Honestly, some things in life are spooky, right?
The new week begins with a meeting between the Associate Pastor and me. He is truly a lovely guy who has a very fine family – they came to lunch with us yesterday. He is open and inquisitive. He is wise and warm. Our spirits click and it is spooky how God brings together folk from diverse situations to work and serve together.
We are away on a big trip for 2 days to Carlsbad. The kids are joking… “but Jane is good”. (since Carl is bad) The journey is no joke though… nearly 7 hours according to our Sat. Nav. In addition we are flirting near the edge of where the 1st atom bomb was tested and through the city of Roswell… yes the one where all the aliens are supposed to be taken to and all kinds of military and governmental secrets are supposed to be kept.
So we enter Roswell with 4 more hours to travel and within minutes, 3 hours disappear… and we now only have 1 hour to travel according to the Sat. Nav. We thought that if you were abducted by aliens you lost time, but we have gained it, and we still do not know how. With the return trip tomorrow, we are wondering if this will be repeated?
We arrive at Carlsbad and head underground. There are paths through the caverns of over 37 miles and over 1200 feet below ground. The scale of the rocks and the caves which have been eroded is incredible. One section of roof which fell is called “the Iceberg”. It is estimated at over 200,000 tonnes, but the space it fell into is vast. The stalactites and stalagmites are varied in size, colour, pattern, and their chemical constituency (see the photo above). Some are shaped like animals, some like Japanese sculptures, and some like Hindu gods. One is called the "Rock of Ages".
The caves also contain a colony of over 1,000,000 Freetail Mexican bats which fly out at dusk each evening before returning each dawn. The smell at the entrance is spookily evident to their existence.
After a long day, we had planned to wait to see the bat exodus, but a lightning storm engulfs us and the area around the caves, so we make a fast exit to our overnight accommodation.
Next day we are taking a slight detour to the Bottomless Lake. It was created by a huge sinkhole. Now filled with water, fish and turtles, it is like a scene out of a Spanish resort. A sandy beach, green/blue water, and folk snorkelling, swimming, playing on paddle boards and boats. Out of the corner of my eye, I think I see an enormous green fish jumping, twisting and diving back into the water. To be honest I thought it could have been a diver’s leg, but none are in the vicinity. Gail is a bit sceptical... that is until we both see another leap in the same area, and spookily that is the last we see of that for the rest of the day.
It is really hot, and we have Roswell to go through once more (can you hear the spooky music playing). This time the Sat. Nav. Gains 1 hour just after we enter the city and once again we have no logical explanation. (We are not crossing any specific time zones) But we are delighted to return home earlier than expected.
Today has been a day for Spiritual rest; though I was invited out for a very interesting pastoral meeting in the afternoon. Listening, supporting, sharing blessed us both I believe – and that seems quite spooky to me also.
In Ephesians 1 we read of the mystery of God’s will :-
8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
God’s mysteries are spiritual truths made known only through revelation. "Can you search out the deep things of God"?
The Old Testament prophet Job is brilliant at challenging us to reflect and meditate on God’s word. Here is a taste :-
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven— what can you do? Deeper than Sheol— what can YOU know?" Job 11:7-8
I love the fact that people who really want to know God more, who are willing to search and question find their peace and hope only in Christ.
Go deeper God shouts – “I want to show you My logic, My plans, My WILL for YOU”.
And by the way – our Roswell muffins turned out to be a very strange green colour – though they did taste great!
We are away on a big trip for 2 days to Carlsbad. The kids are joking… “but Jane is good”. (since Carl is bad) The journey is no joke though… nearly 7 hours according to our Sat. Nav. In addition we are flirting near the edge of where the 1st atom bomb was tested and through the city of Roswell… yes the one where all the aliens are supposed to be taken to and all kinds of military and governmental secrets are supposed to be kept.
So we enter Roswell with 4 more hours to travel and within minutes, 3 hours disappear… and we now only have 1 hour to travel according to the Sat. Nav. We thought that if you were abducted by aliens you lost time, but we have gained it, and we still do not know how. With the return trip tomorrow, we are wondering if this will be repeated?
We arrive at Carlsbad and head underground. There are paths through the caverns of over 37 miles and over 1200 feet below ground. The scale of the rocks and the caves which have been eroded is incredible. One section of roof which fell is called “the Iceberg”. It is estimated at over 200,000 tonnes, but the space it fell into is vast. The stalactites and stalagmites are varied in size, colour, pattern, and their chemical constituency (see the photo above). Some are shaped like animals, some like Japanese sculptures, and some like Hindu gods. One is called the "Rock of Ages".
The caves also contain a colony of over 1,000,000 Freetail Mexican bats which fly out at dusk each evening before returning each dawn. The smell at the entrance is spookily evident to their existence.
After a long day, we had planned to wait to see the bat exodus, but a lightning storm engulfs us and the area around the caves, so we make a fast exit to our overnight accommodation.
Next day we are taking a slight detour to the Bottomless Lake. It was created by a huge sinkhole. Now filled with water, fish and turtles, it is like a scene out of a Spanish resort. A sandy beach, green/blue water, and folk snorkelling, swimming, playing on paddle boards and boats. Out of the corner of my eye, I think I see an enormous green fish jumping, twisting and diving back into the water. To be honest I thought it could have been a diver’s leg, but none are in the vicinity. Gail is a bit sceptical... that is until we both see another leap in the same area, and spookily that is the last we see of that for the rest of the day.
It is really hot, and we have Roswell to go through once more (can you hear the spooky music playing). This time the Sat. Nav. Gains 1 hour just after we enter the city and once again we have no logical explanation. (We are not crossing any specific time zones) But we are delighted to return home earlier than expected.
Today has been a day for Spiritual rest; though I was invited out for a very interesting pastoral meeting in the afternoon. Listening, supporting, sharing blessed us both I believe – and that seems quite spooky to me also.
In Ephesians 1 we read of the mystery of God’s will :-
8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
God’s mysteries are spiritual truths made known only through revelation. "Can you search out the deep things of God"?
The Old Testament prophet Job is brilliant at challenging us to reflect and meditate on God’s word. Here is a taste :-
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than heaven— what can you do? Deeper than Sheol— what can YOU know?" Job 11:7-8
I love the fact that people who really want to know God more, who are willing to search and question find their peace and hope only in Christ.
Go deeper God shouts – “I want to show you My logic, My plans, My WILL for YOU”.
And by the way – our Roswell muffins turned out to be a very strange green colour – though they did taste great!