Whatever you do - don't drive through LA during rush hour. I can't tell you how many times we were given this piece of advice. Yet somehow we managed to find ourselves just outside Beverly Hills at 3 o'clock in the afternoon - in a grid lock…. wondering if we would make it to our show. We had left wine country mid morning believing we had plenty of time. We traveled down Interstate 1, hugging the coast - a beautiful drive that provided view after view of the ocean. I think we went wrong when we decided to stop outside Santa Barbara for lunch. There was a state park right off the freeway - the perfect spot for a seaside picnic. We took our time, eating a lazy lunch which set us back at least an hour. Hence sitting in stop and go traffic in the middle of LA. It took us 2 hours to drive 30 miles.
Somehow, by the grace of God, we managed to make it to our venue in Escondido right before we were supposed to go on. Our friend Eric met us outside and helped us load in as the first act finished up. We were completely out of breath when we started the show - but we made it. Our show took place at Escondido Joe's, a cafe/coffeeshop operated by a local church. Eric - a friend from our Visible days - had set the show up for us, and did an amazing job. The place was packed out with friends, family and fans of the local acts - Bethany Jordan Jackson, and husband and wife led band called Serenade & Strum - all were incredible. We felt honored to share the stage with them and were completely inspired by their music. After the show we got to talking with Benji and Jen Horning, the founding members of Serenade & Strum. The duo has been married for 6 years, work full time as youth pastors and have two kids, yet somehow they've found time to pursue their passion for music. "Yea we got rid of our cable and whenever we used to watch TV we started to write." They just recently finished their sophomore album. "Yea we'd work all day, spend time with the kids in the evening, and then record from 10pm-2am every night." Talk about dedication. Makes you wonder what you could accomplish if you made the best of every day …. What they've accomplished is some of the most beautiful God honoring music I've ever heard. Seriously check them out. Serenade & Strum.
After some much appreciated fellowship we said our goodbyes and made our way to our host home in San Diego. We stayed with Tyler - a friend of Corey's from Garret Co. Tyler had just moved out to California 4 months ago - a big move for a recent college grad and a small town guy. California isn't exactly a cheap place to live and being clear across the country from family and friends, it was a risky move. But he was ready to do something with his life. After months of free lancing he finally found a job in his field of graphic design. He just started this week. It was awesome to see him take a risk and be rewarded. It got us thinking about the risk we took and how it's been rewarded. It was terrifying at first… without the security of a regular pay check I worried that we wouldn't be able to pay our bills. Being in Memphis for 5 years, we knew how hard it is to be away from friends and family. And you never know what can happen on the freeway…. But the longer we're on the road, the more we peace we feel. Traveling the country has freed us. Freed us to pursue the Lord's call on our lives no matter where He sends us. Freed us to take more risks, to trust more, and fear less. Freed us to consider a life on the road.
We went out for breakfast with Tyler and his girlfriend Carly early the next morning. We walked through the heart of downtown San Diego to the infamous Crest Cafe where we ate a hearty meal of omelets and creme brulee french toast…. mmm. After our delicious meal we said goodbye to our gracious hosts and made a trip out to Coronado Island to visit the ocean one last time. Having grown up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, my soul craves water. There is no beauty that can compare. I'm a fan of the ocean. We walked down the beach, watching the waves tumble toward shore. With a long drive through the desert ahead of us, I appreciated a chance to say goodbye to that large body of water.
A little before noon we left the coast behind us and began our long journey home - eastbound. The drive through southern California is almost other worldly. Giant crumbling mountains laid out across the countryside, like piles of boulders dumped from the sky. Traveling parallel with the Mexican border on Interstate 8, we watched the mountains give way to a long stretch of desert. We passed through several border control check points before we turned north for Phoenix. As we closed in on our destination, the rocks turned red and sprouted forests of saguaro cacti. Like something from a painting - or a cartoon - the landscape was so foreign is hardly seemed real. Phoenix is a world of its own.
I think the Lord knew we'd need a date night by this point in the tour. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to confirm a show in Phoenix. Then our host (family of a family friend) informed us last minute that she would be out of town….. so… she booked us a hotel room - at the "Best Boutique Hotel in Phoenix." Talk about a blessing. This was exactly what we were craving. A chance to have some quality time - no show to prepare for, no host to get to know, no campsite to set up. A place of our own and a night to ourselves. Not to mention at the coolest swanky hotel I've ever experienced. I felt like I walked straight into a 60's hotel - perfectly preserved. We were beyond stoked. After checking in to our room we went up to the rooftop and watched the sun set over the desert. Then we relaxed in the mod hot tub before grabbing some fish tacos for dinner.
The whole experience was an amazing gift - something we never would have allowed for ourselves, but was given to us - out of the blue, by a near stranger. We never even met our host face to face, and yet she gave to us extravagantly. That kind of generosity is nothing short of Christlike. I am constantly overwhelmed by the goodness of our God. He gives to us generously. extravagantly. He cares deeply for us - not only on a grand scale - but in the details. Allowing a couple of newlyweds a moment for romance…. I am reminded that our God is a God of romance. He ordained marriage as a living portrayal of His love for His bride, the Church. He passionately pursues us, lovingly provides for us. He creatively woos our hearts. The stars, the ocean, the desert to inspire us, made by his Hand to speak to us. What a passionate, romantic, epic God we serve. May He capture our hearts more and more every day.
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