WALKING ROUTE 66
Spirit Has No Domain And No One Owns It
Respecting the faith of others strengthens yours.
As was disappointed that I didn’t see or hear and cayotes as they promised. Maybe they were pulling my leg; I’ll never know.
I woke when my alarm went off. My phone was not within reach since it was charging overnight some distance from me. I set my alarm to wake me up for meditation, so it doesn’t blare off like a siren. It’s soft music that gradually gets louder. I laid there and took in the predawn energy of the cosmos. Bliss!!
After freshening up and packing everything, I headed out. A couple of gentlemen were there near the front office. We talked for a while, as I explained to them what I was doing and where I was headed. One of the guys gave me a Cross. It was a beautifully crafted piece of jewelry. He said if I ever got lonesome, just to clutch it.
I surprised myself by accepting it with the same reverence with which he offered it to me. In the past, I would have gracefully declined because I follow a different religion. However, accepting it only made me understand my faith more clearly.
Had God so willed, He could have made you all the same. He made you different so you may learn from each other, says the Qur’an.
I took out a balloon and made a cross out of it, and presented it to him. Another gentleman joined them, and as we headed out, they handed me a little something to buy breakfast.
I was planning on having breakfast and updating my blog at the Burger King, three miles away. But when I got there, a couple of older guys were curious about what I was up to. So, I talked with Larry and “crazy old Al,” as Larry referred to him, instead. St. Cloud was another 12 miles.
I saw Larry twice more as he drove about in the area on his daily routine. I carried two one-liter bottles that I filled up as needed with water. Great American Flea Market was an excellent place to get them refilled.
Not too far from there, I found this natural beauty. Layers upon layers of rocks piled neatly. I find it just mind-boggling.
I reached St Claire about 2:30, found the city park that offered shelter and stealth for the night. It was too early to call it a day. I saw the golden arches in the distance. A quick search revealed that it was open 24 hours, and I can follow the service road and reconnect with Route 66 at the edge of town. McDonald’s offers WiFi, and I could catch up on my blog.
It offered more than that. I got to make a lot of little ones smile with my balloon creations and fortify my wallet at the same time. But, they closed at midnight. It was a recent change in operating hours. So I went across the highway where they have a c-store and a Taco Bell. I spent the night behind the c-store in my sleeping bag.
As I think back and ponder.
So often in life, we get hung up on that’s the way we’ve always done it. Some call it a tradition; some call it heritage.
Unfortunately, in most cases, it also includes unexamined faith. I was fortunate that my dad taught me to question even the matters of religion because faith, by definition, is belief beyond doubt. For most people, it is a given — no room for questioning, just acceptance.
Because I came to my faith by examination, it is easier for me to well-grounded in my faith while being flexible. It allows me to be able to see and appreciate other people’s point of view and say I am glad it works for you, but it doesn’t jive with me without being confrontational.
Stay blessed and be happy, my friends.
There is Beauty Everywhere (Original blog post)
Just for fun.
I have never been to heaven
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Rasheed Hooda is a published author, and a regular contributor and editor for ILLUMINATION, a writers’ community on Medium, where writers support each other.
He is a self-proclaimed weirdo who lives a Freedom Lifestyle and writes about related topics — Travel (a top writer), Personal Growth, Freedom, and entrepreneurship. (Get the Newsletter)
