road trip day 28: i've been thinking

With just the three of us in the car these past couple of days I have been able to have a little meditation time. I spend some of the time reflecting on the family I just left, and some of the time looking ahead to things that I will need to tackle once I get home. In the weeks left before school starts back up I have a few meetings, but mostly I need to get us back home and get busy on some church responsibilities that are waiting. Isn't it strange the way we kind of miss those things that tie us down after we have spent a long time away from them? The routine can be good.

We spent close to an hour at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis today. It was 103 degrees. No lie.

We are driving to Liberty Jail in Missouri as I type this post. I just read Doctrine and Covenants 121, 122, and 123 aloud, and in doing so was moved by the persecution, both in body and spirit, that Joseph Smith suffered while in this prison for those 5 months. I would encourage you to read these passages if you have not done so recently. Humbling stuff.

On a secular note, I heard lyrics today that seemed connected to the suffering of the Prophet Joseph.

"I swam dirty waters that you pushed me in."

I guess I would rather do the swimming than the pushing.

4 comments

Lara Neves | July 22, 2011 at 7:47 PM

Oooh..have fun at Liberty Jail. Well, fun isn't the right word. I think one of my most amazing spiritual experiences ever happened there. It's a poignant place.

Lesa | July 22, 2011 at 8:31 PM

I was just there a week ago.

Enjoy the last little bit of your vacation.

wendy | July 22, 2011 at 9:15 PM

103...YOWZA
Do you know we didn't even make 60 degrees today. It has NOT been a good summer here yet. I think the weather is messed up all over the place.

I am sure your visit to Liberty Jail will be very emotional...it would be for me.

Heidi | August 15, 2011 at 5:46 PM

I visited Liberty for the first time a few years ago. It was awesome b/c it was just me and my sisters (back when it was awesome between us) having a private time because Caleb Baldwin is my great great great great grandfather and the sister missionaries thought we were the bee's knees. It's a very happy memory for me. I love that I can picture you there instead of wondering what it is like.