A Year of Sabbaths (Week 40): Cheese Balls and Prairie Chickens

"Come to me all who labor and are heavey laden, and I will give you rest." --Jesus

(Matthew 11:28)

It was nice, this weekend, because we had an extra day.  We didn't have to squeeze a Sabbath in.  It was handed to us on a silver platter.

It was perfect timing.

My wife and I felt like running away from the drafty and occasionally leaky house that often demands so much of our time and resources. Even the kids wanted to get out of the house after days of rain.  A road trip was beginning to take shape.

I did work Sunday night, but Monday, we were free and clear...there was basketball practice in the morning, but after that, we were free and clear. Partly sunny skies. Full tank of gas. Donuts and cheese balls and we were off on a heritage tour of our beautiful state of Kansas.

The first stop was the Prairie Chicken Capital of the World, Cassoday, Kansas. We didn't see any prairie chickens, but we did have our picture taken under the sign so we know that they are there.

Then, we boogied up Old Highway 177 through the heart of the Flint Hills, keeping our eyes out for turtles tanning on the tortuous tarmac.  Soon, we were swallowed up by deep grass and visited by images of a wide open spaces once shaken by the hooves of thousands of buffalo and elk and an occasional bear. We talked of plains Indians  and mastodons...and Kansas sharks that once swam the beautiful Kansas sea.  We even pulled over to a scenic overlook to peer at one of the last vestiges of the blue-stem prairie. The vast landscapes inspired us while the kaleidoscope of prairie flowers lured us to stop and look closely.  A group of cattle across the fence gawked curiously as we drunk deeply the quickly-moving air.

At least, my wife and I drunk deeply.

The kids weren't quite convinced.  And they were getting hungry and road weary and crowded.  We stopped at the next town, Cottonwood Falls. We stopped at a restored hotel and had a relaxing lunch.  The uprising of the minions was settled and we visited long and hard about our big plans for summer and beyond. We discovered some little houses that are available to rent to families as they explore the area.  "Another trip," my wife said, "and maybe we can stay a little longer." She was raised in the Flint Hills, and had stumbled on to some roots.

We walked up the street to the grand courthouse (But we didn't know that we could actually go higher up and deeper in! Another trip, when maybe we can stay a little longer) and then down the street to the falls. Somebody had landed a great big catfish.  Suddenly, I realized that I really needed to take these boys fishing more often. I needed to take myself fishing more often.

With full tummies and beautiful surroundings, we were off to the final stop; our destination; the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve.  It was quite awesome.  There are miles and miles of trails. Our minions made it two miles and we saw dragonflies, a rattlesnake, a lizard, and a great, white horse.  There was more to see, but it was time to go.  Little legs were failing fast and the rain was moving in.  Back down the trail and into the car, more tired than before...and more full.

As we drove back to town, the little people in back dozed off, one-by-one. It had been a great day.  When we arrived back in the city, we wrapped up the day with an organic burrito and settled in for the night, inspired by God's creation, closer to one another, reminded of our blessings, and no dishes to do! Even the old, drafty, and sometimes leaky house felt different like it sometimes does; like a castle full of treasure.

Church Stopping. Less doing. More being.