Day 29 ~ West Coast Rock Tour

~ 29th Day ~

Purpose...So Long San Clemente...Coastal Drive...Relocation.

I savored my sleep in a real bed, the bowl of oatmeal and peanut butter as well as the hot cups of coffee this morning brought. It was my last day in San Clemente and with my dear friends, Jeff and Janell. Though the day's schedule and departure time wouldn't go as planned (growing more and more accustomed to this), the day went as God planned it to. His schedule and itinerary are always best and my ways, though sometimes still kosher, are never what they could have been if His ways had been allowed... and trusted. Like seeing Tumbler around the corner last night, we never know what is around the bend and we often spend too much time worrying and doubting (like I had last night) in what we can't see. I couldn't see what today would hold, but I had been reminded last night that faith and trust in the One who sees it all, is in control of every detail of the day. Today was about walking in that faith.

The morning was spent getting ready to hit the road again. There wasn't much to pack up since not much had been brought in, but I do like things organized and in their place (even if you might question this when lifting up the hardtop of the back of Tumbler). I rearranged my backseat a bit knowing it needed to be morphed back into a bed, and my dirty laundry was brought into the house to be washed and dried. Another thing on my checklist was to take my last shower for a couple days... check. It was now noonish and yesterday I had projected that I'd leave by around 1:00, but this was not going to happen. When I write these day posts in my truck ('cause sitting in a coffee shop for 2+hrs is not my cup of tea), it gets pretty hot and toasty depending on how hot it is outside. With the comforts of a home that has the bonus blessing of air conditioning, cranking out another post here instead of going on the road sounded much cooler. Selfishly, I also wanted to spend some more time in the company of great friends.

God foreknew the 3 of us would have a special time to sit down before I embarked further North. Before that space was created, I had my lap top on my lap for over 3 hours to write about a past day full of awesomeness. Taking several breaks to refill my coffee cup and wander outside to their back porch to give my mind a recess, I began to ponder these last 3 days. There seemed to have been a theme throughout it: "Purpose in the Pain." Not that these days had been painful, but many conversations I'd had with not only Jeff and Janell, but also with others, had this thread line that wove together a beautiful tapestry in progress. Again, what was around the corner might not have been yet visible, but the growing and stretching in the variety of seasons was producing deeper faith and trust in the Way-Maker, our sovereign God.

I went out to Tumbler and pulled out a cool rock I'd found in Durango (or maybe it was Denver:) and in between paragraphs I began to draw the letters of "Purpose" on this rock. The view from their back porch is sweet, so it may have taken me a little longer than usual to scribe each letter... wanted to soak up the view from the top of this mini mountain as much as possible. When the day post and the rock were finished, I peeked my head into Janell's office and told her it was about that time. She woke Jeff up, who was taking a nap, and we gathered in the living room.

This amazing couple has experienced mountains and valleys in their life together. Though chapters of Janell's story will remain unread by you due to the need to keep her on the down low with the gnarly awesome job she has, I can share a personal chapter of Jeff's life-story. This man of God has had Parkinson's disease for many years and this journey has been hard for both him and the whole family, as everyone is affected in many ways. But Jeff is not bitter or angry at God... and though he is not jumping for joy that he has this disease, he understands that the pain (physical, mental and emotional) has purpose far greater than he knows. Jeff is a writer, a leader, an intellectual, and a wonderful husband and father to his 2 children. He is still these things even with this slow, degenerative illness. He doesn't use it as an excuse, and though he struggles with a lack of energy, being tired most of the time and on and off apathy, he is still moving around and very present when around you. While I was there, time with him was valuable and a treasure, knowing I was in the company of a wealth of wisdom, knowledge and humility. His heart is kind and soft... one to emulate.

We sat in different chairs and couches when the conversation began, but after sharing what was on our hearts, we all moved to the couch where Jeff and Janell put their hands on my back and prayed over me. This was the most special time of all 3 days... and the prayers were felt by my heart as I received the blessing of protection, guidance, wisdom, boldness, discernment and strength. I hugged each of them and knew it would be hard to say so long to these friends that were family.

Packed and ready for the next mission field, I drove down the hill to the downtown area... I had one more stop before San Clemente would be seen in my rear view mirror. Justin was at his work, Trader Joe's, and though I had wanted to grab a cup of coffee with my friend before I left, a visit to his job would suffice. After getting an iced Chai Latte, Tumbler was parked and my Sharpies were pulled out. I wanted to make Justin a personalized rock and it was fun to create the rock that had 6 sides to it (shaped like a cube). On one side, ocean waves were drawn, a gold surfboard with a cross in the middle, his name on the top and the words "Stay in the wake of God's wave" were written in silver on the front. I went in and found Justin right away. Because he was working, I didn't want to get him in trouble, but I handed him the rock, thanked him for taking me out to surf and told him how cool it was to re-connect after so many years. He is like a brother to me and we hugged goodbye. As I was walking away Justin said, "I'll be praying for you." I was grateful for this young man of God... and his prayers were welcome knowing that his heart was a combination of his parent's hearts. 

It was 6pm when I finally headed onward. Not knowing where the next mission field was, but knowing I needed to land somewhere before the daylight faded into the dark night, I followed the Pacific Coast Highway through Laguna Beach, Newport Beach till I reached Long Beach. That was a lot of beaches... and a lot of driving even though the distance I covered wasn't that far. The P.C.Highway isn't near as fast as taking the freeway, but the scenery is fabulous. Along the way, I made a few stops near the beach and to a gas station where I left a random rock. Pulled off the highway right at the end of Long Beach and punched in a Walmart into the GPS, one came up that was a several miles away. I've notice that while in California, the Walmarts aren't as prevalent... and they take quite a while to get to due to the traffic and plethora of stoplights of every street. When I finally pulled in, I found a nice spot that wasn't under a brightly lite pole. Went inside to buy some hummus and crackers as well as freshen up in the bathroom. I ate my dinner, made some phone calls, scribed some rocks, wrote, processed, and prayed for the next 3hrs and it was nearing midnight. Time to get ready for bed in the backseat... but then the Walmart's lights went out and I knew it was closing. No big deal, 'cause I'd been in many lots when this happened, but this night would be different.

There had been a security guard cruising around the lot while I was parked, and he was definitely eye-ballin' me... surely I looked suspicious with my truck running for 3hrs and because I'm an observer, my head was moving from side to side in between paragraphs. When the lights went off, his truck pulled near mine as it had done often throughout the night, though this time he stopped instead of his usual slow drive-by. I got the message... no overnight parking and no one was going to be sleeping in "his" parking lot in his shift.

The next Walmart was over a 30 min drive and they could very well be closed now too (only Walmart Super-Centers are open 24hrs), so I drove across the street and down a block where a McDonalds was located. I pulled in, parked and went up to the main entrance to buy a random item on the dollar menu, so that I was a "customer" who was parked in one of their spaces. But the door was locked and I went back to sit in Tumbler, thinking the distant parking space we were in would suffice for the evening. And then a cop car pulled in and he wasn't there to buy a cup of coffee... he was there to check out a big blue Dodge Ram. He pulled nearby and rolled down his window. This is probably where I should have rolled down mine to see what he wanted, but again, the message was clear... time to move on. Not only did I want to find a place where I could park without being "encouraged" to find another place, but I was now growing more tired.

Thinking there might be an police/security alert out for a woman in a Dodge (this most likely wasn't a high alert, but being near LA, everyone is on the alert of shenanigans), I drove about 10mins away from that section of blocks. Not knowing what to do or where to go, I started praying and asking God to guide me to a safe place to sleep. After a few blocks, my eyes searching for nothing in particular, but for something that could be a sign, on one of my sweeps to the right, my eyes finally saw the sign... a camper parked in a large parking lot. I pulled in and drove past the RV and found a space close to it, but not right next to it. Immediately after Tumbler's gear was put in park, the windows were rolled up to leave only a crack and his engine was turned off. I was wasting no time in letting a potential security guard or cop see me sitting in my truck, fiddling with this and that. Crawling in the backseat like a kid playing hide-and-go-seek, I pulled my blanket over me. I layed there for quite some time, my ears hearing every slight sound and wondering if I would have to move again. Admittedly, a few peeks through the crack in between the seat and side panel were made to check on the whereabouts of cars that sounded closer than they were. It took a long time before my body and mind could finally relax, but it helped to thank God for this hopeful safe place where I would remain for the remainder of the night. Tomorrow would be one of relocation as well... different mission fields and another night like tonight.

Everyone's story has thread lines of joy and pain.
Not everyone finds the purpose in the pain.
If we come to embrace the brokenness
A beauty emerges from all the ashes.
No one wants to go through pain.
But the purpose is beyond us.
Our response to the pain
Is the greatest witness.
It's not about us.

Often the darkest chapters of our lives
bring the most light to others' journeys.

~Unshakable Peace, Trust and Purpose~
cling to the Rock 
Psalm 18:1-2