The Thoughts of a small-town man raising his family, growing a church, and building a law practice

Goodbyes. Hellos. Here I sit In Iowa Park, Texas Thousands of miles away from Barcelona, Spain In a completely different world if I stop to think about it long enough. I know that world still exists. I know people are still walking around the city as the metro travels underneath them. There are people laughing and kids playing. Cars are driving around while bikes weave in and out. The city of Barcelona is still happening even if I'm not there to witness it. Yet I feel as though something has died. A part of me? A life? A world entirely of itself? I’m not entirely sure. Memories keep coming back to me. There I sat... There I walked... There’s that building I always saw... There I am laughing with all my friends…. I find myself wanting to go back there, but where is that place? Sure the location is there but the people... the people I want to see they are no longer there. ...

Our time here is coming to an end. I can remember seeing this city for the first time as the plane flew over it and circled back towards the airport. I knew that this was where I was supposed to be. There I sat Flying above the city seeing my future play out before me as I played out a future before myself. What would be different? What would be the same? Who would I meet? What adventures would I find? My dad took me on adventures as a kid Maybe to prepare me for the journeys I'd have to take by myself Maybe because adventures together were better shared than borrowed Maybe because I was a cool little kid to go on adventures with Our time together meant so much to me The value was in the time spent rather than the sights seen Dad, I can't thank you enough for all those times you spent with me, taking me on adventures, exploring with me, and leading me as I was following you. Soon my dad will be here in Barcelona. I will show him the sights I've seen...