Driving in that area was wonderful. Upon arrival, I walked out to the end of the docks, admired the view and the breeze for a while, and talked with some anglers. As I turned to walk back to the car, I felt a bit terrified because I saw three options for the next few hours: I could drive to a coffee shop and read, I could go to the gym, or I could drive home and do nothing. Since all three options, at the moment, were about as exciting as laying in a coffin, I found myself asking God to show more of His beauty. I took the long route back toward my district, all the while carrying a deep longing to experience more of God. Taking a turn off the main road, I found myself amazed at the sight of a small, rustic-looking area. I could feel my soul and senses come alive as I slowly toured the grounds. To my left was a plot of land with some quaint looking houses nestled in luminous, golden dry grass. I also spotted a small vegetable garden with bits of rusty agricultural equipment and tools nearby. To my right was a Catholic college for nuns that looked like an ominous gothic mansion. I didn't even know Fremont had a college for nuns! And to think, this enchanting scene was tucked away behind the Mission all this time! Although I drove at a snail's pace, the tour was over in less than ten minutes. Though it was fantastic, it still wasn't enough—I had to experience more of God, and again, I asked my Father show me more.
It was early in the afternoon, and I was back on the main road. I turned onto a private street that I vaguely remembered stretched 1/4 of a mile out into the hills. I passed unnerving signs that read "NO OUTLET, TURN AROUND," (I half-expected to see a skull and cross bones to go with them) as well as signs that surprised me, reading "ROAD NARROWS NEXT 4 MILES—" I had no recollection that this road stretched four miles! I cruised forward, quickly reaching a bottleneck that forced me to reverse four times—without dropping off into the canyon—to allow four oncoming cars to pass. Forging onward, I was surrounded by rustic scenery on my left and right. I pulled the moon-roof back and lowered the windows as the car traversed the narrow, uneven, windy road, showered with sunbeams that filtered through giant oaks, eucalyptus, and other trees that shaded most of the route. It all spoke to my soul of God. The scenery on this road changed virtually every five minutes. The road threaded through hilly groves completely carpeted with red and yellow leaves and passed through small stretches of more rustic-looking houses and golden fields. It skirted along property lines of ranches with animals ranging from horses to wild turkeys, and plunged right back into serene tree groves. By this time, the awesome way in which God was unfolding His answer to my prayer gave me a heightened sense of the holiness of the moment, and ultimately, for the rest of the day. Reaching the end of the road, I headed back down, asking the Father if He would continually show me things I had missed on the way up. And He did. He gave me a glimpse of beautiful rolling hills in between tree clearings. I saw a small herd of deer, one had even grown antlers. Through a clearing in the hills, I spotted the city and the bright glow of the bay's reflection of the sky. I also noticed a refreshing creek that flowed along the entire length of the road, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right. Nearing the road's beginning, the last thing I spotted was a fat, stunted palm tree. It was really out of place, so much so that I chuckled at the sight.
What started with the potential to be one of most lifeless days turned out to be one of the most life-giving. My soul longed for more of God, and He continually satisfied and renewed with an overflowing measure. He shows me how true of a Father He is to me and how good of a Father He is to me. Every good thing is found in Him.
