Today's Thought - Kindness

1 Corinthians 13:4a – “Love is patient and kind”

On March 1, 2007, Swiss Army troops invaded its tiny neighbor-nation, Lichtenstein. A group of about 170 Swiss soldiers accidentally crossed the unmarked border between the two nations before recognizing where they were. The incident occurred in bad weather and in the middle of the night, when Switzerland is hard to tell apart from its neighbors. “It was all so dark out there,” said one of the misdirected recruits.

When they eventually discovered they had been accidentally invaded, Liechtenstein showed it knows how to bring a failed military action to a happy conclusion and not retaliate. “You just turn around and sneak back home as quickly and quietly as you can before anybody notices.” (Source: Peter Stamm, “Switzerland invades Liechtenstein.” The Opinion Pages, www.nytimes.com, 13 Mar. 2007).

How great it would be if all such “invasions” in life could be met with such kindness—especially those where our personal space or rights are invaded! When our feelings are wounded intentionally or unintentionally, our fleshly side wants us to retaliate immediately. That is the opposite of what Paul wrote in his love chapter: “Love is patient and kind.” Paul personifies love as a person who acts in the ways Christians should imitate. Perhaps our first response to a wound should be patience, giving time for kindness and forgiveness to come forth. When we show kindness, it will always return like a boomerang.

Route 66, Sitgreaves Pass, Cool Springs, AZ

Continuing on our Route 66 saga, we drove to Kingman, AZ utilizing one of the best-preserved segments of the original Route 66. It is one of the most fearsome obstacles for drivers, the hairpin curves and steep grades of Sitgreaves Pass.

Sitgreaves' Pass was first mapped out by Captain Lorenzo Sitgreaves in 1851 while on an expedition with a group of artists, topographers and naturalists to see if the Colorado and other rivers could be navigated by steam boat. From the top of the Pass at an elevation of 3,550ft (1,082m), we saw the Black Mountains. Driving on this Pass, the horseshoe curves are the steepest and winding roadway I've ever drove on.

Source: Western Arizona (Before)

Current Road We've drove on

1929 postcard of a hairpin bend on Route 66, source; 66postcards.com

Our hairpin bend road

View of Black Mountains

Along the way we stop and took photos of Ed's Camp. This Camp was founded in the 1920s by Ed Edgerton, who set up the Kactus cafe', a gas station, some campgrounds and related facilities to serve local miners.

Heyday photo Source: Western Arizona

What it looks like today

One more interesting stop was Shaffer Fish Bowl Spring located shortly past Ed's Camp on Route 66 heading West. A natural spring leads down to a basin where there are several gold fish. What was it use for? One report that I've read was that travelers sourced it for water to fill canvas bags or the radiator as they drove up the old highway. While we were there we've noticed many, many bees gathering water from the cool spring.

Thanks for reading and looking at our photos.

Today's Thought - Prayer

Matthew 6:8 – “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

CS Lewis was the author of the widely read children’s books, The Narnia Chronicles, as well as many novels for grown-ups and books on issues surrounding the Christian faith. The movie Shadowlands (directed by Richard Attenborough and produced in 1993) tells Lewis’ story, focusing in particular on his relationship with his wife, Joy Gresham. Gresham and Lewis meet while Lewis was a dean at Oxford University.

After Joy is diagnosed with cancer the couple marry. The movie invites us to witness their love, their pain, their grief, their struggles with faith and God. Eventually Joy dies.

At one point in the story a friend says to Lewis, “Christopher can scoff, Jack, but I know how hard you’ve been praying; and now God is answering your prayers.”

Lewis replies “That’s not why I pray, Harry. I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God, it changes me.” (Source: Film quote found at Internet Movie Database. Shadowlands, “Quotes,” imdb.com). 

Prayer is not made so that God can find out what we need. God wants us to pray because prayer expresses our trust in God and is a means whereby our trust in him can increase. We pray with faith trusting or depending on God to meet our daily need. God delights in being trusted by us, so go to Him with your request today. He already knows…

Ghost Town - Chloride, Arizona

On our way to Kingman, AZ on US 93, we stopped by this old mine town built in 1860s. During its heyday, there were more than 75 silver mines in operation, and 5,000 residents. The local miners excavated minerals like silver, turquoise, and gold until late 1920s when the town was burnt to the ground. By the 1940s, it had practically became a ghost town. 

Today, Chloride has revived itself from becoming a permanent ghost town by promoting tourism. Our experience there was a bit of the Old West. Though it it often called a ghost town, the area is still inhabited by more than 300 people. 

The Old Jail, est. 1860

A quick catnap????

The Playhouse

Chloride Baptist Church since 1891

As we explored this little town, we were amazed with some curious display of junk art.

The people we've met were very friendly and nice. As you know, "One person's junk is another person's treasure."

Today's Thought - Courage

Hebrews 12:1 – “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

The Olympic Games, Mexico, 1968. The marathon is the final event on the program. The Olympic stadium is packed and there is excitement as the first athlete, an Ethiopian runner, enters the stadium. The crowd erupts as he crosses the finish line.

Way back in the field is another runner, John Stephen Akwhari of Tanzania. He has been eclipsed by the other runners. After 30 kilometers his head is throbbing, his muscles are aching and he falls to the ground. He has serious leg injuries and officials want him to retire, but he refuses. With his knee bandaged Akwhari picks himself up and hobbles the remaining 12 kilometers to the finish line. An hour after the winner has finished Akwhari enters the stadium. All but a few thousand of the crowd have gone home. Akwhari moves around the track at a painstakingly slow pace, until finally he collapses over the finish line.

It is one of the most heroic efforts of Olympic history. Afterward, asked by a reporter why he had not dropped out, Akwhari says, “My country did not send me to start the race. They sent me to finish.” (Source: reported on Sydney 2000 Olympics website).

As a runner keeps toward his or her goal to finish the race, we should keep looking to fix our eyes on Jesus. We should preserver not to lose heart, quite the race, or give up the fight of unbelief or apostasy. The Christian race is endurance, a life time marathon, not a 50-yard dash. As you face life’s trials, do not stop running but continue with your eyes fixed upon Jesus.

Liberty Bell Arch Hike

This hike is located along Highway 93, south of the Hoover Dam in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 38 minutes southeast of Las Vegas. Hiking distance is 2.5 mile to the Liberty Bell Arch and additional 0.5 mile to Black Canyon Overlook.

Liberty Bell Arch Hike Map

The trail follows the White Rock wash.

Trail sign: Liberty Arch

The trail runs down White Rock Wash

On trail, upper mine area with cable-car ore chute

Trail switchbacks

View of the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tilman Memorial Bridge.

Liberty Bell Arch

We've made it.

Continue climb to Black Canyon Overlook

Arrive Black Canyon Overlook: 1,000 feet down

Summit Register at Black Canyon Overlook

View of the Colorado River gorge

Black Canyon Overlook Summit - Elevation 1,707 feet, cumulative distance is 2.79 mile. Incredible hike. Great panoramic views the entire way.