Adventure 350: Del Rio, Texas/Post B

The Instruction Manual

Just before we went to Cowboy Church this morning, I was rummaging around in the trailer's cupboard where I found a bible that Judy's dad, Abe, had had since he was in alternative service as a Conscientious Objector during WWII. It was a hard time to live a conviction of non-violence in this country. By all reports, Abe lived it well. In the back of the bible, he etched a note that reads: "Following are verses that have been dear to me in my camp life starting 10-23-42. The small list includes Hebrews 13-6; Philippians 3-15; Proverbs 3 5-6; Joshua 1-9; Psalms 73-23; Isaiah 41-10; Acts 5-29. Before the service I read them all, and although they carry much the same theme, one struck me directly. Proverbs 3 5-6 reads: Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not onto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. I've always been wont to trust my own understandings, so I took this as a sign. I was thinking about the wondrous ways of the Lord when the Cowboy pastor asked if anyone in the congregation had any scripture that they wanted to read. A woman hopped up like a welt after a chigger bite, babbling as she approached the pulpit about how in these troubled times she had much to worry over. She said a particular passage had been weighing on her heart, and then she read Proverbs 3 5-6. I hear people state all the time that God no longer speaks to them, or that he hasn't left a message for the human race in several thousand years. Here I was being slapped senseless with another sign. It came through the preacher's message of the morning which centered on another passage Abe had noted: Joshua 1-9: Have I not commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee wheresoever thou goest. Coincidence is one thing, but three belIs ringing on the same day demand a listen. And finally, to paraphrase one of the other scriptures Abe noted, trust the Lord ahead of the rules of man. Wow!  I've decided in light of these text messages from the Lord that my best course is to do as commanded. The service finished with a treat. A fiddler named Dale Morris, who played with many of the top names in country music during his long career, took the stage and played solo gospel tunes one after the next, taking requests from the congregation. Judy couldn't resist. She requested one of her father's favorites: "When the Roll is called up Yonder". Dale also played "The Old Rugged Cross", "Just a Closer Walk with Thee", "Just as I am", "What a Friend we have in Jesus", "It is no Secret", "The Mystery of His Ways", "Precious Memories", "Wayfaring Stranger", "Will the Circle be Unbroken", "I'll fly Away", "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace", and finally, "Sweet Hour of Prayer". It certainly was, and I left the Cowboy service feeling strong and of good courage. After the service, Judy and I took the bike down to the historical part of Del Rio. We rode around town for about ten miles, and we also toured a museum touting the local history. Del Rio has proven to be a good stop. Tomorrow, we'll head west to the Choke Canyon Reservoir. Hopefully, we'll be granted traveling mercies once again. In the meantime, we'll enjoy the fact that life is good, especially today.

 Dale Morris smoothly rambled off at least a dozen old time  gospel tunes from memory and on call. Amazing.

 Part of our ride today included the city's bike/hike path that meanders along the path of the crystal clear waters of San Felipe Creek.

 At the end of the trail, we toured a few of the neighborhoods. Like most Southwestern towns, there are many fine homes with tall columns, a few of sturdy sandstone, some brick, both natural and whitewashed, and of course, a few more humble abodes.

 The Perry family lived in these quarters in the early 1800s before Del Rio was actually established as a town.

 Mom and Pop had to be pretty friendly back in the day.

 A wax memory of the famous Judge Roy Bean.

 Clearly, the Judge enjoyed a variety of entertainments.

 Truly, anyone named Snipe Vermin can be considered a bad "hombre".

 Working windmills still dot the landscape around these parts.

 As do sweat stained Stetsons.

 Part of the museum included this tiny Catholic Chapel.

 Though simple, this altar captured the essence of the Host with an array of religious baubles.

Simple elegance is one of the things I like most about Texas as witnessed by this hand made chair: Mesquite wood with woven leather thongs.