Archive for the ‘From the Road’ Category
Friday, May 7th, 2010 by Paul
Day 22 – Texas
Sunday was a busy day. I spoke four times and had two book signings all at Lover’s Lane United Methodist Church who hosted the James C and Barbara McCormick Distinguished Speaker Forum and the Tom Shipp Lectures (combined to bring me to Texas). The UMC as a denomination have been among the most receptive to The Shack, partly because there is a deep resonance with its historic Trinitarian theology. Texas hospitality, as has been my consistent experience, was wonderful.
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 by Paul
Day 23 – Suffering
The morning started oddly. I was about to step into the shower and turned on the faucet…no water, just the sound of a mighty rushing wind. Seeing no tongues of fire, I decided to call the front desk and was informed that due to some sort of emergency the water had been turned off for 30-45 minutes. Grrrrrr. 30 minutes later I got the call, “We are turning the water on, but it is going to take a while to warm up.” Having taken cold showers before I turned the faucet back on. Air came rushing out and bits of water and sediment in fits and starts, the whole system burping and sneezing its way back to life. I let it run about five minutes and step into tepid water. I should have looked down sooner. The water was reddish brown. I stepped out and waited another ten minutes and when I returned there was small piles of sediment in the bottom of the tub. This hotel is very nice, but losing points.
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 by Paul
Days 20 & 21, TN to TX
Grandson Houston Parker - just because it was sent to me today
Yesterday in Nashville was full of meeting new people, friends of friends. Reminds me a little saying some of us have, “If you like someone you give them your time and money, but if you love them, you give them your friends.” Some of the most significant people in my life have been given to me by friends.
Friday, April 30th, 2010 by Paul
Days 18 and 19, MI to TN
Gaylord Opryland Hotel
Did I tell you that my contact person at Holland Christian School is Kathi Bates (Author meets Kathi Bates…hm). Turns out she is a sweetheart and both my legs still work. No Misery in Holland.
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 by Paul
Day 17 – MS to MI
Dirk picks me before 5AM after goodbyes and hugs for Dr K and Beth, and we head to the Jackson airport. The good news is that Dirk runs the airport and we ‘fly’ through the formalities and then sit and chat waiting for the flight. He walks me out to the tarmac and we hug goodbye. So many good people everywhere.
Monday, April 26th, 2010 by Paul
Days 15-16 MS
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Yesterday when I arrived a huge tornado (sometimes two miles wide) ripped through Mississippi touching down over a 149 mile stretch. Ten people were killed and many injured. One amazing story is about a man who ran into a nearby church as the tornado approached and hid under the altar. The church was leveled and the only thing left standing was the altar and the man hiding under it survived.
Sunday, April 25th, 2010 by Paul
Day 14 – PA to MS
Stormy Atlanta
Early morning breakfast at 5:45AM with Margaret – all the frosted mini-wheats and sliced bananas I could eat. Then a ride in Suzie, a rattletrap Corolla, to the Philly airport. On Delta, so I breeze through security and use the extra time to visit airport bookstores and sign copies of The Shack.
Friday, April 23rd, 2010 by Paul
Day 12-13 TX to PA
It looks way worse in person
I meet her; one of those connections that God makes out of what could have been an irritation. A storm out West caused our jet to arrive two hours late. On top of that, I arrived at the airport four hours early. When something unforeseen happens, l start looking for the adventure.
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 by Paul
Day 12 – Houston to Philly
Today is a down day, a travel day with no speaking. When I helped set up this trip’s schedule there was a question about the possibility of getting a tour of the Houston Space Center (NASA), so I included an extra day just to be sure. That is one thread that led to today.
