#23:  After a few months of wandering I have at last arrived at Hidden Valley Campground and am settled in for the summer, more or less.  The journey northward from Florida to Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Ohio and finally southwestern New York State has been a pleasure.

I received an email yesterday from Anthony who lives in Morgan City in the Louisiana Bayou in response to my inquiry about the status of the waters in his area.  He said they have not been asked to evacuate yet but they have plans just in case.  It is terrible to think that the beautiful areas I just visited there might soon be inundated by floodwaters.

Before I begin describing the last leg of the northward journey, I recently received an email from George who has an excellent web site, Urantia Book Related Web Sites, which contains links to many interesting and informative sites, including this blog.  He asked for my mailing list; I am considering sending him such a list after removing those of you who are not Urantia Book readers.  If anybody has a problem with this please let me know.

“Most of what a mortal would call providential is not; his judgment of such matters is very handicapped by lack of farsighted vision into the true meanings of the circumstances of life. Much of what a mortal would call good luck might really be bad luck; the smile of fortune that bestows unearned leisure and undeserved wealth may be the greatest of human afflictions; the apparent cruelty of a perverse fate that heaps tribulation upon some suffering mortal may in reality be the tempering fire that is transmuting the soft iron of immature personality into the tempered steel of real character.”  The Urantia Book (1305.4) (118:10.9)

In the last blog I mentioned that I would go to Greenville SC to explore; after posting it I received an email from Pamela of the Lakeland FL group saying she grew up in that part of the country.  The truly amazing thing about Greenville is that right in the center of the city is a beautiful park, Falls Park on the Reedy River.  Words and pictures cannot do justice to this lovely park in the center of a vibrant city.  It is based on two levels; the upper level has green lawns and a unique curved pedestrian bridge while on the lower level are rocks and the falls.  I was there on a sunny Saturday afternoon and it was a joy to see it being used by families with children, people with their dogs, wedding parties taking photographs, young girls rolling down the grassy banks, boys climbing rocks and teenagers wading across the river.  It was a pleasure to be there and observe the people enjoying this beautiful space.

The reason I go to that part of South Carolina is that Lamar grew up in Laurens and I stop by to visit with his cousin and aunt.  I also pause in remembrance at his marker.  While waiting for his relatives to arrive I took pictures of the quaint town square in Laurens (I think I have enough photos for this posting).  It is a neat, well-tended typical southern town square that has been left behind by larger stores on the outskirts of town, even the stately courthouse is no longer used as such.  And just around the corner is a self-proclaimed Redneck Museum.

From South Carolina I went north, stopping at Wytheville VA one night and then going on to Columbus Ohio.  The reason for stopping there was to visit Scott’s study group who happened to meet the night I arrived.  At Scott’s suggestion I had dinner at a Chinese restaurant, Ming Flower, and was well pleased with the meal.  The driveway to his house is narrow, long and lined with trees as his house is well off the road.  It turns out that Scott and his brother also attended Allegheny College; I feel that I met his brother there (long story).

This meeting was in memory of a vital member of their group, Daryl, who has recently been diagnosed with a serious form of cancer.  It was an inspiring meeting where we prayed for him and read passages in the Urantia Book dealing with healing and faith.  Even though I did not know Daryl, I felt privileged to attend.  Susie could not get there so she participated by Skype; her image is on the computer screen above.  There was more discussion than many groups have and I was told that they used to just read; sharing views is an important aspect of a dynamic study group.

I did not stay long in Columbus, but I did take time to explore Alum Creek State Park.  I had planned to stay in that park, but when I saw the sites I felt I would have problems getting into the spaces and they did not even have water hookups.  Fortunately there was an excellent place just down the road.  Near the park offices there are many trails where I explored the woods.  It was a fine early spring day to walk and explore.  As the photograph shows the water was slightly high.  The dogwoods were in blossom and the trees were just starting to put out leaves.  One snake paused on the path in front of me just long enough for me to take his photograph, but I feel that the above tree is much more picturesque.

Before I started north my brother asked me to bring the sun with me, well I did!  The above rainbow was observed not long after I arrived and we had a full week of sunshine; unfortunately that week is now over and they are forecasting a week of cold rain.  Oh well, that gives me time to get this blog out.

“You are destined to live a narrow and mean life if you learn to love only those who love you. Human love may indeed be reciprocal, but divine love is outgoing in all its satisfaction-seeking. The less of love in any creature’s nature, the greater the love need, and the more does divine love seek to satisfy such need.”  The Urantia Book (1739.6) (156:5.11)