Date: 2004-06-01
From: Marble Creek Campsite

To: Glasgow
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: scattered clouds

06/01/04Here I am in Glasgow, Virginia...and if I did drugs, I might think that I was tripping. There are dinosaurs all over the town in random locations. I am in a store with what I believe to be a cowboy lassoing a Triceratops in front of it. As if dinosaurs were not random enough...but why the cowboy? Apparently they were an April Fools joke in 2003...that was never taken down. Behind me I hear a woman speaking of her son's "corn snake, boa, and his albino python."...ahh!!!I came to town tonight, not to "relax", but rather to address some financial issues. The MVA is charging me 150 dollars for not having CAR INSURANCE (which I have) on my car (which is off the road), my Lowe's credit card has no interest until 2005, except for a few small items (below $300)...; however, they have allocated my payments towards the no-interest part of the bill so it can accrue (doh!)I sent deferment papers to Student Loans which it seems they never received. Finally, I am waiting on my friend to sell a house we worked on together...but I can't reach him. Despite these 4 things I feel nice. Here is why: My God shall supply all my needs...Today, Boo-boo and I awoke at 8:30 AM. To Boo-boo, 2 PM is an early rise, so this was rough. When we got over playing with the fire, we left at about 9:45 AM. We began our day by hiking High Cock Knob...I will not broach the topic of this name, but relegate it to the list that includes: Chunky Gal Trail, Big Butt, Little Hump Mountain, and Hump Mountain; never to be discussed in my journal. In the first mile we rose 800 feet...from there we would drop 2,200 feet in 6 miles. As Boo-boo and I hiked, we joked and covered ground nicely. We passed Columbine (beautiful peach to orange colored flower) and Spiderwort. The temperature was mild and the hike easy...until my stomach said hello.After 3 miles, and 2 miles to a shelter, my stomach decided to evict the contents of my bowels..."uh-oh." My choices were to dig the largest "cat-hole" ever or to "run." I chose the latter. Running over a mountain (downhill), needing to defecate is interesting. You have to move fast, but you have to squeeze. In the end, I looked like a duck on cocaine, waddling quick and I could to the shelter, but I did not care. I made it to the privy in the nick of time...then I sat at a picnic table to read and regroup. I can't tell you much about the 2 mils of waddle-age...they're all a blur. From the shelter, we finished our last 2 miles to town and crossed the largest footbridge on the trail, over the James River. The James was the original location of the Virginia colonists, but now it looked more like a clay-ridden mess...nonetheless, it was neat to cross. I wanted to handle stuff (financial) as I went to town. Boo-boo was not going to stay in town, but then he changed his mind. I think he wanted to check on me. While I was down I appreciated his company. Only 2 months ago I don't think Boo-boo and I could have spent more than 30 minutes together; now we're becoming good friends. The reason I was down was not finances. I checked my e-mail and within uplifting notes from my friends was an e-mail mentioning how I "destroyed my witness" as a Christian by drinking. This note giver left an opinion, but no name in my guest book. It is true that one week ago I drank and was a fool. This reader read this in another journal. Since no e-mail was left, here is my response: I was sinning when I became drunk and I have sought to be forgiven...God promises I will be. In Hebrews it says to fall before his "throne of grace", and I know his grace is sufficient for me. In Romans (chapter 7), Paul speaks of doing what he doesn't want to and not doing what he wants to. To anyone reading, I will not defend my sin. I fell down and God is picking me up. Through the experience I have decided to re-evaluate drinking at all...but God can still use my witness. If my witness is perfection...I'm doomed. Instead, I believe that being transparent and truly repentant before my Creator is all I can do. I know he has me out here and will pick me up. Furthermore, as I seek him for restoration, I have seen him use that very process as a witness to friends around me. If you want to be a Christian friend who is helping me in love, please leave your name in the future. I don't strive to sin. It's hard when not only you, but all your friends, write down your every action. I want to live in a Godly way, but I will never be perfect. That is why I need grace.That is the end of my sermon. When I was upset after the e-mail, I e-mailed a friend from church. He was the one who sent me the message: "God's grace covers you." In addition, Boo-boo and I had a great discussion about the whole thing, and by 4:30 when I left I was smiling as I realized that God has me. To end the night, Boo-boo and I relaxed in the hotel room. I finished a book entitled "The Jester" about a fool (literally) in the time of the Crusades who discovers a relic and eventually leads a revolution and more. The book was great and I unwound. We ate pizza (cheap food ?), I watched the Orioles lose, and we saw VH1's "The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs Ever (Go Ice, Ice, Baby... #4). Before bed, Boo-boo brought me Coke and Ben 'N Jerry's. Ahhh.As I go to sleep, I thank God for 2 things: Grace and friends. I know people love me...even when I'm imperfect. To my friends at home, please pray for my daily walk and my financial stresses. Still know that God blesses me daily out here and is my everything. I know him more daily and I long to serve him because I love him and he loves me more than I can comprehend. I will leave to hike 18 miles tomorrow, but the fact above will still be true. I could leave the trail and it would still be true. As I hike I will seek him more daily, but chances are I will fall down again...and he will be waiting to cover me with grace and pick me up. Sorry if I preach too much, but this is who I am. Thank you for reading my journal. Goodnight,BeatboxP.S. I saw a cute frog today.