One for the Ages

As Brian said below, we reached the pinnacle of the trip yesterday by visiting the San Diego Zoo. When we had a passer-by take our picture together in front of the Zoo sign before entering, I was ecstatic. Another great part of the culmination of this trip has been staying with the Saleh family in Del Mar, a northern suburb of San Diego. The Saleh's are related to our very dear friend Melissa Turner. Her Uncle Fred and Aunt Adele, along with her cousins, Michael and Nicole, have been so warm and welcoming to Brian and I. We've been able to stay in their beautiful house that has a pool in the back yard and a great view of the surrounding area, and they took us out to dinner last night in downtown San Diego. It has really been a blessing and privilege to get to know this part of Melissa's family and to have ended our trip here.

For me, I think the most significant part of the trip has been the fact that I have been able to see such a long stretch of a beautiful part of our country. This will continue as we take the Amtrak back across another large portion of the states, much of which I haven't been to before either. The reason this is so significant is because I will soon be working to protect and defend this great nation and its people. Having seen so much of it, and getting to meet so many different people, I feel very privileged that I will have this opportunity. In fact, at this point, nothing seems better. Along these same lines, it was also very symbolic for me when on our last day of riding we biked through USMC Base-Camp Pendleton, just north of San Diego. A fitting finish, seeing as I begin active duty on 15 June. It made me wonder when I will next be back here, though it will be in a much different capacity. Time will tell.

The other most significant thing that I have experienced is the splendor of God, our Creator, the Almighty. To know that the very same God who created all of these beautiful landscapes that we have gotten to travel through is the very same God who is Lord of our very lives is an amazing thing. Sometimes it boggles my mind; sometimes it brings tears to my eyes; sometimes it makes me yell really loud in excitement as I ride down Highway 1. It is even more amazing to think further about how Jesus is not only central, but crucial to that very concept, for "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth... He is before all things and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:15-17). It makes me feel so small and helpless, but so thankful and redeemed and loved by Him all at the same time. That seems like one of the best mixes of emotions you can get. This being the case, it is also important to clarify something from one of my previous posts. I stated that it is neat to see in hindsight how everything happens for a reason. When I say this, I don't mean it in the common, light, fate-related sort of way. I mean that everything happens for a reason because God has orchestrated it as such, and His hand is above all things and in all things, in the good times and bad, through the thick and thin, even in a place as grim the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23), or as great as the mountains from whence commeth our help (Psalm 121).

Friends, I bid you adieu from the Golden State, but not without thanking you for being part of this epic journey, and certainly not without thanking you for being who you are in my life. It is a great thing, this gift called Life. Let's continue to press on so that when we're done we might be able to echo the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."By Grace, Steven Robert Haack