Originally published August 18, 2015
I gotta check my longitude and latitude, because I swear we moved to Sewanee and not Seattle. Did I miss a turn? With the rain we've experienced, I'm beginning to wonder. Downpours and downpours ever since we've been here, and forecast for all week. I know the mountain is famous for its fog, but the rain? All this rain is hampering my exercise plans, and Jackson's potty routines. We haven't figured out a way to fence a run for Jackson yet, so that means I have to make an effort to walk him. But living in the middle of a hairpin turn on the downside of a mountain full of them doesn't make for easy lunchtime walking. So walking Jackson has become an event. We have to load up the bottled water, the bowl, the leash, and a baggie (for you-know-what) and get in the car! To go for a walk we have to get in the car. Ugh. The things I'll do for seminary. Lucky for me, there's a Mountain Goat Trail here! Just like the Swamp Rabbit Trail, my Greenville friends! It's only five miles so far, but Jackson and I only need about a mile of it, so we're good. We can drive to the start, park and start up the path.
Here's Jackson doing you-know-what right at the sign Jackson loves it. There's so much stuff to pee on.
We discovered the trail on Saturday, and hadn't been back, so I knew we needed to get there today. Wake up. Pouring rain. So much rain that it has knocked out my satellite internet and is taking a toll on my Verizon signal. I am beginning to panic at the day.
But about midday, after the internet returned and I was able to work, the sun begin to shine.
Get up; pick up your mat and walk. John 5:8
It's so beautiful here. It's like Harry Potter land at Disney. Except it's not a ride. It's real. And cars stop and let you cross the road, when there is a car. Everything's made of Tennessee stone. Pumpkin patch stone, like on our house. Mottled orange and cream, like a cat. And there's only one light, and it just blinks.
You can't help but want to walk. Like Jackson. Even if we have to drive to get there.
We got there today, enjoying the bit of sunshine that was peeking through the clouds. It's over, I thought. Finally. We headed into the shade of the trail, and at the end of our section decided to head over to campus and make a circle back to the car. We get to the furthest point from the car, and guess what? Rain returns. I had a raincoat though. In the car.
Good thing it's a glorious 73 degrees and I have my running shoes on.
After the walk, there's my red raincoat, in the car. And a blue umbrella.
We were wet anyway, so Jackson and I stopped by Otey Parish, the little church on campus that we've visited.
Jackson cares not about the rain, and as I was running alongside him, I thought, I shouldn't either. It's warm, the rain is cool, this place is beautiful. My mascara's running. I did think that, but I didn't care. Too often we worry about getting wet, when we should just get our mat and walk. Forward. That's what we're doing here. Michael's scared, thinks he's not smart enough for all of this. I'm scared, running a company from two states away in a house on the side of a mountain where rain knocks out the internet. Isabel's at a new school, playing a team sport (our people are not sports-centric). Every day has its percentage chance of fright. I'm glad when the day is over, when Michael returns from school, and Isabel's team wins their game, and we have dinner together at our table. But I'll awake tomorrow with a little fright for the day, about the stability of the internet, my ability to lead our company, Isabel's new friendships and athletic endeavors and Michael's spiritual and academic challenges. Michael and I will pray, and I'll get my mat and walk. Walk into the new day in this odd, quiet, beautiful place. We know God has put us here, and in our discomfort, he is here with us, and through that discomfort we will all grow together. Growing pains, brought to you by God. Who will also give us the salve to soothe them, I know. Jackson is excited to be here. He's getting old, and in Greenville was just making it once around the lake. But here he's bounding up stairs and running around campus. What's gotten into him? There is no discomfort there; there are so many places to pee and poop. And I know Jackson looks forward to his next adventure on the MGT, as we call it here. Even if it's raining. Next time, though, I'll wear the raincoat. Or maybe not...
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