You Need a Friend
Tim is now in the Alaska Air National Guard, to fulfill the last five years of his military service. He will be receiving Guard training at Keesler AFB, near Biloxi, MS, and at Sheppard AFB, near Wichita Falls, TX, over the next several months.
Tim called on Wednesday, as he traveled in western Canada. He had left Alaska on Monday on his 4,300-mile trek to the Gulf Coast. He has to report for duty at Keesler this Monday, the 5th. My son loves to drive, but the road gets long—very long—through the remote outback beauty of our northern neighbor. At Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Tim called his Dad, to pass the time, and to stay awake, I’m sure.
We visited about his journey. I pulled my road atlas of Canada out of my desk drawer, where I always keep it, for such phone calls as these from my son. I followed his trail, as he talked with me.
We discussed the weather (Yes, it did snow 4” in the Yukon on Monday!), the icy slush ruts the trucks have made, the frost heaves on the Alaska Highway, the beauty of the Canadian Rockies, the sightings of caribou, bear, bison, owls, and the worn-out trailer tires that had to be replaced at Ft. Nelson, B.C. (The weather-worn roads are pretty rough on a set of tires!)
The increased number of cell towers out there has greatly increased telephone reception, but the occasional mountain pass will disconnect the signal. Between disconnects, I felt that Tim was OK, and I was sure that he would re-connect. Clearing the crest of the Rockies, he descended onto the broad, flat plain of western Alberta, enroute to Grande Prairie. We re-connected.
He didn’t have his route completely memorized, and neither of us has ever been to Grande Prairie. Using my Alberta map, I guided him on to a more direct route to Edmonton, saving him about 200 miles of unnecessary travel.
Tim needed a friend, a companion, who would make his journey less lonely. He needed someone with some information to show him the better way.
Spiritually speaking, I’ll bet you’ve got a friend who needs you like that, too. Be a real friend. Invite them to our Friend Day. They need to be shown the better way.
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