Hiking The Grasslands

I went hiking this weekend.  But not only that, I camped too.  I think it's probably the first time I've gone camping in close to 15 years.  For the occasion, I purchased a two-man tent last time I went to Vancouver.

Four of us from the hiking club left early yesterday morning, arriving at Grasslands National Park around 1pm.  Shortly after arrival we hiked close to 17kms.  For dinner we cooked up some burgers that the ranger from the park was kind enough to share.  Then we camped, only to be woken up early this morning around 7 by loud thunder and lightning.  I quickly packed up my tent, as I didn't want to get it all wet and mucky (we were only staying for one night anyways), and shortly after packing everything up sure enough, it rained buckets and buckets of water.

By 10am the sun was out, and we were hiking again.  Today we hiked around 12kms.

We left around 4pm, and arrived back in Moose Jaw close to 7pm. 

The subtle beauty of this place is awe-inspiring.  Below are some pictures.

Saturday hike:

Campground:

Sunday hike:

Scenery on the way home:

Ted In Town

Yesterday Ted came to visit me.  He was here for work, so we took the opportunity to go to Regina for dinner.  We went to a place that has Spanish-influenced food.  We both had a lamb dish and a glass of wine.

This morning we met up briefly (I took the day off work) and went for a walk through Crescent Park and checked out the tennis courts and the swimming pool.  The weather yesterday and today was sunny, but chilly.  I also brought him to my apartment so he could see where I live.  By 9:45am we said goodbye, as he had to return to Vancouver.  

He was the first person to come from elsewhere to visit me.  Actually, he was the first passenger in my car (in 5 months!), and he was also the first person to see my apartment.  This just goes to show how socially isolated I've been for the past 5 months.

Abandoned Or Abundant?

I met with my spiritual director this morning.  I described to him my feelings of abandonment: by God and man.  Sometimes even by myself.

I used to have a fervent faith, unmovable, unshakeable.

Then I walked the path, lived the life, and breathed the air of abandonment.  First, in 2001-2, then again in 2012-3.  Sometimes I want to cease breathing.

Where is Grace?  Where is Life?  Abundant Life?

"I came that [you] may have life and have it abundantly." - John 10:10b

And yet, I wonder whether it's Grace that sustains me.  If it wasn't for Lovingkindness, I wouldn't even wake up in the morning with a tiny - but tangible - sense of hope.  Perhaps I'm closer to God now than I ever have been.

Burgers At The Cabin

I like Fridays, because a spirit of anticipation seems to prevail among us at work.  7.5 more hours before the weekend: rest - leisure - friends and family.  Perhaps nothing exemplifies this enthusiasm more than lunchtime, when a few of usually eat a meal together.

Sometimes, like today, we go out for lunch together.  And today 4 of us we went to the Burger Cabin, a small outlet that serves fantastic burgers in a park nearby.  The weather was warm, but we found a nice and shady spot and ate grease and calories to our hearts delight.

Below is my friend Alison, whom I mentioned in a post a few days ago.  She just bought a brand new car.

New Friends

I have formed a few new friendships in my new city.

Adam, Pastor of a local Baptist Church, was the first one to reach out to me.  Confident, humble, and a very good communicator he is.  A great sense of humour, too.  We played soccer in the winter together, and now that the days are hot and long, we get together for a monthly bbq at his place.

John, a friend of Adam's, is also a good guy.  He joins us at the bbqs.  Very intelligent, and a gentle soul.  He recently entered the Roman Catholic Church, which means that we have some very good and interesting conversations.  I meet for coffee with him every Sunday morning after church.

Alison, probably my best friend here.  She reached out to me from the very beginning at work.  Unlike many of us who only reveal our strengths to others, hiding our weaknesses and downfalls, Alison shared her brokenness with me right from the get-go.  Very refreshing.  She's kindhearted, engaged, and has a very inspiring attitude towards life.

Lord, thank you for these new friends.  You know their struggles and their successes.  Bless them, preserve them, and draw them ever closer to your bosom, through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Clouds (And Yes .. Hiking!)

Today's post was going to be about hiking, but the cloud formation I witnessed today was just incredible, I had to make them the central subject of the post.  The hike was overshadowed - pardon the pun - by the clouds!

I noticed the clouds before even getting onto the highway.  A blanket of clouds hovering low over the earth, coloured in alternating blue-grey and white, and with seemingly set channels or ridges on an east-west pattern.  It was mesmerizing, almost to the point of eery.

Along the highway I was captivated by the juxtaposition of colours: greens, yellows, blues, various shades of grey, and white.

Once I arrived at the Wascana trails, the sky opened up somewhat.  In the picture below, there's clear sky to the south (right side of the picture), and a blanket of thick clouds that resemble a big wave crashing on the beach on the north-east.

I didn't know what to expect in terms of hiking, but was pleasantly surprised not only by these trails, but also by the surrounding landscapes.  The trails, about 15 kms worth, criss-cross a valley that at this time of the year is lush with hundreds of shades of green.  A river traverses the bottom of the valley, with one bridge providing the crossing point between the two sides.

 The view, standing atop the valley.

Lunch, riverside.

For the next few weeks there are no hikes for me, but two weekends from now I'm going to Grasslands National Park.  That should be amazing.

Snowbirds

Over the past few days - probably because of the festivities surrounding Canada Day - the Snowbirds have been flying over our city late in the afternoon.  On my way home from work I was able to take a picture of them flying right over me.

Back At Home

 It sounds strange calling the prairies home.  Maybe one day it'll feel like home...

 

Around 10am Eric dropped by my parents' place this morning, and after a brief check-in with them, Eric and I got into his classic BMW car, and off to Milestones for brunch we went.

It was good to reconnect with him after a few months.  He has had his share of struggle too, on a number of fronts...

In the afternoon Ralph came over to mom and dad's, so we hung out a bit before they dropped me off at the airport.

My flight back to the prairies was quiet and smooth.  I arrived at home close to midnight.  Good thing I don't start work until 11am on Tuesdays...

Oh yeah: Happy Canada Day!

Fútbol and Family

After a dreadful end last night to what was otherwise a good day, I thought I wasn't going to get a good sleep, but as has so often been the case this past year, even after a horrible day, I am able to close my eyes at night and somehow, mysteriously, my troubles disappear for the duration of the sleep.

Miraculously, the following morning I wake up rejuvenated, refreshed, renewed, and revitalized.   That was the case again today.  It didn't last long - about 2 hours - but it's true, I did wake up reinvigorated this morning.

Marty woke up around the same time I did, close to 9am and promptly continued exercising his selfless hospitality towards me.  Coffee.  Bagels.  Roasted vegetables.  Fruit salad.  Juice.  So humbling...

We began watching the Uruguay-Italia game.  Halfway through the game Ruth woke up too - definitely not an early riser - and joined our soccer-centric conversation.  I was cheering for Uruguay.  They lost.

I then said goodbye to them both, but not before sharing with them a little bit of my relational journey this past year.  More empathy.  More compassion.

I then made my way to Abbotsford.  Heavy-hearted.  Burdened.

Upon arrival at home I began watching the Brasil-España game.  To my dismay, Brazil won.  Most of my family was cheering for Brazil.  I wasn't.  Some accused me of being biased because of my recent positive experience on the Camino in Spain.  Yes, true, and?  I wish they would also accuse me of liking Spain because of the beautiful fútbol they play!

In fairness though, Brazil played an amazing game.  My friend Tati from Aracaju - though she dislikes soccer - should be proud of her nation's performance: if Brazil play like this in the World Cup next year, they will be a hard team to beat.  It was a beautiful fútbol symphony...

From the game to the table.  Lunch time.  What would our family do without mom and dad's never-ending expressions of hospitality and love?  I don't know.  Things quite possibly would just fall apart.

Another feast.  Sopa paraguaya.  Bbq'd ribs and chicken.  Scalloped potatoes.  Wackelpeter.  The list is endless.  Thank you for family, Lord.

Tomorrow I am meeting Eric for brunch.  He's driving out to Abbotsford.  Then, at 5pm, I return to Regina.