Minister’s Column
Last weekend I traveled to Texas with my wife for a family celebration: my brother-in-law Don and his wife Pam were celebrating 50 years of marriage. Twenty-nine of us gathered for the party, traveling from Michigan, Ohio, California, Florida and Texas. Most of the people were new to me—I felt like I gained three new brothers and three new sisters. It was also my first visit to Texas, so I experienced new foods, a different culture, new geography and warmer weather.
A highlight of the trip was a visit to Enchanted Rock. A friend from Ohio had told me about this place and said that it was a must-see. In this part of Texas, the hill country near Fredericksburg, pine trees and cacti grow in the arid landscape. Among the cattle ranches, Enchanted Rock rises as a hill of stone, unique in the surrounding landscape. Climbing to the summit with my new-found family in the bright sunshine, it felt a lot like the rocky hills that I’m used to climbing in Maine. The difference was that the pools of water near the summit are populated with local vegetation such as cacti--in Maine the same high-altitude islands of vegetation would include wild blueberries. As my friend in Ohio had told me, the place had a sacred feel. Being grounded on the solid rock and being high above the parking lot where we started, I felt alive and connected.
Descending from the hike, we went back to the house for a feast of beef enchiladas, pico de gallo, and guacamole—followed by Girl Scout cookies that my grand-niece was selling to everyone there. May God bless Don and Pam, their long-lasting union, and their family and friends.
PRAYER:
Spirit of the earth, visible at Enchanted Rock, ground us and remind us that we are connected and safe.
Spirit of the sky, boundless above us, bless us with freedom and limitless possibility.
May all families and all couples be blessed. May all cultures and all peoples be blessed. May everyone celebrate love, wherever it may be found.
Amen.
Rev. Drew Frantz
February 6, 2024