DAY27- greetings from Denver
Well, I wanted to take the time to put up a post to thank all of you who follow the blog and to take the time to post. I have now the time to read the posts and not the time to answer each of you in a specific manner as would seem appropriate. Let me say that this trip is only special if it can be shared. I do not believe that our Lord God wants his creation to be to be held captive by only one pair of adoring eyes.
My friend and spiritual mentor in many ways is a CHP officer back in Coalinga, and I want to share a little of what he wrote to me, that the creation of the universe is just an "appetizer" so too speak at the Lord's banquet, the main course and most important creation is "US" in God's image. And like Rob says, to not share that fact is to have gods creation hanging in a closet................unappreciated.
My trip could be called selfish and maybe even self-serving, but I assure you that the Lord has worked his will into my life on a daily basis and I have had many chances to see Prayer in action. So, the whole trip has given me a chance to come to know the Lord in a closer manner............I am fairly confident I can cross America............but I am completely confident that I cannot do it without the Lords presence in every revolution of my cranks.
If I can say thanks to those youngsters back home whom follow the blog as it goes, most of them hangout with my own kids and are wonderful presence in my home on many weekends throughout the year..................thankyou for your constant Prayers. And I know that your constant sending of Prayers towards heaven in my stead, have kept the Lord's providential hand between me and possible tragedy.........so thanks again.
For my Pastor, Mike, who is a great guy and a constant and tireless worker for the kingdom of Heaven. I know your Prayers give me a shield, and you words give me confidence. Many are the times that I have caught myself thinking, what would Pastor Mike say............and then I realized what Mike would say. Jeremiah, it doesn't matter what I would say, I am but a messenger...................what does matter is what the Lord says. I use that for myself now more often, to make myself go look it up in the Bible. MIke, I don't always know where to go find it, but I am getting better.
And to my friends whom make saddles, or engrave, build bits and spurs, or just enjoy life with horses and the open range as the canvas on which we live. Many thanks to all of you, since you are family as well. Those of us who have accepted Christ as our risen Lord and Saviour, call the collective body of believers FAMILY. But some of you are family by way of what we do and share in business and our professional carreers. We see you at trade shows, and ropings around the country, thankyou for being apart of this area of my life as well.
NOt much of this would be fun, nor possible if it were not for the worlds best wife and my kids. I can only hope that this comment stirs a rigorous debate over who has the best wife, I would like to see all of us men more thankful for the wives we have..........and all of US parents for appreciative of the children we are raising. The whole of a child is a reflection of thier parental expierience. Here again I know that I fall short, and am so thankful for the continuos stabilizing effect of my wifes personality. Thanks Mom, I really do love you.................and not to leave out Pine nor Nevada, lov'ya too.
There is a twist of irony here as well when it comes to my ability to share this entire cycling trip with you, because once again it has been the FOLKLORISTS to the rescue. Better than twenty years ago there where a group of folks headed up by Hal Cannon whom could see a day when the shared spoken word of the range cowboys would be lost forever quite possibly. And from that notion/fear sprang forth the father of a lyrical sagebrush rennaisaunce movement that we all know is the Elko Cowboy Poetry Gathering. That group of folklorists have not only given life to all of the other Poetry gatherings that have followed, but they continue to plow new cultural furrow's in places that others lack the vision to percieve. It has been close to 13 years since I quit working for this wonderful group "FOLKS", and now here today the blog comes by way of those same FOLK-lorists. So, let me say thanks directly to the great gal I work with,Meg Glaser. BUt not only her, all the others behind the scenes whom have made the blog possible so that we can share "reality in real time" and in a real way.
So you guys keep it up, and let me say this. If you are a passive reader and not active with the comments, I invite you to share a little knowledge with me..................if you know of some thing. some place, some point of interest, or some interesting person whom I should endevour to iether meet or see in your State...........please share it with me. I won't promise that I am going to ride 1000 miles out of my way to make it happen. But I would like to have the option to give it consideration. I still have Canvas, Missouri, Tennesee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia to get through. I could use your help with seeing the things that matter to the folks who live there.
Its late guys, and I have to work the booth with a smile on my face tomorrow.
Good NIght and God Bless
Comments
ITs not a problem Mr. Watt...we thank God you have the oppertunity to experience this journey! Lost, but never forgotten, Sept. 11, 2001! God bless!
~Darren
Posted by: Darren | September 11, 2006 8:16 AM
Mr. Watt... Will you be going near Lynchburg Virginia. My Son & Hillary Davis are going to school there. If you come near it im sure we could make a meeting, But please do not go out of the way. We start our home group tonight, we will miss you but will pray for you & yours. God bless
Posted by: Pastor Mike | September 11, 2006 9:23 AM
I'm not sure if you were given the oppertunity to listen to President Bush's address to the nation, but he did an exceptionally good job. Today is a day of mourning, and politicians seem to only have the capability to put their differences aside on days of rememberance. This is the reason we are at war...to prevent terrorist from dissolving America's freedom! Just thought I would share my thoughts regarding Sept. 11, and what it means to me. God bless! Lost, but never forgotten...Sept. 11, 2001.
-Darren
Posted by: Darren | September 11, 2006 7:57 PM
Your wife told me about your great adventure and where to read your blogs. What a trip you are having, your pictures are beautiful! God has truly made a masterpiece and what a way to experience it. My prayers are with you for a safe and wonderous trip. God Bless you.
Posted by: Lynn | September 12, 2006 12:30 AM
Mr. Watt,
Its the "aspiring" saddlemaker from Cartersville, GA here. Glad to see that you plan to dip down this far south (or close to it). I have followed your journey, thusfar, and am inspired by your efforts. I do understand the inner drive that is pushing this effort. These are troubling times and even more so when you have children to leave this world of ours to. I admire your sense of adventure, and more than just the peddling. The "cowboy" community (at least in this part of the country) can be a little "funny" about tight shorts and things un-horsey. Not that many have a problem with non-horse related activities, but non of them want to be the first. It is refreshing to see someone who is obviously a genuine character in today's traditional western culture, yet has a broader curiosity about the world around you. This is obvious in your travels to Europe. This is the difference between dressing the part and being the part. I think it has made your work unique. I have taken a lesson from that.
Concerning the Pulse... I am afraid that there are a good many people, generally centered around the media centers of this country, that don't believe that we are at war and generally don't like America. Unfortunately they control what is sent across those airwaves and can gradual erode one's own good sense. They have the attitude that what took place five years ago was a criminal act and would rather have our armed forces act as police to detain for trial. It will be very hard to win a war until most are convinced that we are at war. I am also a little worried about parts of this world that seem to lack the Christian ideals that we take for granted. It makes it a difficult place to spread democracy when the foundation isn't there. Perhaps I'm just too ignorant to understand...
The youth of this culture scares the h*** out of me. I have a 16 year old daughter and yes we have all of the trappings of this pop culture. It is a constant battle with the waves of junk being force fed. These kids we see are in church every Sunday and Wednesday. They are excellent students and very bright, yet it seems that their values are slipping by and the casual approach to sex and such behavour without emotion ( the scariest part) is the most troubling. I can only say that what I see lacking is consistancy from the parents. Willingness to live what you preach and doing it day in and day out. Yep, it is hard. Those temptations affect us adults as well, but we owe it to them and there is no greater influence that the one we have. My wife's actions teaches my daughter what kind of woman she needs to be, and my actions will set the standard for what kind of man she seeks in the future. To you fathers out there with daughters... the kind of man you are teaches those girls what they should expect from the gentlemen that they meet in life and how they should be treated. It is a daily struggle. I fail daily but keep trying.
Okay enough grandstanding, I'll get down off of my hind legs. Thanks Jeremiah for letting us follow you and your efforts and keep it coming. I get it...
Posted by: Mike Worthan | September 12, 2006 7:45 AM
Hey Mr. Watt,
So glad to hear you're doing fine. Well as you probably know Pine is home (Darren is happy) it's been wierd with Pine (and you) gone. that is too cool that you took time to ecknowledge all the people who follow along. well I should do school. Praying for ya. Catch ya later!
God Bless You and Keep You
Emy Rose
Posted by: Emy R. Authier | September 12, 2006 8:14 AM
Hi Jeremiah,
Emily just informed me that I commented on the wrong day so do me a favor and look at day 24 and you will find my comment. Blessings to you and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Gloria and the crew
Posted by: gloria authier | September 12, 2006 8:20 AM
Jeremiah,
Congrats on the trip so far. Now that you are past the big humps, it should be a little smoother sailing. Only thing to really look forward now of any consequence are the Appalachians, there are some others in the way they call mountains, but they are just hills to a guy who trained around Coalinga. Enjoying the reading, and keeping track. May the trail rise up to meet you, may the wind always be at your back... you know the rest I am sure. Oh yeah, and may the sprinklers not find you in slumber.
Prayers and great wishes from Bruce and Rundi Johnson
Posted by: Bruce Johnson | September 12, 2006 4:51 PM
hi dad
we have a problem here you put pine's name before mine what is that about! lol ireally miss you and i can't wait to see you.i love you so much.
cheers
lol darren
your loving daughter nevada
Posted by: gorgeous a.k.a nevada | September 12, 2006 7:01 PM
Jeremiah just a note thanks for taking us all along on your trip I feel your pain as i sit at my stamping bench and peck away at my project as to your praise of our wives?? I truely believe mine is the best she has put up with my latest project for the last 4 weeks sorry Colean ... Deb takes the cake but I give you a close 2nd say hello to the kids thanks again for your journey it does all of us all good to se GOD's hand in action if you get stuck in kansas give us a call God bless John Debbie Willemsma
Posted by: john willemsma | September 13, 2006 8:13 PM
Tonight is AWANA, and I will get to see your son. I hope you have had the oppertunity to speak with him. My birthday is tomorrow, and I will be 15. Wow...I hope everything is going well. I will be interested to see what you post regarding Sept. 11. God bless!
Posted by: Darren | September 14, 2006 4:34 PM
You're an inspiration JW. Keep 'em coming! It's a privelege to post here, and tell Nevada that if I accidently win the ol' bike shorts, I'm sending them to her. God Bless, and many thanks again for the inspiration.
Posted by: BRUCE GIBSON | September 14, 2006 7:17 PM
JW,
You are an inspiration to us all! Seems like I am readfing this a bit after everyone else, but my week has been extremely busy. I laughed again as I reread your sprinkler experience... The family just got home from Awana and I better get so as to help bed the children down. Glo just told me your loveley wife says you are in Kansas... Been there, but not on a bike. You go guy!!
God's blessings and best to you!!
Scott
Posted by: Scott Authier | September 14, 2006 9:32 PM
To "The Spandex Cowboy",
Thanks for letting us tag along on your journey. Your humor and thoughts come at a good time. We can see by your pics how big and awesome our God really is. As for this debate about our wives I think I'll chime in. I'm reluctant to though, not because my wife isn't deserving, but because I've never been good at debating. I clearly got the better deal in our partnership. She has sacrificed so much of her life for the betterment of others it's hard for me to even write about it. Since May her aging grandmother has been living with us and Donette has given her life to caring for her. Not only that, she has opened her home and given up her bedroom to her mother-in-law (my mom) that is also living with us also due to bad choices in life and alcoholism. This isn't easy for any of us. She is also watching both of her parents battle with Cancer. Now I don't mean to ruffle feathers here, I know both Colleen and Debbie. They are great women. But my wife Donette is the GREATEST!!! She truly is a Proverbs 31 woman. God shows himself to me through her every single day. I think it's safe to say God must have a soft spot in His heart for sddlemakers, we've "married up". JW and LJ, we are blessed beyond measure and it would do us all good to ponder that fact more often.
Ride with Jesus,
Jeremiah Johnson
P.S. Try sleeping with a life-vest for when your boat springs another leak.
Posted by: Jeremiah Johnson | September 17, 2006 4:58 PM
To "The Spandex Cowboy",
Thanks for letting us tag along on your journey. Your humor and thoughts come at a good time. We can see by your pics how big and awesome our God really is. As for this debate about our wives I think I'll chime in. I'm reluctant to though, not because my wife isn't deserving, but because I've never been good at debating. I clearly got the better deal in our partnership. She has sacrificed so much of her life for the betterment of others it's hard for me to even write about it. Since May her aging grandmother has been living with us and Donette has given her life to caring for her. Not only that, she has opened her home and given up her bedroom to her mother-in-law (my mom) that is also living with us also due to bad choices in life and alcoholism. This isn't easy for any of us. She is also watching both of her parents battle with Cancer. Now I don't mean to ruffle feathers here, I know both Colleen and Debbie. They are great women. But my wife Donette is the GREATEST!!! She truly is a Proverbs 31 woman. God shows himself to me through her every single day. I think it's safe to say God must have a soft spot in His heart for sddlemakers, we've "married up". JW and LJ, we are blessed beyond measure and it would do us all good to ponder that fact more often.
Ride with Jesus,
Jeremiah Johnson
P.S. Try sleeping with a life-vest for when your boat springs another leak.
Posted by: Jeremiah Johnson | September 17, 2006 4:59 PM