Chicago 3-Day First Day

It was a memorable, moving, painful, exhausting and exhilarating experience that I will look forward to repeating next year.  This is my journal summary of the 3 days:

3-Day first day

We began with opening ceremonies at Schiller Woods Forest Preserve.  I had been asked to be a flag bearer for which I felt honored.  I carried the flag “Anniversaries” which had special meaning to me on the third day of the walk.  At the completion of the ceremonies all of the flag bearers lead the procession out of the forest preserve to begin the 60 mile trek over the next 3 days.  Two thousand walkers completed the first 22.7 mile leg through the villages of Schiller Park, Franklin Park, Rosemont and ending up at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines.  Much of the route took us through forest preserve and we crossed the Des Plaines River about 8 times.

I started the excursion by myself but sometime before lunch I met a group of girls who were all originally from Michigan and were doing their 4^th 3-Day walk.  We bonded and I became the adopted dad for the remainder of the 3-Day event.  We became close friends (FBF’s) and they were a wonderful inspiration to me as I tried to be to them.

We all began walking at about 7:00am and I reached camp at about 4:30pm.  The first order of business was to gather my luggage, pick up a tent and head to the camp sight.  There were lots of volunteers there to help with carrying luggage and setting up the tents.  I had 3 high school girls helping me.  When I arrived at my sight, E29, there was already a tent set up but no other luggage.  I was expecting to have a randomly chosen tent mate but he was not there yet.  I set up my air mattress and sleeping bag and put my luggage in the tent and was about to head off to the showers when two girls setting up a tent next to mine asked if that was my spot.  I checked my credentials and confirmed E29 was my spot.  The said they were sure their other friend had that spot as well, and their other friend was not a boy.  Ooopps!  After my shower I walked over to the command center truck and sure enough the other E29 person was their awaiting my arrival to sort things out.  I told the ladies in charge to let her have E29 since it was next to her friends and they could put me wherever.  After some logistic correction I was awarded a tent by myself (which was a good thing because they were small and as most of you know I SNORE!!).  I ended up at K49 for the next two nights.

Dinner was served in the big tent, spaghetti with all the extras.  It was fantastic.  When the final walker entered camp it was about 6:30.  Everyone cheered!  There were acknowledgements made to the largest fundraisers, biggest teams, and other superlative awards.  The evening was concluded with some “American Idol” type singing acts that were tremendous.  But before the sun was completely down at about 8:45 I was snuggled in my tent and had no problem falling right to sleep. 

More to follow . . .

Loved While on Earth

Loved while on earth, nor less beloved tho’ gone

Think not I envy you your crown;

No, if I could I would not call you down.

Tho’ slower is my pace, to you I’ll follow on,

Leaning on Jesus all the way,

Who now and then lets fall a ray of comfort from his throne.

–Augustus Toplady

Life’s Weaving

My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me;

I may not choose the colors,

He knows what they should be

For He can view the pattern

Upon the upper side,

While I can see it only

On this, the under side.

  

Sometimes He weaveth sorrow,

Which seemeth strange to me;

But I will trust His judgment,

And work on faithfully;

‘Tis He who fills the shuttle,

He knows just what is best;

So I shall weave in earnest

And leave with Him the rest.

  

At last, when life is ended,

With Him I shall abide,

Then I may view the pattern

Upon the upper side;

Then I shall know the reason

Why pain with joy entwined,

Was woven in the fabric

Of life that God designed.

In the Arms of God

We don’t like to say good-bye to those whom we love. Whether it be at a school or a cemetery, separation is tough. It is right for us to weep, but there is no need for us to despair. They had pain here. They have no pain there. They struggled here. They have no struggles there. You and I might wonder why God took them home. But they don’t. They understand. They are, at this very moment, at peace in the presence of God. . . .

When it is cold on earth, we can take comfort in knowing that our loved ones are in the warm arms of God. And when Christ comes, we will hold them, too.

Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  John 11:26

If DEATH My Friend and Me Divide

If DEATH my friend and me divide,
Thou dost not, Lord, my sorrow chide,
Or frown my tears to see;
Restrained from passionate excess,
Thou bidst me mourn in calm distress
For them that rest in thee.

I feel a strong immortal hope,
Which bears my mournful spirit up
Beneath its mountain load;
Redeemed from death, and grief, and pain,
I soon shall find my friend again
Within the arms of God.

Pass a few fleeting moments more
And death the blessing shall restore
Which death has snatched away;
For me thou wilt the summons send,
And give me back my parted friend
In that eternal day.

Charles Wesley

Ransom’s Poem

Last year as I was cleaning out a desk I came across a folded sheet of paper. I immediately recognized Ransom’s handwriting. He was 13 when he wrote this:

“With her final breath she kissed the world goodbye.

Flying from her momentary troubles,
She joined the angels in their praises.

Bowing before the Lord her eyes fell upon
The face of our Creator.

Her restrained beliefs from this world
Are no longer based on faith, but rather on sight.

My mother has seen the unseen and
Will be in His presence forever.

She was called home to a place where,
For eternity, she will glorify her God.”

Ransom Cobler
c. 2002