J.E. Solinski
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Wyoming . . .

9/16/2017

6 Comments

 
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I recently took a cross-country trip (well half cross-country trip) to Iowa to watch the Solheim Cup, an international women’s golf event. I took I-80. All. The. Way. One of the states I drove through was Wyoming––a state I hadn’t driven through in over twenty years.

Wyoming has a lot to offer. It is home to the Grand Tetons and to the first national park––Yellowstone. It has unique and intriguing rock formations like Devils Tower and Heart Mountain. And its state motto is “Equal Rights” as it was the first state to grant the right to vote to women in 1869. Of course, the State Symbols USA website claims they allowed women to vote so that they would have enough “voting citizens to meet the population requirement for statehood.” Though this might seem a bit more self-serving than altruistic, I can see the wisdom in it as the latest census reports Wyoming having the smallest population of all the US states.

Wyoming is also one the few states that has an 80mph speed limit, which is a wonderful perk when you have miles and miles and hours and hours of the exact same scenery to look at, which is basically lots of brown grassland. This landscape is dotted with disconnected fences along the freeway, almost always always on just one side of the road. To the ignorant these bits of fences would seem laughable for what animals would be deterred by 25 yards of fence followed by a ten yard gap? But to those in the know, these fences are not to keep animals out but to keep snow off the highway––which means there’s a lot of snow and it comes in sideways!

What struck me most was that after more than 20 years, the I-80 section in Wyoming was STILL under construction! It was under construction the last time I drove through Wyoming. But then I realized that with the harsh winters Wyoming experiences, the roads must be maintained and repaired annually in order to keep them in good condition and provide a smooth and safe ride for travelers.

Wyoming’s roadworks, just like the roadworks I can see in every other state, reminds me that God too conducts “annual” maintenance on us. We often experience harsh winters and searing summers in our lives, which can take a toll on us spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Our faith can be shaken; our nerves, frayed; and our bodies, weakened. Sometimes that maintenance is filling in some holes and sometimes it requires a redirection of the road, but in His mercy and grace, God lovingly takes the time to care for each one of us––every day, every month, every year.

6 Comments
Pamela
9/16/2017 08:24:02 am

We thought about retiring to Cheyenne until I watched the weather report last year. 9 degrees. That's hard for a California couple to get used to! Needless to say, we crossed it off our list 😊

Reply
Jody
9/16/2017 06:58:24 pm

It takes a hardy soul indeed to endure the harsh winters.

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Raelene
9/16/2017 09:06:30 am

Wow, I didn't realize you had DRIVEN to Iowa to see the Solheim Cup! That must have been quite a trip! Your analogy of God doing "annual maintenance" in our lives reminds me of my school year last year. Every aspect of our curriculum was new. I had six students with severe behavior problems in my class. I had to move my parents out of their home into a retirement community. I prayed a lot and took each day one at a time. Then I was impaneled on a 4-week criminal grand jury and it gave me a break from the school challenges. When I returned, one of the most difficult students had moved and my grade level team and I better understood the new curriculum. My parents were settled in their new apartment. I made it to the end of the year and thankfully, this year is going much more smoothly!
By the way, I agree with Pam about living in Wyoming--too cold!!

Reply
Jody
9/16/2017 07:00:39 pm

Wow back at you. What a challenging year you had! Quite the endurance test and I too am thankful this year is a smoother ride.

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LAURIE LEISER
9/21/2017 06:06:26 pm

Maintenance. Wow. I'm constantly under construction! But having my faith pulls me through. Having the knowledge, both heart and head, that I am not alone keeps me putting one foot in front of the last. There is too much beauty around me, yes, even while driving through Wyoming (been there), to not embrace the divine design that is there for me. How wonderful, how marvelous, And my song shall ever be: How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior’s love for me!

Reply
Jody
9/22/2017 09:09:39 pm

You are an inspiration to me, Laurie.

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    Jody Eileen Solinski spent her career teaching in the California public school system where she enjoyed helping young adults take their place in society. A native Californian, she enjoys the outdoors and so loves living in Northern California where she can enjoy the beauty of God’s creation up close.

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