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Part 72: Where All Journeys Grow

Chapter 14: Port

V2.0 – 10/06/2025

I opened my eyes again and blinked them against the bright sunlight pouring through the cracks of the window curtains. I pushed back the covers and sat up in the hotel bed.

Another day had found me.

I took a deep breath and let it out. The clock on the bedside table read 8:20am. Good. The continental breakfast would still be open downstairs in the lobby of the hotel.

I stepped in front of the full-length mirror and considered my clothes. They were torn in places. They were dirty and stained from the car accident. They smelled musky. I decided I needed to find new clothes this morning before I continued my journey.

I took a shower, not knowing when I’d be able to shower next. I cringed as I put back on my ruined clothes. There was nothing I could do about that just now. I walked out of the room and down the hall to the elevator. I rode it to the first floor and exited it into the bustling hotel lobby. Strangers were going here and there dragging along their luggage. Some parents wrangled their children out the automatic doors and to a waiting van out front. The noise level was at an eight. I was strangely comforted by the very natural and physical world that drowned my senses.

I crossed the lobby and entered the small dining area where the continental breakfast was being enjoyed by the hotel’s milling guests. Several of the guests took note of my clothes then returned to their food. I felt very self-conscious. I would fix that soon.

 I gathered a few breakfast items for myself and sat at an empty table. Nothing makes you feel more alone than eating by yourself when surrounded by others chatting wildly and laughing with each other. I ignored the pang of loneliness and ate my fill in silence.

When I finished eating, I placed my trash in the bin and walked over to the front desk. A young man wearing a nice suit and a nametag that read: Kevin looked up at me. He smiled as he took in my shabby appearance.

“Only pair of clothes. Car accident.” I told him as I walked up.

“Ah,” He replied with a smile, then joked, “Not noticeable at all.”

“Is there somewhere close by where I can get a change of clothes?” I asked him.

He thought for a moment then replied, “There’s a Target down the street a couple blocks. That should have everything you need.”

“Thank you.” I said, then added, “Checking out now.” I slid my room key across the counter to him. He took it with a nod.

“Have a good day sir. And… good luck.” He offered.

“Thanks.” I answered with a smile and walked away.

I walked out the automatic doors and shielded my eyes from the sunlight pouring down. It seemed to reflect off of every single surface outside. I would have to buy some sunglasses as well. I added those to my mental shopping list.

Within an hour I had walked to Target, purchases all that I needed, changed clothes in the restroom, thrown my old clothes away, and found myself waiting for an Uber that would take me the four hours to the Port Of Virginia. I had purchased a small backpack to carry the extra set of clothes that I had bought in.

As I waited for the Uber to arrive I took stock again of my life now. Homeless. Traveling to a mountain and a place called Meribah. Wherever that was. Being led by God on a journey that seemed to have more setbacks than progress forward. I laughed aloud when I thought of my hurry to get to a place I didn’t know to do whatever God wanted of me there.

“Why the rush?” I asked myself aloud. I didn’t have an answer for myself.

I took another deep breath and let it out slowly. I glanced at my phone screen and saw that the Uber was pulling into the parking lot. The small Subaru glided up to me and the man rolled the passenger window down.

“Andrew?” He asked.

I nodded and he waved me into the passenger seat. I hesitated for a moment then opened the door and got in. I put my backpack between my feet and put my seat belt on. I glanced over at my driver. He was a young Hispanic man. I couldn’t quite gage his age from how he looked.

“I’m Alanso.” He told me as he pulled out from the parking lot. “Long drive today?” He commented.

“Yes. I don’t have a car.” I told him. “I need to get to the Port of Virgina today.”

Before long we were speeding along the highways that would lead us to the coast and to the Port of Virginia. Alanso was friendly and we chatted the four and half hours to my destination.

Time flew by.

Before I knew it we were pulling up to the port.

“Where do I drop you?” He asked.

“No clue. Here is fine.” I replied, shrugging.

“Are you sure?” He asked.

“Yes, thank you.” I told him.

He pulled to a stop. I thanked him and got out of the car. He slowly pulled away, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk.

I turned and faced the Port of Virginia.

The salty sea air assaulted my senses. I heard the wild cries of seagulls and watched them gliding overhead. Everything around me screamed ocean, although I couldn’t see the water from where I stood. I was excited to be close to the ocean again.

Wherever I was going must be overseas. I sighed. I wasn’t a huge fan of open water. I had been on a few cruises in my time, but from the looks of this port God had another ship in mind. I could see large cargo containers being loaded onto massive cargo ships in the distance.

This was a world I knew nothing about.

I took out the piece of paper and read the handwriting again: Darren Mackey, Port of Virginia.

OK. I was at the Port of Virginia. Now how do I find this Darren Mackey?

I looked both ways and saw a security gate down to my right. I walked toward it wondering how one finds a single person at a huge port such as this. I listened to the clang of metal in the distance as huge cargo containers were set onto decks of the ships. I heard the strained metal of the moving of the huge loading cranes. I felt very small.

“God, are you sure this is where you want me?” I asked.

I listened for a moment then heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Yes.”

I took a deep breath and replied, “OK then. Help me find this Darren guy.”

I reached the security gate and knocked on the small window in the side of the building. I could see a security guard lounging on a chair inside. He glanced up, stood, crossed the small space, and slid open the window.

“What can I do for you?” He asked.

I had no idea what to ask him, so I said, “I’m here to see Darren Mackey.”

He looked me up and down and then said, “You don’t look the type, but I’m sure they come in all shapes and sizes.” He let out a huge laugh at the joke that was clearly lost on me.

When he had regained his composure he said, “Wait over there.” He pointed me to a bench across the way.

“Thank you.” I told him, not knowing what I had just gotten myself into, or rather what God was getting me into.

I walked the twenty feet and sat down on the bench next to another man who sat waiting. He looked me up and down as I approached. I nodded to him. He nodded back. A typical man’s greeting.

“Here to see Darren as well?” He asked after a few moments.

“Yes.” I replied. “You too?”

“Yeah, recommended to him by my folks. Dad’s a fisherman up north. He said he has known him a long time, and well, work is work I guess.” He told me.

“Work is work.” I echoed him, agreeing with his sentiment. He seemed friendly enough. We sat and waited in silence. My new friend contented himself playing a casino slots game on his phone. Which buzzed and hummed loudly. He wasn’t winning and showed it with very colorful language.

So, I was here to get a ride on a ship. I considered that. It wasn’t that much stranger than a semi-truck or a foreign family’s car. I wondered why not a plane. I’m sure God had His reasons.

All I knew was that I was right where God wanted me to be. I glanced at the man next to me. At least I wasn’t alone right now.

The minutes turned to hours as we waited. I watched cars and trucks pass through the security gate. The man next to me expressed his impatience frequently with loud cursing and flailing arms. I just smiled and listened to his ranting.

I wasn’t in control of my life. That thought hit me like a brick. It wasn’t so bad. I mean the car accident was terrible. I turned away from thinking of Kris’s family before grief could drag me down again.

The security guard opened the door to the little building and shouted to us, “Darren’s on his way.”

My friend stood and I stood with him. He walked back across to the security gate building, and I followed. The security guard let us through a door in the fence and told us to wait there before returning to the guard shack.

Soon I saw a white van driving up with the words: Alliance Shipping, MSC written in bold letters on its side. It stopped by us and the driver motioned for us to get in. We climbed in and were whisked away deep into the port.

I watched all the movement around me as we wound our way past large warehouses, cranes, and other huge machinery. People were working everywhere here. I marveled at how everything flowed and how everyone seemed to know what they were doing and where they were going. Except me. I felt like a spy entering a foreign land. My friend said little as we drove.

Soon we pulled up to a large tan building with the same lettering on its side as the van. I followed my friend as he climbed from the van and crossed the short distance to a door that had a sign above it reading: Main Office.

He rang the bell beside the door.

And again we waited.

I had no clue what I was doing, but I knew that my next adventure was right beyond this door.

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