Ok, so for those who know the “Story Behind the Story,” you’ll understand when I say that yesterday and today so far has been a “chalk one up for the opposition” kind of day.

For those, who are now puzzled, let me just say that there has been an ambitious opposition in my way since I first began this project. At times it manifests in ways that defy logic and other times it could be chalked up to bad luck…I know better.

Recently, someone told me that there are three stages to acknowledging evil (as in a force not a person). The first is when we think we are so highly educated and therefore very much in control of everything that happens…both good and bad. I know a lot of these people.

The second stage is when you encounter evil as a force working against you and realize just how powerful it is. In this stage it is common to be afraid and then rationalize staying out of its way…which puts you back into the proximity of stage 1.

The third stage is when you have encountered evil, acknowledged it and its ominous power and refuse to retreat…instead deciding with absolute conviction that while yes, evil is big and powerful, GOOD is ultimately the greatest power. Once here, you are now among those fighting the good fight. Let me tell you, it’s a great place to be regardless of the beatings the opposition might give you.

So yesterday, we took our beating and hated every minute of it. First, the slides wouldn’t retract on the bus rendering us stuck. We called a taxi in an effort to make sure I wouldn’t miss the Rotary Club meeting I was scheduled to speak at.  A minute after calling the taxi the slides decide to work. I didn’t get my Starbucks, but I wasn’t late either.

The Prescott Rotary Club was wonderful, in that they were mostly very elderly men, funny, kind and warm. One especially old gentleman led us in song. We sang “Home On The Range”, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and another that fails to come to mind. It was refreshing and lots of fun to see these gentlemen so animated. Unfortunately as fun as it was, between that meeting and the others in Arizona, we sold less than ½ the books we needed to sell and are currently pretty close to broke. Not to worry, I’m praying hard and will be in church tomorrow in Phoenix.

After the Rotary meeting, we had someone come out to see if they could fix the refrigerator which hasn’t worked since we got on the bus and the generator. No luck…not his specialty…big surprise.

So we moved on down the road back to Phoenix thinking whatever we needed in the way of repairs, we could find it there. On the way out of the RV site, Brock’s week-old laptop took a dive off what should have been a secure perch if not for the rut in the road. It still works but it bears an ugly scar as a reminder. Next, and I mean within minutes, my strap that is attached to my Verizon internet stick, got hung up on something and the stick completely broke off.

We got to Phoenix then went grocery shopping which is when we realized just how lean we were running. This is when our spirits began to sink from the customary “damn the torpedoes” attitude. Somberly, we drove to our spot at a nearby RV park and went about the routine of “getting situated.” This routine includes leveling the bus (necessary to avoid little inconveniences like blood rushing to you head while you sleep on a slope) and extending the slides. Well, neither worked. The real pain in this is not the extra space provided when the slides are extended or having the bus actually not running up or downhill to any degree, but the fact that many of the drawers are only accessible when the bus is extended. I was dressed warm for the chill of the Prescott morning and now found myself uncomfortably hot in the Phoenix desert. The boys clothes were also out of reach and they were both little grub trucks at this point.

The last thing to crush my spirit was when my favorite glass cross that I was wearing around my neck suddenly slid off. My heart broke watching it shatter on the floor. It was at this moment that I realized I had let my guard down. The opposition was alive and well and I needed to pray and pray hard.

Today hasn’t been great (The slides still won’t extend) but we are bearing down in order to weather the beating without losing faith. It might be muffled for a moment under the strain and stress, but it’s still there. As for the opposition…I’ll give you yesterday, and I might even give you today but I sure as hell won’t be giving you tomorrow.