We are on our way home from our Oklahoma weekend jaunt. The “main event” of the trip was last evening: the OU football game in Norman against Ball State. I hadn’t realized until recent years that I enjoy some of the pageantry that accompanies an OU home game, as much as the game itself. When “The Pride of Oklahoma” band, hundreds strong, takes the field playing “Oklahoma!”, it is as thrilling — or more so — than the biggest touchdown run. And though I didn’t do it myself, I smiled when most of the crowd finished the national anthem by replacing the word “brave” with a triumphant shout of “Sooners!” If you didn’t grow up with it, it may not have the same meaning to you. Perhaps just the musings of a sentimental, middle-aged man …
On the field of play itself, the Oklahoma Sooners historically have had unparalleled success. Which can lead to unrealistic expectations from some of its fan base. Just an example from the game last night: OU had been so prolific in moving the ball that they never punted until the last part of the game. The punter, who had done nothing but sit on the bench and watch his team score repeatedly, shanked his first punt. The fans groaned and complained. When he came in for his second try, he hit a booming 58-yard punt — my jaw dropped and I quietly said, “wow!” But the woman who was seated behind me was not impressed: “Well that was a little better”, she reluctantly conceded! It can be hard to feed the monster of one’s own success. Sooner fans are similarly picking over the 62-6 victory. I personally thought it was sufficiently overwhelming!

We didn’t stay up late after walking home from the game; we wanted to catch an early worship service so we could get back to Louisiana before too late Sunday night. Bethel Baptist Church in Norman, which is right down the road from our apartment (and the stadium), and which we often attend when we are in Norman, has an 8:30 service. So we got everyone up and out early. It was not without its complications however. I had forgotten my belt, and just wore my golf shirt tucked into my jeans. Libby was sufficiently horrified. We did make it through the service somehow, regardless of my fashion faux pas.

To my surprise, the long-time pastor at Bethel, James Erlich was not preaching. He had just retired! I guess I was glad for him, but sad for me — as he always seemed to have a timely, applicable word when I had heard him. But in his place was Wayne Bristow, the venerable Oklahoma evangelist whom I had had speak at my church in Tulsa. Wayne preached a great, evangelistic message from John 5, the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda. It was (as usual for Wayne) well-done, applicable, and evangelistic. One funny highlight: in making the point about how we cannot help ourselves towards God (just like that sick man in John 5), Dr. Bristow told of the time that he was a young ministerial student and was listening to a radio preacher, who declared:, “The Bible says, ‘God helps those who help themselves!'” Well, of course that is not true; the scripture never says that. But it came as such a shock to us that Cheryl exclaimed, “OH!” — pretty audibly! I think it hurt her to hear God’s word so maligned! But as I said, the message today was great — and typically for Wayne Bristow, short. In fact, when he ended what was perhaps an 18-20 minute message, Michael looked at Cheryl and said, “That’s it?!” Typical Mike! 

Well, that WAS it for our Oklahoma vacation, as we went back to the condo, changed clothes, and headed back down I-35 towards Louisiana.
We didn’t make it very far down the highway — only about an hour — before we had our first diversion. I was driving when we got a text from Libby & Josh, who were following us in their car, asking if we were going to stop at the fried pie place. “The fried pie place” they were talking about is on I-35 at the Arbuckle mountains in Oklahoma — they have wonderful pastries filled with fruit or breakfast fillings. I had not intended to stop, as the kids had indicated that they wanted to eat at Braums, the great hamburger and ice cream place, in about another hour. But I told Cheryl to tell the kids that we could stop if they wanted to, and they did. Walking in, I heard Josh & Libby bantering: Josh: “I wanted to experience this famous pie place.” Lib: “But you’ve already experienced it; you came here with us last time!”  Josh: “I know; I wanted to experience it again!” It’s definitely worth a stop. I ordered a couple of pies to take home; I couldn’t eat one of those then and still eat at Braums in an hour. But Libby and Josh were tearing into theirs. I queried: “Do y’all still want to eat at Braums in Denton?” “Oh yeah”, they said, “We’re really hungry!” Oh to be young again!

As we drove up to the pie place, Cheryl had reminded me that there is a shorter way to get into the parking lot than I usually take. “It’s just across that street ahead of us,” she pointed. “But I can’t see what’s over there!”, I exclaimed. “I know; I just want you to trust me,” she replied. As I drove the way she had indicated, I thought: you know, that is just what God is asking us to do. So often we can’t see the way ahead — not if we go the way He is pointing — but He just wants us to trust Him. In fact, it is that trust that He really wants from us; just the fact of walking with Him and trusting Him, is more important than any particular twist or turn in the road itself.
Well, we are back in the State of Louisiana now; just south of Shreveport. Cheryl is taking a turn driving — thus my chance to update!

One of the “drawbacks” of the trip for Michael was that because we pulled him out of school last Friday, he has to do his make-up work on the drive back home today. We had to stop and buy a mechanical pencil, Mike’s instrument of choice, so he could do his work. He got to talking about his preference for the mechanical pencil, expounding on all of its advantages, and lamenting the fact that they did not allow one to use it on the Stanford achievement tests. “Why would that be?”, I wondered. “They don’t tell us”, Michael said in his best teenager voice, “they just want us to follow blindly.” I suppose we may never know! 🙂

While Michael was doing his math homework, he had a question about one of the sets of questions. Now I am NOT the math whiz; that is usually Cheryl’s department, but I bravely asked Mike to hand me the book, and I would take a look at it. Turned out it was just a matter of procedure, and I was able yo tell him how to proceed. “Wow!”, I said, “Even I could help with that one!” Quick as a wink, Michael responded by adapting a quote from a Gilbert & Sullivan line: “Even one’s father can be of use sometimes!” Indeed!

(We are presently traversing through the Kisatchie forest; we’ll be incommunicado for a while …)
Some minutes later: Hmmm … the sign indicates that we are now we are entering Vernon Parish. Isn’t this one of those parishes in which Cheryl is a fugitive from law? But that is another whole series of stories …

It is 6:30, and the evening service at FBC Moss Bluff should be starting. I’m praying for Kyle & James as they lead worship tonight, as well as our folks who are in attendance. I have enjoyed the week off — but I am always ready to be back to share God’s word with the people I love. I’m looking forward to starting work tomorrow on I Cor. 13:4, “Love is patient.” I think that one may be as challenging as any of the 15 qualities in that passage!

I smile as I pass through DeRidder, for it was the scene of one of my greatest triumphs: a road race victory over my son Paul a couple of years ago, Yes I know, he had not had any sleep the night before, as he had been participating in an all-night volleyball tournament, and he had not been in the habit of running for some time. But at my age — and with my kids — you take what you can get! And I won! And so … I smile as I pass through DeRidder …

And now we are safely at home at last! The trip back home did not seem to take very long — perhaps at least partially due to the fact that I was blogging. But now it’s time to unload the car, grab some dinner, and get ready to get back to my weekly routine tomorrow. As for our little vacation, in the words of Michael from earlier today: “That’s it?!”