Sleeping Inside
Journal 2006 09 21
Sleeping Inside
“…rose early this morning Colected our men Several of them had axcepted of the invitation of the Citizens and visited their families. at half after 7 A. M we Set out.” Captain Clark records the first night that everyone slept inside since leaving Fort Clatsop last spring. Every morning when I take our new puppy out for a walk my thoughts ponder what sleeping in the open last night would have entailed. There is a reason we like to build and live in houses.
“…at 3 P M we met two large boats assending. at 4 P M we arived in Sight of St. Charles, the party rejoiced at the Sight of this hospital village plyed thear ores with great dexterity and we Soon arived opposit the Town, this day being Sunday we observed a number of Gentlemen and ladies walking on the bank, we Saluted the Village by three rounds from our blunderbuts and the Small arms of the party, and landed near the lower part of the town.” St. Charles one year later has more settlements along the river but it is still the westernmost city on the Missouri River. It has been the marker for the men that their mission was successful.
I write this on a Sunday and I find the reference to people strolling along the riverbank an idyllic one. Our nation has turned from a day of rest to full scale activity. I’m not sure we are the better for it. Most of Auburn, WA and Washington State was resting on Sundays until the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when I was boy and teenager.
“…we received invitations from Several of those Gentlemen a Mr. Proulx, Taboe, Decett, Tice Dejonah & Quarie and several who were pressing on us to go to their houses, we could only visit Mr. Proulx and Mr. Deucett in the course of the evening. Mr. Querie under took to Supply our party with provisions &c.” William Clark
Sgt. Ordway reports a now familiar refrain, “the people of the Town gathered on the bank and could hardly believe that it was us for they had heard and had believed that we were all dead and were forgotton.”
Do not be forgetful of hospitality, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2 MKJV) Hospitality. Does it mark us as individuals? Does it describe our families? It is a bedrock, or distinctive, of my church. The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews includes it in his instructions to the fledgling Christian church. How are we doing two thousand years later? The city of St. Charles, not just a few people, but the city as a whole is remembered by the Corps of Discovery for its hospitality. Are we?
“…the inhabitants of this village appear much delighted at our return and seem to vie with each other in their politeness to us all.” William Clark. Sgt. Ordway closes the day noting that most of the men found quarters in homes and that it rained hard all night. Think anyone of the men slept warm and dry with a smile on their face?
Proceed on.
Sleeping Inside
“…rose early this morning Colected our men Several of them had axcepted of the invitation of the Citizens and visited their families. at half after 7 A. M we Set out.” Captain Clark records the first night that everyone slept inside since leaving Fort Clatsop last spring. Every morning when I take our new puppy out for a walk my thoughts ponder what sleeping in the open last night would have entailed. There is a reason we like to build and live in houses.
“…at 3 P M we met two large boats assending. at 4 P M we arived in Sight of St. Charles, the party rejoiced at the Sight of this hospital village plyed thear ores with great dexterity and we Soon arived opposit the Town, this day being Sunday we observed a number of Gentlemen and ladies walking on the bank, we Saluted the Village by three rounds from our blunderbuts and the Small arms of the party, and landed near the lower part of the town.” St. Charles one year later has more settlements along the river but it is still the westernmost city on the Missouri River. It has been the marker for the men that their mission was successful.
I write this on a Sunday and I find the reference to people strolling along the riverbank an idyllic one. Our nation has turned from a day of rest to full scale activity. I’m not sure we are the better for it. Most of Auburn, WA and Washington State was resting on Sundays until the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when I was boy and teenager.
“…we received invitations from Several of those Gentlemen a Mr. Proulx, Taboe, Decett, Tice Dejonah & Quarie and several who were pressing on us to go to their houses, we could only visit Mr. Proulx and Mr. Deucett in the course of the evening. Mr. Querie under took to Supply our party with provisions &c.” William Clark
Sgt. Ordway reports a now familiar refrain, “the people of the Town gathered on the bank and could hardly believe that it was us for they had heard and had believed that we were all dead and were forgotton.”
Do not be forgetful of hospitality, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2 MKJV) Hospitality. Does it mark us as individuals? Does it describe our families? It is a bedrock, or distinctive, of my church. The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews includes it in his instructions to the fledgling Christian church. How are we doing two thousand years later? The city of St. Charles, not just a few people, but the city as a whole is remembered by the Corps of Discovery for its hospitality. Are we?
“…the inhabitants of this village appear much delighted at our return and seem to vie with each other in their politeness to us all.” William Clark. Sgt. Ordway closes the day noting that most of the men found quarters in homes and that it rained hard all night. Think anyone of the men slept warm and dry with a smile on their face?
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 5:49 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home