We left Wisconsin as the sun was rising.
If you ever find yourself in Dubuque, Iowa, you should look up the Fenelon Place Elevator Company!
The story behind it: In 1882, Dubuque would shut down everything for 1 1/2 hours when everyone went home for dinner. Mr. J.K. Graves, former mayor of the town and also a former State Senator, lived up at the top of the bluffs. It would take him 1/2 hour to drive his horse and buggy up to his house and another 1/2 hour to get back down even though his house was only 2 1/2 blocks away. He enjoyed his lunch but he never could take a nap as he'd run out of time!
Once when traveling in Europe, he had seen a cable car and he thought that would be the answer to his dilemma. He petitioned the city to build a cable car on the bluffs. They agreed to it on June 5 of that year. And by July 25 it was operating! (In this day and age, it would have been a 3 year operation!)
A Swiss-style car with a steam engine was hauled up and down by a hemp rope. It wasn't long before neighbors asked him for rides also. In 1884, there was a fire. He had it rebuilt and this time he charged 5 cents a ride. After another fire in 1893, Mr. Graves could no longer afford to have it rebuilt, but as the folk on the bluff had come to depend on the cable as a mode of transportation, they banded together to form the Fenelen Place Elevator Company.
In 1977, the cable cars were completely rebuilt with a modern gear box and motor. Today you can take a round trip for $4, children $2. You can even take your bicycle for an additional $1. Open April through November.
Once we hit Kansas, the bugs began to splatter against the windshield. Why are there so many bugs in Kansas??
Do you remember the song "Sunrise Sunset"?
I was thinking about our days; sunrises to sunsets. How are we to live our lives? The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:1-2 said this:
"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love." New Living Translation
I like how the Amplified Version puts it:
"...I appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation] with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love."
There are many verses that speak about this, but here is one more. Colossians 1:10. "...that the way you live will always please the Lord and honour Him, so that you will always be doing good, kind things for others, while all the time you are learning to know God better and better."
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