just submit, go ahead and just submit..."  I have to tell you that those words which I could hear him say, actually made me mad!   Yep!  I got angry!  I couldn't believe what he was saying to me!  He was telling me to 'quit!"  What, quit?!  How in the world...?  Is he serious?  QUIT!  What?  Then the whistle blew... the round was over and thankfully I was not pinned!  The Carver Wrestler had 'wiped the mat' with me!  

What took place next was quite amazing!  I don't remember much about the particulars of  the match but I do remember taking the "up" position at the beginning of the 2nd round and I ended up riding my opponent for two solid minutes!  (those were the days of Riding Time in High School) Then at the beginning of the 3rd round I was on bottom.  Immediately 'on the whistle', like lightning, I switched him and got back on top and rode him out until the end!  When the horn sounded at the end of the match, I had won by a score of 9 to 8!  

I can still remember what my arms and legs felt like.   They were on fire along with my lungs!  Not only that, I could hardly even move my fingers, I was so spent!  Everything that I had, had gone into winning that match and after the Ref raised my hand and I started off the mat toward our bench, I remember my team mats coming to meet me with cheers and well wishings.  And as I passed Coach Jeffery, he said!  "Serves you right! Now go sit down!"  Now I Laugh out Loud!!!  It did serve me right!  It serves me right; right up until right now!  

Whether the challenge is 31.9 miles or a huge wrestling opponent with a massive afro that 'sticks out' on all sides of his wrestling head gear; quitting is not an option...at all!  And if we hang in there until the end... we end up wrestling with the best and winning!  And to learn our lessons well...we need to let the lessons "Serve us right!"  So take it from me!  Coach Jeffery was right!  Don't quit what you start!  You will end up kicking yourself for the rest of your life!  

Jesus said... "No man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of Heaven"   Who wants a crooked forough anyway?

Coach Jeffery at the last Erwin Wrestling Match at the School (ever)
Us old wrestlers came last year to honor him for his
contribution into our lives as a Coach and an awesome Mentor
He passed away not many months after this photo was taken

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

DAY FIVE (d), September 8th! of Trey's Trek cont.....

After we passed the "House of Prayer" we were coming up on Clio Road.  The side walks had disappeared when we turned off of ML King and now we were walking on grass.  At West Carpenter and Clio, I think that we stopped and took a break.  Both Tony and I were weary but still encouraging each other in finishing this day strong!  

This is our destination for today!  

 Tony who is a "US Marine" is an amazing man!  His endurance is something else for a man that is in his mid 60's!  He was very much of an encouragement to me!   Every time I would ask him how he was doing he always said that he was fine or that he was going to make it or 'I am with you!'  

This is really random but there were some amazing sights on this Trek.  This unusual growth pictured below on the ground got my attention as we were walking along.  I don't quiet know what to make of it but seeing the pattern and colors just reminded me that Jesus is amazing in His artistic creative expressions!  

There are so many beautiful things that I have yet to see in this world.  But just knowing that there is a curse of sin which has hampered and diminished the original beauty of what Jesus created back in the beginning, because of us, just simply amazes me!  How can this still be so beautiful and diminished at the same time?  It just makes me wonder... what we see as 'beautiful'... would it really dazzle us if the 'sin issue' in our world was fully dealt with?  I am just glad that Jesus has dealt with that sin for those of us who have experienced His forgiveness!  But yet we wait for what the Earth groans for!  

God's creativity is Amazing!

After that short break we headed out again, going West.  The road just seemed to stretch on and on and on!  At this point, homes were less numerous and fields more abundant!   This means that the shoulders of the road were more defined and better for walking especially where there were no curbs or grassy yards.

Right at Judith Ann Drive and West Carpenter we turned North and jogged through this small neighborhood that dumped us out on North Jennings Road.   By now you could really tell that we were 'out of the Flint' area.  It was more rural in nature although we were just a few miles North of Town which we just walking through!  

Looking up the road from where we were, just kinda made you feel like this route would never end!  For at least the next three miles the road would not veer to the left or to the right!  It was definitely a straight shot!

When we did get close to I-475 there was a rise in the road because of the the bridge that crossed over the 'by-pass' around Flint that re-connects with I-75 just North of Town.  It was a neat experience to actually walk across an express way!  When you drive across in a car it takes only a few seconds but when you walk, you have a different perspective of where you are and the massive structure of the bridge that holds you up!  Bridges are just amazing structures that serve to join things together!  In many ways Jesus is our bride to Heaven!  That is an awesome thought!  

I have to tell you that after we reached the center of the bridge and we began to descend to the other side, I personally started to get excited, knowing that we were actually getting close to our destination!  We will be meeting Pastor Alverson there at the church!  He is a former Army Ranger and for me it is always good to see him!  

Here is a link to one of his Messages that is posted on the net!  

Pastor Larry Alverson

Now it was roughly a mile and a half to Mt. Morris Road where the Church was located!   My excitement of 'getting there' was causing my pace to increase.  I seemed to do that at the end of each day that we walked!  I would stiffen my pace and determine that I would finish strong.  Was I tired after that?  Are you kidding me? Yes!  But this day would be relatively short compared to what was coming tomorrow!  But for now, I was really not trying to think about the 31.9 miles that we were facing when the sun came up!  But for now!  The day was coming to a close and I could almost taste Supper!

When we reached Mt. Morris Road, it was a pretty wide intersection.  Tony and I turned left and started toward the Express way.  For the last few miles we could hear the cars on I-75 going by about a half  mile over to our left.   Now we could see the gas station and Burger King on the left just before you cross over the Express Way and to the Church.  

I have to tell you!  I was tired!  But the end was in sight!  Tony and I made our way toward the bridge over I-75 where we could see the entrance of the church driveway that lead to the church out in the field off to our left!  It was a welcomed sight!  

It was a very interesting journey today!  The most interesting to date!  Tomorrow would be the last Trek for this week!  I had walked 5 straight days without a single day's break!  In my training to get ready for this event, I would walk a certain distance (which was significant) but I always rested in between those days! Now I was tired but my endurance was building!  It felt good but exhausting!  Tomorrow would bring new challenges that would make for the end of an awesome week of walking from Dearborn to Saginaw!  

I felt like I had to pinch myself!  I could never have imagined that I really walked this far before in my entire life!  But I had!  I actually did it and with the help of some very faithful friends!  

With my feet on the Ground!

Simply Trey

DAY FIVE (c), September 8th! of Trey's Trek cont...

Walking through Flint...

As we walked North along Martin Luther King Avenue, we came to 180 West Van Wagner and ML King.  

There at that location is  St. George Beth El,   "Church of God in Christ".  Those people know Jesus!  This place seemed alive although we were just passing by!  I uttered a prayer that their ministry would be "long and strong!"  Lord, We pray for Pastor George who ministers there!  'Let the Holy Spirit work though these people at this Church!  Let the Flint area be the better for them being there!  In Jesus' Name!

So from St. George Church up to West Pierson Road it was a pretty much just a 'straight shot' North with good sidewalks to traverse on!  As we crossed  Pierson, the small mall that was on the North West corner of that intersection had a great neighborhood mural on the MLK side of the building.  It is great to see this kind of artwork (not graffiti) being displayed!  The neighborhood should be proud of those who are so talented!

After passing this place we seemed to pick up our pace a bit and pretty much held that constant speed for the next couple of hours.

I carried on my back a water bladder called a Camel Back and was able to drink when I needed it.  I kept pretty hydrated.  When I would begin to feel the slightest bit of 'cotton mouth', I would pull up the spout that came from the pack and drink my fill!  I am not sure how all of this works but if there was an ache in my legs or my muscles, the pain would disappear immediately after taking some water.  It was like 'a signal' was being sent from my head to my stomach that said...'hey, the stuff has been delivered so stop hurting!'  That may not be a real "technical or medical" explanation but it makes sense to me because this is what I would feel!  But that is how it worked for me on this Trek.  It is amazing how much water you go through just walking!

So up the road on the corner of Holbrook and MLK was a small white church on the South West corner of the Street.   It looked like a neat neighborhood church.  "Lord Jesus... make them a blessing where they are!"  In Jesus' Name!

As we made our way farther up, to East Carpenter on MLK, we turned West and started toward I-75 knowing that just over 2 miles from this intersection, we would turn North onto N Jennings Road.  On East Carpenter there were several churches.  They seemed to be one after the other but there was one that caught my eye!  It was...

A gathering place to talk to GOD...

I think that this one building of all the church houses that I saw along this route in the Flint area, for me, represented as a whole, a viable witness to the town!  That witness is that...talking to Jesus is important!

In fact, there is a Scripture that not only talks about communicating with God but that The LORD GOD has issued the initial invitation for us to come to Him; not only to be with Him but to converse with Him.  The passage goes like this...

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD.   “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 

It is He who is saying "come now...!"  It is He who is saying "let us reason together!"  He is issuing the invitation!  And on top of that, He is saying..."let us reason together!"  What other god do you know that does this?  No other god!  Because there is no other...!  

Is this for real?  Is the King of the Universe really asking for us to converse with Him?  WOW!  This is mind boggling!  I have to stop and think to myself;  'if He is asking (me?) to reason with Him... then what does He really think of me as a person?  How do I respond to this?  

Some how we feel embarrassed to answer His invitation because of what we have done or how we have acted or what we are thinking...!  But the fact still remains!  He is actually asking us if we would "come" to Him and "reason" with Him!  He knows us!  There is nothing hidden from Him!  

So does that change the fact that we have sinned?  Not on your life!  In fact, it heightens that awareness!  Yet, He is still  inviting us to come to Him to, in effect, 'reason' this thing out!  He wants us to know that there is nothing hidden from Him and that He still issues the invitation!  He wants us to know that He loves us in spite of ourselves!  So does that mean that He is turning a 'blind eye' to our sin?  Don't kind yourself!  He knows everything about us and He still pursues us!  He knows us thoroughly!  Even what we have become... does not discourage Him in His invitation to us...to "come"!  

Look, He says "Though your sins are like scarlet...though they are red as crimson... ,"  does that sound to us like, He is unaware or 'stand-off-ish'... toward us because we are less than perfect?  NO!  It means that He has rightly assessed who we are and because of who He is and what He has done in and through Jesus... that He is offering us a release from our past mistakes and sins in providing for us to become what He has announced us to be "...white as snow..."!   Innocent as little lambs!  If we respond!

I don't know about you but this is more than humbling to me!  And even after we come to Him and blow it, as we are proned to do from time to time; our former nature still vi's for attention by raising it's ugly head and whispering... 'go ahead, it's ok....', do it!  (whatever it is...).  But the Scripture says...  

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

"So, what cha' gonna do whey He comes for you, bad boy, bad boy!?"  

You gotta answer that question!  He is coming!  He is calling!  He is inviting... you!  What are you gonna do about what He thinks about you!?   How are you gonna respond when He comes for you?!

With my feet on the ground!

Simply Trey

DAY FIVE (b), September 8th! of Trey's Trek cont...

Day Five (b), September 8th! of Trey's Trek continued...

 

Tony Hall and I entering

downtown Flint...

 After Lunch at Halo Burger in Flint, MI, Tony and I started up the crowed street again.  We walked on the West side of the road that eventually veered off to the left and became ML King Road through town. 

 

Of all the places that we walked through on our Trek to Mackinaw; Flint seemed to be the most diverse!  It wasn't necessarily the scenery or the people but the 'feel' of the place.  

After we crossed the River there in town, we came to the intersection of ML King and Saginaw.   We took ML King and headed North.  I don't have any photos to share with you for the next couple of hours of walking simply because of the tension that we sensed while walking through the neighborhood.  

It was like no one noticed us but everyone knew we were there!  I haven't felt that sort of tension since the Islamic leadership organized a community protest at the Dearborn Public School Council Meeting where a notice was passed out to folks that were there to beware of Trey and Becky Hancock and Dearborn Assembly of God, back a few years ago !  

So my usual customary practice of greeting folks as we walked along... by waving at people that came by or drove by us, was something that I continued to do but the response was much different.  It was interesting to say the least!  So I did not take the phone out of my pocket to shoot any photos.  Sorry!  

The farther we walked out of downtown the larger the homes were becoming.  You could tell that at one time, this part of town was almost majestic!  Some of the homes are good sized but now are fallen into disrepair!  It is sad in some respects but in my heart I could sense some life was stirring!  There seemed to be some flickers of hope in certain areas and then some blocks held an attitude or spirit that seemed contrary to the light.   There were empty lots where houses used to be and older homes that just seemed to refuse to die!   

Then all of the sudden around the 1400 block of ML King there were new houses that seem to have been built in the last few years or so!   They were less than half the size than the ones closer to town but they were new and lively!  The yards were neat and kept!  Items around the homes seemed to have their designated places and you could tell the residence took pride in what they had! But all around them were empty lots and abandon houses.   In comparison, these homes were like stubborn shoots of grass pushing their way up through concrete toward the sun!  It was refreshing to see!  It was encouraging!

 

There was one place where Tony and I stopped and rested for about 15 minutes to catch our breath and eat some snacks!  This place was at West Baker Street and ML King.  We walked over in the parking lot of what seemed like a party store and sat down on the curb and rested our feet and took some nourishment.  We needed it at this point!  Even here, the feeling was that 'no one was paying us any mind to us but that we were being watched!'  So as soon as we caught our breath and rested our feet a bit, we were on our way again!  

When we started out, we looked North, up the street where the road just seemed to 'go off into infinity' with houses and trees just bunching together into a point somewhere 'out there!'  And as you walked along, it seemed to not move but that you were walking into some sort of traveler's hole that had no bottom or end to it!  This feeling would come back several times during this trek as the road in front of us and behind us would seem to just disappear into a point over the horizon with no turns or points of reference that you could gauge your progress by!  It would have been a sick feeling in our hearts, if not for knowing where we were on the map!  That is a critical lesson in 'orientation!'  Being able to read the map and track our progress was vital in maintaining our motivation to reach our destination!  Hmmm? I wonder if life is really like that too? Personally, I gotta know that there is some sort of lesson here!  

Following Jesus 'on the road of life' is probably the same sort of thing!  Sometimes "Life" can be like a dark hole or a road that seems to go no where in particular!   

But there is a destination and a purpose for traveling the road that we are all on!   That road is to take you somewhere!  It is to give you passage to the place that you are walking to.   The road that Jesus has paved for you to walk on!

The road that we walked on was a road that had been traveled on by so many people, so many time before... we had even set foot on it!  It seemed at times, that the road was chalked full of hope as we walked along and at other times it made us feel like we were walking through some murky swamp.  And this swamp had hidden sink holes where 'gators' and 'snakes' lurked!  Then there was those pesky mosquitoes that filled the air while 'gator/snakes' were lurking just under the surface, waiting for you to get close enough to them to latch on to you and pull you under!  

But what ever the road contained, you can know that Jesus knows were you are at any given moment in time on that road and is not just standing by, waiting for you to haphazardly 'fall in' or 'take a wrong step' just so He will have some sort of sadistic satisfaction in saying... "I told you so!"  

"I told you that you were a bad traveler!" 

 

"I told you that you were not going to make it!" 

 

"I told you that the devil was going to get you!" 

 

"I told you that you were no good!" 

 

"I told you that you were rebellious!"

  

"It told you that you would not make it!"

  

"I told you that you would fail!" 

 

"I told you!"  "I told you!"  "See what you have done!"  

NO!  A million times NO!  This is not Jesus' heart toward you at all!  Now granted,  this is how other so called 'gods' treat you!  But Not Jesus!  He says... "come to me... all of you who are weary and are heavy laden and I will give you rest for your souls."  

What a comparison!  He said that "He would lead you in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake!"   

Some of you need to hear that right now!  

Some of you are in 'the swamp';  in 'the murk' and you are there because of your own doing!  You have no one else to blame... but yourself!  But you don't have to stay stuck there or remain disoriented in your heart of hearts!  Jesus is ready to lead you out!  He was not kidding when He said..."come to me!"  I dare you!  Ask Him for help!  He will answer you!  That is His heart toward you!

With my feet on the ground... 

Simply Trey