The ride from Kettle Falls to Ione was one of those rides we’d like to have every day. The scenery was what you’d expect to find in a travel brochure. There were barns, cattle, old log buildings, mountains, waterfalls, and small towns. Somewhere along the ride, we stopped, had a picnic lunch, took some pictures, and headed back up state route 20 toward Ione. Riverview Motel is our home for the night. It overlooks the Pend Oreille River. We do have a fisherman with us, Kevin who is Becky’s husband, and he is down on the dock fishing as I’m writing this. Because fish are plentiful, so are bald eagles. Through a spotting scope on a deck by the river we were able to watch a bald eagle mama feed her babies. There's a bountiful supply of fish here.
Whenever we arrive at our home for the night we unpack, shower, and head somewhere for supper. This evening we headed to the Snackwagon (Phil and Gale’s RV) and tortilla casserole was the featured item on the menu. Dessert was brownies with ice cream. Whatever we get is always good because we’re always hungry whenever we stop. (This is not a Weight Watchers trip, you know!)
This whole license plate thing reminds me of a story I heard from some preacher. He told of an old man in town, Fred, who was not the friendliest of fellows. Even a “Good morning” or a “How ya doin’?” received not much more than a grunt. The old fellow didn’t even look up as he walked. What he did do, was find stuff. Looking down on the sidewalk and in the gutters all the time, he was sure to find something. And he did. After he died, family members found in his small home, a mess of things. An old wooden box was found and, in it, all the items found from his years of looking down: four rusty pocket knives, several screwdrivers, one spoon, three license plates, thirteen baseballs, one ten dollar bill, eight pairs of glasses, a plastic whistle, combs, and hundreds of coins, mostly pennies and a few dimes. None of his family came to the funeral. He had no real friends but a couple of old fellows who knew him came just so somebody would be at his funeral. The message was short and simple and the burial was in a grave donated by the church. With the two old gentlemen standing by the grave and the preacher giving a grave-side benediction, he said, “Old Fred is finally looking up. Looking down all of his life, he found a bunch of junk . . . but he missed the beauty of God's creation, and lost his family and friends. He missed sunshine, seasons, children playing, Christmas lights, people, and the joy of being part of this community that would have made his life richer and enjoyable. Look up, fellas, look up.”
Good words of advice. It’s easy to focus on the junk in the world today. There certainly is enough to go around.
Look up, fellas, look up!
Hebrews 12:1-2
We enjoyed having you as our guests, if just for one night. We are continually amazed at the wonderful people that we meet, and you were no exception. We wish you best of luck and safe travelling, and thank you for the wonderful story...I will start looking up!
ReplyDeleteDan & Meredith Nutt
Cedar RV Park, Ione, Washington
Thank you for your kind words. We, as well, have been overwhelmed by the folks of Washington State. I think when God created the earth, He may have been showing off in Washington. The climbs are tough but, even snow covered, there's incredible beauty everywhere. Thank you for being a special part of our journey.
Delete