Imperial Nature Refuge, Yuma

Madigan and I decided to take a ride on the Harley for our day’s adventure. I didn’t have a destination but had seen signs for recreational areas along the I95 when I’d driven to the Castle Dome Silver Mine.  It was a cloudy day but a great ride.  Madigan is tucking his head down behind me in his box at higher speeds. I can see his head in my rear view mirrors when he pokes them up.

The last mil  to the Imperial National Nature Refuge was gravel road but little lose gravel.  I don’t like gravel on the Harley but this was fine.  Madigan could get off the bike and run about. Dogs were just not allowed in the exhibit building. I enjoyed the raised viewing platform. 

There was a boat launch with pub and outboard gas pump. Lots of Quads and Dessert 4x4 s with a touring guiding centre.  I also saw all thes great RV and Fifth Wheel Rigs spotte about the dessert.  They were off grid with solar panels and good generators. I expected they could last a few weeks without much trouble.  Maybe military folk get ways or off grid living for the middle class.  More boat trailers and quads.

I drove back to the US Army Proving Ground entrance to get a picture of Madigan and the bike under the helicopter, Another motorcyclist was just leaving having done the same.  

Great day. Great ride. Great dog!

A minor miracle

Naturally, being human,  we take for granted all the miracles of daily life.  Wakening. Air. Water. Friends and family.  I’m here and not in an abyss of pain and sorrow. I’m alive and the day is an adventure.

Last night I had a ‘minor miracle”. Miracles and the sacred are always happening but it takes these remarkable episodes to cause the hair to rise on the back of our necks and for us to step our of the reductionism brought on by theoverwhelming angst of existence.

I was at a meeting.  I love my meetings.  A group of guys who get together to share their ‘experience, strength and hope” helping each other to find and know a higher power.  It’s uplifting. I’m truly inspired by George, Marty, Dean, Nick, Hugh, Stan, Patrick, Sharma, Neil, Jack and the others I know but feel guilty as at this moment I see their faces and forget their names. I fear by naming any I will disappoint others who are just as precious but my mind is trained to forget names normally. I know the stories and the faces and the laughter most.

I was there last night. I left feeling like a wet dog let in from outside to sit for an hour by the fire. I went out.  There was my Harley Davidson Nightster Special.  How stupid of me! I’d left my pack sack on the back of the sissy bar.  No one had stolen it though it was unattended for an hour. That was something to register and appreciate. Everyday the media bemoans the stranger. Yet for an hour countless had walked by leaving the bag untouched.

Mounting this miracle of history, engineering and technology  I felt like a ride on the highway. I decided to head out on Highway number #1 going east to pick up some locks at Canadian Tire a few miles of throttle therapy away.

Wind in my hair, 120 km/hr in the special lane, feeling good, I signaled and began to cross the four lanes to the Brunette road.  I was just on the exit as cars honked and I looked to see that the wind had lifted my packsack off my sissy bar.  I pulled over and parked as a couple of girls slowed and said that my pack was just back a bit.

I walked thinking this is good. I need the exercise. I was 40 yards back when I spotted the pack sack on the road in the outer lane.I thought, great I’ll be able to snatch it in a lull in traffic.  Just as suddenly as that though, a sedan crossing hit the bag and picked it up under the carriage of their car. I saw it pointed and waved as they went by.  Unbelievable. 

I got back to my bike and got off the highway.  Stopping and putting the transmission in neutral I took out my Apple I phone which said my Apple Mini Pad had ‘disconnected’ ‘near highway number #1 east”.   I knew that.  But thanks to the Find My app I was able to see that the mini ipad was now across the bridge and in Surrey. It showed it there coming to a stop miles away.  I don’t like to drive motorcycles at night but it was now a mission.

I took off after the nap sack imagining it being dragged along screaming under the belly of the black sedan.  The night air breeze on the bridge going at 100 km/hr was invigorating. This was turning out to be a great ride if only I found my knapsack. It had my registration in it.  Further I realized that my mini ipad had transferred patient files on it and though it had passworded  locks and I worried that confidential information could be hacked . I watch too much NCIS.  

It’s really difficult following a map and gps on a motorcycle . I had to pull over and stop and look at the app and got lost but came around realizing that I was now on 104 where Kevin and Anna and their 5 kids and dog lived.  I’m the god father to some.  Wha a good excuse to drop in and see the new dog.  Nearly 10 pm. But the app said it was within a few km.

I knocked on the door and the new dog barked, Good dog. Anna was up visiting with a female friend. As usual she was looking good,  the proud momma with the healthy brood,  Kendra the fast growing little girl peeked her head out to see me. Vader the new dog sniffed my crotch in greeting . Kevin, looking like he woke from a nap then  appeared. I told the story of the hitchhiking knap sack and showed them my app indicating  the pack was near by.

“Why don’t we take my work truck and it will be easier to find.”  Said Kevin. He’s always helpful. A great family man. Hard worker. He lives to hunt too so I thought his expertise would be an addition. Also as we are both Christians.  I said ,”Where two or more are gathered in my name, there too am I , Jesus.”  A prayer and a companion.  It really was easier to follow the app not driving a motorcycle. It was just blocks away on King George by the white spot parking lot . 

“This is it.”  I said.  We got out and with the pen light I looked under the black cars in the parking lot behind White Spot.  A group of latino youngsters were hanging around their black sedan looking suspicious as youngster do to the old especially in a group and especially in jeans and hoodies and not being ivory white.  Kevin spoke to them.  No they’d not seen anything. It could have been the car though.

“The police were just here. Why not ask them . “. Sure enough. There was a Surrey police car and a really bright looking white friendly smart young guy.  I told him my unlikely tale and he offered to look at the phone and app agreeing  it was saying it was right here but seemed to move with us.  I asked him how I should report the loss and he told me how to leave a report on their on line website . “If you have the serial number and we get it we’ll be able to get it back to you.” Very helpful considerate guy. 

I was thinking I’d done my best and getting in the truck was set to call it a night but  Kevin said ‘lets just check over there.” The app seemed to say it was a bit closer towards the Walmart so we drove a few car lengths over and it seemed we were closer though the app was a still a bit  confusing.  I got out of the truck on my side about to look under the car when Kevin got out of his side of the truck and eureka! he lifted up my pack sack in the air!

Halleluja!.

 “It was just sitting on the road,  It must have come lose from what ever it had caught on .  ‘ He said,mThere was the mini ipad and my bike registration. I really was laughing, ecstatic with the most improbable find, What a treasure hunt and find.  

“Do you know the odds of a bag lying on the ground in Surrey for more than 5 minutes with all the drug addicts and homeless people about? Impossible.” Said Kevin,

The police car was there and the officer beamed at us holding up the bag like a couple of kids at a candy store.

“I’d call it a miracle! For sure. “. Kevin said, “Not like Moses parting the sea miracle. But a miracle all the same.”

 

I agreed.  “It’s got Gods finger prints all over it.  Given the chances of finding it in a parking lot full of black cars and an app that only put  us in the ball park ”

We drove back to Anna laughing and talking about miracles and Jesus’s and synchronicity and the hidden forces that we take for granted . 

Anna immediately asked “did you find it”.  Vader their shepherd dog was doing circles in the living room.  Dogs are on for any excuse to party.  

“We did “ I said.  “Your husband is an angel.”  

“He’s not called that often.” She laughed.

“Well I wasn’t the angel that found the bag. He found it in the parking lot so he’s my angel tonight.  He’s a great hunter and a Christian brother. I’d not have found the ipad without his help and of course  clearly Jesus had a hand in this too.  The odds alone speak to that.” I said.

“Think of how incredible it was a to find a pack sack sat in a Surrey mall parking lot with no one claiming it there own so we could find it. After it got picked up miles away on the other side of the river” Kevin added,”  

We were all laughing. I had a fine folding hunting knife in the bag too so gave that to Kevin.  

.  “Really thank you.”   I said. 

‘ This is great, you know I love knives.   I’m not going to let Anna touch it because she’ll want  it.” He said . Anna laughed.

Leaving Annna and Kendra in the house,  Kevin came out now carrying  littlest Billy on his shoulder.

 “Hi Billy I said , that’s my name.”  The shy little boy turned his head into his father’s neck . We were preparing to be godparents except Covid intervened and postponed the baptism and our presence. , 

 His eyes came alive t when I got on my motorcycle and started  1000 cc   engine. What a grand sound a Harley makes.  

‘That’s a great bike,’ Kevin said. 

‘Another minor miracle,” I replied,

I went on to say over the engine roar, ‘ Thanks really. And thanks for tonight. What an adventure! “

 We smiled at each other as I backed the bike onto the street. Turning I took off on the Nightster enjoying the sound, enjoying the night, enjoying the wind, enjoying having hé Napsack on my back.  Enjoying the friends and family. Enjoying another” peek a boo” moment with God.  That was a miracle. A moment of grace where we saw behind the veil and knew that are was well and we need not be afraid.

 There is a higher power and its not me.

The ride at night back over the bridge at 120 km hr was even more invigorating and joyful.  Thank you Jesus. It really is great to be snapped out of the mundane into the sacred and serene. 

Easter Weekend

It’s Easter Weekend. This is the time when even the C&E Christians do their second pilgrimage to the hallowed halls of higher learning.  It’s also the weekend here when the North Shore Round Up of AA takes place.  This year the round up is at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  

Before Covid when George, Vivian and Antonnio were still alive we’d have these wonderful reunions, lighting up when we saw each other, shaking hands and sharing embraces, our smiles so wide there was no room for face.  

George and I with our lady friends would begin the weekend with Friday night at the speaker meeting for AA.  Antonnio would connect with us then. Along with hundreds of others dozens of whom we called our close friends.  Vivian might be there or we’d connect with her on Saturday.  Being a priest she had so many duties with her church Easter Weekend it was a trial for her to slip out. Saturday meetings at the Round up and the dance that night, often after a dozen or so dined together was, always special.  I remember all these incredible story tellers from the round up, Dr. Bob’s son, and the nun whose vodka bottles clinked when she walked, the lawyer for the Hell’s Angels, all these wonderfully funny inspirational folk who brought us together in the evening.  

Sunday morning though George and I would meet at Christ Church Cathedral  early to get in ,as with each passing year the overflow increased. George, a jazz pianist and physician, would ,like me enjoy the incredible choir and organ at Christ Church.  Easter was the time the Brass was added with horns and trumpets.  We’d burst with song and Hallelujah. Christ is Risen.  We’d love Peter’s sermons and talk of them later over brunch. Often we’d be able to make the spiritual speaker at the Round up after church if we slipped out after sharing communion.  

We’d say hello to Antonnio, Barb, Andrea, Stephen , Vivian, Jackie.  Archie and Bill were always about.  So many people bursting with joy and celebration, clear eyes, where to stones had once been.  Scotty and Michelle, when Scotty was alive and still bursting with wisdom. I loved connecting with Lorne from the country, and others who came in often fo the annual gathering.  We’d lunch with Kevin and Anna before all their kids came along.   I loved most when the AA roundup  was held at the Hyatt with it’s chandeliered  ball room the weekend before EAster.  Then we’d be able to take in both  celebrations before it grew so big it moved to the convention centre.

Then Covid leaked and the lockdowns followed. .  I ‘m still isolating a bit. Each month I’m doing more , coming out more, socializing but still rather content to be alone . I’ve sailed solo so many years that I’m rather content with my hermit friend Laura and the crazy dog.  Our work is very intense and social so weekends I like to be alone in nature though as spiritual meetings works as well as the forest to still the soul.  I have a friend in Jesus.  I sing Hallelujah.  I pray and meditate.  I’m not going to St. Mark’s with John and studying Christian spirituality at Regent College anymore, so many evenings so many years, of meetings and classes after work. We all so loved the Christian dinners together when John was alive and James Houston’s wife was a live and Helen was back from her missionary work in the Sudan.  

As a child with my mom and dad and brother and often with my Aunt Sally visiting we’d go as a family to church, the ladies wearing white gloves and Easter hats.  I’d go on to be an intellectual, doctor, and study multiple religions, always striving to know God and self, the two entwined.  I was awarded a masters in Christian theology and comparative religions to go with the many other pieces of paper on the wall beside the MD , Psychiatry and Addiction medicine degrees.  Each year at this time I’d be as I am today surprised at the time.  We’re here again.  We are blessed to be alive another year.  Another year to contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus ,the deepest meaning of his parables and the beatitudes. 

This year I’ve bought a new motorcycle while Jesus was dying on the cross. It’s wind therapy and moving meditation.  Jesus Christ is an experience not an idea.  I don’t care to argue any more with aetheist prosyletizers or others who would contain God.  I loved Phillips book « your God is too small » . 

 Willie, the Christian psychiatrist would say that Jesus said ‘do not be afraid’ more than once.  He encouraged reading the Bible daily and every time I do I learn more from the living word. Phillip another Christian psychiatrist would say Christ is the celebration of life. Jesus also said ‘where two or more are gathered together , there too am I’.  He also came as a stranger.  Tom and I sailing or driving the back woulds in the truck would contemplate the song ‘were you there when they crucified my lord’.  « I was probably holding the spear’, Tom would say. I recently watched the performance on uTube of   the Thief by Third Day .  I took Laura to hear them when they played in Langley. It was truly a miraculous communion for all there .  The night air when we left was somehow more alive.  

Easter is a time of reflection, celebration and thanksgiving.  Thank you Jesus. Thank you Christ. Thank you Holy Spirit. Thank you God.