Why so excited???!!!

A friend asked me the other day why I was so pumped about this upcoming trip, and I had to think about it.   My personal answer, to myself,  was quite revealing!  This is what I came up with.

1.  It’s been long winter!!!!!  I have loved being home with Sherelene, writing eBooks, and throwing another log on the fire, but I’m ready to get out and shoot!  I have the new Fuji 50-140 lens and I know it is super sharp, but I can’t wait to use it to make some images of something besides my desk lamp and book shelf!!!

2.  I miss being with other photographers!  I love to teach and share, and just hang out with the great folks that photography has placed in my life.  I miss being with Jim Begley, and Jack Graham, and Bill Pekala and Snake Barrett, and all the other great folks I get to share with and teach!  There will be lots of laughter and good times!

3.  Cabin Fever!!!  This winter is the longest time in my last 30 years that I’ve been home with no where I have to be!  Now that is not all bad, I really enjoyed just being around the house, but after 30 years of over 240 days a year on the road, I guess I’m not built to sit in one place too long!

4.  I love an adventure and for me a road trip is the best adventure!  Below is my route for this trip and I am looking forward to every mile, (o.k. not so much from Peoria to Oklahoma city) but after that, I can’t wait!

5.  Americana is in my blood!  There is probaly not anything more Americana than an old painted Coca Cola sign, and I spent most of my youth with a father that managed a Coca Cola bottling plant!  I and my brother Homer were steeped in the Coca Cola culture!  I also was, from age 1 to 10, in the late forties and early fifties, dead center of the Americana age for me!  I expect to see as lot of reminders of those younger years on Route 66!!!!

6. I can’t wait to get back into my ministry with photographers!!!  I have but one critical mission, to let others know how much God loves them, and how He longs to fellowship with them! Now how can you do that in a secular setting?  If you study the New Testament, you will discover that Jesus never debated, argued, or demanded that people come to Him and want to be with Him, NO, He loved them with love that was beyond anything they had ever experienced.  His love was genuine, and not predicated on expecting anything in return.  His love was unconditional.  My personal ministry is the same, love others with a love that can only come from Him.  I don’t have to embarrass others with questions about their faith situation.  I don’t have to convince anyone that they are sinners and need Jesus. (Actually, we are all sinners and we all need Jesus, but it is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of that, not me!  Not my job.  Neither am I a Judge, that’s God’s job!  One that He hopes to never have to apply to us!)

My mission is to show people everywhere; the gas station, the lunch counter, the store, at a workshop, passing on the street…… an acceptance and love that few ever really feel.  How can I do that?  Simple, I’ve yielded my life to Him.  I’m under contract, one that I willingly signed.  A contract to share with others what was shared with me, through Grace.  His love and acceptance. We all want to matter, to have some value, and I’ve found it in being a child of God.

So, after fleshing that out, I can see that I have a great deal to be excited about!

Blessings in Him,

the pilgrim