Bucket List

My husband and I recently completed a National Parks Tour. Riding on a bus with 40 strangers on a 3000 mile trip has its ups and downs. Viewing the depths of the Grand Canyon, looking up the heights of Zion, peering at Lake Tahoe's deep blue, viewing the falls of Yosemite, and finishing the trip with curiosity-- how could anything live in Death Valley? Those were the "ups."

Lake Tahoe

The "downs"? You can't travel with 40 strangers in an enclosed bus for fourteen days and not have someone get sick, or impatient, or frustrated. However, as we got to know each other, we discovered  fun, joy, or something charming in each person.

Before the end of the trip, most wanted to exchange emails and addresses so that pictures and experiences could be shared.

We can check off "National Parks Tour" from our bucket list. But, I'm going to add something: take more time to get to know others.

The Bible is all about relationships, connections--God's love for us; His desire for us to love and care for others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us, Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. and Galatians 6:10, So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people... 

No "checking off" needed for this item on my bucket list.