On the Road

I'm finally on the road. Picked up my trailer about a week ago, then spent several days getting things in order, figuring things out, etc. Left the area that's been my home for the past decade a few days ago, and truly began my travels. I'm in Michigan now, visiting an old friend; next up to Ontario, to see another, even older one.

So far it's been more like a shakedown cruise than a recreational journey: I'm still learning how everything works, and getting my routines established. But it's coming quickly, and I'm sure I'll be getting much more enjoyment out of it before long.

I'll be staying with my friend in Ontario for a week or so, then heading down to Toronto for the first of the real reasons I'm doing this: to seek encounters with God at one of the churches where He is known to show up regularly. I'll be there until late August.

Because also, Carolina is coming back in late August, and I'm picking her up in Toronto. We spent some time praying about it, and both agreed that we felt the Lord calling us to seek Him and His will for our future together. To seek His will together, that is, not that He revealed that His will for our future is to be together. Although maybe. I'm open to being shown by Him that that is the case. She truly is wonderful to me. But once again, it's not about that, or my feelings; it's about God's plan for our future. "For I know the plans I have for you: plans of good, and not of evil, to give you hope and bring you to an expected end." (Jer 29:11)

There is an obvious question that arises from us traveling together and sharing living quarters, since we are Christians and seeking active encounter with God, so let me answer it clearly but tactfully: No. We are in a relationship, and we have been and will be sharing quarters, because of the unique circumstance in which we find ourselves; but we have a line that we don't cross, mutually agreed upon, and that's that.

Here is the trailer I bought: https://coachmenrv.com/travel-trailers/freedom-express-pilot/19FBS/3826

Control the soul's restless fluctuations by love.
Calm its desires by self-control.
Give wings to its powers of understanding by prayer.
Then the light of your spiritual intellect will never be dimmed.

Love and self-control liberate the soul from its obsessions.
Reading and reflection deliver the intellect from ignorance.
Regular prayer brings the soul into the very presence of God.

-- Maximus the Confessor

I will now call to mind the works of the Lord

and will declare what I have seen.

By the words of the Lord his works are done.

and by his good pleasure justice is done.

The sun looks down on everything with its light,

and the work of the Lord is full of his glory.

The Lord has not enabled even his holy ones

to recount all his marvelous works,

which the Lord the Almighty has established

so that the universe may stand firm in his glory.

He searches out the Abyss and the heart

and considers their wonders.

For the Most High knows all that may be known,

and he has seen the signs of the age.

He declares what has been and what is to be,

and he reveals the tracks of hidden things.

No thought escapes him,

and not one thing is hidden from him.

He has ordained the splendors of his wisdom,

and he is from everlasting to everlasting.

Nothing can be added or taken away,

and he needs no one to be his counselor.

How greatly to be desire are all his works,

and how brilliant they are to see!

All these things live and remain forever

for every need, and all are obedient.

All things are twofold, one opposite the other,

and who can have enough of seeing his glory?

-- Sirach 42

Bishop Barron on The Holy Spirit

"You don't need to read the news. If anything important happens, far too many people are sure to tell you about it."

-- C.S. Lewis

So Who am I?

I've said several times that what Carolina did for me was that she saw who I really am, and believed, which enabled me to believe. But who is that?

Some of the things that move me most deeply:

The relationship between Fantein and Valjean in Les Miserables.

La Traviata

Movies like these:
https://youtu.be/wIoumDCBcuY
https://youtu.be/uPJVJBm9TPA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF7-H7FLsLE

This. Especially this:
https://youtu.be/G3ykt6pyLJ4

So who am I, then? I am this guy:

"And the world will be better for this: that one man, scorned and covered with scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage."

Thank You

Thank you for your affection, your intimacy, your trust, your admiration, your devotion: all the things I've always needed but never had

Thank you for being the one who had the courage to taste and see if I am good, and for finding that I am. And for telling me so.

Thank you for calling me 'knight', 'hero', 'savior', 'gentleman', 'perfect lover', 'great man'. Everything a man could ever wish to be called by a woman.

Thank you for allowing me to help you, to heal you, to be good, kind, and gentle to you. To show you what kind of man I truly am. And most of all, to show you Jesus, and to bring you and Him closer to each other.

Thank you for bringing laughter, happiness, and silliness back into my life. I've laughed more in the last month than in the previous ten years.

Thank you for making me funny again. For making me fun again.

Thank you for showing me, at long last, what it feels like to be loved.

Thank you for teaching me to love myself.

Thank you for loving me.

Time To Say Good-Bye

Goodbye, sweet girl.

Under the willow, outside the Museum of Fine Art. A day of beauty and peace.

After church and brunch: fine weather, peace with God, laughter and love. A perfect Sunday.

After we picked up the rest of your luggage, you wanted to show me all your pretty things. Adorable

Sexy Librarian

Miss Meadows

Elegant

Fairy

Pretty Woman

"In the last resort faith is an act of the will, inspired by love." -- J.R.R Tolkien

Boston

I'm in Boston (for the first time in my life) with Carolina, and having a wonderful time. It just so happens that my dear friend Maggie has recently moved here, as her husband Nico has a new job at Harvard. I was planning to come by and see her when I hit the road with my camper, but this is even better. I wasn't relishing driving through this part of the country with a trailer. Carolina is flying out from here in a few days. I like Boston so far, surprisingly, as I generally don't like cities.

I closed on my house on Tuesday, so everything is done and that chapter of my life is closed. After I drop Carolina off in a couple of days, I'll head back to Virginia to stay with my brother and look for the camper, and then I'm off. 

"One has to accept sorrow for it to be of any healing power, and that is the most difficult thing in the world... A priest once said to me,"When you understand what accepted sorrow means, you will understand everything. It is the secret of life." -- Maurice Baring

Edit by Carolina:
Right, but also "When you understand what accepted JOY means, you will understand everything. It is the secret of life." -- A Silly Tiny girl completely in love for you