It’s 7:28pm. According to a numerologist, the Rapture and beginning of the great Tribulation should have happened about 90 minutes ago. There was no great earthquake
which was supposed to be the big sign, and no reports of the faithful disappearing all over the world. I could use this post to theorize on the whole prediction and lament all the people who made leaps of faith that didn’t work out, but I’m not going down that rabbit trail: I had a great day today.
My day had nothing to do with the prediction, no countdown moments, no worrying about whether it was really going to happen or not. Today, I met up with a high school friend, and went exploring in the Black Diamond Mines. The exploring was planned, but the high school friend was totally unexpected, but no less wonderful. We did the standard “find each other on Facebook”, and talked for years about catching up, but life, work, schedules and stuff always prevented it. Today, however, thanks to a couple of cancellations, the stars were aligned for us to spend the day together.
We grew up next to each other, and call ourselves twins. That’s because our families were pretty similar: same size, kids all in the same grades together, houses having the same pattern, even the youngest kids had birthdays on the same day. We were only on the same block for 5-6 years, but during that time, we walked through some pretty memorable moments in our lives, both good and bad. In high school, we lost touch, knowing each other was there, but just didn’t travel in the same circles anymore. I hate it when that happens.
Today we had the chance to not just catch up, but for me to realize just how close our families were, and how supportive we were for each other. “Family” takes on a whole new dimension. It’s not just those who are related to you by blood, but those that are part of your life. My friend was not just a friend: she was, and is, my family.
Anyway, we not only had the chance to reminisce, but also to see some amazing views of the hills around the mines, and to take a tour of one of the mines. I had no idea that they turned coal mines into sand mines in the early 1900’s. The tour guide gave some great historical and geological facts about the mines, the presence of sand in the hills, and the fossil record. Aside from the fact that the mine was 10-15 degrees colder than the temperature outside, it was so worth it. We were there for hours, and didn’t make a dent in all of the areas to walk and hike. Next time, I’ll have to plan a full day to explore.
So, on the day the world ended, I began a new relationship with an old friend, experienced a new place, and learned some new things… personally, I would have been ready if the Rapture had occurred, but since it did not, my day was still wonderful.
Here are some of the pics from our adventure. If you are in the area, and like long walks and hikes, I would add this to your list 🙂
You can check out the rest of the pictures here: http://photobucket.com/kidstuph_BDM
Love the picture of the trail, blue jay and tree. (Which thing caught your eye?) The mines look totally cool. I’m SO glad you went (and reconnected with someone you love).
The valley really caught my eye, cuz it was totally unexpected. We were hiking up this trail, getting kinda tired, and the “look back” views were nice, but when we crested the trail, it opened up to this immense lush valley… breathtaking
Yeah, as far as rapture goes, it was rather boring, wasn’t it? 😉
LOVE your photos, that mine seems like a great place to visit – I love mines and such (have been to a salt mine in Romania, and two different limestone caves in Hungary).
And I could feel from your post how meeting up with an old friend made this whole experience even better than it would’ve been. I love it when that happens!
I’ve never been to any mines before, but this will definitely not be the last time. Caves is my next thing. I want to see some natural caves and experience that wonder. Having my friend go was so perfect. It would have been fine without her, but there’s something to sharing special experiences that just makes them so much better.
Yeah, I love when that happens too 🙂
Brother mine,
Thank you for this wonderful post. As usual, your words are thought-provoking, insightful, and funny. And the photos are beautiful! Yes, the view of the lush valley with the hills behind it is gorgeous, but that tree…. I’d want to explore that tree on many, many photos shoots. And that piece of coal made me think of the supposed Victorian habit of putting coal in the stocking of naughty children and I wondered how big the child was who would receive that one! 🙂
Photos aside, two things in this post spoke deeply to me:
“I could use this post to … lament all the people who made leaps of faith that didn’t work out, but I’m not going down that rabbit trail.” I think what I’m most concerned about is how many of those people may now turn from God, rather than understanding a human was in error in his predictions. I guess that’s where having an unstable mother really helped my outlook on life. I learned to take everything, absolutely everything, with a grain of salt *and* learned to find things out, to verify them for myself.
“‘Family’ [is] … not just those who are related to you by blood, but those that are part of your life. My friend was not just a friend: she was, and is, my family.” This so blessed me, again because of background. You have confirmed for me that familial ties are of the spirit. They may be of blood but even if they’re not, each of us still have family. Thus, you and I are siblings, and that same soul connection exists between Judy and I (wait ’til you meet her: you’ll love her too!). So, thank you. Thank you very much.
Much love and all of Heaven’s best to you!
After all the hoopla yesterday, my friend J said that she was annoyed by Harold Camping’s silence. I am becoming more annoyed as time goes on, for the very reason that you mentioned: there are people that will fall away because of this, and he is taking no responsibility for people’s faith in this. Totally unscriptural, and totally not the sign of a real leader. My fear is that he will respond with a “corrected” date, and people will jump on that as well…
that tree had so much character, it looked like there could be so many stories in it.
Having sisters like you is so special to me, especially since I don’t have Michelle here with me. I love the family, or rather “families” I was born into. 🙂
What a good day – and wonderful new – or renewed – beginning with your friendship.
Support comes in all sorts of different ways, even when people are physically distant.
Thanks to j for naming that brilliantly blue bird in one of your pictures. I was wondering what it was.
It was such a good day, and I can’t say enough about renewing those precious relationships. For the bird and some of the landscape, the camera didn’t capture the richness of the color. The blue on the bird was so amaing.