Trains. Until just a few days ago I had never been on a train. Today I can say I’ve slept in a 1927 (refurbished) caboose and traveled in a 1940s train car. I love trains.
Melinda and I decided we would take a train ride from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon. Neither one of us had ever been to the Grand Canyon so couldn’t come so close and not take a peek. (More on that tomorrow!)
First up was the train ride. We got a great deal on our tickets and hopped aboard for the almost 3 hour trip to the Canyon’s edge. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much after all it’s just a train — nothing fancy. Whoa. I was so wrong. I loved the train. I love everything about the train. I love walking from car to car. I love talking with people traveling along with us. I love staring out the window and wondering about the people who came across this country before trains ever made it.
Trains make you slow down. You just lean back, relax to the clackity clack and travel. I loved it.
I’m a flyer. I fly to my destination. I get on a plane, flip open my Kindle & read. Even though I’m sitting shoulder to shoulder with a stranger I rarely initiate a conversation beyond a smile and hello. But trains…. ahh, now that is altogether different. You chat, you visit, you ask questions. It’s that precious faee to face time that we forfeit for speed and convenience.
I love trains and I love train travel. I like the slowing down and meeting new people. I love conversations.
I talk a lot about loving God’s people — and we are ALL God’s people, but I spend most of my time face to face with other believers. I rarely step out of my bubble of faith and into the big world. I speak to women’s groups and churches. I work for a Christian company. My friends are believers. I rarely have conversations with people I don’t know, but on the train I did.
On the train, I talked about being a Christian speaker and about loving Jesus. Did I plant a seed? I don’t know, but I know that the name of Jesus has great power. I’m humbled that the Lord has allowed me to be on this great adventure.
Follow along at Great Girlfriend Adventure!
Love hearing. Flat Jill didn’t make the trip because April flattened Jill. I’m soon coming up for air. So thankful you are safely home. Big hugs and sweet tea cheers!
I’m just reading this. This whole trip is so rich with application, it’s hard to even know where to start. This was one of my favorite days, and yes, I believe seeds were planted.