July 9, 2013
The morning was spent in preparation. A breakfast meeting ironed out the major details of a week that would include caring for the residents of Riverwood during their visit to Louisville, the operation of a respite room for the main sessions of the upcoming convention, the maning of our booth in the display area, and the entrance hike through the streets of Louisville and into the convention center.
Later in the morning Susan arrived to be a part of the hike with me. A short time later the crowd from Riverwood arrived and settled into their rooms to rest up for the hike and long evening at the convention center. By mid afternoon all was ready.
I could feel the nervous tension in the circle as we gathered to begin the journey. Joining hands with me in a circle of prayer were the residents of CCDM's Riverwood Homes, along with other friends and staff that had come along to join us for our hike into the Louisville Convention Center. In just a few minutes we would move out onto the sidewalks of downtown Louisville and make our way through the streets and into the vast area of the convention center that served as the host site for the North American Christian Convention. Once inside, we would continue our hike through the large display halls, greeting people all along the way.
The hike was a great success. We sang as we hiked, stopping from time to time to hand out information or to greet an interested bystander. At one intersection we encountered two young men carrying full packs on their backs, traveling across the city in the summer heat. They greeted the group as "kindred spirits" and wished us well as we moved on toward our goal.
Once inside the convention center our presence was more obvious. We moved through the long rows of displays until we finally completed our journey at the Blazing New Trails booth. For the rest of the evening and all the next day the Riverwood residents enjoyed greeting and interacting with the crowds that past by. For each of them, and for me, it will always be a walk to remember.
The Riverwood Community is a unique place, a rare atmosphere of love and care in a quiet, beautiful setting in east Tennessee. Unfortunately, it can only serve a small segment of our nation's special needs community. With Blazing New Trails, we are trying to encourage churches and individuals to be aware of the needs of these people and their families who live around them in their own communities. My hope is that this little walk in downtown Louisville, and my much longer hike up the Appalachian Trail will somehow help in making that message take root and grow.
The morning was spent in preparation. A breakfast meeting ironed out the major details of a week that would include caring for the residents of Riverwood during their visit to Louisville, the operation of a respite room for the main sessions of the upcoming convention, the maning of our booth in the display area, and the entrance hike through the streets of Louisville and into the convention center.
Later in the morning Susan arrived to be a part of the hike with me. A short time later the crowd from Riverwood arrived and settled into their rooms to rest up for the hike and long evening at the convention center. By mid afternoon all was ready.
I could feel the nervous tension in the circle as we gathered to begin the journey. Joining hands with me in a circle of prayer were the residents of CCDM's Riverwood Homes, along with other friends and staff that had come along to join us for our hike into the Louisville Convention Center. In just a few minutes we would move out onto the sidewalks of downtown Louisville and make our way through the streets and into the vast area of the convention center that served as the host site for the North American Christian Convention. Once inside, we would continue our hike through the large display halls, greeting people all along the way.
The hike was a great success. We sang as we hiked, stopping from time to time to hand out information or to greet an interested bystander. At one intersection we encountered two young men carrying full packs on their backs, traveling across the city in the summer heat. They greeted the group as "kindred spirits" and wished us well as we moved on toward our goal.
Once inside the convention center our presence was more obvious. We moved through the long rows of displays until we finally completed our journey at the Blazing New Trails booth. For the rest of the evening and all the next day the Riverwood residents enjoyed greeting and interacting with the crowds that past by. For each of them, and for me, it will always be a walk to remember.
The Riverwood Community is a unique place, a rare atmosphere of love and care in a quiet, beautiful setting in east Tennessee. Unfortunately, it can only serve a small segment of our nation's special needs community. With Blazing New Trails, we are trying to encourage churches and individuals to be aware of the needs of these people and their families who live around them in their own communities. My hope is that this little walk in downtown Louisville, and my much longer hike up the Appalachian Trail will somehow help in making that message take root and grow.
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