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The second week of October is just around the corner and for the last six years it has signified traveling to Indiana for the annual Covered Bridge Festival. The amount of days we stayed and the people visited has slightly varied through the years, but the memories hold special times for my husband and me. They indicate different stages in our ministry with the folks from our congregation.
The earliest years we met up with the same three couples, but only spent one day the first year. Our day entailed a trip to Bridgeton where we shopped at a huge flea market set up. We ate pumpkin ice cream, picked up Christmas presents for our children, and took pictures of the few covered bridges that still exist in the area. Our day included a detour journey to an Amish farm for some creamy swiss cheese, an evening with a delicious chili dinner, laughs around the campfire, and enjoyable fellowship with one another.
The year filled with unforgettable memories was our third one in 2004. This trip integrated us as the third couple with Larry and Sandy as well as Carol and Dale. Since I was teaching my daughter school at home, she came along for our adventure. We opted to stay in the local hotel with her for two nights.
Despite the sporadic rain throughout both days, we enjoyed our traditional evenings around the campfire. Laughter reverberated as we listened to the funny tales Carol shared about her forty-some years of marriage to Dale. She praised his gestures of kindness expressed not only to her but others in the community with his ability to fix anything broken. Regardless of the fact that she didn't appreciate the way her disorganized garage appeared to those driving by and how she wished he kept the door closed we loved hearing her expressions of likes and dislikes. Tenderness echoed in each description of her irritations.
For our ten-year old daughter, this trip would be forever etched upon her memory. As she quickly developed a love for this jovial and playful woman, she would stand a week later next to her casket. Without warning, Carol's heart ceased beating, and she left this life. Her last trip to the Covered Bridge Festival would end with a trip across the ultimate bridge into eternal life with Jesus. Our daughter spoke of gratitude for those days spent with Carol and spoke truth into the lives of us adults.
Carol's sudden death taught the six of us the truth of James 4:14 that says, "Yet, you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just like a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away." (NASB) We learned from this experience to live each day to its fullest and to cherish the people in our lives. Since then we all have strived to build bridges with the relationships we have and to treat others with love, kindness, and grace.
What about you? What are you doing to enhance the relationships the Lord placed in your life?Will you look back on tomorrow with smiles or regrets with the things you have said and done? Remember Carol and live today with love and joy.
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