September 18 – “But then I saw it …”

Amidst my working at the computer, Chris and I also did some online window shopping for things she has discovered that we might need for our upcoming cruises.  Most of them involve electronic wizardry of some kind or other, so she is doing extensive research before we pull the trigger on any of them.  She has really burned up the internet lately.  By the time we leave she will be able to open her own travel agency.  Or at least a travel information web site.

Later in the day we went to WalMart to see if by some chance they had some of those online marvels.  It would be helpful to see them in person.  Sadly we had no such luck, so we settled for our typical horde of fruit – bananas, grapes, pineapple.  But then I saw it. 

There, off to the side as we approached the checkout counter, was something very strange and wonderful.  I had to see it up close, to touch it and handle it to make sure it was real.  And it was.  Imagine my excitement.  Here in my own hands was an ingenious new creation.  It was kind of like Google Maps, but it was made out of paper.  Paper.  Can you believe it?  An entire book chock full of nothing but maps.  Oh, I’ve read about these in school.  Ancient explorers once used them to blaze trails.  Dreaded pirates used them to locate their buried treasure.  And as I understand it, normal human beings once used them to plot courses for things like vacations.  This particular cartographic delight included the entire country.  All of the streets and cities of the USA in one book.  And all you have to do when you switch states is turn to a different page.  No GPS coordinates.  No worries about signal strength.  No dead spots in cell phone coverage.  And get this … a bonus section included maps of all of Canada as well.  Another covered some of the National Parks, our particular area of interest for this year.  And all of this for just $7.95 plus tax.  Believe me, we are now all set for our next road trip.

Just … wow.

Psalms 100:1-2 says, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”

Father, thank you for the chance to see in person some of the fun places on those wonderful things called maps.  Amen.