Embrace the Journey: Discovering the Lessons of Adventure 5-19-26

What a Great Adventure!

Three of us left Lindenwold around 7:30 yesterday morning to catch a bus from Philly to New York. Well, it did not turn out like we had planned, because God had another plan (James 4:14-15). I truly believe that nothing is wasted with God, therefore what happened the entire day was the Lord’s will for us.

At the bus station all the attendants were so hospitable and accommodating, and we thanked them. Since we were already in Philly, we decided to make the best of it. The decision was made to go to the Reading Terminal Market and have breakfast. Lo and behold, we ran across the very café’ (Pearl’s Oyster Bar) that we didn’t see on Friday. It just wasn’t meant to be.

Although I lived in North Philly way back in the day, Donna was born in Philly, and she is familiar with all the happenings. Carmen was born in Brooklyn (Nuyorican- Puerto Rican) who doesn’t know a thing about Philly, but she is willing to hang in there.

Donna had a plan: She took us to the Septa Building so Carmen and I could get a card (pass) to ride on all of Septa’s Transit routes free. So, you see, nothing was wasted. We can also present the card on the Regional Rail, precent the card to the Conductor and pay the fifty percent reduced rate fare for stations in New Jersey and Delaware. South Jersey is like a sister to Philly, that’s why we support all their awesome sports teams.

We hopped on a bus with our new cards and rode to Penns Landing, which was the wrong stop; mind you this was an adventure. Going back, there was no bus in sight, so we slowly walked to Independence Mall, not knowing that this was a part of the Lord’s plan (Nothing is wasted with God).

Donna and Carmen sat down and I moved on toward the Mall taking pictures and guess what? There it was, the Slavery exhibit which returned to Philadelphia’s Independence Mall on February 19, 2026, after Trump administration ordered its removal. I saw much about this on the news, and when it was restored I had high hopes of being able to go there and see it with my own eyes.

Well, it was back to Eight and Market to take the train to Jersey. But one last thing – When Patty, Carmen and I were in Philly Friday, I saw a mural that caught my eye; yesterday a picture was taken of the mural. That’s it for this time.

Do you think we were disappointed about not going to New York? Of course not! Something greater is in store when God ordains for us to go to the “Big Apple” hopefully in a couple of weeks.

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org