Rest the Body, Challenge the Mind

From Missoula, MT Karen and I drove to Bismarck, ND. We headed out around 10:30am and drove through some more of the Rocky Mountains. It was not quite as picturesque as I remember it on the drive out. We saw loads of hills that had black sticks of trees which had been burned years before and were just starting to grow the grass and small plant life back amongst the black toothpick trunks. Karen was a bit drowsy from the dramamine so we enjoyed some singing from the CDs I burned for the trip and the very dry scenery--beautiful in its own way and harshness.

We reached Billings, MT for a lunch and bathroom break. From there Karen drove to Miles City, MT while I napped and flinched in the passenger seat. Apparently my light sleep kept me twitching at strange moments. It was so relaxing to rest and not be driving. Miles City brought us an excellent stopping place where we paused to get coffee from Starbucks and wander around Target to stretch our legs. It's nice to know that there are a few reliable comforts like Starbucks and Target which are easily found when you are crossing the country. I checked in with my parents and let them know we were still alive and making great time. They found it amusing that we were in Target, but that's just what Karen and I do to destress--retail therapy; even if we don't buy anything.

I took over driving again until we reached Bismark, ND. For most of this part of the drive Karen wasn't feeling well and I was contemplating if I needed to find a hospital with an ER at one of the exits we were passing. Fortunately she started to improve. As we made our travel into the evening hours of the day, Karen read from A Formula for Parish Practice by Timothy J. Wengert and we discussed articles 1 and 7 of the Formula of Concord. Driving is an excellent time to discuss theology I must say. Who better to speculate and muse with than my cohort in theology? We tackled what suffering is/not and whether it was in the Garden of Eden pre-Genesis 3 or not. We debated if one could take communion without being baptized and what that did to baptism's place in the life of the church. How often should communion be taken, what qualities should the one leading communion have if any, what makes one worthy to receive it and what do you do with the leftovers? How is Christ present in the Lord's Supper and how does that shape your view of Christian doctrine? There's really nothing better you can do with driving time than talk theology and balance it with singing great songs.

We pulled into Bismark, ND around midnight and got a good deal on a cheap hotel room. With a little wind down and snack time (props for meat treats of steak and bacon!!) we passed out for the night and dreamt of strange things that didn't make any sense, but proved for hilarious morning conversation.