2010 March 2
Elwha Campground > Port Angeles (bus) > Elwha Campground
Distance Biked: 7 miles
No time for cooked breakfast this morning as I meant to catch an early bus into town. Dashing off with a handful of raisins and peanuts, I rode three miles to the 101 and thirty minutes later was in Port Angeles, hopefully for the last time of this trip. At the Elam's house I picked up a parcel of papers I had been waiting on. In fact, these were the reason for my fortnight delay in Elwha, and consisted mainly of tax documents. Bob Dylan says, "everybody must get stoned," and even travelers must shave their share of whiskers into the government money bin.
Elwha River, WA
Although I do not believe it, I have read that prostitution is the world's oldest trade. If true, no doubt taxation immediately followed as some public man's means of recovering 40% of his loss. The antiquity of government siphoning rivals sin and fire. Though the Caesars were better known for politics than philosophy, the Gospel of Luke records their unanimous, nearly religious conviction, "All the world should be taxed." [1] Thank God, I have received that which cannot be rendered to nor taken by Rome's cudgel, the image of God in my spirit and the inheritance of Christ in the life to come. [2]
Hurricane Ridge, from port Angeles, WA
The pastor takes his notes with a Parker fountain pen. Wise man, indeed.
Pastor Elam was in the shower when I came but he found me later at the grocery store, editing photos and writing. After giving him a crash course in photography - Elam had brought with him a svelte little Panasonic LX3 - I was pleased to engage in a discussion of Covenant Theology and its bearing on baptism and ecclesiastical membership. Though the reader may not know what all this entails, it shall suffice to understand these issues have practical implications which demarcate boundaries of major denominations of Christians. Having spent several months considering these topics, I was relieved to have a more well informed head to bounce my beliefs upon. Discussion often settles the mottled waters of private rumination, the echo returning with greater clarity than the first sound. The pastor patiently listened to my undeveloped explanations, never displaying airs of pretense or scholarly condescension, but amicably responding with his own views. Whether any grounds were gained or lost theologically, stakes were nonetheless set further into the territories of fellowship and charity. As a final gesture of our new friendship, I passed once more at the Elam's to take a photo with the family.
The pastor tries out his new skills.
While waiting for the bus I spoke briefly with Eli Brayley on the phone. This Sunday commences All Saints Church, in Logan, Utah, where he has been appointed associate pastor. All abuzz with the ardor of personal epiphany, Eli urged me to consider 1 Corinthians 13 as not so much a rule of manners to live by, but the description of an attitude of community we have towards others when we cherish them in Christ. Adding to this I observed those familiar statements, "Love is patient, love is kind", etc., are best comprehended as the Father's benevolent disposition towards the Church. To His saints God is patient, God is kind. He is not easily provoked, nor does He think evil towards us. He bears all things, and, after the manner of human speech, hopes all things for us.
Owen waits for the bus.
During the ride home I sat beside Mike, an elderly fellow who suffered a stroke last year, and whose house burned down this January. A week earlier he had also been my seatmate. Then he told me to visit the Elwha hot springs which, he reports, cured his lame hand. Despite the shoe-in reference to Christ at the pool of Bethesda [3], I did not sense much willingness from him to discuss spiritual matters, so I only briefly expressed my hope in Christ to be my Representative and righteousness before God in the judgment, and to have suffered the penalty for sin in my place. Mike invited me to visit him in Neah Bay if I am out that way.
Early cherry blossoms
For the final time I made dinner along the Elwha. Twilight's bruised eye closed black-and-blue, the weather radio humming a crisp broadcast of the Brothers Diouf and Emily Claire Barlow on CBC Radio 2. Strains of tenor saxophone and smoke-smooth clarinet set the tone. I romanced over the idea of something called home, and of occasional trips to the city for jazz and umbrella walks down glossy wet streets; for holding hands in the farmer's market; a lasting affection reclining in close friendship.
People seem to want love that sets them weak, makes them faint. Give me a love that imparts peace and rest and strength. Youth seeks after breathless, dizzy, light-headed love. That is fun in its place, I have felt it. But it's all chemistry and no carbon. I want to move beyond breathlessness: to have love which breathes deeply, exhaling into one long calm. To be drawn down from the vacuous orbit of Hollywood charisma, from the astral miasma of magazine pulp; to be pulled deep by the gravity of weighty, elemental substance. And lest two hearts should burn themselves to ash before touching down, I yearn to be encapsulated in principles tempered to endure that fiery atmospheric entry, being "in love". So much is made of love in the clouds; I pound to feel love with feet firm on the ground!
Even as blossoms bow their heads beneath clouded skies, so our hearts falter and hang when sin and the world obscure the true Light, the Son who is our Sun!
[1] Luke 2:1 - "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed."
[2] Col. 1:12-14; 3:23,24 -
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
[3] John 5:1-18
Elwha Campground > Port Angeles (bus) > Elwha Campground
Distance Biked: 7 miles
No time for cooked breakfast this morning as I meant to catch an early bus into town. Dashing off with a handful of raisins and peanuts, I rode three miles to the 101 and thirty minutes later was in Port Angeles, hopefully for the last time of this trip. At the Elam's house I picked up a parcel of papers I had been waiting on. In fact, these were the reason for my fortnight delay in Elwha, and consisted mainly of tax documents. Bob Dylan says, "everybody must get stoned," and even travelers must shave their share of whiskers into the government money bin.
Elwha River, WA
Although I do not believe it, I have read that prostitution is the world's oldest trade. If true, no doubt taxation immediately followed as some public man's means of recovering 40% of his loss. The antiquity of government siphoning rivals sin and fire. Though the Caesars were better known for politics than philosophy, the Gospel of Luke records their unanimous, nearly religious conviction, "All the world should be taxed." [1] Thank God, I have received that which cannot be rendered to nor taken by Rome's cudgel, the image of God in my spirit and the inheritance of Christ in the life to come. [2]
Hurricane Ridge, from port Angeles, WA
The pastor takes his notes with a Parker fountain pen. Wise man, indeed.
Pastor Elam was in the shower when I came but he found me later at the grocery store, editing photos and writing. After giving him a crash course in photography - Elam had brought with him a svelte little Panasonic LX3 - I was pleased to engage in a discussion of Covenant Theology and its bearing on baptism and ecclesiastical membership. Though the reader may not know what all this entails, it shall suffice to understand these issues have practical implications which demarcate boundaries of major denominations of Christians. Having spent several months considering these topics, I was relieved to have a more well informed head to bounce my beliefs upon. Discussion often settles the mottled waters of private rumination, the echo returning with greater clarity than the first sound. The pastor patiently listened to my undeveloped explanations, never displaying airs of pretense or scholarly condescension, but amicably responding with his own views. Whether any grounds were gained or lost theologically, stakes were nonetheless set further into the territories of fellowship and charity. As a final gesture of our new friendship, I passed once more at the Elam's to take a photo with the family.
The pastor tries out his new skills.
While waiting for the bus I spoke briefly with Eli Brayley on the phone. This Sunday commences All Saints Church, in Logan, Utah, where he has been appointed associate pastor. All abuzz with the ardor of personal epiphany, Eli urged me to consider 1 Corinthians 13 as not so much a rule of manners to live by, but the description of an attitude of community we have towards others when we cherish them in Christ. Adding to this I observed those familiar statements, "Love is patient, love is kind", etc., are best comprehended as the Father's benevolent disposition towards the Church. To His saints God is patient, God is kind. He is not easily provoked, nor does He think evil towards us. He bears all things, and, after the manner of human speech, hopes all things for us.
Owen waits for the bus.
During the ride home I sat beside Mike, an elderly fellow who suffered a stroke last year, and whose house burned down this January. A week earlier he had also been my seatmate. Then he told me to visit the Elwha hot springs which, he reports, cured his lame hand. Despite the shoe-in reference to Christ at the pool of Bethesda [3], I did not sense much willingness from him to discuss spiritual matters, so I only briefly expressed my hope in Christ to be my Representative and righteousness before God in the judgment, and to have suffered the penalty for sin in my place. Mike invited me to visit him in Neah Bay if I am out that way.
Early cherry blossoms
For the final time I made dinner along the Elwha. Twilight's bruised eye closed black-and-blue, the weather radio humming a crisp broadcast of the Brothers Diouf and Emily Claire Barlow on CBC Radio 2. Strains of tenor saxophone and smoke-smooth clarinet set the tone. I romanced over the idea of something called home, and of occasional trips to the city for jazz and umbrella walks down glossy wet streets; for holding hands in the farmer's market; a lasting affection reclining in close friendship.
People seem to want love that sets them weak, makes them faint. Give me a love that imparts peace and rest and strength. Youth seeks after breathless, dizzy, light-headed love. That is fun in its place, I have felt it. But it's all chemistry and no carbon. I want to move beyond breathlessness: to have love which breathes deeply, exhaling into one long calm. To be drawn down from the vacuous orbit of Hollywood charisma, from the astral miasma of magazine pulp; to be pulled deep by the gravity of weighty, elemental substance. And lest two hearts should burn themselves to ash before touching down, I yearn to be encapsulated in principles tempered to endure that fiery atmospheric entry, being "in love". So much is made of love in the clouds; I pound to feel love with feet firm on the ground!
Even as blossoms bow their heads beneath clouded skies, so our hearts falter and hang when sin and the world obscure the true Light, the Son who is our Sun!
[1] Luke 2:1 - "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed."
[2] Col. 1:12-14; 3:23,24 -
"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
[3] John 5:1-18
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