Musical Earworms and Westward Bound
On the I-40 road again
Chuck Berry’s “Route 66,” the Eagles singing about standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, and Willie Nelson’s famous lyrics of “on the road again” have been earworms on repeat for the last few weeks. I was planning a trip out west this summer with my mom for a brief visit to New Mexico to check on our family after my aunt had been experiencing some health problems. I knew we would fly to Albuquerque and drive to Gallup, stay a few days and head home. As previously shared, that is a track of I-40 I have traveled often. But things changed this spring.
Aunt Jan passed away. That is so hard to say. She would have turned 64 in June, too young, and we still don’t have a lot of understanding as to why she couldn’t recover. Doctors said maybe she simply gave up fighting following a series of ankle surgeries after a bad fall months before. There was a previous illness that may have had an impact on this, but we really don’t know. It’s hard…the not knowing…having no real medical reason…not being able to say goodbye…not being able to be there for family…not ever hearing her call me her baby girl again…knowing that the next trip out west will not include her vibrant self, nor my Grammy.
But the next trip out west is coming. It’s a trip to celebrate her life. It’s a time to gather with the family and her friends and remember an all-too-brief life of a woman who loved big, and at times a little wildly. Some of my memories of her include taking me to areas around Gallup to see the ruins and other sites of the region.
But there are many places I never saw because there was a family business to run and, honestly, what kid wants to look at a bunch of old drawings on the rocks in hot places and learn about history? So while the trip began as a time to celebrate and remember my aunt and be with family, it has turned into an opportunity to take another trek across I-40 and seek time with God, meet new people, learn things about our country and different cultures, and see what connections I make on the faith journey.
I didn’t take as much time to plan this trip, but have an itinerary that will give me a variety of experiences and take me (and those who follow along) to many places I have never seen. I can’t wait to see what God reveals on the path and off the fast-paced road that is I-40. I leave Sunday night and covet your prayers for several reasons. First, some stretches of this journey will be long and deserted roads and I am traveling alone. Prayers are appreciated for safe travel and a rental car that is reliable (and a rental car counter that is still open when my flight arrives at close to closing time - so maybe prayers for an on-time, if not early, arrival). Next, prayers for cooler days or my ability to withstand the extremely high temperatures that I see on reports for places I am heading (112 in Laughlin??). And I welcome prayers for our family as we spend time remembering Aunt Jan. This is the first time I have been to Gallup since Grammy died as well. Things will be different and grief as well as laughter will be present.
I will be in touch periodically to share how God is showing up. And I will share a bit about the places mentioned in the songs, those pesky earworms that have played in my mind these last couple of weeks in the planning to be “on the road again” along “Route 66,” visiting family in “Gallup, New Mexico.” And I’ll be sure to take a picture “standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.”
Thanks for being on the journey as we experience Faith on the Move together.
More for the journey…
Usually I post a scripture verse, but with lyrics coming through loudly these days, an old hymn comes to mind. My prayer is that I especially use these senses and the message of this hymn in my encounters with others on my trip.
Use the lyrics to reflect on how you can focus on God in the journey of faith through your senses. Prayerfully consider how you can use your senses to be more aware of God’s will and direction. Feel free to comment with how this is going.
Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me.
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear,
and while the wave notes fall on my ear, ev’rything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth ev’rywhere.
Open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my mouth, illumine me, Spirit divine!Author: Clara H. Scott (1895) https://hymnary.org/text/open_my_eyes_that_i_may_see
So sorry to hear of your Aunt Jan’s passing. May she rest in peace. I will also pray for your comfort and safety during your journey. 112F is 🥵. Stay hydrated and take care!
Praying for your journey...both physical and spiritual!