A little over two weeks ago, our family headed out for the Kansas City/Colorado Beauty Chasers Book Tour. We began the trip nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. A friend of Tim’s graciously offered up his home as a respite for us before we began our journey and we gladly accepted.
We spent our days sitting on the upper deck reading and looking at the view of all the different mountain ranges, Mount Mitchell included, which is the highest peak on the east coast.
The pixies spent their time exploring waterfalls, stargazing, hiking trails, and eating sweet treats they don’t get on a regular basis.
The last night we were there a magnificent storm rolled in and we were granted the most spectacular rainbow I have personally ever witnessed. It stretched its reach across the valley, vivid colors rocking our world with the reminder: He is faithful.
It was if God was whispering to my spirit: it’s all going to be ok.
Truth be told, I didn’t relish being on the road for two weeks. Although my girls are excellent travelers (start them while they’re young) there are always unexpected turns to navigate.
But the beauty of what lay ahead eclipsed the unknowns.
Isn’t that the beautiful mystery of life? We don’t know where the road is necessarily going to take us, but if we know the Way, every turn leads us back to Him.
And we definitely had a few unexpected turns, which I’ll share in the coming week. But it’s these detours, these sometimes seemingly dead ends, that often lead us straight to the heart of the Father.
Maybe in all our ways what we are really looking for is not the right road, but the Guide. Perhaps in all our quests what we are truly searching for is the presence of God Himself.
Our family did find our way to Kansas City and the Beauty Chat there, nestled beside dear friends old and new, was holy.
In Tim’s book The Beauty Chasers he writes,
“The world grooms me to be a spectator rather than a participant.
I’m encouraged to disentangle myself from the natural world and to attach myself to devices. I’m urged to isolate myself from people and surround myself with virtual reality. I’m asked to trade in the enchantment of my walks for the dim magic of simulation.”
There among the lovely people of Kansas City we became participants. Honestly, it would have been much easier to stay at home and promote a book via social media. But there is something about hitting the road, making the long drive, being together in the flesh, that causes a holy hush to fall.
We need each other.
We need to be participants in this life we have been given. And sometimes it means taking the long way home. Or, walking the extra mile. It means accepting that the unexpected turn can lead to glorious places.
As one fellow traveler to another, may we remember we never reach that holy place alone.
Hmmm...I had mentioned a long time ago on Tim's thread that we may be interested in hosting y'all. We have done a couple of book reveals in the past. Let me revisit that thought with my husband.
Any plans for Southwest Ohio?😉